To Cough is Human, To Cover Thy Mouth is Devine

Although I am bot a medical professional I would like to put my two cents in about this flu season. It's been almost three weeks now since I started getting sick with bronchitis. I am finally feeling better, finally updating my blog, and finally going to post my ideas about etiquette when ill. I have recently noticed a lot of people not following what I believed to be common knowledge practices of cleanliness and courteousness when sick. I even saw a a grown woman old enough to be my mother cough in my co-worker Marcia's face. She didn't even attempt to apologize, cover her mouth or take any other correct action in the matter which made me think that this situation may be worthy of a blog post. So in light of this gross woman's actions and the fact that the dreaded flu season is again upon us, let's go over the polite and lean way to go about being sick.

1) Isolate yourself. If you miss one day of work to stay away from others when you are most contagious your co-workers, classmates etc. should thank you. Even if your boss is pissed hopefully he/she can see that one employee sick day is better than the entire office playing the pass around the yucky bug game.

2) COVER YOUR DAMN MOUTH. Preferably cover your mouth with your sleeve, not your hand to help keep nasty germs at bay on your arm/armpit and off your hands that touch many many things that others touch between washings. Plus it's just nice not to hack in peoples' faces etc.

3) Scrub those little hands, fingernails too. This is a good thing year-round. No one likes to see, shake or smell poopy grimy hands.

I know this post may seem quite elementary but often I see when people are sick their manners seem to also be infected. So please stay politely healthy.

Shhhh

I know I've already harped on bad cell phone etiquette in a previous blog post but I had an experience today that took the cake (until the next time something more irritating happens). I was working as a cashier at the grocery store when a man came up to the register to check out. He had two small items and a briefcase so after scanning those items I asked if he wanted a bag. Instead of choosing one of two appropriate answers; yes or no, he instead raised his finger and shooshed me followed by a gesture towards his phone. Now let's reverse and let me explain that he did not not have a phone or any type of handless device to his ear nor was he talking to anyone. He was however holding a phone and I can only presume that he was on hold and speaker-phone. Either way it really doesn't matter. Why on Earth would someone be rude enough to be mid cell conversation in line and then proceed to shoosh the cashier for doing his or her job. I responded with an "Excuse me?" that was neither answered by a nod, an apology or an F-you. I suppose he was too into himself and/or his electronics to realize what a jerk he was. The interesting thing is that when he left the gentleman behind him noticed what happened and informed me that the rude man is his professor at a business school next door and that he is usually quite nice in class so he was surprised at his behavior. I can only assume he does not teach etiquette. Unfortunately this is when my temper got the better of me and I told the student if his pompous prof was interested in an etiquette lesson or perhaps a little physical ed demonstrating how to break some one's shooshing finger that I would be delight to indulge him. I suppose that is when my etiquette ran out.