Think about others on public transport.

I am terrified of picking up colds and very angry at coughers but I wouldn’t have the nerve to ask someone to cover their mouth but I abuse them in my head. Theatres are bad, especially matinees with lots of old folks. Some of them may have other conditions but how do you know? I am old myself, by the way. Once I moved twice in a theatre and then left. My husband and daughter didn’t know where I’d gone. I had to get a bus home rather than go in the car. And the bus was full of people coughing. I don’t think I did get a cold though. I am a bit nuts. But colds are dreadful for me as I am chronically ill with ME.

Even after the event I would have politely passed her a tissue and said "can you use this" I don't think any offence would have been taken.
I always have a small hand sanitizer in my pocket and use it a lot when out and about germs are picked up everywhere from shop doors/toilets/change given from shops.Keep your hands clean is the best option.

You can't know if you caught whatever it is from her.

It could have been an allergic cough/asthma like I get. Yes she should have covered her mouth but as others have said, these days we know that most colds are spread by touch.

I come home and dose myself up with First Defence. Did it yesterday after a cinema full of coughers and sneezers. Usually stops me catching it, though it may be just the placebo effect. And keep washing hands!

I had to chuckle (sorry) when you commented on the size of the woman you mention... Given the title of your post "why dont people have consideration for others" it's ironic.
I would have covered my mouth and nose with my hand and hoped for the best to be honest
Hope you get well soon

I have been known to offer a tissue to a persistent sniffer on public transport; but I would always look to see if they seemed embarrassed to have forgotten one of their own.

It is revolting to have to listen to sniffing, but know how I would feel if I found myself on a bus with a runny nose and no hanky, so would offer with a mixture of kindness and self-interest

Fiachna50

I have to disagree, I’m sure most of us GN’ers cover our mouths and turn away from people when coughing, and hopefully have a tissue when sneezing, as we are more aware of keeping our germs to ourselves. I do agree that some folk don’t seem too bothered.

No one uses hankies or covers their mouth anymore if they are coughing or sneezing. I had a man sneeze over near enough myself and my table in a cafe once. I turned around and said to him "thanks for that" and promptly got up and left the table and my coffee. I don't think he was even aware of what he had done. No one cares about anyone else nowadays. Don't get me started on the behaviour of children on public transport either. Usually singing and screaming at the pitch of their voice, while parents/grandparents don't seem to hear the noise. Must be alot of folk with great tolerance levels, sadly, I'm not one of them.

Did think to ask her to cover her mouth but she was built like a brick shit house, and was taking up two seats so felt uneasy

Are overweight people likely to bop you one then ??? I think you need to think what you are saying that was an unkind post

Yes I'm good with 'the look' as well Calendargirl
Maybe you should think of wearing a mask whilst in public areas Dianeatdarcie. I agree with Maw about the spread of germs by touch, gloves are helpful to prevent this. Your description of the person concerned was a bit unfortunate I felt.

No, I don’t think I would have asked her to cover her mouth, coward that I am, but would probably have tutted and given her a ‘look’.
Time the old posters were revived;

‘Coughs and sneezes spread diseases’
and
‘Trap your germs in a handkerchief’.

Of course, no one uses hankies, so it would have to be amended to trap your germs in a tissue!

she was built like a brick shit house

Nice turn of phrase!

I tend to feel:most bugs are spread by touch so always wear gloves on public transport. But if the offender won’t cover their mouth, you may feel you have to.
Does anybody remember the “bird flu” scares of a few years ago? Because Paw was on immunosuppressants I was particularly vigilant. We were once on a train to London when a man nearby let rip with an enormous sneeze
I swear people shuffled down the carriage to get further away from him and when the train stopped, everybody headed to the other door from the one he went to!
Poor man, it was probably only hay fever!