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I had a very expensive holiday mostly ruined because someone arrived at a 1 to 1 meeting with me the week before and announced 5 minutes in: "sorry - i've got a cold at the moment".

I now always phone ahead if I've got sniffles and ask permission. There should be better ettiquette around things like this.



I'd rather see the ettiquette around coughing in public confined spaces. In some cultures it is frowned upon and happens very rarely.

In western culture it seems like the agreement is that coughs are completely uncontrollable and are acceptable anywhere.

Maybe those that can't control their coughs should wear masks but those healthy enough to suppress coughs do not have to.


Some people cough uncontrollably for chronic health reasons. Would those people just be persona non grata everywhere?


People that have constant diarrhea for example can't go in pools. Yet pools you can chlorinate to actually kill the bacteria.

You are much more likely to get sick from someone coughing in a small confined space with you vs. if someone has diarrhea in the water next to you.

An alien looking upon this world would probably think it strange and illogical that we are generally okay with the coughing scenario but not with the pool scenario.




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