Attention all customers: Have any of you ever heard of the swine flu?!

BowserKoopa1 · #1 10-06-2009, 05:12 PM

I was working the register over the busy weekend. A customer and his wife come up to my register to check out. Suddenly he coughs directly in my direction without covering his mouth. I quickly take a couple steps back and check them out as fast as I can. As soon as they are done checking out, I rush to the bathroom and scrub my hands as best I can for 2 or 3 minutes.
I don't suppose any of these idiots have ever heard of a small epedimic going around called the swine flu?! Or have they been living in caves?!
I have had this happen before where customers just cough or sneeze in my direction and don't give a crap in the world if they get us sick, and of course we can't say anything to them or run the risk of getting a complaint.
Now I will ask all of you to please forgive my paranoa. But my best friend's stepdad has the swine flu, he's probably got it in his system right now but hasn't shown symptoms yet, and now my nephew who lives with us has caught it. So yes, I think I have every right to be afraid and concerned.
Getting back to the main point, I just can't believe how stupid customers can be (then again they are customers and need

) and that they just go around coughing without covering their mouths. What pisses me off even more is the fact that there are some who actually don't give a shit if we get sick. You'd think people would be mroe careful about spreading germs with something like swine flu going around. Then again, we all know how stupid customers are.

Utter_iMADNESS · #2 10-06-2009, 05:45 PM

So what if they complain? If they do and a manager sticks to their side then you can complain that you're working in unsafe conditions. A worker's union would eat that up and that would catch quite a bit of attention.

Broomjockey · #3 10-06-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Quoth BowserKoopa1

But my best friend's stepdad has the swine flu, he's probably got it in his system right now but hasn't shown symptoms yet, and now my nephew who lives with us has caught it. So yes, I think I have every right to be afraid and concerned.

Hate to tell you, but then you've probably already got it too, and just aren't symptomatic.

And while I agree that it's sucky and rude to cough or sneeze in someone's direction, I disagree with your harping on swine flu. It's always rude. Swine flu has nothing to do with it. Even if swine flu didn't exist, it'd still be off the scales on the "don't do that." Be less fixated on swine flu.

Soulstealer · #4 10-07-2009, 12:48 AM

I hate the hysteria over swine flu. Every few years there's a new influenza strain that causes panic. If people just took good precautions in their day to day life there would be a lot less cases. And to be clear any influenza can be deadly not just the swine flu.

Mamadrae · #5 10-07-2009, 02:51 AM

I agree with Emperor Broomjockey. Last I remember being told it was RUDE to sneeze and/or cough without at least attempting to cover your mouth and nose. At the least I was taught to direct it elsewhere if my hands where not free, like at the floor. Swine flu or not, one should never spread disease and germs if they can help it.

fireheart · #6 10-07-2009, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Quoth Mamadrae

I agree with Emperor Broomjockey. Last I remember being told it was RUDE to sneeze and/or cough without at least attempting to cover your mouth and nose.

Emperor Broomjockey?!

O.O

On the other hand, I've been taught to cough into my elbow if I can't cough or sneeze into a tissue.

Irving Patrick Freleigh · #7 10-07-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Quoth fireheart17

On the other hand, I've been taught to cough into my elbow if I can't cough or sneeze into a tissue.

That's what I try to do, but sometimes I misjudge distance and end up making a fart noise.

BowserKoopa1 · #8 10-07-2009, 03:47 AM

As I said before, it just seems like these asshole customers don't even bother making a simple effort. As is the case with many other customers, they don't give a dam if they get us sick. All they care about is their dam purchase. That's what this post is about.

tropicsgoddess · #9 10-07-2009, 03:51 AM

I don't like the hysteria over it, but I still think that with any illness it's best to be as cautious as possible. Especially if you're pregnant, elderly and have a weak immune system or major health issues. Jeebus, how disgusting and selfish is that to just cough in somebody's face and not even cover their mouth?!!

MergedLoki · #10 10-07-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Quoth Soulstealer

I hate the hysteria over swine flu. Every few years there's a new influenza strain that causes panic. If people just took good precautions in their day to day life there would be a lot less cases. And to be clear any influenza can be deadly not just the swine flu.

Agreed.

the 'flu' that comes by EVERY year around xmas is WAY deadlier than the swine flu. has been. (and thats not just because the swine flu is 'newer' it's a % thing). Based on the % of people who have got swine flu FAR FAR fewer numbers have died as oppose to the hundreds+ that die each year from the 'regular' flu.

regardless yes coughing/sneezing/etc. directly AT someone while making NO attempt to cover your mouth or something is rude as hell.

I get that in the hospital all the time (although if someones hacking up a lung I'll quickly throw gloves on and NOT get face to face with them. a tactic you don't have sadly).