I hate it when people go to concerts, movies, other social activities, and work when they are sick with respiratory ailments, carelessly spreading their germs to others. It happens all too much, and I can trace every respiratory illness I've had (like the flu then pneumonia that almost killed me last month) to one or more such people. I vowed never to remain near such a sick person, even at the cost of embarrassment. Yesterday there was a person repetitively coughing and loudly sniffling with rattles right behind me at a concert. It started just before the music director gave his intro. I waited that out and as soon as he stopped I made my way out of the very tight row of people to a space in the corner of the hall where there were hardly any people (and nobody apparently sick). I didn't quite get there before the music started. I'm also going to remember to bring a mask to every concert etc in case I am delayed or trapped. And generally not sit in the middle of front sections again because that really makes it hard to escape. If there had been assigned seats, I'd have to go talk to an usher. Many people give excuses like "it's just allergies" when they may have low grade infections caused by mycoplasma like walking pneumonia which are easily treated with antibiotics (which some doctors don't do). I've been to places where nearly everyone was coughing with the chesty cough indicative of walking pneumonia, and sure enough I caught it there, lasted a couple weeks until I got an antibiotic then went away quickly. Conditions like COPD lead people to easily pick up (and spread) other diseases, and are still disturbing to others. It may be appropriate for people who cough a lot to wear masks in public as a precaution. I pay attention to when I cough and rarely do so when I am healthy. If it happens during social activities I turn away or cover my mouth.
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