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[twissie]

Flu season is upon us, and I'm again floored by people's stupidity. Do we really need news articles telling us to stay home when sick, wash our hands ALWAYS, and cover our mouths when we cough/sneeze? Is the fact that influenza transmits through air by coughs and sneezes, news? Why do we insist on making life miserable for the people around us

Comments

[riath]

People are stupid, lol. They martyr themselves to come into work even when they're doing nothing but hacking and snivelling all day. Of course then they spread it around to everyone else and the same stupid cycle continues. =P

I remember everyone making fun of the pictures of Asian people walking around with face masks on during the whole swine flu/bird flu scare, not realising that that sort of thing was commonplace there.

I also partially think that as people become more and more interactive with screen tech and social networking and less physically involved in the social sphere, they're losing the common sense that comes with thinking about others.

[twissie]

All through my school years, my teachers told me to suck it up and come to school even if I had a cold. Because school is important. Apparently. I guess I wasn't the only one who was told to do this, because showing up for work while ill seems to be considered "the right thing to do". It terrifies me, it's enough to make me feel germophobic :x

When my mum came to visit me in Japan, she kind of freaked out the first time she saw a store clerk with a mask. She had tons of questions about it, and was really apprehensive about having anything to do with anyone who wore a mask. I explained that people wear masks when they are sick with colds and other things, so that they won't infect others. She agreed that it was thoughtful, but at the same time proclaimed that she would never ever wear a mask, because it looks really uncomfortable. Okay then. *sigh* XD

[eidna]

I so wish that in America people were expected to have the same courtesy in regards to sickness as they do in places like Japan. I certainly would wear a mask if I had to be out while sick - at the very least I usually just go out quickly to buy medicine and go back home just as quickly.

I swear like 90% of my office has or recently had some cold/flu thing. There was a stomach virus going around too (that you may have read me panicking about) - that bothers me most. People will vomit, and then resume working or say "I'll just work for another hour then go home". - NO. GO NOW. It's rude, and disgusting. People's attitudes are usually just "Oh, that's going around." like there's no means of preventing it.

In the US a lot of people come to work even while ill because they're terrified of being fired for being out, or they can't afford to lose the pay. I understand it, and it opens up a larger social issue...but at least at my work, nobody is in danger of being fired for being out sick. So stay home! jfc.

[skindyedindigo]

Took the words right out of my mouth. :/

[twissie]

Yeah, I can understand having to go in for work if you risk losing it by not showing up (though I find this practice wrong on so many levels ...), but at my office, there is no risk of losing your job. Sure, the rest of the team will be stuck doing the things you won't be able to do that day, but even if things are hectic, this is still better than showing up and infecting everyone/annoying everyone with sneezing, coughing, wheezes, sniffles, and other general unpleasantness :/

I guess it's adorable that people will feel guilty if they don't show up for work, but uhm, no. No translation task at my office is worth risking your (or others') health over :P

[skindyedindigo]

It irks me so much that in the United States calling in sick is like a cardinal sin. Have a fever of 100+F degrees? Coughing constantly? Nauseous? Well you know what, if you don't come in I might fire you because you aren't pulling your weight.

Because, yeah, that makes sense. Totally

It's no wonder I was permanently sick when I worked outside my home. No one wanted to risk losing their jobs by calling in sick, so they all called in. I had to bring documentation that I have an autoimmune disease, and because of this I CANNOT come into work sick (unless they wanted me to catch the bubonic plague on TOP of whatever it was I had).

I wish more employers here would understand that having CONTAGIOUS employees in the office isn't good for anyone.

/rant

[twissie]

It's a completely messed up system. People get ill, that's just how things go. :/ It's terrible that people stand to lose their jobs if they get sick! How are people supposed to recover or be able to actually do their jobs? I don't get it.

[canadaphile]

Masks are a scary thing to most cultures, not a thing to be used for sanitary reasons.

Personally, I'd wear a mask if I was sick and absolutely had to leave home. It just makes sense. I don't want to be sick. I don't want to make others sick. Obviously, both happen, but we can take measures to lessen the chances by simple things like hand washing and wearing a mask.

=^..^=~

[twissie]

But it's completely regular surgical masks, it's not like they even cover the entire face. They even come in pink or with flowers or cute bunnies~ :D

[canadaphile]

Jealous. I'd love to get cute masks for when I'm sick. I should look into getting at least the regular surgical masks; they shouldn't be too difficult to find.

Because sharing germs is not a nice sort of sharing. :/

[ragnarok_08]

People can be so inconsiderate and such pigs. I'd wear a mask if I had to get out of the house and was sick.

*hugs*

[twissie]

Yes! Me too, gladly. I always stay home when I'm sick, I used to feel guilty about it, but seeing that my actions actually improve the health situation at the workplace, I have stopped feeling guilty about it :P