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Is it rude to ask an adult to cover their mouth when they cough?

I'm happy that children are being taught to cough and sneeze into their sleeves and not their hands, but I've encountered adults who don't cover their mouths at all and cough and sneeze all over everyone. Do you risk looking like a germaphobe or is it best to not say anything?
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jillbeth
jillbeth
Marked as Best! October 10, 2009 01:03 AM
No, I don't think it is rude if you ask them nicely. They're being even more rude, because everybody KNOWS you should cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. It might be more diplomatic to just put a box of tissues within their reach, if they have enough sense to take the hint.
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dr_ah
dr_ah
October 10, 2009 02:05 AM
Growing age when brings lots of experience also gives increased senstivity to adults. So it might be very embarrasing for an adult if you ask directly to stop throwing germs on me. I think the best way is to say politely "I think you are not feeling good, and offer them some tissue paper. please let me know any thing else I can do for you." At the same time you should protect yourself from the germs, its never rude to protect yourself. Germs have no politeness or rudeness:).Stay healthy.
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shewolfsil...
shewolfsil...
October 10, 2009 03:51 PM
In this age with all the new bacterias and new flus going around I don't think it would be rude at all. In fact I would insist on it.
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psynopsis
psynopsis
October 11, 2009 01:57 AM
Most adults take it as an insult. It usually depends, I always used to tell my parents to cover their mouth if they were about to sneeze. I didn't ask them I would just tell them, I would yell out "Cover you mouth". They wouldn't take it as an insult though, even my father who always took everything in a bad way.

They would just be like "How come YOU never cover YOUR mouth", or "I can sneeze anyway I want to". But if it's an adult you don't know very well, I would just flinch and hopefully that would remind them to cover their mouth. I would just get away from them as soon as I knew they were going to blow.
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gaduputi
gaduputi
October 12, 2009 03:13 AM
It is common sense of the individual . You had right to say any body .Age and degree ,status is not important.
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