What is the etiquette regarding sneezing in public?

Question

first time this ever happened to me.....someone got offended by my sneezing.

I went to McDonalds. As I was putting my trash away, I had some allergies and sneezed several times, into a napkin. I overheard a man saying "cut that out..etc:.., I first assumed he was talking to his little girl especially since he was not any making eye contact with me. However, I noticed that only he said that after I sneezed so it became clear my sneezing bothered him. To verify, I then blew my noise and he said, without making eye contact, to "do it outside because they were trying to eat." I went outside because I am a peaceful person and for all knew, he was some kind of nut job who might have become violent if I sneezed again.

I could see being offended if I was sneezing at a play or movie or something, but it's just McDonalds, not exactly a place one goes to for ambience. There are obnoxious kids, dirty surfaces, loud people all over the place, seemed I was just fitting in.

Thoughts?

LX V - might have been a wee bit impolite for me to go into the ladies room, given I am a guy.

Answer 1

That man just needed to feel big to his kids. If everyone who sneezed or had to blow their nose waited for the right moment, we'd have a lot of blown sinuses. People correct other people's behavior in public because they can. It's their chance to be the boss. I love the comment about Mc Donald's and ambience-lol. It certainly isnt the Ritz.

Answer 2

I was once in a restaurant where a similar thing happened, somebody started to sneeze and cough and another diner got visibly upset by it and started making comments. After watching him for a few minutes I realized he was also arranging everything on the table just so, and realized he probably had OCD or some other disorder. It wasn't unusual that the person was sneezing, but it really, really upset this guy.

I wouldn't worry too much about it since you don't know the whole situation. Sneezing can't be helped. I'd be subtle about blowing my nose around people who are eating, but even that is not that big of a deal.

Answer 3

If you have a habit of sneezing several times in a row, the polite thing to do is to head to the ladies room and let the fit pass there. Definitely you should save the nose-blowing for the restroom.

ETA:
Many apologies for my assumption NBR. I'm gonna go give myself 40 lashes with a wet noodle now.
But boy that sure would have made everyone forget about the sneezing.

Answer 4

He may have just been being that way. It wasn't like you were sneezing on him or his kids you sneezed into a napkin. Sneezes are something you really can't control. I'm sure if you could have helped it you wouldn't have been sneezing to start with and you right if he is so worried about such things why is he even going in a McDonald's, you know those places are covered in germs.

Answer 5

Sneezing into a napkin is perfectly acceptable. It's not like we can really stop from sneezing - they just happen. However, blowing your nose in the restaurant where people were eating was not appropriate at all. The man who commented on your sneezing was rude, but he had every right to comment when you blew your nose.

Answer 6

You answered your own question and very well I might add. There are times when you just can't stifle a sneeze. The man was rude to you not the other way around. You used a napkin, it's not like you turned to face him then sneeze in his face.

Answer 7

The guy is a jerk, but you blew it, so to speak when it came to your nose. You can't help the sneezing, and as long as you sneezed without spraying everywhere, he didn't have any reason to fault you. The nose blowing should have been done in a more discreet location, in the restroom or away from others. You did well to avoid confrontation, though.

Answer 8

You can't help when you sneeze. So long as you had your mouth covered, you were ok. I could see being expected to go outside of you were having a huge sneezing fit, but just a few times is normal. Some people are just obnoxious jerks who like to complain.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

sudden unexpected sneezing is something you usually can't help. Ettiquette would dictate saying "excuse me" and removing yourself if continuing to sneeze. Polite people usually say to the sneezer "bless you" (because in olden times people thought the body was trying to forcefully expell demons by sneezing, and blessing them was the thing to do) or they say "geshundheit".
people get grossed out when somebody blows their nose, especially when eating, even if it is "just" McDonald's.
You say you were "fitting in" with disgusting people, why not rise above that and act like you have some class instead?