Patrick

I've spent the last 24 hours thinking about this.

So some of you think that having a clean handkerchief in my pocket each day, which I take out and sneeze or cough into and then put back into my pocket is "nasty" or "unsanitary" or "unacceptable". But if instead I were to sneeze into my shirt sleeve that I wave around in people's faces all day, that is perfectly fine?
Wow, I have a hard time trying to figure out this reasoning.

jorr

LoveItaly, You did the right thing. I have no doubt that the manager found out about the sneezing and attitude of the clerk. I would have walked out and left the groceries too (then called the manager) even though I live in a two grocery store town. I wonder if all those groceries were put right back on the shelves for someone else to pick up.

Patrick, The thing about sneezing into your shirt sleeve is that it is better to do that than sneezing into your hand. Most people do not carry handkerchieves and/or can't get to them in time. Hands are the number one carrier of germs from one person to another and NANDkerchiefs are always Handled. Shirt sleeves are not.

JJ5, What? Daycare caused sneezing on food? There wasn't any daycare in the dark ages and people were dieing like flies.

JJ5

You got me confused with Stephanie, jorr.

And she said that daycare may be a reason that MANNERS have not been passed on.

And manners really have not been passed to many, many otherwise lovely and excellent people.

Meesthare

Patrick - obviously sneezing into a handkerchief that you then put into your pocket makes a lot more sense than getting various nasal fluids all over your shirt sleeve. I guess whether it's a disposable tissue or a washable handkerchief is simply a matter of esthetics. But coughing is another story. If you need to cough (not a wet, spitty type of cough, hopefully) it's better to cover your mouth with the crook of your arm rather than your hand. Professional singers do this as a matter of course. Choral conductors tell their singers "If you have a cold, give it to your elbow!" It looks a bit funny the first time you see somebody doing it, but singers do a lot of post-performance handshaking, and it's nice not to have to hand out your germs to an appreciative public.

jorr

JJ5, you are right. I had the wrong person.

LoveItaly

Hi jorr, FYI, I did call the manager. He really didn't care. I got the impression he didn't even go to that checkout stand (the woman behind me had demanded that the checkout clerk call the manager). Up to about six months ago this supermarket had a great manager but it looks like he has been replaced. And yes jorr, no doubt the groceries were put back on the shelves. Yuck!!! Take care.