A few years ago, I sat next to someone with a cold. I tried to turn my head away the entire flight but caught the cold. I even tried to wash hands and not touch my face. The flight was half way across the U.S.

One week ago, I sat next to someone with a cold. Coughing and blowing nose. Flight also half way across the U.S. This time, I brought a paper mask with me. I put it on. One week later and I still don't have a cold. Success! Next time, I might carry two masks. One for me and one for the sick passenger. What do you think about giving a mask to a coughing person. Will they refuse to wear it and get mad?

Id probably tell you to kiss my behind. What make you think the mask stopped a cold? Do you wear one everyday and everywhere you go. Seat mates are not the only source of a cold virus.

Or perhaps your body already had had it, so you wouldn't catch it readily?

Really? I've heard of people catching two colds during one winter.

I know that there are selfish people and bullies. That is why I might not ask someone else to wear a mask. Or I might offer to them and give them an easy way to decline.

However, suggesting that seat mates don't give you colds after coughing for hours is silly logic. That would be like finding the shoe bomber not guilty because he could have just been wearing the shoe bomb with no intention of blowing the plane up, just playing with matches....right.

Tuberculosis is spread by coughing on planes. The reason they track it is because you don't get over it like the common cold but the method of transmission is the same.

An anecdote does not constitute evidence.

I'm not normally confrontational, but if someone did that to me, I'd tell them to go have intimate relations with themselves.

Tell that to the doofi who avoid a flu shot because "I had one once, and got a cold a month later, so I'll never have one again.

OP, feel free to wear a mask. It may prevent you from touching your nose and mouth as often, which might cut your chances of catching a cold a tiny bit.

I'd advise you not to offend others by offering them a mask.

forgive me if there's a thread on this, but I am starting to believe that weekly air travel with sick people had actually strengthened my immune system

I think wearing a mask is great when you feel like youre not well, or prone to getting someone elses cold, but there is no way you can ever prove wearing the mask did it--
isnt the incubation period of colds something like 10-14 days??

Peter Sarsgaard had a warehouse full of masks to sell you you.

Sure. But was a DIFFERENT virus. You may have had the same virus previously.

[Off-topic text edited by Moderator.]

As far as offering someone a mask, the most I'd do might be to say "if you want a mask to wear, too, just ask me..up to you" I'd hope that the other passenger doesn't say "I am so offended that I'm going to smash your face in".

I think some other passengers might have been jealous. They looked at my mask and at least one tried to cover her nose with her hand for a long time. She didn't appear to be laughing but trying to make her own mask.

If I had a cold, I'd either not travel or wear my own mask, now that I bought a box. Next time, I'll carry two in case the return trip also has a cougher.

You could put it on and then when you get... why is that guy wearing a [edit by Moderator] mask, look. You could innocently ask if they would like one. Share and share alike

If you had a decent immune system you wouldn't get I'll. My whole family works with sick people, actually ill people, not just coughing. And we very very rarely get ill.

I flew in November (without a mask) and didn't get a cold.
I got a bad cold last month without having flown since November.
Then I flew two weeks ago (without a mask) and didn't get a cold.
Conclusion: I should fly all the time if I want to keep healthy.

just an anecdote, lol--several years ago it was my first year being on planes a lot and I seemed to have bronchitis forever......I did buy a few masks and wore them because I was feeling really weak and just felt like I might have a relapse, plus I felt like it was the only fair thing to do...I got a few wierd looks but quite frankly I didnt care.....I dont expect anyone who is ill to cancel their flight because the airline charges so much, but I do think if you are visibly ill or coughing/sniffling that wearing a mask is a very kind thing to do...I wish they had them on the check in counters, maybe that would encourage more folks--it may not stop someone from getting sick but it stops the cough if you have one from flying everywhere. Now my immune system is incredibly robust