Sneezing etiquette

[Sophia]

If you have to sneeze, I know that you should:
a)  Leave the dining table
b)  Use a hanky
c)  Wash your hands, if at all possible. 

Should you say anything immediately after you sneezed?  I mean beyond excusing yourself to go to the restroom. 

Backstory:
FH and I had an etiquette argument yesterday.  I was driving the first leg of a long trip.  I sneezed.  I commented that he never said, "Gesundheit" or any equivalent.  He said he waits for the sneezer to say "Excuse me."  Which makes completely no sense.  We then had an argument, I left out some of the incendiary stuff.  I did a book and internet search, and the only thing I learned is that you can stop a sneeze by pressing on your upper lip.

Generally, his manners are wonderful because his mother is a gracious woman who whacked the backside of his head when he was rude.

[Sibby]

well I always do say excuse me, but I certainly don't think it's rude to not get up from the table - i'd never get to sit again!  Thinking one must physically excuse themselves to sneeze is way over the top.

"bless you" should be said to sneezers regardless of their saying "excuse me".

[DottyG]

well I always do say excuse me, but I certainly don't think it's rude to not get up from the table - i'd never get to sit again!  Thinking one must physically excuse themselves to sneeze is way over the top.

"bless you" should be said to sneezers regardless of their saying "excuse me".

I agree with Sibby.

[jimithing]

I'm not exactly sure why one would need to leave the table after they sneezed.  To wash their hands?  I will use a napkin, if it's there, but if not, I sneeze into my hands, and I don't leave the table.

I agree that it's polite to say something after the person sneezes, whether it's "Bless you" or something else.

[anechka]

I had always understood that you should excuse yourself from a dining table if you sneeze, presumably because germs expelled by a sneeze ought to be washed off, and if, as often happens, you are to sneeze repeatedly you should not do it where people are eating.  And I do normally say "excuse me" after I sneeze if it interrupts a meeting or a conversation.  But if I"m sitting on a couch watching tv and FH is sitting at a desk playing videogames, then I don't say excuse me after sneezing.  I would say bless you regardless of whether the sneezer said "excuse me".

[beach678]

I never sneeze into my hands, ick. Medical people are instructed to sneeze into their elbow if you can't grab a tissue.  I guess if it's going to be a "wet" sneeze you might want to avoid the cashmere sweater. 

As for "bless you" I hate that. It may be common lingo to say after someone sneeze but really, I don't need you to bless me. My soul has not escaped through my nose and the only demon that will inhabit my body is the one going to be released on the blesser.

[jimithing]

As for "bless you" I hate that. It may be common lingo to say after someone sneeze but really, I don't need you to bless me. My soul has not escaped through my nose and the only demon that will inhabit my body is the one going to be released on the blesser.

beach, this has been discussed on other threads, but do you say anything when someone says, "Bless you."?  I was actually told by someone that they didn't need my blessings, and I was slightly taken aback.  My coworker says, "God bless you.", which always sounds weird to me, for some reason. 

[Sibby]

Well we could carry on Elaine's campaign (remember Seinfeld?) and all start saying "you are so good looking" in response to a sneeze.

[jimithing]

Well we could carry on Elaine's campaign (remember Seinfeld?) and all start saying "you are so good looking" in response to a sneeze.

LOL!  I forgot about that!   

[beach678]

As for "bless you" I hate that. It may be common lingo to say after someone sneeze but really, I don't need you to bless me. My soul has not escaped through my nose and the only demon that will inhabit my body is the one going to be released on the blesser.

beach, this has been discussed on other threads, but do you say anything when someone says, "Bless you."?  I was actually told by someone that they didn't need my blessings, and I was slightly taken aback.  My coworker says, "God bless you.", which always sounds weird to me, for some reason. 

Depends on my mood and if I have to interact with that person on a routine basis. Bad mood + stranger = "Please don't bless me as I may not have the same beliefs as you". Good mood + stranger = Ignore. People I have to work with = Smile and "I prefer Gesundheit"

[kathrynne]

In our house the rule is that the sneezer must first apologize to the neurotic cat who will be screeching at the sneezer in anger, and who will also be leaving the room even angrier if the sneezing continues.

Then every human within earshot either fights off the laughter or goes with it as the parrot mocks the sneezing.

Extra points if the parrot was perched on your finger and almost fell off during the sneeze. Even more points if you're male and Mr. Neurotic was on your lap when you sneezed, thus needing to make a hasty exit that's quite painful for the sneezer.

Allergies are fun in this house.

[jimithing]

As for "bless you" I hate that. It may be common lingo to say after someone sneeze but really, I don't need you to bless me. My soul has not escaped through my nose and the only demon that will inhabit my body is the one going to be released on the blesser.

beach, this has been discussed on other threads, but do you say anything when someone says, "Bless you."?  I was actually told by someone that they didn't need my blessings, and I was slightly taken aback.  My coworker says, "God bless you.", which always sounds weird to me, for some reason. 

Depends on my mood and if I have to interact with that person on a routine basis. Bad mood + stranger = "Please don't bless me as I may not have the same beliefs as you". Good mood + stranger = Ignore. People I have to work with = Smile and "I prefer Gesundheit"

I have no problem with someone saying, "I prefer Gesundheit"  That is much more polite than the lady who yelled at me.  I just don't even think about it.  It's one of those little colloquialisms that it just second nature to me, but if someone told me that they didn't like it, I would respect that.

[Bibliophile]

I never sneeze into my hands, ick. Medical people are instructed to sneeze into their elbow if you can't grab a tissue.  I guess if it's going to be a "wet" sneeze you might want to avoid the cashmere sweater. 

As for "bless you" I hate that. It may be common lingo to say after someone sneeze but really, I don't need you to bless me. My soul has not escaped through my nose and the only demon that will inhabit my body is the one going to be released on the blesser.

Wouldn't good etiquette dictate that you politely acknowledge their "bless you" without releasing the demons on the person for doing so?  Is it such a horrible thing to be nice?

[DottyG]

I never sneeze into my hands, ick. Medical people are instructed to sneeze into their elbow if you can't grab a tissue.  I guess if it's going to be a "wet" sneeze you might want to avoid the cashmere sweater. 

As for "bless you" I hate that. It may be common lingo to say after someone sneeze but really, I don't need you to bless me. My soul has not escaped through my nose and the only demon that will inhabit my body is the one going to be released on the blesser.

Wouldn't good etiquette dictate that you politely acknowledge their "bless you" without releasing the demons on the person for doing so?  Is it such a horrible thing to be nice?

I agree.  There's no reason to be rude to someone who's trying to be nice by simply saying "Bless you."  "Releasing a demon on the blesser"?  Extremely rude.  And, I'd hope that none of our EHellions would do such a thing.

[jimithing]

I never sneeze into my hands, ick. Medical people are instructed to sneeze into their elbow if you can't grab a tissue.  I guess if it's going to be a "wet" sneeze you might want to avoid the cashmere sweater. 

As for "bless you" I hate that. It may be common lingo to say after someone sneeze but really, I don't need you to bless me. My soul has not escaped through my nose and the only demon that will inhabit my body is the one going to be released on the blesser.

Wouldn't good etiquette dictate that you politely acknowledge their "bless you" without releasing the demons on the person for doing so?  Is it such a horrible thing to be nice?

I agree.  There's no reason to be rude to someone who's trying to be nice by simply saying "Bless you."  "Releasing a demon on the blesser"?  Extremely rude.  And, I'd hope that none of our EHellions would do such a thing.

beach did go back and explain what she actually says, and it's not rude.