I really hate to belabor (belabour) this point, and I could gather up more righteous rage when my children were really small...but I do wonder how much healthier we would all be if people really would take care of themselves and stay at home or keep their children at home when they had colds/flu, etc. when they're coughing or sneezing. The thing is, it is perceived to result in "lost productivity"...but how productive are really sick people, anyway?
Don't you think that much of this has to do with economics? Less cleaning expenses, maintenance, potential safety hazards, etc., etc. I don't like it when people light up in a restaurant while I am trying to enjoy a meal. I don't like people smoking around my children. But sometimes it seems to go too far. Perhaps really separate rooms for smoking, with adequate ventilation systems not just the cordoned-off areas many places tried to get away with. And I must agree with Michael that the alcohol seems to be a much more dangerous issue, yet my son sees beer ads with laughing, healthy looking young people whenever he watches a sporting event. We need some balance here, somehow. |
