Evan Prodromou

Why do people stay home when they're sick?

#EvanPoll #poll

To rest and get better
39.5%
To keep others from getting sick
37.1%
To avoid embarrassment
3.1%
They can
20.4%
Poll ended at .
Apr 7 at 6:13amWeb
Show threadEvan Prodromou1d ago

Thanks to everyone. I think people stay home when they're sick primarily because it's one of the few occasions for taking time off.

I think it's also embarrassing to smell of sick sweat and vomit and to have snot and phlegm coming out of every hole and to have to sprint for the toilet with nausea or diarrhea every 15 minutes. It's weird that so few respondents thought this was a motivator for people to stay home.

Show threadEvan Prodromou1d ago

I also think that people stay home to rest -- either they are exhausted, or they know that rest will help them heal.

But I rarely talk to people who think of home rest as a way to stop the spread of disease and to take care of others. I usually have to explain the idea when it comes up. I'm surprised how many respondents thought it was a major motivator.

Anyway: first, third, and fourth. Thanks for replying everyone!

Show threadmalte1d ago
@evan The best leaders at my workplace have made a point in asking people to go home when they're sick exactly for that reason - to not spread disease to others, which will get even more in the way of what you're trying to do.
Show threadMark Andrew1d ago

@evan

I really do stay home when sick to avoid spreading viruses. And I get kind of annoyed with people when they don't.

Show threadRabbit Cohen1d ago
@evan I suppose the embarrassment factor depends on how sick you are for me? Like if you're in danger of not making it to the bathroom, then yeah, sure. But I guess I don't find the rest of it embarrassing. *shrug*
Show threadBruno Girin1d ago
@BathysphereHat @evan If I'm so sick I risk not making it to the bathroom, that would fall under "to get better" rather than "to avoid embarrassment".
Show threadRabbit Cohen1d ago
@brunogirin @evan Fair!
Show threadGeoff Coffey1d ago
@BathysphereHat @evan It's probably yet another toxic masculinity thing but I absolutely to not like people knowing I'm sick. It feels very vulnerable and exposing.
Show threadRabbit Cohen1d ago
@gwcoffey @evan Huh, that makes sense, but it never would've occurred to me.
Show threadAdrian1d ago
@evan I didn't understand what you meant by embarrassing in this situation.
Show threadEthan Black1d ago
@evan Perhaps a lot of them were thinking of sicknesses like the common cold, which, especially with medication, are quite manageable (though somewhat miserable).
Show threadMark Andrew2d ago

@evan

I love that you chose the word do over the word should. I answered the should question anyway.

Show threadSean Tilley1d ago

@evan It really takes a lot to get me to stay home, especially after having served Active Duty. I only take days off if I’m really, really sick.

What’s particularly frustrating about this situation in adulthood is that a lot of places have these weird expectations. My school, for example, lets you have like a maximum of 4 excused absences per class per semester. Anything after that is considered unexcused. COVID is considered unexcused now. Anything short of “death in the family” is treated like that in Maricopa County schools.

Show threadChris 🦑1d ago
@deadsuperhero @evan god ... wtf honestly. Which century is that?
Show threadSean Tilley1d ago
@sturmsucht @evan It really pisses me off, honestly.
Show threaddpflug1d ago
@evan
I suspect the embarrassment one is much higher than we think, in actuality.
Show threadEvan Prodromou1d ago
@dpflug me too.
Show threadGeoff Coffey1d ago
@evan My wife says I'm like a cat because I don't like anybody to know I'm sick. I like to both hide from people and pretend I'm fine. So I'm guessing this falls into the "avoid embarrassment" category.