We’ve finally come to that time of year where we actually have the need to use those cough drops that melted in our glove box over the summer and search endlessly for that bottle of medicine the doctor prescribed for last year’s ills. We’ve entered: The Sick Zone.

No one likes to be sick (at least, no one that I would consider sane likes to be sick), but no matter how hard we try, we’re bound to catch something (and I’m not talking about Mr./Ms. Right).

If there’s one thing that’s been bugging me this flu and cold season, it’s the inability of the “sick” to maintain manners when in this altered state of health. I’m not griping about a man with a cold cutting me off in traffic; I’m talking about contamination.

Manners are a two-way street and we should be polite and respect those who are ill (I’m only focusing on people with temporary colds and flu, etc.) The “ill,” in return, should respect those holding on for dear life to their healthy state of functioning.