Janos Gereben wrote concerning coughing at concerts:

>And yet, Jon Carroll here takes a position which is as difficult to
>agree with as it is to ignore.

Backtracking a little, Carroll's position is that coughing is an
involuntary activity, and performers should lighten up and stop getting
ticked off.

I have no difficulty agreeing with Carroll.  Most audience members
go to concerts to experience an evening of entertainment - yes, that's
correct.  They have bought the rights to a "service" which is provided by
the conductor and other performers who have a responsibility to "give"; the
audience simply has to "take." Sometimes me thinks that there is a notion
swirling around that the relationship is reversed.

Don Satz
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