Well,what would YOU have said?!

[Spangles1963]

I live above a parade of shops,one of which is a gents' barbers. There are always 3 or 4 blokes hanging around outside this shop,smoking and talking. I walked past them today on my way to the bus stop,and one of them was standing with his back to me. As I drew level with him,he swung round and gobbed a large dollop of phlegm on the pavement,directly in my path,about 2 feet away from me. (not envy). He spotted me and said 'Oh sorry miss,I didn't see you there'. I just rolled my eyes and said 'Right' and carried on walking. His response? 'For fucks sake,I shouldn't have bothered saying nuffink!'. What did he expect me to say,or do?! Pat him on the back and say 'That's ok,I don't mind people spitting and narrowly missing me'. Spitting is one of my pet hates. Apart from the fact that he shouldn't have been spitting on the pavement anyway,surely if you were going to go ahead and do it regardless,you should check that no one is walking past first?! Honestly,words just fail me at the cheek of some people. What would YOU have said?

[jarhead123]

I'd have given my standard response, "thats ok" and smiled. Even though I'd have been disgusted. I seem to come out with cheery replies automatically even when pissed off!

[Namechangetempissue]

I would have probably said no problem. He apologised, and while I hate spitting and think its gross I couldn't be arsed with a potential arguement in the street with a group of people I had to walk past frequently. He won't stop spitting because you got the hump. You are right, it is disgusting though

[ScreamingValenta]

Sadly, I would probably just have smiled vaguely and hurried on. I'm not very courageous in my dealings with strangers .

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Well my response would definitely not been polite- that sounds absolutely disgusting and I would have made sure they'd have known about it

[HarrietSchulenberg]

I usually say "Please don't do that, it really is disgusting", but with a smile. It's happened a few times (my town is full of gobbers) and they either ignore me or apologise shiftily, if they have a conscience. My luck will probably run out soon.

[Ttbb]

I would have just stared aghast. I am normally quite sharp witted but this is just no. One shouldn't be spitting in the street regardless of whether you are narrowly missing someone else or not. Just the thought is making me feel sick.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

I usually say "Please don't do that, it really is disgusting", but with a smile. It's happened a few times (my town is full of gobbers) and they either ignore me or apologise shiftily, if they have a conscience. My luck will probably run out soon.

[BatteredBreadedOrSouthernFried]

Depends if my kids were with me or not. If so I would have done the same as you. If not I would have yelled “that’s fucking disgusting. Who reared you?” And not waited for an answer.

[AmysTiara]

I probably would have scowled at him and walked off.

I do a lot of scowling. It's my face's favourite expression. Especially when dealing with people.

[Spangles1963]

at jarhead! I'm quite surprised actually that the same words didn't fall out of my mouth as they frequently seem to in these sort of situations!
Namechangetempissue Yes I agree that I really didn't want to get involved in a slanging match in the street,as I have to walk past them on a daily basis! I'm just hoping that they're not there when I have to walk past them on my way home. The bloody shop stays open until gone 9 at night and there's always a group assembled outside. The smell of cannabis coming from the shop is overpowering,but that's another story......

[Spangles1963]

It's the sort of situation that I wished my (adult) DD was with me. She is the queen of withering put-downs with things like this.

[bimbobaggins]

I would have said you clatty bastard

[Spangles1963]

Clatty? Now there's a word I've not heard before!

[IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst]

The kids in our area get the TB vaccination these days because of people spitting in the street and spreading disease ... Revolting.

[lurkingnotlurking]

I think my face would have conveyed horror and disgust. My reaction though would have been to mutter 'it's okay' but without a smile

[viques]

I think if it is happening a lot I would be contacting my local council and asking what their bylaws are about spitting, in my borough it is an £80 fine. Maybe a few enforcement officers would get the message home.

I once nearly laughed my self stupid at a disgusting old spitter who misjudged velocity and it went all down his coat. A good day!

[letsdolunch321]

Vile specimen - I cannot bear spitting/gobbing. Ughhhh

[BuzzKillington]

I would've said 'dirty bastard!' and possibly vomited on his feet.

Just walking past a spit, not even seeing it done, will have me retching for about an hour.

It should be a hanging offence.

[DPotter]

Thing is, whatever you say you can’t predict how the person will react.

Last week I was walking down a busy pavement and a man just to my left suddenly spun around and stepped into my path, barging me over. I just said ‘please mind’ and got an ear full telling me to get a ‘f Life’. I was cold and late and couldn’t be bothered to argue but could hear him mythering behind me. Some people just jump into aggressive mode from nothing.

[Spangles1963]

The thing is,I'm usually a pretty forgiving sort of person. If someone barges me/walks into me/treads on my foot on the bus etc and apologises,99% of the time I will smile and say 'That's ok'. But because I find spitting so abhorrent,I really couldn't find it in me to be gracious about his apology. I am of the same mindset as you BuzzKillington in that just seeing spit on the pavement makes me feel queasy,never mind witnessing it being done.
Viques - there are actually notices up on lamp posts in my local area about spitting,saying there is a an £80 fine if you are caught! Not that it seems to deter these filthy bastards. Probably because there are never any enforcement officers patrolling. I've witnessed people in my local high street being handed fines for dropping a cigarette butt or an apple core. But for spitting? Never.

[ptumbi]

Spitting is disgusting. I always shudder visibly when I see someone doing it - it' is such a turn off.

I blame the footballers. They are such vile role-models.

[hollowtree]

This just reminded me of YEARS ago when I was at a bus stop. There was an elderly lady waiting there too and some young couple snogging. When they stopped... the guy spat on the pavement (which was so gross) and the elderly lady looked at me sadly and said "My husband died for the ground these youngsters spit on". I could have cried!!

[LloydColeandtheCoconuts]

Last week I was at the bus stop (clearly a gobber’s hangout) and I saw this man bumbling towards us. He was pissed and looked like he was ready to vomit so I deliberately moved my DS (3) and buggy with 3 month DD. Then our bus came so we went to get on and he spat right next to us. Well I couldn’t hold in my annoyance, “did you HAVE to do that?” I snapped. We were getting on the bus at this stage so if he said anything I wasn’t really listening. The dirty bastard.
In another world I would have been slightly sick in my mouth but would have said nothing.

[Allthetuppences]

It makes me feel sick normally and I am currently morning noon and night sickness. I'd merrily throw up just past him and mumble "oh sorry love".

[Bluntness100]

I’d have screwed up my face and made a disgusted “ugh”sound as I kept walking. If he’d challenged me as he did you, I would have turned round and told him “ffs yourself, that’s fucking disgusting”. Not aggressively more matter of fact.

I grew up in a fairly rough environment and my brothers friends weren’t good people, to put it nicely, so I tend not to be afraid of that kind of guy and much much worse types. In fact the opposite, I’m quite keen to stand up to them given half a chance. They always react with surprise because I guess I don’t look like the sort to stand up to them. Old habits die hard.