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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell this man what he's doing is disgusting?

153 replies

Helpinsuchapickle · 02/03/2017 19:55

warning. May make some people feel a bit sick

walk to school and back every day, there is one basic route from my house (so I can't go another way before it's suggested).

I pass by a fellow school childs house early on and the father and I often end up walking close to each other. We don't talk as he doesn't speak English bar a few phrases.

Here's the problem. He spits and blows his nose constantly. Not into a hankie, but onto the floor. He hacks up phlegm very loudly and really fires it out. And when he blows his nose he covers one nostril and blows everything out through the other one. Everywhere with no tissue.

It actually makes me heave. I've been late to school before because I've had to hang behind him and wait for him to get a good deal ahead of me because I couldn't listen/see it.

WIBU to say something to him?

It's literally every day I see him hack something up.

OP posts:
KickingKat · 02/03/2017 22:12

See I think DIRTY would work

Shame is a great changer of behaviour

I'm convinced most of us stay on the side of legality because the overriding fear is shame by our peers. Our town had a fall in shoplifting after the police started handcuffing people and walking them through town to the police station instead of driving them.

Shame works wonders!

KickingKat · 02/03/2017 22:14

In fact try walking behind him ringing a big school bell shouting

UNCLEAN

UNCLEAN

Bet it works Wink

Italiangreyhound · 02/03/2017 22:15

It is totally cultural. I would leave earlier and avoid him.

roseteapot101 · 02/03/2017 22:15

Maybe this country needs to start making more public awareness adds on tv. Things like coughs and sneezes spread diseases use a tissue to remind people why this is considered dirty

if there was a leaflet maybe you could sneak one through his letter box

WorshipTheGourd · 02/03/2017 22:21

well there is a lot less of it in the Royal Mile than there used to be so maybe the health message is getting through?

Racheyg · 02/03/2017 22:21

This happens all the time near where I live and they don't give a shit even when you show your disgust.

WorraLiberty · 02/03/2017 22:24

I think just about everyone knows it's cultural, surely?

However, that has nothing to do with it since I assume the OP and this man are in the UK?

Sara107 · 02/03/2017 22:32

As others have said, spitting used to be pretty normal and became socially unacceptable partly due to extensive extensive public health campaigns. But in other countries it is quite usual, and could possibly take quite a bit of explaining to this man as to why it's not ok here. Just offering him some tissues is likely to just baffle him! I think in some countries it's actually considered a bit repulsive to snot into a tissue and stuff it into your pocket or up your sleeve. Much cleaner to get it out onto the street!!

WorraLiberty · 02/03/2017 22:36

It's only 'much cleaner' for the spitter/snotter though - not for anyone walking down the road.

Selfish cunts need to use a tissue.

ChrisYoungFuckingRocks · 02/03/2017 22:39

Last weekend at the train station a (white British) man hawked and spat right in front of me on the platform. I looked at him in disgust and said: Nice! He then proceeded to shout abuse at me and get quite aggressive. He was also very drunk. Sweet revenge though - he got on the train and got thrown off by the conductor. He refused to leave, called the conductor a gay boy, and the police were called. The train was delayed. All because of spit!

cheeseandpineapple · 02/03/2017 22:52

Are you in London OP? It's a litter offence in a number of boroughs and can be fined.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-304410

Check with your local council if there's anything that can be done, maybe they can send someone to deal with it if it's happening on a pretty much daily basis.

PonderingButterfly · 02/03/2017 23:00

That sounds like my area except I have plenty of routes.
It's not pleasant but unfortunately in my area it's cultural norm and I might just get punched in the face if I raise my disgust.Because I doubt I'd be polite about it.Maybe offer a tissue, but I wouldn't even want to be near the guy. People can be really inconsiderate.Maybe do what he does, ha, and see how he likes it. And why should you suffer being late or being early just to avoid his trail.I'm feeling nauseated.

A friend of mine got fine for spitting, well he didn't want to swallow phlegm.

endofthelinefinally · 02/03/2017 23:02

TB is on the rise again.

Formalyknownas99 · 02/03/2017 23:12

VeryBitchyRestingFace Thu 02-Mar-17 20:26:27
And when he blows his nose he covers one nostril and blows everything out through the other one. Everywhere with no tissue.

Footage or it didn't happen. Grin

HahahaGrin

FrancisCrawford · 02/03/2017 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tillytown · 02/03/2017 23:18

Tell the council, he might stop after he has been fined

ladymariner · 02/03/2017 23:21

And this is yet another reason why it's shoes off in my house!!! How fucking disgusting.....pmsl at giving somebody who was hawking and flobbing all over the place some flowers!!! Insane! Give them a filthy look and a tissue.

peaceloveandbiscuits · 02/03/2017 23:26

I frequently tell off gangs of teenagers (of all ethnicities) for this. It's vile and I don't want to push my pushchair through it, dirty, selfish, disgusting people. Urgh makes me want to heave.

Can you very loudly mention to your children how disgusting spitting is and how they must never do it etc?

Jux · 02/03/2017 23:27

TB has become a treat again because of this, so sod cultural norms.

Hand him a hanky with a disgusted look on your face.

Jux · 02/03/2017 23:33

Sara, he doesn't need to understand why it's not accetable here, he just need to understand that it's not acceptable here. We don't spend time explaining to people why honour killing or fgm isn't acceptable here, we just say that it's not.

KoolKoala07 · 02/03/2017 23:49

Yuk yuk yuk! It may well be cultural for them, but it's not part of our culture. why do people get away with making up their own fucking rules?!
Isn't pooing on the streets a thing in Indian? let's hope it doesn't become a common sight here Envy- not envy!

KoolKoala07 · 02/03/2017 23:49

India! Not Indian.

WorraLiberty · 03/03/2017 00:07

Tell the council, he might stop after he has been fined

I don't know about your council, but mine has cut back on vital services to the elderly/ disabled/ vulnerable children that will no doubt have a serious effect on on their actual lives, due to the fact they have to literally save millions of pounds over the next few years.

There is no way they're going to spare someone to stand in the street, watching to see if this man spits as he passes by Confused

ShoutOutToMyEx · 03/03/2017 01:54

There is no way they're going to spare someone to stand in the street, watching to see if this man spits as he passes by

😂😂😂

WiltingTulip · 03/03/2017 03:19

Thankfully I have never seen this but I think the first time I would have let out a very audible gasp and OMG and when he turned around showed disgust and offer him a tissue.
Since it's being going on for awhile I'd say "excuse me, that's really gross". Hopefully his dc will register the disgust and pressure him.

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