People spitting

[Dongdingdong]

I live in a big city and every day I will see at least one person (it’s nearly always men but occasionally women too) spit a large globule of saliva onto the pavement. It’s not pleasant at the best of times, but even more grim when we’re in a the midst of a pandemic. AIBU to be disgusted that people do this?

It is disgusting. Seems to be a male thing, you rarely seeing women doing it. Why?

Footballers do it on national (international) TV and get away with it. I'd give them a red card at the moment.

YANBU
It's absolutely disgusting

Yep, it’s disgusting.
I agree that it seems to be cultural or football related.

Footballers do it on national (international) TV and get away with it. I'd give them a red card at the moment.

I wonder if seeing footballers spitting is partly what makes people think it’s acceptable?

Loathe it! Pandemic or not
Just as revolting is cyclists snotting out as they ride along 🤢

I've seen people do this since I was a teenager - it's nothing new. It is gross though.

Have to say I do think it was much more common when I lived in Yorkshire than here in London

It's disgusting, usually groups of men walking along together as well. It's grim. But people are dirty bastards. I've seen some vile behaviour by parents on children's icu wards.

Definitely not ok.
You know sputum samples in the lab always require extra containment level procedures.
Other samples (blood/swabs/urine/faeces) don’t unless a hazard group 3 organism is suspected.

I don't agree it's a cultural thing, it's just a dirty bastard thing.

I work in construction, the amount of globs of phlegm I have to side step when walking from the cabins is disgusting, despite there being signs everywhere saying people caught doing it will be removed from site.

Its gross and unnecessary. I dont understand why people ( universally men ime) feel the need to do it. I notice runners/ joggers seem to do it a lot too.
The only time i really feel the need to spit is after coughing up flem if ive got a chesty cough but I would never just spit it out on the pavement!! Cant they use tissue, go to the bathroom if they really need to spit.

I don't agree it's a cultural thing, it's just a dirty bastard thing.

Careful, you'll be accused of saying people of certain cultures are more likely to be dirty bastards.

I agree with everyone spitting is fucking disgusting - it's not helped that sportspeople do it and apparently that's OK. Weird, if spitting on a football pitch is necessary because of physical exertion, then so is urinating or defecating in public. In fact urinating or defecating in public is probably more necessary, because you can make yourself seriously ill if you hold those functions back for too long.

Yes really disgusting! I always give the spitters a dirty look - not that they care but at least it makes me feel a bit better.

Re is it happening in London, I guess it depends on the neighborhood, you rarely see spit on the pavement in the City or Sloane Square, more so at Oxford Circus or Brick Lane.

It was always vile, but now beyond unacceptable.

I live fairly central in London and go on lots of walks. Gross people (men) are still spitting.

universally men ime

I agree it’s 99% men, but I saw a woman do it yesterday.

I confronted somone doing this weeks ago in the city centre and I got an abusive, shouty rant of 'how dare you judge me'.

It is one of the most disgusting things ever and absolutely no reason for it. People that spit in public should be ashamed of themselves not only for having no manners but for spreading disease. Agree with PP about the revolting footballers doing it on TV, should be sent off for being dirty pigs.

It is fucking disgusting. I was driving home the other day (driving slowly as I went last the school) and I saw a man gob all over the pavement. I shouted out of the window at him 'please don't spit, we're in a pandemic and it is REVOLTING!'

He jumped out of his skin, put his head down and carried on walking. Dirty pig. I hope he thinks twice next time.

It's very popular with men in the Canary Islands, gross

Gross. I'm sure there are bye-laws against it and I wish they were enforced with fines. (Hard to catch it happening, I admit.)

I have been known to shout 'Filthy pig' at men in the street - but they are not the type to care!

I confronted somone doing this weeks ago in the city centre and I got an abusive, shouty rant of 'how dare you judge me'.

Good for you @JaffaJaffJaffpussycatpuss! I’m not surprised at the response you got though unfortunately. People who are happy to spit all over the pavement are not likely to be upstanding members of society

I remember as a youngster in the 70s it was quite commonplace. I think it was seen as ‘better out than in’, but also, at least where I grew up, people weren’t particularly careful to clear up after their dogs, not drop litter, etc.

DP and I were in China this time last year, and spitting was commonplace, but only among men. We saw a lot of ‘no spitting’ signs, so I assume it’s something the powers that be want to reduce.

I remember as a youngster in the 70s it was quite commonplace.

Interesting - I don’t remember it being half so commonplace 20 or 30 years ago as it is now.

Fucking vile. I see this all the time and it makes me heave. Vile