What’s this spitting thing? (And we’re not talking chewing tobacco.) Used to be, those who spat in public were considered ill-bred and vulgar. They were the no good-bums, the drunk, the vile, the unprincipled, the gang thugs, making a statement, drawing a line to dare his opponent.
At the very least, they probably did not have a mama who taught them good manners and high moral character. But nowadays, all the heroes do it. You can’t watch a major-league sports game without observing this disgusting habit — spitting of saliva or respiratory tract goodies onto the ground.
Once an athlete myself, even the quick swishing of one’s dry mouth with a couple sips of water on a time out, was swallowed, not spat on the ground or playing court. Today, the sports, movie, TV, and rock “stars” are seen doing it. Anywhere — in-your-face, tough-guy behaviour, doing as I please because I can.
The vile habit impresses, apparently, the general public. I can’t go to town nowadays without regularly seeing spit fly. A man, a youth, here or there, spurting a nasty stream onto the street or sidewalk.
I’ve not seen women do it yet, but surely that is to come. Women, some mistaking liberation for foul behaviour, have not wanted to be left out, left behind, overlooked and so adopt habits considered tough and manly — crawling over others on the way to the top — drinking too much and using vulgar language “with the best of them” — conquering as many as possible in the sexual arena.
As things go, the spitting habit should soon follow.
More children and youth are spitting on the street or playground now.
No surprise. They’re simply mimicking the behaviour of those they adore.
One has to wonder — do the spitters gob on their own kitchen and living room floors? What do they do with all that superfluous liquid when public grounds are not handy? Are their swallowing mechanisms so faulty that they should consider seeing an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist? What has gone so wrong with their throat contraptions that they cannot down their own normally produced and swallowed fluids? What happened to using hand tissue when one has a particularly nasty bit of garbage to expel?
Spit in the wrong place — sick people’s icky thing all over everyone else’s space.
Anita Foged
Innisfail