[Cheryl32320]

What is it with guys and spitting? And as a subgenre, throat clearing? Why do guys feel so phlegmy that they have to spit and clear their throats frequently? I’ve noticed that it’s guys who spit on sidewalks (how pleasant is that to walk past?) and it’s the guys, not the gals, who are constantly clearing their throats. I’m just trying to understand. Maybe I wouldn’t cringe so much if I understood why the guys around me at work sound like a bunch of lusty frogs on a spring pond. (Maybe if I hold that mental image it will be easier to smile through the chorus!)

User Detail :  

Name : Cheryl32320, Gender : F, City : New Haven, State : CT, Country : United States, 

[Marc22343]

I think it is more cuturally acceptable for men to spit and be loud when clearing mucous than women. It’s considered ‘unladylike’ to hock a big lugee while walking down the street, and though it’s not necessarily attractive to spit, it’s better than holding it in and swallowing it, in my opinion. There are obviously women who will spit whenever they feel like it and men who won’t, but I believe cultural mores tell us it’s OK for men to do it but not women. Maybe the throat-clearing thing relates to this point, with men being more free to be noisy about it without negative reactions. Do you react more harshly if a woman does the same thing?

User Detail :  

Name : Marc22343, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 24, City : Morgantown, State : WV, Country : United States, Occupation : Grad Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Augustine23563]

If I may be blunt, most instances of guys spitting on sidewalks involve macho redneck bulls**t. Probably it is a subconscious urge to mark one’s territory, to say, ‘I have so little regard for my surroundings that I spit on them.’ Yet one more reason why shoes should come off when one enters the house!

User Detail :  

Name : Augustine23563, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 40, City : Columbia, State : SC, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ole V.]

I agree that society is more accepting of men spitting than women. On the other hand, I find that in Toronto, more Asian men, especially teenagers, have no problem spitting anywhere – even on the bus and around people – and it is done continuously until they leave. To me, that is total disrespect and an irritant because you cannot stand anywhere near those people. Where does this habit come from? I really do wonder.

User Detail :  

Name : Ole V., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Christian, Age : 29, City : Toronto, Ontario, State : NA, Country : Canada, Occupation : Shift supervisor, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Amy31586]

I, too, have noticed this a lot – just yesterday I was stopped at a light and the man in front of me opened his door to let one go – it was disgusting, and the sound effects didn’t help, either. While walking down busy streets, I’ve had to dodge those things flying at me from men walking ahead of me. I really wish they would stop doing it. It’s not attractive. Why can’t they just use a restroom to relieve themselves of excess phlegm?

User Detail :  

Name : Amy31586, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Humanist, Age : 29, City : Portland, State : OR, Country : United States, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Aloysius]

It’s a macho thing, pure and simple – nothing to do with anything medical.

User Detail :  

Name : Aloysius, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 37, City : Atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[H21398]

I don’t know about men spitting more than women – that could be true – but I think spitting in the street is really disgusting. I mean, who wants to stand on that? And there’s always the danger of it hitting someone. I was walking out of school one day and this guy just suddenly spat to one side without even looking. Unfortunately, I happened to be standing right there and had to travel the rest of the way home with this guy’s spit on my jacket. And all the way I was thinking, euw, euw , euw.

User Detail :  

Name : H21398, Gender : F, Religion : Atheist, Age : 16, City : Aberdeen, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, 

[Matt]

Loved what you had to say.

User Detail :  

Name : Matt, City : Beckley, State : WV, Country : United States, 

[Greta]

Sometimes you actually need to spit. For instance on the rugby field. When you’re out running around and tackling people, you get thirsty and your spit gets sticky. So you spit on the pitch and everyone does it. It’s kind of gross that you may touch someone else’s spit, but when you get mud in your mouth, ears, and underwear, and other people’s sweat can end up in your mouth by accident (it’s true, when you’re neck to neck, heads under shoulders, it can drip in the front row of the scrum), spit is a secondary concern. So my question is how are guys generally able to spit farther and harder than girls? Someone tried to show me once and it didn’t work, I still have to bend down to spit, but the problem may be exacerbated by the fact that I have to take medicine that makes me dehydrated so the spit is stickier and probably harder to spit far.

User Detail :  

Name : Greta, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : undefined, Race : unknown, Age : 27, City : Olmsted Falls, State : OH, Country : United States, Occupation : graphic designer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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