Let me preface this entry by saying that I have lived in several states, and countries. My father was a career Air Force man, so we moved a lot. I was born in Florida, although I spent the first year and a half of my life in Cuba. I have also lived in Chile, Spain, and Panama. The states I have lived in are various… Virginia, Maryland, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Florida, Connecticut, and for the last 17 years, Texas.
Perhaps I never noticed the subject of this entry, which bothers me so much in any of the other places I have lived because I wasn’t paying attention. OR, perhaps I wore rose-colored glasses and/or blinders throughout my life. Feel free to write and let me know that this actually is a common-place “activity” in other states. I have to say, however, that I certainly hope it isn’t!
I simply cannot stand to see men spit! I have never been aware of this good-grief-awful habit in any of the other place I have lived or visited. What is it about Texas that makes grown men think that it is all right to simply lean over and spit in public?!?!? Even in the days of chewing tobacco, didn’t the men use spittoons? And, really since all of these men aren’t doing the tobacco-in-their-lip-thing, just who do they think they are? Cowboys out on the range, driving their cattle to Kansas?
My grandfather and uncle were true cowboys… I mean real cowboys. Not the type of city slickers who don their cowboy boots, Stetson hats, and big belt buckles, while driving around in their big gas-guzzling trucks, never having seen a horse up close. My uncle owned a livestock auction barn in Colorado many years ago, and my grandfather was a rancher of cattle and horses. My mother’s family actually used to move cattle from one plot of land to the other… on horseback. So, I think that I can safely say they were a “cowboy” family. And, I NEVER saw any of them spit!
What is it about Texas? Or am I simply becoming more intolerant as I grow older? What is it that makes these grown men think that it’s acceptable to be so crude in public? Or am I simply expecting too much?
*****Disclaimer::: Don’t get me wrong, a very small percentage of men here in Texas have this uncontrollable habit!****
Carolyn says
I also can’t stand that habit of spitting. Sometimes they open their car door in front of me and spit. It’s really gross. And just so you know, I live in Virginia.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
There you go, Carolyn! I guess I just wasn’t noticing it when I lived out there… (I was only in the fifth grade.)
I know exactly what you mean. They see us standing there, clearly in their view, and they don’t think anything about it. GROSS, GROSS, GROSS!!!
Laura says
I think it has more to do with the loss of good manners in America than what state you live in. I live in northern California and men spit here, too. Don’t people teach their children anything about manners anymore?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
What’s really odd to me, is that “with the loss of good manners” >>> Why is it that I never see women doing this? (Thank goodness! AND Knock on Wood!!!)
Stephanie says
Massachusetts is also home to a fair number of spitters.
What gets me is that you just don’t see women doing this. What makes men think they can do something that clearly at least half of society finds appalling?
Anne says
I thought when I read this blog that Georgia men must not do that…but when I stopped for gas this morning the man in the car at the next pump got out…a nice car and nice looking gentleman…and BAM…spit right there on the ground. Guess I was just blind to it before…so they do spit in Georgia after all. I must say ignorance was bliss…will I be seeing this from here on out now? eek.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stephanie and Anne,
I am sorry to see that this is not a Texas phenomena. I just don’t get it!
And, I’m sorry to have ruined it for a lot of you who might never have noticed this disgusting thing. I guess it takes all kinds!
Stephanie says
Aha, I didn’t even see your comment about women not doing it until I’d posted mine.
Anne says
My Daddy always said it didn’t TAKE all kinds we just HAVE all kinds!! He was something…
Sandra says
Had a friend about 35 yrs ago who got a ticket from the police for “spitting on the sidewalk”. I hadn’t ever heard of this violation but kuddos to that law!! Should do it more often. Disgusting habit. They give tickets for littering and this is much worse than that even…It’s a health issue!
Maria BearMountainBooks.com says
From NM. They spit there. A lot.
EllieMae says
I have to laugh at this topic… It makes me think of what happened to us on Tuesday…
My husband & I spent Mardi Gras day in downtown New Orleans. We headed for home in the mid afternoon & traffic was pretty heavy – lots of stop & go. As we’re stopped, I glanced over at a Jeep Wrangler & noticed that the passenger door was open a few inches. I’m thinking, “Something is gonna come flyin’ out that door.” And sure enough right after I had that thought, this girl opens the door wider & tosses her cookies (vomits) on the street. It was a sight to see.
So, I’ve never seen a woman spit on the street BUT some times one just can’t help oneself.
I watch a LOT of baseball & the players are spitting all over the place during the game. It seems the cameramen (or directors) LOVE to show the players in the dugout spitting… among other things.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
EllieMae,
You’re right about the dugouts… And, I think that a lot of them are actually chewing gum!
Brian says
This is odd, but the subject irritates me to the bone. Just because your family doesn’t spit doesn’t mean that all rancher families don’t. My family lived on a ranch for years raising long horns, horses, cows, goats, the whole nine yards. When something foul developed in your mouth from a hard day’s work, sometimes you just gotta’ spit it out. Once the city annexed out land, we were forced to get rid of the animals (as in we weren’t allowed to increase yield or make changes to the land). With all of the animals gone, my father sold the land (and with the land my childhood memories). So we had to conform to the city’s laws, the primary source of income went away, all that jazz. We had to change our way of life to match theirs, so at least let us spit on the grass from time to time.
But hey, it’s just my opinion.
Donalda says
I’ve seen this in other places besides Texas. I notice because it is as disgusting and loathsome as public urination. Sadly, I have seen a couple of women doing the spitting thing. Of course, I also saw a woman get out of a car on a ferry and squat down and urinate. (The ferry had a bathroom about 25 feet away).
I don’t even know what to say…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I know what to say, Donalda! GROSS!!!
That woman probably never thought about her disgusting action again… whereas it stays with the people who view it.
GROSS!!!!!
A different Brian says
I am also disgusted by this habit, and heck, I’m a man. I grew up on a few acres of land in a very rural area (at the time) in Arizona. We had cows that my brother and I had to milk by hand morning and night. We had beef cattle that I watched get shot and taken to the meat shop to be returned as delicious red meat. So, I can say that I am more of a cowboy than a majority of the people around me now that I’m grown. Anyway, my point is (after my long-winded dissertation on my claim to cowboy fame), I hate having to walk around big gobs of spit on a street, sidewalk or parking lot. It’s not so bad in the grass where it gets semi-soaked up. But I just think habitually … (spitting) is disgusting. Now, when you have a cold, and nowhere else to spit but in the grass, I grant you a pass, cause even I HAVE to do it sometimes. But not habitually, and not in places where people tend to walk… alot!
Just my opinion.
Brian J.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hmmm… I always carry Kleenex with me!