Comments on: Can you hack it?

By: Maryann

Maryann — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:28:38 +0000

This isn’t really about sensitivity to a cultural issue. It’s about sensitivity to a biological issue.

And the place where we all take care of daily biological issues is the bathroom. Would he rather the guy do this in the office while he’s trying to work?

By: lungbutter

lungbutter — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:10:33 +0000

Well, Candy, if I could still smoke in the office, like we did for over 100 years in American workplaces until quite recently, then I could soothe my debilitating, painful lungs inside by smoking instead of clearing my airways. Then when I go on breaks I can still briskly walk the half-mile out (and back) to get outside to where I’d normally be allowed to smoke, but just enjoy the sunlight and hack up all the drippy, gooey grey/brown crap across the sidewalk.

By: livinginChina

livinginChina — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:26:29 +0000

In China, it’s all they do. spit, slurp, and groan. Not even in the bathroom. Wherever they want. A grandmother holds her granddaugther to take a shit right at the exit of a subway car, not even to the side. Trust me, u dont want to have Chinese colleagues… u will be disgusted everyday.

By: blart

blart — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:56:37 +0000

“culturally ignorant?” what a dumbfuck.

By: Tim Drake

Tim Drake — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:39:35 +0000

That is the most disgusting fucking thing ever. I hate when people do this and would start a campaign of hate if that was what needed to happen.

Intolerant and culturally ignorant because people need to stop fucking spitting in public areas? I think not.

By: Nola

Nola — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:22:49 +0000

this is so gross -green face-

By: sarah

sarah — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:04:12 +0000

i live in seoul, south korea, and i hear this every day. it ranges from mildly offputting to once being so bad that, i was hungover, the noise was so repulsive that i actually vomited in my mouth. seriously. it is changing though, and it’s generally only really older people who do it. this is the absolute worst thing about the country, but i would hardly say this is ‘culture’, it’s just an accepted habit that thankfully is becoming less and less acceptable. nobody should have to hear that at work. i never do this and don’t walk around spending the day wishing i could cough up an 80 decibel loogie.

By: TheGnome

TheGnome — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:44:40 +0000

Ed, that’s very odd. I have never done or heard of this, and I have never met anyone who has (yes, I do live in an Islamic country). It’s just not part of it.

By: Rhoddy

Rhoddy — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:25:36 +0000

It’s still f— bollocks, I wouldn’t go to the UAE and eat a big mac in broad daylight in the middle of Ramadan.

By: Iris

Iris — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:50:39 +0000

Spend a day in Seoul, Korea and then see if you have the same question.

By: pony girl

pony girl — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 23:54:05 +0000

Wanting or needing to spit: Understandable
Just spitting wherever: Rude

I have phlegm sometimes. I quietly and discreetly spit into a tissue and discard it. Nobody sees me or hears me or sees my phlegm sitting in some public sink or waste bin or sidewalk etc. and they certainly don’t see me walking around spitting into a cup. gross.

Nobody knows I’m doing it.
That is as it should be.

I don’t care where you’re from or what religion you are, keep your body fluids etc to yourself.
Monkeys fling poo.
We are not monkeys.

ps – i grew up in Hawai’i. Lots of Asians spitting all over, usually visitor or elderly. The younger ones or ones born there knew that it was rude and unhealthy to just let fly with your bodily fluids. I always thought it was gross. it was illegal, and if caught they were fined.
My friend’s grampa did it all the time, she was always so embarrassed.

By: Ed Decatur

Ed Decatur — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 23:20:51 +0000

No, I’m not kidding. In my husband’s office, he has had coworkers who carry around spit cups. I haven’t seen that personally, but have seen Muslim women spit in the restroom sink during Ramadan.

By: TheGnome

TheGnome — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:26:08 +0000

Ed, if you’re not kidding, I’m not sure where you got that from. I’ve yet to see any Muslims carry around cups to spit in during Ramadan. Swallowing your own saliva is perfectly fine, swallowing someone else’s is not.

By: Canthz_B

Canthz_B — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:46:23 +0000

It’s all good, snerk. I’d die without my History Channel, so simple interpretations of a complex history seem to rub me the wrong way.
Everyone screwed it up in some way, so why point fingers? Just take it for what it was and is.