Spitting makes Americans walk away?

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sw33tazn28

He just said it "I don't deal with people who spit while looking me in the eye and supposedly making a deal with me"

Basically what he's saying is that it's unethical and unprofessional. It's like shaking the hand of someone with a limp hand and saying "it's a pleasure to meet you".

There's no superstition about spitting in the US, in fact I see Americans do it too. They just won't do it while they're talking to someone face to face or at least they excuse themselves and go to a corner.

naelius

I am an American who lives in Germany. In America, spitting on the ground in the presence of anybody else can be construed not only as a sign of disrespect, but also as a hostile gesture, or an insult.

We also find it generally disgusting that somebody would expectorate mucous and saliva from there mouth and leave it on the ground for every one else to see or possibly step in.

Here in Germany, I see many people spit on the ground, and it's just as normal as clearing one's throat. So I have had to really get used to it, and realize that they are not trying to insult me.

Ian B

In the United States, as in many parts of the world, spitting in public is considered gross, impolite and, most of all, unsanitary. Chinese people are among the worst offenders that was why they enacted laws against spitting well before the recent Olympics.

spacegnome

Spitting is just thought of as very, very rude. It's hard to explain. But, it is probably ruder than passing gas in front of them! Especially to people you just met. It's just really disrespectful to people around you.

Bhuwisit

It's not superstition--just common courtesy. It indicates lack of tact and class, which can be extrapolated to lack of decency, integrity or honesty. That's probably why he felt the woman is being disingenious.

Generally, westerners find it offensive when others in their vicinity:
- hack a loogie/spit
- pick their nose/other body part
- pass gas

Hey, I don't understand why you feel compelled to ask strangers on YA this question? He's your husband, for crying out loud. Just cconfront him and talk it out. I find it disturbing that you seem to be aafraid to ask him a simple question.

(y)

Certain social graces are expected when you are supposedly dealing with a professional. You don't spit, fart, pick your nose, scratch your a.s.s. or otherwise behave in a crude fashion around other people. Its tacky and disgusting. That goes double for a woman. I would have reacted in the same way as your husband, maybe worse.

oneiloilokano

It does not have anything to do with a superstition.

Spitting is considered rude and offensive. It's also considered a sign of total disrespect and contempt.

That kind of behavior it totally unacceptable to me and I would have reacted exactly the same as your husband. Except I would have looked her straight in the eye and said "bastos ka gid".

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Spitting is not very feminine and unprofessional. In America, baseball players esp. the pitchers they constantly spat and it's no big deal.

kmsca5

It's just nasty!

chlorine

Spitting is unhygienic, and mind you, not only the Americans find it disgusting. It doesn't have anything to do with superstition or traditions, but BREEDING. It`s impolite and insanitary. That's it.

â™¥I get so lonely waiting for u â™¥

i find spitting as disgusting...

ShannonW

Watching someone spit makes me gag. I know it's acceptable in some other countries, because the other day we were waiting for a bus in Vail and a family from Europe (I don't know which country because I didn't understand the language they were speaking) waited with us. Both of the men in the family spat on the ground twice and I had to walk away because it was making me feel sick.

(My wife didn't care...She's an RN and has seen much worse than this!)

Anyway, there is no superstition I know of about spitting, but most Americans would think it's very impolite, bordering on vulgar. We're kind of queasy about these things, including burping and farting...LOL, although when nobody's around we do it all.

Johny

He's probably just got an issue with spitting all together. That is quiet rude of that lady to spit in front of clients. That or he thinks way to highly of himself.

life is beautiful.

who in his right mind would spit while talking with someone and to think that she's making a deal with a client? that's being rude. not only that,the health aspect has to be considered.

pero_102

try requesting someone close to you to look you in the eyes and then spit even in other direction, worst if s/he is still looking straight at you and see how it feels.

Juan C

if so, then they should not be watching baseball game anymore...

Manny R

it's not a superstitious belief anywhere. it's a simple case of good upbringing. people don't spit while in conversation with other people. that's plain rudeness.

Nathan M

Spitting is disgusting thing to do. It probably the reason people always clearing there throats, from all the germs everywhere. It would be totally ill mannered. Even more so if you about to spend a large amount of money on something like a house. Shows very little manners what you would expect someone who just walked out of living in the jungle for their life to do. Not someone in a job dealing with large amounts of money
Not to different than about to sign a deal with a guy chatting to you while peeing against a wall

Farina

OK, I don't see what's so confusing about it. What he did was understandable. I think anyone would not like another person spitting in front of them. And just to add, it's disgusting! Even coughing without covering your mouth can be considered rude. Spitting is much worse because it's something you can control. If someone spat on the ground in front of me I would be really grossed out.

Jemay

If I spit, they will take my spit and frame it as great art. Picasso, Pablo

Zobelia

i've never heard of such a thing.. ive been an american my whole life and spit all the time. never had someone walk away.. except for the time i spat on someone

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