Spitting and Piddling

When spitting was banned in Beijing before and during the Olympics I had hoped that the news would spread to other places. But it continues and it is grosse.

Men and women clear their throats and spit the mucous - it is on the footpath, on the road, even on the bus, and it is common to see someone driving and just spit out the window. Mainly men, but I have seen women do it. It is a bit confronting when you are sitting eating when this is done. Really awful habit.

Another strange thing is that men stand and piddle. Anywhere. I think it is rather comical in a way that as one drives along the freeway in a bus, you will see cars stopped along the freeway and the man standing having a piddle beside the road. Walls are another place that attract the piddler, but it is just accepted that if a man wants to, he can pee anywhere. I've not seen women doing it in public though.

There are many many public toilets around. In my view there is no need to pee in the street. Or if caught short, at least do it away from view.