When I was a little boy, right here, in this very neighborhood, my mother always taught me: say "thank you," give up your seat for ladies and older people on the bus, and above all else: Don't Spit! Where were everyone else's mothers? Seriously, spitting on the street or subway tracks (or the "I'll spit in a trash can on the sidewalk because that's classier") is repulsive, aggressive and unnecessary, yet so enduringly popular in Bay Ridge. Is it just a bad habit? If there is something that so needs to come out (which I highly doubt) use a Kleenex. I'm not a sociologist, so I'm curious as to the history of this disgusting habit. Being a man, and mostly witnessing male spitters, I have to say it always strikes me as something of an act of aggression. For instance, if I'm walking on the street and another man is walking towards me in the opposite direction, he'll often sort of growl at me and spit to the side, as if to hint "don't mess with me, buddy!" I'd really be much more impressed if he told me he reads two books a week or something. So, if anyone can tell me why spitting is so popular in Bay Ridge, I would be immensely grateful.
