Spitting, SARS & China

G

greenfreak

New Member
What's the deal with people spitting in China? Is that some kind of custom, to spit on each other, or on the ground? :confuse3:

High-tech van, infrared cams fight SARS

BEIJING, China --China has deployed a high-tech van loaded with monitoring equipment to police spitting in its war against SARS, the official Beijing Evening News said.

The vehicle is equipped with three cameras and a big viewing monitor. It can transmit pictures to the city's sanitation department within seconds, the paper said, without giving further details. It quoted an official as saying the truck would be used for crime prevention in the future.

China has launched a campaign against the ancient but unhygienic habit of spitting to keep a lid on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which can be spread by infectious droplets. Spitters are fined 50 yuan ($6) in the cities of Beijing and Guangzhou.

The tough stance taken by Chinese authorities appears to be slowing the spread of the disease. On Wednesday, the Health Ministry announced just four new cases and four fatalities on China's mainland — a sharp drop from early May, when more than 100 new cases a day were reported. The mainland's death toll rose to 325, with 5,323 people infected.

Difficult to change old habits
In the Sanlitun bar district, chauffeurs Li Jun and Wang Gang snacked on popcorn washed down with Corona beers on the tree-lined street brightened by neon lights from other bars.

"People don't seem to care anymore," said Li. "The disease is becoming less serious in the eyes of the people."

Said Wang: "Besides, SARS is something you can't touch, you can't see. How can you escape it?"

"The hygiene in the city now is better, but I haven't changed my own habits," he added, after loudly hacking up a gob of phlegm onto the ground.
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Source
 
Culture Shock!

Repugnant and Annoying Chinese Habits

Spitting in Public
Spitting in public appears to be a national pastime for the Chinese and is probably one of the most disgusting and unhealthy habits in China. Clearing your throat and discharging it on the floor or out of the window is perfectly acceptable in China. Spittoons are a common sight in public places and conference halls. This practice is a reflection of China's rural society, where people believe that swallowing phlegm is unhealthy. It does sound kind of disgusting when you think about it -- swallowing it, that is.
For obvious health reasons, the government has tried to curtail this common practice by imposing fines and displaying bilingual signs in tourist areas. Such efforts in cities like Beijing have been somewhat successful. The high levels of air pollution in many major Chinese cities probably contributes to the urge to spit and the large number of Chinese smokers does not help matters either. Spitting will likely be less of a problem in the future, as more people become educated to the health risks associated with this disgusting habit.

http://china4visitors.com/library/weekly/aa043001b.htm
 
HeXp£Øi± said:
This practice is a reflection of China's rural society, where people believe that swallowing phlegm is unhealthy.
Click to expand...

Gives new insight into the question, "Do you spit or swallow?" :eek:
 
Not just a chinese habit though is it? I've seen plenty of young people, mainly young men, hacking up and spitting on the floor... frankly it's disgusting! :sick:
 
The only men that I knew that do that (my brother included) were smokers and usually had a nice hacking cough to go with it. Yup, mornings in my house were signaled by the bronchial coughs of my brother and my mother. Followed, of course, by the sound of the lighter lighting their first cigarette of the day. :sick:
 
:lol: Sounds familiar... my dad and sister were both smokers... and they're the only ones dead... :eh:

I keep telling my nieces it's bad for them... both financially and for their health but it seems the trendy thing to do over here... :shrug:...
 
My brother has had spontaneous pneumothorax leading to a collapsed lung THREE times, yet still chooses to smoke. Mom quit though, thankfully.
 
Spitting is sufficiently abundant in Montreal too. I had the fantasic luck to catch someone doing it at a busstop. Right after a good rain. Standing right in front of the bus's tire depression.

Suffice it to say, I returned his spit to him, with interest.

But, after that, how can your day ever get any better?
 
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