No Smoking No Spitting

We are all familiar with various programs to reduce smoking, especially in public places. Delhi is not without similar programs. What is different here is the accompanying warning "NO SPITTING", written in both English and Hindi. For those who may be wondering what could be possibly wrong with spitting in public, there is a small paper sign beside it that helpfully explains that spitting is an "UnHygenic Habit". Other posters in the building explain that spitting "causes TB and H1N1". Nevertheless, spitting is a habit that is hard to break.

Lat week Friday, I went on 40 minute ride on the back of a motorcycle to visit the computer center where we host our main servers. That was an adventure all by itself. At one point we came to a stop light and as usual all traffic edged forward into whatever space was available. We pulled up between a bus and the curb and just as we slowly wedged our way into that little bit of space the bus had left us, a long stream of brown spittle was propelled from an open window. I was both horrified at the thought that it may have hit me, and at the same time extremely glad that it didn't.

I now take a big detour around any stopped bus and hope that more people heed the sign.