Disgusting Habits

A survey revealed nearly 40% of Hong Kongers admit to public displays of disgusting, unhygienic habits.

Coughing without covering their mouths topped the list. Other bad habits listed were nose-picking, nail-clipping and spitting. Most people agreed these habits were unacceptable and posed a health hazard.

Yet they still do it. The only habit on the list carrying a fine is spitting; the rest would be impractical to regulate. Can you imagine writing a ticket to someone who had a finger jammed up his nose?

Hong Kongers were the least likely to spit, compared with folks from mainland China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. According to the numbers, Filipinos spit and cut their nails the most, while Taiwanese were the most likely to dig for gold.

Hong Kongers looked upon spitting as the worst offence, followed by uncovered coughing, nose-picking and nail-clipping. Only 21% of mainland Chinese admitted to any of the bad habits, but they have others, such as, oh, smoking before eating, smoking while eating, smoking after eating, smoking in restaurants, smoking in shopping malls, and smoking in public places.

But I digress. Nose-picking grosses me out the most. I can't ride a bus or train without seeing someone drill his nostrils and flick the booger onto the floor. It makes me want to wing a packet of tissues at the guy's head. I say guy, but the truth is an equal number of men and women do this.

This survey might educate people and get them to change their bad habits.

I would say I'm not going to hold my breath waiting, but with all the uncovered coughing, I might.

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