# How weird / unusual is this ability? (possible TMI) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 15, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061 "2008-06-15T23:59:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/1 "2008-06-15T23:59:37Z")
All my life, I’ve been able to spit directly from the salivary gland. There is a salivary gland directly beneath my tongue. If I open my mouth wide, lift my tongue, and flex the muscles just right, a stream of saliva comes shooting out. This isn’t conventional spitting - there’s no hocking or lip movement, just a squirt of saliva directly from the gland. I can go about 3 feet, and can squirt it 5 or 6 times before the gland dries up. Anyone else do this? I’ll just crawl back under my rock now… Joe ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/2 "2008-06-16T00:04:02Z")
Well, er, I had a high school friend who could do this. It was very annoying when he sat behind me in class, the disgusting shithead. He’s a surgeon now. I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/3 "2008-06-16T00:06:18Z")
I can do this, and if you take a drink after you’re dried out and swish it under your tongue you may “recharge” your gland for another shot. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/4 "2008-06-16T00:14:46Z")
okay, I’m adding this to the list of “Qualities NOT to Look for In A Date”… ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/5 "2008-06-16T00:28:48Z")
On rare occasions I can do this on command. Most often, though, it happens by accident. Usually when I’m talking to or eating with someone else, and a little arc of saliva will just go flying across the table. It’s quite embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/6 "2008-06-16T01:14:04Z")
We used to call this “gleeking”. I went to elementary school with a guy who could gleek at will. Personally, I can gleek only occasionally and involuntarily when I yawn. ETA: Well whadda ya know. Wikipedia agrees with me. [Spitting - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleeking) ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/7 "2008-06-16T02:30:07Z")
[QUOTE=Randy Seltzer] We used to call this “gleeking”. I went to elementary school with a guy who could gleek at will. Personally, I can gleek only occasionally and involuntarily when I yawn. ETA: Well whadda ya know. Wikipedia agrees with me. [Spitting - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleeking) [/QUOTE] Most of my friends in 7th grade called it gleeking, although one friend called it “cobra.” I could never do it, and was insanely jealous of those who could. One day during a test in 9th grade I figured it out, but, alas, it was no longer cool; most people consider it pretty gross. My students now are fascinated by it. (_sigh_…I’ve become one of those _teachers_…) One thing I just now realized (after doing it repeatedly) is that I make it shoot out of the right front salivary gland; I’m incapable of having it shoot out the left. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/8 "2008-06-16T02:31:30Z")
One of my kids can do that. I think he’s part gecko. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/9 "2008-06-16T02:41:48Z")
We called it “glanding” back in junior high and high school. Cool talent in the library… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/10 "2008-06-16T02:51:39Z")
Ooh, me too! One of my friends taught me in high school. I’d practice in my car. High school boys are gross. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/11 "2008-06-16T03:12:51Z")
[An earlier thread on this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=354902&highlight=gleek) To paraphrase Mark Twain: “As an amusement, it is too fleeting; as an occupation, it is too wearing; as a public exhibition, there is no money in it.” ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/12 "2008-06-16T03:19:36Z")
I don’t recall ever being able to do it on purpose, but it sometimes happens. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/13 "2008-06-16T03:57:53Z")
[QUOTE=Sierra Indigo] On rare occasions I can do this on command. Most often, though, it happens by accident. Usually when I’m talking to or eating with someone else, and a little arc of saliva will just go flying across the table. It’s quite embarrassing. [/QUOTE] Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/14 "2008-06-16T04:14:19Z")
I can also vouch for gleeking being a pastime in elementary school. I don’t seem to have the talent for it anymore, but most of us boys in, I guess 4th to 8th grade managed to learn when it was popular. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/15 "2008-06-16T04:15:44Z")
We all called it gleeking too in junior high. Everybody I knew could do it. Just scrape the tip of your tongue against your teeth and kind of thrust. I use it to wet my mouth when I’m thirsty and don’t have anything to drink. If you’re too thirsty (dehydrated) though, it won’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/16 "2008-06-16T04:37:57Z")
I do it almost every time I yawn, but not on command. I’ve learned not to yawn at anything I don’t want to get spit on. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/17 "2008-06-16T04:43:44Z")
I would pay so much money to learn how to do this. Any takers? ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/18 "2008-06-16T04:44:08Z")
Is anyone else finding this thread is making their mouth water? No? Just me? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/19 "2008-06-16T04:47:24Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] I would pay so much money to learn how to do this. Any takers? [/QUOTE] How much money is “so”? It is teachable. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061/20 "2008-06-16T04:47:50Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] I don’t recall ever being able to do it on purpose, but it sometimes happens. [/QUOTE] Yup, me too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-weird-unusual-is-this-ability-possible-tmi/453061.md?page=2)