# Pavements of phlegm **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687 "2006-02-09T15:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/21 "2006-02-10T15:00:17Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > It makes him gag? :dubious: _That_ was supposed to be taken seriously? That’s just one of those weak “I can’t help it!” faux-medical rationaliztions that people lob in order to excuse their objectional behaviors. It’s like when people claim they “have a condition” to get away with burping and farting in front of people, because they don’t want to deal with the slight discomfort of holding it in until they’re alone, or make up food alergies (“really, if I eat a green pepper, I’ll throw up!”) to legitimize their childish food fears. You learn to see right through excuses like that until you unconsiously ignore them. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/22 "2006-02-10T15:12:09Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > If you are going to be licking the middle of any roads any time soon, let me know and I won’t spit there. Fuck 'em if they can’t take a joke. I have more respiratory ailments than you can shake a stick at. If I don’t void the plegm sometimes, I’ll choke on it and die. About twice a day I have trouble breathing because of it. If I swallow phlegm, it gives me a painfully sore throat and does, in fact, in extreme cases, make me throw up. Also, I’m incredibly inconsiderate of others. So yeah. Deal. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/23 "2006-02-10T15:42:13Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Fuck 'em if they can’t take a joke. > > I have more respiratory ailments than you can shake a stick at. If I don’t void the plegm sometimes, I’ll choke on it and die. About twice a day I have trouble breathing because of it. If I swallow phlegm, it gives me a painfully sore throat and does, in fact, in extreme cases, make me throw up. Also, I’m incredibly inconsiderate of others. So yeah. Deal. > > –Cliffy Oh…I’ll bet this applies to all the loogie hockers all over the planet. They ALL have a condition. A condition that requires to be selfish rude loogie hockers. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/24 "2006-02-10T19:09:34Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Oh…I’ll bet this applies to all the loogie hockers all over the planet. They ALL have a condition. A condition that requires to be selfish rude loogie hockers. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. But you certainly don’t know it doesn’t from any you encounter, so it’s better to assume they’re not assholes than that they are. For one thing, it’s less likely to lead to you getting stabbed in an alley. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/25 "2006-02-11T11:54:13Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. But you certainly don’t know it doesn’t from any you encounter, so it’s better to assume they’re not assholes than that they are. > > For one thing, it’s less likely to lead to you getting stabbed in an alley. > > –Cliffy Ya know what? If you have such a fucking phlegm problem, carry a cup with you. It’s less likely to get you kicked in the 'nads. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/26 "2006-02-11T13:32:44Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Ya know what? If you have such a fucking phlegm problem, carry a cup with you. It’s less likely to get you kicked in the 'nads. Packet of tissues was going to be my suggestion. ISTR back in the day it was illegal to spit in the street 'cos of TB - the ban reduced the incidence of the disease no end. But hey, fill the air with your nasty infected droplets rather than put up with your own phlegm. (Bacteria that live in mucus aren’t equipped to survive gastric acid.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/27 "2006-02-11T13:59:10Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Ya know what? If you have such a fucking phlegm problem, carry a cup with you. It’s less likely to get you kicked in the 'nads. [Moderator Underoos On]Over 15,000 posts and you still don’t know the difference between IMHO and The BBQ Pit? Watch your attitude.[/Moderator Underoos On] ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/28 "2006-02-11T14:28:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Moderator Underoos On]Over 15,000 posts and you still don’t know the difference between IMHO and The BBQ Pit? Watch your attitude.[/Moderator Underoos On] Sorry…I was responding to HIS attitude. How was I supposed to take his comment about STABBING someone in a dark alley? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/29 "2006-02-11T14:31:44Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Sorry…I was responding to HIS attitude. How was I supposed to take his comment about STABBING someone in a dark alley? [whisper from dark alley] By reporting the post? :dubious: [/whisper] ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/30 "2006-02-11T14:33:28Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > [whisper from dark alley] By reporting the post? :dubious: [/whisper] Yeah…I get it. What I don’t get is why I got the public flogging and not him as well. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/31 "2006-02-11T14:45:07Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Yeah…I get it. What I don’t get is why I got the public flogging and not him as well. Well, either **Czarcasm** can’t tell the difference between 10,000 and 15,000, or he was adding the post-counts together and meant the warning for both of you (but didn’t manage to quote both of you). I’m taking bets now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/32 "2006-02-11T15:51:38Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Well, either **Czarcasm** can’t tell the difference between 10,000 and 15,000, or he was adding the post-counts together and meant the warning for both of you (but didn’t manage to quote both of you). I’m taking bets now. 🙂 I’m placing a fin on the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/33 "2006-02-11T16:32:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m placing a fin on the latter. :eek: I didn’t even know you were a fish! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687/34 "2006-02-11T16:47:21Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > :dubious: _That_ was supposed to be taken seriously? That’s just one of those weak “I can’t help it!” faux-medical rationaliztions that people lob in order to excuse their objectional behaviors. Well, now we know about the heartburn and nausea, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pavements-of-phlegm/343687.md?page=1)