by Mark Waybill

Created on: March 30, 2010

It would be a difficult and long undertaking to decide upon what were the 10 most annoying public habits. However, with recent memories in mind and the more obvious habits also in mind, let's attempt at making a list.

Number one would have to be farting, burping, fighting, spitting, urinating and other acts which most civilized people would agree should not be done in public. I would forgive a homeless man for urinating in public if there were no toilets nearby, and even somebody with a home if they don't have a bottle on them. But to just urinate because you can't be bothered to find a toilet is uncivilized. Farting, while some might say 'better out than in', should at least be done in private in a well ventilated area if possible.

Two would probably be swearing, rude gestures and loud inappropriate conversations. While I understand that drug addicts and youth are accustomed to swearing regularly, civilized people exist too and they should keep this in mind. Nobody wants to hear about somebody's undergarments whilst shopping, or somebody's rash on their behind while trying to enjoy a coffee.

Three would be sub-woofers and loud music or mobile telephone ring tones. Having the radio on in the car is fine, and playing your favorite music is also cool, but playing a song filled with swears about uncivilized matters at top volume while driving through a city street just reeks of being impolite. Not all of us have ear drums of steel, Hearing Man.

Four would have to be impoliteness in general. As a young male I don't expect much, but I often see the elderly and women being treated like they are bricklayers fresh from the gym. It seems some people don't have the mental capacity to remember to walk on the correct side of the sidewalk. Not saying thank you and please and so forth is not such a big deal, but it's not like it takes too much trouble to show a bit of politeness.

Five would be non human uncivilized acts. Take for instance the placing of gum under benches, or the leaving of bottles filled with urine in public areas. Leaving used drug injection needles where people walking with sandals or bare feet go is another careless act unfortunately all too common. I have nothing personally against most forms of graffiti to be honest, after all we live in a society where freedom of speech is considered a right not a privilege, but swear words and rude drawings are hardly nice eye candy. Try to at least use roman capitals or some legible font. Not all of us can read what

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