In Korea, blowing your nose anywhere in public is extremely rude. It is akin to passing gas. I had a Korean friend who said the most disgusting thing he saw during a visit to the US, was the sight of women blowing their noses in public.

Ken, same thing is true in Japan. Even dabbing you nose with a tissue in public is considered rude. I have dust and pollen allergies, and I had to be really careful of that when I was in Tokyo.

Ugh, here in San Francisco, it's not unusual for older members of the Chinese population to send snot rockets onto the sidewalk as they're walking down the street. Gross. I hate walking through Chinatown.

Here in San Francisco, the epicenter of Rude, it is common practice for the young, er, "men" (Peter Pans) who work for all those gamer and tech companies in SoMa to walk down the sidewalk 3, 4 & 5 abreast regardless of any pedestrians walking in the opposite direction. I've seen them force elderly people into the street, or force other pedestrians to flatten themselves against the walls of buildings as they pass by.

The only antidote to this practice is the good old New York City "shoulder". Someone's gotta learn 'em.

Obese people whose clothing doesn't cover them up. I was at Costco last week with my son getting a hot dog when a woman who must have been 500 pounds sat at the table next to us, sideways, he fat belly hanging out over her pants for all to wretch at. I wanted to go buy another hot dog in stick it in her stretched out belly button.

(Oh- all time favorite, about 20 years ago...)

I worked for an engineering company and one of the woman who I barely knew just had a baby. She wanted everyone to see her baby photos, which were taken as the baby was coming out! Here he is crowning, here is when my husband cut the cord...

One a related topic, one thing I see all the time and can simply not understand - people who sneeze or blow their noses into their HANDS. And then go about life touching everything in sight and spreading their goo overall. I have seen many otherwise very well mannered and even fastidious people do the hand sneeze. If you don't have a tissue handy and must sneeze, please sneeze into your shirt sleeve, where it is at least somewhat contained!

Even dabbing you nose with a tissue in public is considered rude.

Interesting. What do people do when they have a cold? Is it OK to let the snot run down their faces? (Totally serious question.)

The things that bother me:

1) When people spit in public. Especially when they make a great show of bringing up the phlegm before they spit.
2) Farting. Sometimes it happens, but have the grace to say excuse me and look apologetic.
3) Picking your nose. Seriously, I know that one's a winner, but it isn't going anywhere. You can get to it later.
4) Excessive PDAs, which for me is anything more than a quick kiss. Holding hands and wrapping your arm around someone is fine. Making me listen to your slurping sounds is not.
5) Changing your baby in a confined space that isn't a bathroom.

I hate it when I'm out somewhere, anywhere, and someone starts making fun of one of the people they're with (usually in a group, and it's usually younger people who do this), to the point of embarrasing the hell out of that person, and then other people in the group join in, and even other people just passing by. The look of anguish on that person's face just pains me. What's so funny about making someone who's supposed to be your friend uncomfortable? In public, no less? Friends like that, who needs 'em?

And yeah, MonicaP, the baby-changing in public place. Simply awful, especially when they leave the diaper there. This happened at the food court at our mall recently. The woman just left the dirty diaper on the table. Taped up, but still. I could never.

I hate it when someone puts pubic hair on my Coke.

Susan: Here in San Francisco, the epicenter of Rude, it is common practice for the young, er, "men" (Peter Pans) who work for all those gamer and tech companies in SoMa to walk down the sidewalk 3, 4 & 5 abreast regardless of any pedestrians walking in the opposite direction. I've seen them force elderly people into the street, or force other pedestrians to flatten themselves against the walls of buildings as they pass by.

How bizarre. How arrogant. While not nearly as rude as that, I'm reminded of one of my pet peeves: people who don't grasp the simple "keep right when standing" concept on escalators and those "moving sidewalks" at airports.

And related to that, if San Francisco is the epicenter of Rude, then I have to nominate Seattle as the epicenter of Left Lane Slowpokes.

In Korea, blowing your nose anywhere in public is extremely rude. It is akin to passing gas.

Prior to Initiative 901 passing in Washington state in 2005, I used to argue that smokers in bars, restaurants and music clubs were rude. Smokers would always disagree, saying that because it was legal they had a right to smoke. I pointed out that farting in bars, restaurants and music clubs was also legal and that people had a right to do it but that standing next to someone (or sitting at a table next to someone) and continuously farting would be rude and that smoking was no different.

I hate it when someone puts pubic hair on my Coke.

You shouldn't be drinking Coke.

RMMGA?

Susan: Here in San Francisco, the epicenter of Rude, it is common practice for the young, er, "men" (Peter Pans) who work for all those gamer and tech companies in SoMa to walk down the sidewalk 3, 4 & 5 abreast regardless of any pedestrians walking in the opposite direction. I've seen them force elderly people into the street, or force other pedestrians to flatten themselves against the walls of buildings as they pass by.

Having lived in San Francisco for many years, I totally have to agree with you on this one.

I will also add that it's not just the gamer and tech boys who are guilty of this. I've had a number of 20-ish males do that to me while walking in the Financial District.

The hock-loogie-spit really, really pisses me off. It usually happens to land just where you were about to step.

I've found two fairly good methods for dealing with sidewalk hogs.

1) Look away as you walk toward them, as if you're distracted by something and don't see them. There's a good chance they'll move to avoid you. Be prepared to "accidentally" walk into them, but I've never had anyone walk into me.

2) Stop walking as they approach. They will be forced to go around you or stand still in a faceoff.

I find it's a dominance maneuver as much as it is rudeness. The weaker ones have to walk around.

Well, cell phones are the obvious choice. Basically any conversation in a designated quiet area. I've been ready to go off on a trio of chattering girls who are checking their Facebook in the school library...on computers that are supposed to be for research only.

The stuff other people have posted is good. There is one thing I must correct, however.

You do not say "excuse me" after flatulence. According to Miss Manners, when something that isn't supposed to happen happens (and flatulence falls into this category), you ignore it. You pretend it didn't happen.

And I fail to see what saying "Excuse me" is supposed to accomplish anyway. It's going to happen and unleash its devastating or inconsequential effects anyway.

"Excuse me" is supposed to indicate that you recognize that you just did something gross inadvertantly and are sorry about it. I certainly appreciate it. Then everyone can pretend they didn't hear or smell it. At the very least, don't say, "Wow, that one was a ripper! Ha!"

This is one of the few areas in which I disagree with Judith Martin.

To add: The admission can sometimes ward off a second level of rudeness, where people walk around sniffing the air and trying to figure out who dealt it.

Well, you're certainly entitled to disagree with me, Monica. It doesn't make you a bad person. Just wrong.

Kidding aside, I understand what you're saying...but I don't really think it's up to the person who passed gas to ward off an incoming wave of rudeness. If people started sniffing the air, I wouldn't fault the person who had the flatulence; I would recognize that I'm dealing with the uncouth. I guess it's a matter of personal choice.

Still, you could argue that being the victim of a bloody accident is something gross that you did inadvertantly...it's not something you say "Excuse me" for.

But regardless of if they say anything or not, the appropriate response is certainly to ignore it. I don't view it as something people should apologize for. But to each his own...

where people walk around sniffing the air and trying to figure out who dealt it.

Someone needs to come up with an app for that.

Having lived in San Francisco for many years, I totally have to agree with you on [it being "the epicenter of Rude"].

I will also add that it's not just the gamer and tech boys who are guilty of this. I've had a number of 20-ish males do that to me while walking in the Financial District.

I've watched men and women in San Francisco take up the entire sidewalk, oblivious to oncoming pedestrians.

And manners on public transit here in SF have all but disappeared. People stand around in a mob near the train door stops (or lounge on benches nearby) and rush the doors when their train arrives in the station. Whatever happened to lines?

Whatever happened to lines?

“I'll handle this - I'm British; I know how to queue.” -- Arthur Dent

"Interesting. What do people do when they have a cold? Is it OK to let the snot run down their faces? (Totally serious question.)"

Good question, and honestly I don't know. In Tokyo, you do see a lot of people who wear masks when they walk around outside. Maybe they're trying to hide runny noses...

(Most bizarre thing I saw in Tokyo: A lady walking down the street with a mask on. Sensitive about air pollution? Not so much: every so often she pulled it to one side to take a drag off of a cigarette.)

At the risk of oversharing, I've certainly had colds where the snot ran out rather suddenly... what are you supposed to do, let it stream down your face as you shove people out of your way and book it to the bathroom? Stay at home for weeks if it is a prolonged cold?

My pet peeves are burps. Burps are usually much easier to suppress than other body functions (though of course they can also sneak up on you and jump out). Also, gross things coming out of other orifices are to be expected. But out of your mouth? Right into someone's face? I hate burps. I hate beer because it tastes like burps.

"Having lived in San Francisco for many years, I totally have to agree with you on [it being "the epicenter of Rude"]."

Agreed. Life is better outside of THE CITY. Much, much better.

Everything mentioned - the sidewalk hogs, the rudeness, the spitting old Chinese - happened to me, plus the taxi thieves - the smirky 20-something couple who try to steal your cab. Just about came to blows over that one.

SF people are EXACTLY like the South Park episode. Somehow they've convinced themselves they're competing with New York City.

They're not.

What ever happened to holding doors for people? You don't have to let me walk through it ahead of you, just don't let it slam in my face. On an average trip to the store, I have my daughter (who is 11 months old and must be carried or if I want to get anywhere within the hour), my purse, her diaper bag, and usually a toy of some sort to keep her occupied. I've had people see me, make eye contact (at which point I offer a smile) and let the door slam in front of me. No really, I'm not carrying much, thanks for the consideration.

#1 - Women who pee on the toilet seat and do not clean it up.

Anyone who uses a public restroom and does not contribute to its upkeep by informing staff of low tp or soap, clogs, and other problems in the making.

Rushing in before others have had a chance to get out (trains, elevators, rooms).

Littering (especially cigarette butts).

People who ask me personal questions and are then rude to me when they are not prepared for the answer. I'm gay, and this occurs often when people ask me about "my husband/ boyfriend/ availability."

~~~~~
I have severe allergies. Even with weekly allergy shots and a strictly limited diet, I take Benadryl every night just to keep the attacks low. If I left the table every time I had to attend to my nose, it would be tremendously distracting and disruptive. I'll turn 180 away from the table before I put the tissue to my nose (no public honking), let you know I have allergies, and avoid touching the public utensils (serving spoons, water pitcher handle, etc.) but it's rarely feasible for me to be at a table and go then entire length of the meal time without attending to my nose. It's often impossible, unless you're willing to watch my nose run.

Oversharing. I really don't want to hear about what you're sitting on, even if we're both women.

Unless we're close friends, I don't want to hear about your existential problems, either. A relative who was a complete stranger to me contacted me via Facebook and told me all about his angst over being adopted. (We were both adopted by relatives, by I never saw what the big deal was.) This person was a 40-year-old doctor with a baby. I guess I expected doctors to have some dignity and discretion. "I think you need this as much as I do," he said. Really? Based on what? My need to hear someone whine about being raised by two loving parents?

That's another thing--maybe not rudeness, but making statements based on little or nothing but assumptions or having heard it elsewhere. (I'm talking about things besides personal preferences. )

#1 - Women who pee on the toilet seat and do not clean it up.

Agreed, Michelle. That's why I've taught my girls to ALWAYS check the seat and wipe it BEFORE you sit down. Even if it looks clean, it may not be.

Flynne, so glad to hear that!

It's equal parts self-defense and public service.

Let's not forget the over-share's evil twin---the personal questions from strangers or near-strangers. Unless you are taking a medical history, you don't need to know whether or not my children were adopted, just look like their father (you would know him if you were close enough to be told all this information), or if I was accidentally handed the wrong baby in the hospital, three times in a row. And for pity's sake, if you must ask if a child was adopted, don't do it when the child is right there listening and well old enough to comprehend. For the record, my kids aren't adopted but I've been asked often enough that I'm afraid they'll get a complex.

@ Jenny & Amy - I've been told that the civil response is a rhetorical/ turn-the-tables "Why do you ask?" and if needed, the follow up, "Out of respect for privacy, I/ we don't answer such personal questions."

But at times like that I really want to say, "What the f#ck are you thinking?!"

"Interesting. What do people do when they have a cold? Is it OK to let the snot run down their faces? (Totally serious question.)"

They sniff. And sniff. And sniff. I lived in Japan for 8 years and this drove me bonkers. Not only listening to someone else sniffing constantly but having to do this non-stop yourself.

Spitting in the street though (by men), no problem! Go figure.