Only knuckle-draging, mouth-breathers do that.

I rarely spit. When I played sports I was more inclined to do so, but there was a lot more "drainage" going on when I was physically active. I suspect it's a combination of that habit and, more important I think, a show of dominance. It's the "I'm here, look at me" mentality, something bold and masculine. The men who spit a lot are probably the same ones who throw doors open unnecessarily forcefully and make big, sweeping gestures with their arms. That's my best guess.

I know what you mean, that's gross.

Ack!! I hate that.

It's pretty gross. I make a point to never spit like that, so I know it's not a 'men' thing!

I don't spit it's disgusting.

Not me. That is disgusting.

I retired and later picked up a job as a janitor at a supermarket to keep busy. I had to clean the bathrooms. The women's bathroom was always the worse by far. Men are much more pragmatic than American women, women from other cultures are too. If there is something in my mouth I don't want there I spit it out as soon as I can get outside rather than swallowing it.

It’s totally disgusting. James

THIS man does not, and thinks its gross as hell.

I spit when I need to spit. If I spit indoors, I do it in a sink or a toilet. Outside, a sink or toilet may not always be available when the need arises. I prefer to spit in a natural area, but will spit in the street if I must. Y'all need to deal with that. ?

Hah! I am a guy and wonder the same thing. Is there a throat issue? An inability to deal with bodily fluids in a gentlemanly manner?

The only time I am compelled, is during some sort of cold / sinus problem, and then only if there is no audience.

As @resserts and @stinkeye_a say, sportspeople do it a lot (for legitimate reasons; they'd dribble everywhere if they didn't). Young men tend to look up to sportspeople as heroes and seek to emulate them - so that's my guess why they spit in the street.

I did this a lot when running or skateboarding. It's sinus drainage, like resserts said, that results from physical activity. I would do it freely, without shame, while aiming for the gutter or side where no one is likely to step. Never in the middle of the street or sidewalk.

Sometimes I would spit (and scowl), reflexively, if I caught someone staring at me while running or boarding--to (hopefully) make myself unattractive and/or unapproachable.

Marking territory in a pitiful way.

They'd be fined or spend a night in jail for peeing on the sidewalk. lol.

I don't really mind so long as they are not chewing tobacco. Now that's disgusting.

I know right!! I saw a couple of young guys spitting as I walked into the local library spiting as they walked. I wondered about that when I saw them. Why, girls never do this?

"That's a goddamned pig's trick!" - The words of my grandfather that always stayed with me.

To show disgust. It's a taunt. That's no excuse though.

It’s gross.

I hate it. I constantly ask myself the same question.

I slip a lot mostly to clear throat or nasal passages. I try not to do it were people can see me.

I yam what I yam.

It's been in movies since the black and white era. The cool or tough guy always spat. I'd say it's a learned trait from early on.

I saw a guy spit on a tree on Saturday, it kind of made me nauseous.