"ill-educated" vs "ill-mannered"

[LeTyan]

Hi,

If you see someone spit or pee everywhere on the street, would native speakers of English describe them more as "ill-educated" or "ill-mannered"?

Thanks!

 

[5jj]

I'd think they were either very drunk or mentally disturbed. Neither of the words you used would spring to mind.

 

[LeTyan]

I'd think they were either very drunk or mentally disturbed. Neither of the words you used would spring to mind.

Okay. Forgive me for not wording my question clearly enough.
Say someone tries to clean his throat so he just spits wherever he wants on the street. Would you describe it "ill-educated" or "ill-mannered"?

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't think you can equate it to a poor education (although I'm sure some people will say that the kind of person who spits in the street is probably also not someone who went to university!).

It is certainly "bad manners" to spit on the street but I wouldn't use "ill-mannered".

I would call them "vile" or "scum".

However, bear in mind that in some countries, spitting in the street is completely normal and is done by almost everyone, regardless of class.

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

Not a teacher nor a native speaker.
I'd definetely say "disgusting", I'm just interesting whether my choice is good.

 

[emsr2d2]

I would say that "it" (the habit) is disgusting. I would not necessarily describe the person doing it as disgusting.

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

I heard something like that in BBC Radio. A woman describes one kid like "you're disgusting something".

 

[emsr2d2]

"You're disgusting something" doesn't make any sense, I'm afraid. I could understand her saying "You disgust me" or something similar. By the way, you heard it on the radio.

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

I even don't remeber when I heard that, probably I mixed something up.

 

[emsr2d2]

I [strike]even[/strike] don't [even] remember when I heard that. I probably [strike]I[/strike] mixed something up.

Take care with your word order.

 

[emsr2d2]

Back to the original question, I would not expect to see anyone "spit or pee everywhere on the street".

Here in the UK, spitting in the street is seen and the culprits are usually young men but I've seen it from older men too, as well as some young women. Peeing in the street is more prevalent in city centres on a Friday and Saturday night, mainly due to the closure of the majority of public toilets in town centres.

 

[LeTyan]

Back to the original question, I would not expect to see anyone "spit or pee everywhere on the street".

Here in the UK, spitting in the street is seen and the culprits are usually young men but I've seen it from older men too, as well as some young women. Peeing in the street is more prevalent in city centres on a Friday and Saturday night, mainly due to the closure of the majority of public toilets in town centres.

So when I see people spit on the street (for whatever reason they have, could be cleaning their throats) whenever they want, can I yell out "What a bad manner!" in response to that action?

 

[Rover_KE]

I do not recommend remonstrating with anybody for their unsocial behaviour in the street — at least in the UK. It could lead to a foul riposte or even a physical attack on you.

'What a bad manner!' is ungrammatical anyway.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you want to behave like a classic British member of the public, when you see someone spitting in the street you would tut, roll your eyes and perhaps say very quietly under your breath "That's disgusting". I agree entirely with Rover that shouting a comment at someone for something like this is, unfortunately, quite likely to result in an unpleasant outcome for you.

 

[LeTyan]

I do not recommend remonstrating with anybody for their unsocial behaviour in the street — at least in the UK. It could lead to a foul riposte or even a physical attack on you.

'What a bad manner!' is ungrammatical anyway.

Thank you I will heed your words. But I don't understand why "What a bad day" is grammatical while "What a bad manner" is ungrammatical.
Could "Where are your manners?" possibly fit in this situation?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you I will heed your words. But I don't understand why "What a bad day" is grammatical while "What a bad manner" is ungrammatical.
Could "Where are your manners?" possibly fit in this situation?

We generally use "manners" in the plural when talking about behaviour so "What bad manners" could work. "Where are your manners?" is an OK sentence but, to be honest, spitting in the street doesn't come under the heading "manners" for me. It's a bad/disgusting habit.

 

[5jj]

Could "Where are your manners?" possibly fit in this situation?

You still seem to be trying to come up with something appropriate to say in this situation. Rover and ems have told you that it is not a good idea to say anything.

 

[LeTyan]

We generally use "manners" in the plural when talking about behaviour so "What bad manners" could work. "Where are your manners?" is an OK sentence but, to be honest, spitting in the street doesn't come under the heading "manners" for me. It's a bad/disgusting habit.

I see! Thank you for your clarification. So what about parking a car but occupying two parking spots? Sometimes, some people do it and I totally hate it!. Does that come under the heading "manners" for you?

 

[5jj]

That's thoughtless/inconsiderate. I wouldn't think of it as 'bad manners'.

 

[emsr2d2]

For me, "bad manners" constitutes things like not saying please and thank you, not holding a door open for someone coming through behind you, pushing your way into a queue, and such like.