[JoeS21]

I don't know what to say or how to say it... or what to do. Please help!

There is someone that I cannot avoid who likes to sit across from me, but she is disgusting. She may not even know she has this problem. The problem is that she spits when she talks, plus she has a disgusting mouth so her spit is NASTY! It honestly makes me sick to sit across from her when she does that. (I'm not describing how bad this is because I don't want to make people reading this sick. Trust me, it's awful! I'm leaving details out.) And I feel like I can't eat when she's there doing that. Without going into too much detail, I am stuck sitting somewhere for hours and she tends to come and sit across from me. I would like for her to sit further away from me, but just don't know how to ask. If I do ask, she will ask why I ask.

How can I get her to get away. I don't dislike her. She is a sweet person and vulnerable and homeless... But I need for her to stop doing that.

What can I say to her?

[TishaBuv]

That's a tough one. I'm not sure what you could do. I don't even know if someone who does that can even learn to stop if they wanted to. Why would someone spit when they talk? I've seen people like that, too. I don't know why they do it or if they can change.

Wear a raincoat?

[Crazy Hitch]

Well, you probably have a few options but you'd need to way up the pros and cons of each:

- Just mention it each time she does it ...she may get irritated, get the hint and move away from you ("You just spat on me ..."); stated in a matter of fact way without showing repulsion; and change the topic

- Tell her you battle to concentrate when she comes to sit near you (which is kinda the truth as she's distracting you)

- Keep breath mints and keep offering her one every time she speaks

- I'm not entirely sure I know the reason why you can't get up and move when she sits there if she seems to have so much freedom to move around - even if you can't get up and entirely move somewhere; just get up and walk away for a minute or two each time she sits down next to you

[Travelinglady]

Hmm. Too much saliva? Ill-fitting dentures?

I think I might mention it to her. Maybe say, wiping yourself off, "Oops, you spit on me!"? Maybe she can control in some anyway.

[Grandessa]

Sorry, this made me laugh, laugh, laugh!

I was taking the SAT exam and concentrating very hard. The guy sitting across from me kept smacking his lips. I couldn't concentrate. I said " would you please stop doing that?" He goes "what?" You keep smacking your lips. He stopped.

Maybe put one of those face shields on that they use in the hospital operating room.