Etiquette: Baseball players’ constant spitting sets a bad example for kids in the stands

Q. We took two grandsons to the ballgame the other night. We had some seats close to home plate. After about the third inning, one of our grandsons spit on the concrete in front of his seat. My husband and I told him that was not nice and that he should not do it. His reply was, as he pointed his finger out to the home plate area, “Well, all those guys are spitting.”

After that, every time he saw a player spit, he would point and say something about it. We continued to tell him it was not the proper thing to do. P.S. Isn’t it a shame what role models are teaching the younger generation?

A. Yes, I totally agree with you. It is improper and disgusting for anyone to spit anywhere and that goes for famous baseball players and everyday baseball players, coaches, or simply John Doe walking down the street. Famous individuals should stop and think what kind of a sad example they are setting for boys and girls who want to admire them and emulate them.

Q. Have you ever heard of having beer and wine at a family gathering after a funeral and burial? My husband and I recently attended the wake, the funeral and the burial for a man who used to work for our company. We were invited to a family member’s home for a meal after we got back from the cemetery. I was shocked to see they were serving beer and wine. Is that proper?

A. Post-funeral receptions offer the family and friends of the deceased an opportunity to spend time together remembering the person who died and to do so in a more casual setting. It’s a time to share stories, feelings and relate happy or special moments spent with the deceased.

What kind of food and beverages to be served is usually directed or organized by the deceased’s immediate family. They decide the meaning of what is proper. In some cases, the arrangements may have been set forth by the deceased at an earlier date and this person could have requested alcoholic beverages be served at his post-funeral reception. Regardless of who dictates the food and beverages, it remains an individual choice for anyone attending to have an alcoholic beverage or not.

This story was originally published August 2, 2015 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Etiquette: Baseball players’ constant spitting sets a bad example for kids in the stands."