>This spitting thing was probably a powerful meme then - whoever invented it, found some who would really do it.
>
>//edited//
>
>I still don't get the logical leap to a nefarious manipulator- unless you believe in Satan of course. ;-)

Which I obviously don't - these things come in bundles. You start believing in one of them, and before you know it you're saddled with a whole religion.

>What's wrong with the simple explanation? Rationalizing poor behavior behind a fig leaf of righteous indignation is a common human trait.

I usually don't ascribe to malice what can be explained by stupidity - i.e. the invention of the "spit your warrior" was most probably spontaneous. Its use nowadays to imply that the current peaceniks are somehow traitors, is probably not.