Turd balls

When I was 10 years old, I had this friend once named Kris (who was also my age). Never knew him very well, but we were in Cub Scouts together and my mother knew his father (who was also the "Den Leader" or whatever they were called). So, they arranged some kind of "play date" or sleepover thing. We went walking out behind my house that evening, just talking, joking around. All of a sudden, Kris reaches his hand down the back of his pants, pulls out a glob of something, and throws it down the street. "Turd balls" he says to me, and shrugs, with a smile on his face. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Even at 10, I was speechless. I think I murmured something, and I kept my distance for the rest of the night. Fortunately, I had nothing to do with him after that evening. But afterwards, I always watched his hands closely for the telltale evidence... Now it makes me wonder: Did he ever got over the habit? For that matter, I wonder how he STARTED the habit! Surely his parents must have known.