Comments on: Are you a noisy eater? http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/ Look again, you might have missed something. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:05:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Cece http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-368 Cece Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:46:06 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-368 I really like this guy I have been friends with for about 4 years. We get along really well, and he has asked me out a couple of times. I have always worried (and still do) that this is such a mean-spirited, shallow reason to NOT be with someone, but the way he eats drives me mad. It has reached the point where I will make an excuse to leave the room when he's eating. Unlike a lot of the examples here, he doesn't eat with an open mouth, but still somehow manages to make a LOT of noise. Like he is squishing and squelching the food around in his mouth and then swallows it loudly. I never knew it was possible to hear a person swallowing from across the room until I ate with him.... It's a serious problem because I really like him. He's such a totally lovely person and I know he must have no idea about how much noise he makes (especially since his mouth is closed, he must think he couldn't possibly be making much sound). He's also a very sensitive person and I have no idea how I could ever tell him how much I hate the way he eats. I have been on the verge of telling him a few times, but always held back because I'm so worried it will hurt him and he will feel humiliated. I try so hard to just tune it out, or I turn up the TV volume if I can. Another part of the problem is that he prefers not to have the TV on during dinner. Aaargh. So once or twice I've lied and said there is some show on that I really want to see... Funny thing is, eating sounds never bothered me until I met him. His eating noises are just so strange and awful... they bother me more and more all the time. Oh well... just venting here. I feel your pain! I really like this guy I have been friends with for about 4 years. We get along really well, and he has asked me out a couple of times.
I have always worried (and still do) that this is such a mean-spirited, shallow reason to NOT be with someone, but the way he eats drives me mad.
It has reached the point where I will make an excuse to leave the room when he’s eating.

Unlike a lot of the examples here, he doesn’t eat with an open mouth, but still somehow manages to make a LOT of noise. Like he is squishing and squelching the food around in his mouth and then swallows it loudly. I never knew it was possible to hear a person swallowing from across the room until I ate with him….

It’s a serious problem because I really like him. He’s such a totally lovely person and I know he must have no idea about how much noise he makes (especially since his mouth is closed, he must think he couldn’t possibly be making much sound).
He’s also a very sensitive person and I have no idea how I could ever tell him how much I hate the way he eats. I have been on the verge of telling him a few times, but always held back because I’m so worried it will hurt him and he will feel humiliated.

I try so hard to just tune it out, or I turn up the TV volume if I can. Another part of the problem is that he prefers not to have the TV on during dinner. Aaargh. So once or twice I’ve lied and said there is some show on that I really want to see…

Funny thing is, eating sounds never bothered me until I met him. His eating noises are just so strange and awful… they bother me more and more all the time.

Oh well… just venting here. I feel your pain!

]]> By: Rollo http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-366 Rollo Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:16:21 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-366 I suffer to the point that I threaten tea slurping colleges with pens. I have a theory about this which may only apply to me. The key observation is that a) the disproportionately intense heightening of the rage if the noise is done intentionally to annoy you. In fact, by reading the comments on this blog, I can almost feel my problem getting worse. In other words, noticing how angry it makes you makes it considerably worse and is actually the perpetuating force behind it. The point is that the sound itself is not implicitly the cause of the rage but the association of someone else disturbing you by making it. This seems an oversimple, but by now every time I hear even a recorded or accidental slurp, there are so many levels of repressed rage sandwiched with indignancy that it triggers a reaction without there being any intent at all. It would be interesting to know how many of the people on this wall have NOT had someone irritate them by making the noise on purpose or have NOT felt indignant that someone might be doing it on purpose. The more I think about it the more complicated it seems. Maybe its incurable and I should just get a a tee-shirt explaining the risk to those who slurp within stabbing distance of me. I suffer to the point that I threaten tea slurping colleges with pens. I have a theory about this which may only apply to me. The key observation is that a) the disproportionately intense heightening of the rage if the noise is done intentionally to annoy you. In fact, by reading the comments on this blog, I can almost feel my problem getting worse. In other words, noticing how angry it makes you makes it considerably worse and is actually the perpetuating force behind it.

The point is that the sound itself is not implicitly the cause of the rage but the association of someone else disturbing you by making it. This seems an oversimple, but by now every time I hear even a recorded or accidental slurp, there are so many levels of repressed rage sandwiched with indignancy that it triggers a reaction without there being any intent at all.

It would be interesting to know how many of the people on this wall have NOT had someone irritate them by making the noise on purpose or have NOT felt indignant that someone might be doing it on purpose.

The more I think about it the more complicated it seems. Maybe its incurable and I should just get a a tee-shirt explaining the risk to those who slurp within stabbing distance of me.

]]> By: Tasha Dawn http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-365 Tasha Dawn Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:13:34 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-365 I understand fully what you are all talking about and nobody seems to care youre absolutely right and it drives me absolutely mad..! nobody seems to truly understand, rather they say that they are listening to you complaints..BUT! but they dont think that your complaints deserves respect, they dont think that it is something that should be taken so seriously as to be a valid and actual nuisance. Instead, they freak back in your face with just as much irritation on the matter, or they laugh in your face. Even to the point where it actually becomes a full fledged argument. I dont understand why it has to be that way...do i have to seek revenge? NO of course not! I try to seemingly get their attention even if i have to shed tears for them to understand..though usually only works on family members...I wouldnt suggest it in public as to not make your self look like you escaped the looney bin! Know what else actually works... Showing others this site, helping them to realize that we do not stand alone..instead we are all plagued with this undying issue til the day we die! What on earth do we do besides besides rip our hair out and pray that God will take away our anxiety? I really need to learn some coping skills for this because as for now I am certainly on the losing streak..how about you guys?? Hopefully when i get married it will be one of their vows..to be extremely sensitive to my most hopeless pet peeves...:( Sincerely, Tasha Dawn I understand fully what you are all talking about and nobody seems to care youre absolutely right and it drives me absolutely mad..! nobody seems to truly understand, rather they say that they are listening to you complaints..BUT! but they dont think that your complaints deserves respect, they dont think that it is something that should be taken so seriously as to be a valid and actual nuisance. Instead, they freak back in your face with just as much irritation on the matter, or they laugh in your face. Even to the point where it actually becomes a full fledged argument. I dont understand why it has to be that way…do i have to seek revenge? NO of course not! I try to seemingly get their attention even if i have to shed tears for them to understand..though usually only works on family members…I wouldnt suggest it in public as to not make your self look like you escaped the looney bin! Know what else actually works… Showing others this site, helping them to realize that we do not stand alone..instead we are all plagued with this undying issue til the day we die! What on earth do we do besides besides rip our hair out and pray that God will take away our anxiety? I really need to learn some coping skills for this because as for now I am certainly on the losing streak..how about you guys?? Hopefully when i get married it will be one of their vows..to be extremely sensitive to my most hopeless pet peeves…:(
Sincerely, Tasha Dawn

]]> By: Mel Knapp http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-359 Mel Knapp Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:37:07 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-359 n5sed7847y02a3qp n5sed7847y02a3qp

]]> By: Chris http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Chris Mon, 12 May 2008 20:29:34 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-349 I am glad to find that there are other people with this issue. I have been "suffering" from this pet peeve for as long as I can remember. My entire family eats noisily and I am sure that it stems from some sort of irritation with that when I was little. I am a very nice person as well, but I sense extreme rage whenever I am within distance of noisy eaters. It is definately worse if I have no escape root. I think that there is an additional sense of rage added due to the fact that others seem oblivious to what is typically the loudest sound in the room. I get so frustrated that people can not consider the noise that they are making and the distraction that it causes. But, why are others not distracted? The worst instance I can remember happened in a college class that covered spanish art. At one point, the class was treated to an early nineteenth century silent film by Luis Bunuel. During this film, several people ate chips and chewed gum and slurpped coffe at such an astonishingly loud level that I thought my eyes would bug out of my head. It ruined the experience and infuriates me to this day. But my question was, how were others not angered as well? It was like watching an art movie with a score of smacking, slurping and crunching and even a burp. I can understand maybe people not noticing while they are eating as well, but how did they all overlook this? Was that room silent to them? My point is that the most frustrating thing about this pet peeve is that it is hard to realize that it isn't the norm when it feels like it should be. I assume that if I walked around with a chalk-board and some forks and scratched it as people went about their business that they would not be able to drown it out. Even ones that don't mind that scratch sound, would probably start to mind if I did it during that movie. If I had made any other sound, (a banging or a whistle) that loud I would have been asked to stop. But eating and coffee slurping at that level is completely overlooked. I have also noticed that I can turn on other quiet eaters to the pet peeve, but they do not notice it until I point it out. It will slowly develop over time. I have converted two or three friends. I seriously think that as much as you could say that it is a psychological problem that it exists for me, it is also psychological that others don't notice. I belive that most people would say a room was dead silent if asked because they would look for other sounds other than a person standing there chewing their gum like a cow. Others don't acknowledge it as noise for some reason that I am extremely jealous of. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest! I am glad to find that there are other people with this issue. I have been “suffering” from this pet peeve for as long as I can remember. My entire family eats noisily and I am sure that it stems from some sort of irritation with that when I was little. I am a very nice person as well, but I sense extreme rage whenever I am within distance of noisy eaters. It is definately worse if I have no escape root. I think that there is an additional sense of rage added due to the fact that others seem oblivious to what is typically the loudest sound in the room. I get so frustrated that people can not consider the noise that they are making and the distraction that it causes. But, why are others not distracted? The worst instance I can remember happened in a college class that covered spanish art. At one point, the class was treated to an early nineteenth century silent film by Luis Bunuel. During this film, several people ate chips and chewed gum and slurpped coffe at such an astonishingly loud level that I thought my eyes would bug out of my head. It ruined the experience and infuriates me to this day. But my question was, how were others not angered as well? It was like watching an art movie with a score of smacking, slurping and crunching and even a burp. I can understand maybe people not noticing while they are eating as well, but how did they all overlook this? Was that room silent to them? My point is that the most frustrating thing about this pet peeve is that it is hard to realize that it isn’t the norm when it feels like it should be. I assume that if I walked around with a chalk-board and some forks and scratched it as people went about their business that they would not be able to drown it out. Even ones that don’t mind that scratch sound, would probably start to mind if I did it during that movie. If I had made any other sound, (a banging or a whistle) that loud I would have been asked to stop. But eating and coffee slurping at that level is completely overlooked.

I have also noticed that I can turn on other quiet eaters to the pet peeve, but they do not notice it until I point it out. It will slowly develop over time. I have converted two or three friends. I seriously think that as much as you could say that it is a psychological problem that it exists for me, it is also psychological that others don’t notice. I belive that most people would say a room was dead silent if asked because they would look for other sounds other than a person standing there chewing their gum like a cow. Others don’t acknowledge it as noise for some reason that I am extremely jealous of.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!

]]> By: Chris http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Chris Mon, 12 May 2008 20:29:33 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-350 I am glad to find that there are other people with this issue. I have been "suffering" from this pet peeve for as long as I can remember. My entire family eats noisily and I am sure that it stems from some sort of irritation with that when I was little. I am a very nice person as well, but I sense extreme rage whenever I am within distance of noisy eaters. It is definately worse if I have no escape root. I think that there is an additional sense of rage added due to the fact that others seem oblivious to what is typically the loudest sound in the room. I get so frustrated that people can not consider the noise that they are making and the distraction that it causes. But, why are others not distracted? The worst instance I can remember happened in a college class that covered spanish art. At one point, the class was treated to an early nineteenth century silent film by Luis Bunuel. During this film, several people ate chips and chewed gum and slurpped coffe at such an astonishingly loud level that I thought my eyes would bug out of my head. It ruined the experience and infuriates me to this day. But my question was, how were others not angered as well? It was like watching an art movie with a score of smacking, slurping and crunching and even a burp. I can understand maybe people not noticing while they are eating as well, but how did they all overlook this? Was that room silent to them? My point is that the most frustrating thing about this pet peeve is that it is hard to realize that it isn't the norm when it feels like it should be. I assume that if I walked around with a chalk-board and some forks and scratched it as people went about their business that they would not be able to drown it out. Even ones that don't mind that scratch sound, would probably start to mind if I did it during that movie. If I had made any other sound, (a banging or a whistle) that loud I would have been asked to stop. But eating and coffee slurping at that level is completely overlooked. I have also noticed that I can turn on other quiet eaters to the pet peeve, but they do not notice it until I point it out. It will slowly develop over time. I have converted two or three friends. I seriously think that as much as you could say that it is a psychological problem that it exists for me, it is also psychological that others don't notice. I belive that most people would say a room was dead silent if asked because they would look for other sounds other than a person standing there chewing their gum like a cow. Others don't acknowledge it as noise for some reason that I am extremely jealous of. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest! I am glad to find that there are other people with this issue. I have been “suffering” from this pet peeve for as long as I can remember. My entire family eats noisily and I am sure that it stems from some sort of irritation with that when I was little. I am a very nice person as well, but I sense extreme rage whenever I am within distance of noisy eaters. It is definately worse if I have no escape root. I think that there is an additional sense of rage added due to the fact that others seem oblivious to what is typically the loudest sound in the room. I get so frustrated that people can not consider the noise that they are making and the distraction that it causes. But, why are others not distracted? The worst instance I can remember happened in a college class that covered spanish art. At one point, the class was treated to an early nineteenth century silent film by Luis Bunuel. During this film, several people ate chips and chewed gum and slurpped coffe at such an astonishingly loud level that I thought my eyes would bug out of my head. It ruined the experience and infuriates me to this day. But my question was, how were others not angered as well? It was like watching an art movie with a score of smacking, slurping and crunching and even a burp. I can understand maybe people not noticing while they are eating as well, but how did they all overlook this? Was that room silent to them? My point is that the most frustrating thing about this pet peeve is that it is hard to realize that it isn’t the norm when it feels like it should be. I assume that if I walked around with a chalk-board and some forks and scratched it as people went about their business that they would not be able to drown it out. Even ones that don’t mind that scratch sound, would probably start to mind if I did it during that movie. If I had made any other sound, (a banging or a whistle) that loud I would have been asked to stop. But eating and coffee slurping at that level is completely overlooked.

I have also noticed that I can turn on other quiet eaters to the pet peeve, but they do not notice it until I point it out. It will slowly develop over time. I have converted two or three friends. I seriously think that as much as you could say that it is a psychological problem that it exists for me, it is also psychological that others don’t notice. I belive that most people would say a room was dead silent if asked because they would look for other sounds other than a person standing there chewing their gum like a cow. Others don’t acknowledge it as noise for some reason that I am extremely jealous of.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!

]]> By: Stu http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-268 Stu Wed, 22 Aug 2007 09:36:45 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-268 I googled "noisy eater" and found this. I am not usually that bothered by other people's table manners, but I have this Indian man sitting across from me at work who eats like a pig. He takes 5 hours to eat his lunch (yes 5 hours - not an exaggeration), which is usually soup (yes it must be stone cold). I quietly told him once that he is distracting as he eats noisly and he was receptive to my complaint but unfortunately thought it only related to his slurping. Now he still makes loud clucking noises (whilst nodding his head) with every mouthful and this goes on for 5 hours, he takes one mouthful every 5 minutes. What makes it worse is no-one else seems to be bothered by him. I feel I have been tolerant with the fact he clicks his fingers and plays his music loud enough for me to hear, but this drives me mad. It's the disrespect that aggravates. He has 7 days left of his contract but I am not sure I can last out - should tell him again? I googled “noisy eater” and found this. I am not usually that bothered by other people’s table manners, but I have this Indian man sitting across from me at work who eats like a pig. He takes 5 hours to eat his lunch (yes 5 hours - not an exaggeration), which is usually soup (yes it must be stone cold). I quietly told him once that he is distracting as he eats noisly and he was receptive to my complaint but unfortunately thought it only related to his slurping. Now he still makes loud clucking noises (whilst nodding his head) with every mouthful and this goes on for 5 hours, he takes one mouthful every 5 minutes. What makes it worse is no-one else seems to be bothered by him.

I feel I have been tolerant with the fact he clicks his fingers and plays his music loud enough for me to hear, but this drives me mad. It’s the disrespect that aggravates.

He has 7 days left of his contract but I am not sure I can last out - should tell him again?

]]> By: Gregg Logan http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Gregg Logan Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:12:10 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-183 I live in Oshawa Ontario Canada and work in Markham - North of Toronto. There is a major Chinese community here - i work for a very large IT company and there are many cultures in the building. I do not do to the cafe to have lunch anymore as i can't stand the noise they make when they eat!!! I find it so disgusting and they don even care. It’s bad enough that they make no effort to speak English - they slurp, suck, grunt and all other kinds of Godly irritating noise!!!! Am i racist? I work well with them - just cant be anywhere near them when they eat!!! - I feel so bad! I just want to scream - CLOSE YOUR GOD DAMM MOUTH! I live in Oshawa Ontario Canada and work in Markham - North of Toronto. There is a major Chinese community here - i work for a very large IT company and there are many cultures in the building. I do not do to the cafe to have lunch anymore as i can’t stand the noise they make when they eat!!! I find it so disgusting and they don even care. It’s bad enough that they make no effort to speak English - they slurp, suck, grunt and all other kinds of Godly irritating noise!!!!
Am i racist? I work well with them - just cant be anywhere near them when they eat!!! - I feel so bad! I just want to scream - CLOSE YOUR GOD DAMM MOUTH!

]]> By: Double Take › Busy, busy, busy http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Double Take › Busy, busy, busy Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:53:46 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-182 [...] but that’s record-breaking on Double Take) I still receive about the problem. Here it is again. The people who commented seem to suffer even worse than I do, and I thought I had it bad. One [...] [...] but that’s record-breaking on Double Take) I still receive about the problem. Here it is again. The people who commented seem to suffer even worse than I do, and I thought I had it bad. One [...]

]]> By: Matt http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Matt Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:23:16 +0000 http://www.flowingpens.com/blog/2007/07/are-you-a-noisy-eater/#comment-181 Apologies for the long ranting comment above BTW but I'm glad to get it off my chest! Matt. Apologies for the long ranting comment above BTW but I’m glad to get it off my chest!

Matt.

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