Cunching, lip-smacking, open-mouth-chewers DIE!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM II

11/02/2005 03:09:59 PM · #1

I avoid movie theatres because I can't stand to hear people chewing, especially open-mouthed. I drive in insane traffic for hours every day and remain cool & unbothered by it, but chewing/lip-smacking drives my blood pressure through the roof!

Now there's a new person working here who crunches carrots or something around noon, and now she's slurping on something else (hard-candies, throat lozenges?) all afternoon! I can feel my head about to explode, but think it would be silly to ask her to stop fraying my nerves.

Message edited by author 2005-11-02 15:13:18.

CalamitysMaster00

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

11/02/2005 03:11:10 PM · #2

wow, that sounds like an issue to me! Then again I work in a mental hospital... :) I would tell her to stop for everyone's safety

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

11/02/2005 03:11:40 PM · #3

One word: headphones.

11/02/2005 03:14:40 PM · #4

Who has a humorous website link about the issue for me. A gentle way for me to deal with it in a lighthearted way might be to email her the link.

-no headphones or radio allowed. :-(

Message edited by author 2005-11-02 15:15:31.

11/02/2005 03:24:23 PM · #5

Holy smokes, according to this site I might have hyperacusis! It's spooky how well it describes me.

Noises that are identified as bothersome or extremely annoying most often relate to noises associated with the mouths or noses of other people. Biting, chewing, forks clicking on plates or teeth, tongues licking lips, lips smacking when opening or shutting, sssss sounds or other high frequency sounds, fingernail biting, or breathing sounds, can send these patients through the roof, out the door, into their rooms, and into seclusion.

Emotional reactions are closely related to this syndrome: victims may cry, yell, strike out, retreat, scream, withdraw, abuse others verbally or physically, in an effort to remove the negative stimulation. One patient described these very soft sounds as akin to 'fingernails on a million blackboards'. There is an irresistable urge to remove oneself."

I don't lash out, I just get away, or stay away from the noises. But I can't spend half the day away from work.

Message edited by author 2005-11-02 15:26:28.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/02/2005 03:32:25 PM · #6

Ugh, my hyperacusis is incurable. I think it may be genetic, too. My brother refuses to go to movie theatres because of the chewing cows.

I need a therapist!

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

11/02/2005 03:40:22 PM · #7

Sometimes I wonder whether I have the same condition (well, not very often. OK, only just then when you mentioned it and my hypochondria kicked in. I've got some nice tablets from the doctor for hypochondria, by the way), but then it wouldn't matter if I did, because I just ignore everyone anyway.

As for a cure, I heartily recommend Motorhead at at least 100dB for the duration of the working day. You won't hear anyone's chewing. You won't hear anything for a week.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

11/02/2005 03:42:14 PM · #8

Sounds to me like a hostile work environment. Get yourself diagnosed, and you may be able to go on disability, or even get your own private work environment. I recall some case on (I think) 20/20 where a woman complained of being alergic to something in the air at work, and they eventually had to give her her own trailer with special filtered ventilation outside the main building.

I think you got yourself a golden ticket here.

peecee

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/02/2005 03:45:54 PM · #9

Try chewing celery, it really annoys.... payback time :-)

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/02/2005 03:47:55 PM · #10

I'm sure Scott Adams must have covered this at some time in the last 15 years. Haven't found any specific strips yet. But here's a blog entry to hold you over: Rambling Rhodes: Chewing Crushed Ice.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/02/2005 03:52:26 PM · #11

You COULD put out your ears and join me in the silent world :-)

R.

11/02/2005 03:58:59 PM · #12

Originally posted by ScottK:

I'm sure Scott Adams must have covered this at some time in the last 15 years. Haven't found any specific strips yet. But here's a blog entry to hold you over: Rambling Rhodes: Chewing Crushed Ice.

Ha! Good read, thanks!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

11/02/2005 04:00:45 PM · #13

Originally posted by bear_music:

You COULD put out your ears and join me in the silent world :-)

R.

Don't tempt me, bear, I have a container full of pens just to the right of my monitor.

mpemberton

11/02/2005 04:35:48 PM · #14

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

With you on that one Slippy...... Nothing more annoying.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

11/02/2005 04:40:52 PM · #15

Found this one for you on the web:
"A gum-chewing girl and a cud-chewing cow
What is the difference? I see it, now
The intelligent look on the face of the cow"
Maybe you could drop it on her desk after hours....

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/02/2005 04:52:22 PM · #16

My husband has a guy at work that does the same thing - eating with his mouth fully open and taking huge bites. He says its so bad he has to leave the office for at least a half hour every day. He likens it to the sound our dog makes chewing and licking his...well you get the idea.

Better than my co-worker when I lived in cubicle world who would have loud phone conversations about herself. and her sex life. Which was occasionally alone. In the shower. Or sometimes in the parking lot of the Gas-N-Go....

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

11/02/2005 05:27:22 PM · #17

Originally posted by dahkota:

Better than my co-worker when I lived in cubicle world who would have loud phone conversations about herself. and her sex life. Which was occasionally alone. In the shower. Or sometimes in the parking lot of the Gas-N-Go....

Heh, that I could handle. ;-)

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

11/02/2005 05:51:56 PM · #18

I can completely relate!
On the bus, minding my own business. Find a seat, have headphones on (I don't keep them on that loud so other people don't know what I'm listening to.). Anyways, guy chewing gum incredibly LOUD and popping it and chewing with his mouth open and *ACK* it was so gross and annoying.

I could hear him from across the aisle with my headphones on.
Yech.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

11/02/2005 06:06:16 PM · #19

Wanted to add that I, too, get really annoyed at gum chonking, open-mouthed food chewing and chronic snifflers (get a tissue!).

But, in the workplace, the only way to get a cure is to find out what's important to other people who can do something about it. Hmmm...who can do something about her mouth habits?
1. She can.
--You, "I know you probably don't realize this, because if you did I'm sure you'd stop, but your constant gum-chewing and food chonking really bothers me....."
Nope. Won't work!
--You (2nd try) "I know you probably don't realize this, but your constant gum-chewing and food crunching really makes you look unprofessional and some of your co-workers find it distracting."
2. Your boss....your boss cares about the bottom line, really, that's all.
--You, "I know this might sound petty, but Miss Cow's behavior is affecting my performance. Did you know that she seems to be constantly chonking on something? Gum and carrots, for example. I just thought you should know that I find it really distracting. It makes it hard for me to concentrate on my work. I just wish someone could help her realize how her behavior is affecting others...."
It probably sounds artificial, but isn't work the most artificial place you've ever been?

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/02/2005 06:37:30 PM · #20

It's funny you posted this. My boss was chomping away on crunchy celery today. She stops, laughs, and says, "Boy this celery is really crunchy isn't it?" Grrr!

She's also one of those open-mouth chewers. YUCK!!! It makes me insane especially when she's smacking away while standing next to me and talking...and I can smell the stupid Wasa and peanut butter that she's chomping! She finally stopped offering me some after I've told her a million times that I hate peanut butter and I don't want any stinkin' Wasa, either!

If this person isn't your boss, I would probably tell her to knock it off. If it's your superior...I probably wouldn't...unless I got to know them and was comfortable telling them what I thought! :-)

Originally posted by peecee:

Try chewing celery, it really annoys.... payback time :-)

LOL, just saw this.

Message edited by author 2005-11-02 18:42:06.

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/02/2005 06:46:04 PM · #21

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

This has happened to me before. In college I was sitting next to this kid who was chewing on, and clicking between his teeth, one of those plastic inserts in the cap of a soda bottle (know what I mean?). He didn't just do it a couple of times but for about 15 minutes. I quietly packed up my stuff and walked out of the class. I couldn't take it. I felt a strong urge to strangle him and it was best that I left! :-D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/02/2005 06:51:10 PM · #22

I'll find a way to let her know as nicely as I'm capable of. I don't need a heart attack. When I hear that stuff it makes me SO tense and sometimes all tingly. I'm such a freak!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

11/02/2005 07:17:07 PM · #23

Hey - isn't this your Pumpkin Challenge entry:

11/02/2005 09:59:03 PM · #24

Haha! Ken, you're on a roll, LOL! :-D

Tom