Morning Rant: People who talk with food in their mouths
I have a lovely, charming coworker who is right now getting on my very last nerve - she's eating something and talking to someone else. This is a daily occurrence.
My own mother does the same thing - we'll be at dinner, she'll have a bolus of food sloshing around, and then start the conversation.
WHAT GIVES?
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26 Comments:
This, along with people who chew gum loudly on crowded public transit, is a huge pet peeve of mine. Huge. I usually have to get up and leave, which is not very stoic of me, I know, but I really can't stand it.
Junie at 9:10AM on 01/28/09
I was at the doctors office and the woman at the front desk was talking to me eating a bag of chips. Licking her fingers, crunching and holding the bag. I asked if she was on a break and she said no. Licking her fingers in a doctor's office is just dumb as shit. I find her behavior totally unprofessional. My appointment card had greasy fingerprints on it.
What is also annoying is people who eat on the phone. That drives me nuts. I can hear you crunching away. We are not deaf we can hear you.
Ice chewers too. Don't sit on the phone crunching ice it makes my bluetooth headset squeal with noise. Hate that crap.
JerzeeTomato at 9:22AM on 01/28/09
Call em on it say" I don't like see food"
Markbb at 9:50AM on 01/28/09
Those people need to STFU and chew their food, silently. It's disgusting, both in sight and sound. My friends know better than to call me while eating. I'll just tell them to call me back when they're done chewing whatever it is they're chewing. I had a boss who would always call me while eating. I tried everything to get off the phone, but she'd stay on, wetly chomping away. I'd be so revolted at the noise and annoyed at her rudeness that half of what she said would be lost in the void.
chisai at 10:03AM on 01/28/09
I agree with Markbb if they are so stupid as to forget basic manners, politely remind them. I wont put up with that behavior, ex used to do that and to be honest his table manners were a major reason he's an ex!
@Jerzee I had someone do that to me at a Dr's office, I refused the card and then asked to talk to the office supervisor, I pointed out her behavior was unsanitary and pretty disgusting. The woman was fired, not solely based on my complaint, there had been others. I saw her working recently at a resteraunt I walked into, I quickly walked out.
huneybumper at 10:04AM on 01/28/09
Guilty on occasion. Too eager to talk, I fear.
lemons at 10:21AM on 01/28/09
I agree that talking while chewing is disgusting, as is not closing your mouth, but how would you feel about someone yawning constantly while talking to you? My ex-husband does that everytime he calls. I haven't figured out if it's a nervous habit, trying to be "cool" or showing that he's bored out of his mind talking to me. It's become a joke. I yawn back at him (still talking like he does, mind you - not a yawn break, so to speak) and he doesn't even seem to notice. I know. I'm bad. Yawn.
PerkyMac at 10:22AM on 01/28/09
giada di laurentiis is guilty of this, which is one of the reasons why i cannot watch her show.
french tart at 10:30AM on 01/28/09
A girl on my team get a big ole bowl of yogurt every morning...and proceeds to eat it in such a way that her lips are coated in the white substance. After she eats the WHOLE bowl, then she wipes her mouth. ick.
veggieout at 10:32AM on 01/28/09
I'm not even sure how one can physically do it. It must be awfully inconvenient, no? And yes, it's absolutely offputting.
Funny, I seem to recall that my grandparents were rather strict about "not talking while eating" policy for my brother and me when we were 2-3 years old. We weren't eating literally in silence, of course, but we were not allowed to talk until the food in our mouths was chewed and swallowed. I seriously wouldn't have remembered it (it was way too long ago, we learnt rather soon. I'd say by the time I was three I was already very well mannered:-)) if not for this thread!
@huney - good for you! I wouldn't even think of eating crisps and lick my fingers when I worked in a cubicle, let alone if there was a chance that I actually needed to hand something to someone. Ugh!
@Perk - yawning in my face would drive me completely mad. Absolutely bloody mad.
brooke29 at 10:46AM on 01/28/09
Oh does this make me sick, as do a lot of sounds because I'm quite sensitive to noise. I can't stand the sound of utensils scraping against plates, I know it usually can't be helped, and a few times is ok, but repeatedly makes me want to explode.
Yesterday my dad took me to a movie, and despite there being 6 people in a theater that seats well over 100, 2 people had to come in late and sit 4 seats away from my dad and I. The woman had her mouth open the whole time and kept clearing her throat in a very "phlemgy" (sp?) way, it was seriously disgusting! She seemed oblivious to it, do people really not know they are doing such things?
People blowing their nose loudly while I'm eating is also right up there with chewing with their mouths open. I know I'm probably overly sensitive sometimes, but when things make me nauseous to the point where I can't eat any longer, it gets to me. Eck!
bobcatsteph3 at 12:31PM on 01/28/09
@Perky Maybe he does it the way a dog does it, out of nervousness when in the presence of its superior or pack leader. ;-)
huneybumper at 12:44PM on 01/28/09
OMG I can't stand it!! My Mom does it, especially when she's on the phone and it makes me want to gag! She sounds like she's got food stuck in her throat!! I'll say "Mom, do you want me to let you go so you can eat?" and she'll say "No honey, I'm fine, I can talk and eat too"
LMAO!!
caramel at 1:12PM on 01/28/09
It bothers me when I can hear people chew, mouth open or closed.
@Junie: The gum smacking thing bothers me as well. Wish there was an eject seat button.
What I hate is when people pose a question as soon as I put food in my mouth. WTF. When people do that, I respond with my mouth full of food. My mouth isn't attached to my bowl/plate, so there is ample opportunity to ask me questions and I'm sure the burning question can wait 5 seconds...unless there's a mad gunman or lion that's run into the restaurant. I'd like to be informed of that asap.
Eating on the phone is just plain rude. I hang up on people when they do that to me. Don't call me if you're THAT hungry, eat first FFS.
Another WTF is people who eat stuff from their cart while shopping in the grocery store. They open up bags of potato chips, soda, whatever, and eat throughout the store.
Cassaendra at 1:27PM on 01/28/09
I do not like that, nor do I like (much like the SNL skit) when you have a mouthful of food and someone then asks you a question and stares at you waiting for an answer.
Another pet peeve is smacking of the lips, my SIL a beautiful young lady does this ALL THE TIME!!! I want to say something yet not be rude...
jjoneseats at 1:38PM on 01/28/09
Hmm..this doesn't bother me as much as silence at the table, and some moron likes to chew with their mouth open and breath really loudly, OMG I want to slap that person. They sound like a starving dog that just got fed...
...good rants everyone!
@french tart - A lot of her mannerisms, grammar, and expressions really bother me about her as well. I really can't every enjoy an episode, ever.
hungrychristel at 1:39PM on 01/28/09
My mother hates her dentures so she eats without them in. I cannot stand to look while she's eating. So very gross. My husband has a cousin who licks his teeth while talking to you. When I first met him I was pregnant and his habit made me so nauseated I had to excuse myself from the table. I think he does it because he used to have braces but it's still really gross.
LizSherman at 1:51PM on 01/28/09
So we are sitting here, not eating a thing, to keep that mix of crumbs and grease off the keyboard (pizza excepted)?
whoot at 3:42PM on 01/28/09
@hungrychristel: Agreed! I cannot bear loud eating. The "Schrompf smack squelch slerch squish glerp goosh smack!" of someone very broadly masticating their meal totally turns my stomach. If I happen to be eating, it turns me off my meal. If I'm not eating, I have to fight not to make revolted faces and flee the room.
For some reason the idea of someone talking with their mouth full doesn't bother me as much as someone's loud eating noises.
fuuchan at 4:35PM on 01/28/09
Oh man i hate it when people talk with their mouth full. The phone thing is annoying, I hate it when they sound like they are eating celery or chips while on the phone. People chewing gum when in a public working environment and snapping their gum. But the worst is people licking their fingers has got to be the worst for me. What drives me over the edge though is they have some Tv ads that show people doing this, I think there is that new Betty Crocker microwave cake pudding thing (I forget what it is because I when it aired I am too busy trying to find an item to throw at the set) all these women sucking the choc melted shit in the middle off their fingers. Other ads for something that is stick to your fingers like KFC licking their fingers, oh man it is unbearable to watch this. Someone who chews really loud. Now someone start a thread about people who are an embaressment to go out in public with, I got some stories for that topic as well.
pjracz10 at 4:35PM on 01/28/09
i can't deal with people who eat with their mouth open. they remind me of cattle. after a while i can't help myself, i have to ask them to close it. even worse for me is when someone blows their nose at the table. if you didn't sneeze while at the table get off your ass and go to the restroom. the one that will always get some kind of remark from me, regardless of who or where it happens is when someone sucks everything out of their nose and just swallows it.
dearrie at 7:19PM on 01/28/09
There's no reason to sit idly by and stew while people do this. Simply tell them, "please finish your mouthful and then tell me your thought." If it continues, tell the person you'd prefer he or she finish the mouthful and then speak.
therealchiffonade at 7:28PM on 01/28/09
I cannot stand chewing noises. When I was in high school I used to have to sit at breakfast and listen to my father chew his toast with his dentures. Oh my god, the horror.
My sister routinely talks with her mouth full and I want to slap her. I know she was raised better than that because we had the same mom and grandmother. She's the only one in the family who does it. But, I live a whole continent away from her so it's okay.
The weird thing is that I don't even like my own chewing noises. When I'm eating - and especially when my SO and I are both eating - I turn on the television so I don't have to hear us.
And the Food Network isn't helping - every host on that network does it. Were they raised in barns?
RegrettableFoodie at 10:06PM on 01/28/09
OMG I thought I was the only one!! Talking with food in your mouth is so gross.
I am super self conscious about how I look when I eat as well. If I'm with my BF, I take itty bitty bites and constantly wipe my mouth. Nervous habit, I suppose. Especially since I know he wouldn't care if I ate like a beast, LOL.
I have yet to master the art of eating a salad gracefully. Why do restaurants always give me "torn" romaine?? Nice touch, but give a girl on a date a break!!
sweethunibabi at 11:00PM on 02/01/09
I have issues with people chewing gum/food around me. Major, major, major issues. I've been called neurotic for this, by family and friends.
The last guy I dated was so noisy with his damn food. He chewed freaking vigorously on everything! It was torment to be near him whenever crunchy foods were available because it'd be the noisiest and most obnoxious experience. I knew he'd be an ex. How can you a marry a man when you have to hide your popcorn when he comes over? Or when you specifically avoid eating a Mexican restaurants (complimentary tortilla chips!) Ugh my skin crawls just thinking about it!
And at work, the most delightful and funny girl that works next to me eats and chews her gum in the grossest manner. The gum is a big issue. It's SO loud and wet sounding. I once walked by her desk while she was chomping away and saw that as she chewed, her jaw dropped down and the gum would practically fly out of her mouth. Except then her tongue would fly out of her mouth and catch it at the last moment. Then more smack smack smack. Ugh, it's no wonder I have to wear an IPOD day in and day out at my office. They think I'm antisocial. But I literally get bothered to the point of tears by loud, gross chewing sounds.
So glad I'm not alone.
Alyrmc at 11:32PM on 02/01/09
In my personal experience, the chewing with the mouth open seems to be much more acceptable in some cultures than in others. Has anyone come up with a tactful way of telling someone that what they grew up with may be a turn-off to a lot of other people?
DavidNY at 11:36PM on 02/06/09