Snapping Gum

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I rode the train into NYC this weekend for the first time in a couple of years.
I commented to DH on all the people chewing gum. Thankfully, they were not popping or snapping their gum. BUT....half of them were chewing it with their mouths open all the time. HOW GROSS IS THAT!???!

Even the women were chewing gum with their mouths open, like a bunch of cows working on their cud. Do they know how much it makes them look like morons??

GROSS.

[michelem]

Lisa S.H. -

Want to hear something even worse? When riding BART back from the US Half Marathon, a woman wearing an "I Don't Suffer From Insanity, I Enjoy Every Minute of It" t-shirt and her boyfriend/husband/whatever got on the train. They sat down across the aisle from us, and suddenly I began to hear this DISGUSTING slurping noise. I made the mistake of looking over at them - he was SUCKING ON HER TOES!!! GAG!!!

SO GROSS!!!

[northstar]

Lisa S.H. -

Want to hear something even worse? When riding BART back from the US Half Marathon, a woman wearing an "I Don't Suffer From Insanity, I Enjoy Every Minute of It" t-shirt and her boyfriend/husband/whatever got on the train. They sat down across the aisle from us, and suddenly I began to hear this DISGUSTING slurping noise. I made the mistake of looking over at them - he was SUCKING ON HER TOES!!! GAG!!!

SO GROSS!!!

(gagging while reading this...)

[li10up]

I guess the thing is I don't feel like I should have to change my behavior; I'm not the one being rude. I have to answer the phone frequently so I don't want to have to mess with earphones. I'm the type that can't even play the radio quietly in my own office - it distracts me. The white noise thing might work but then everyone who comes into my office will think me crazy. I could close the door but that seems rude to me, and stuffy, and I don't have any windows in my office - plus I just don't want to have to close my door. I also don't want my staff to feel like I'm shutting them out.

It just blows my mind that when politely asked to quit something that society in general deems rude, the person just doesn't care and will not stop...their wants over the rest of others. A woman in her mid 40s with no manners.

This is the workplace for Pete's sake - all I'm asking for is a little common courtesy. I don't want to do anything rude to make a point or try to annoy her - that would just be stooping to her level. Uggggh.

What do you think about sending an IM to her AND the boss asking her to quit? Or is that just asking for trouble and putting the boss in a bad spot?

[mimitabby]

I think you will then be seen as over reacting. Better to talk to the boss, I think than the double email method. That way, the boss can give you insight and feedback on how to deal with her.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mimi's right. Plus- he's the BOSS, right? Doesn't that mean he is supposed to handle tricky situations and employee relations as part of his job?? He gets paid to keep things running smoothly and efficiently in the work place. You've already done your part by asking her/them politely to stop, which both gum snapping women seem to have completely ignored. Let the gum snappers now have to tell the BOSS that they'll just keep doing as they please.

[li10up]

Mimi's right. Plus- he's the BOSS, right? Doesn't that mean he is supposed to handle tricky situations and employee relations as part of his job?? He gets paid to keep things running smoothly and efficiently in the work place. You've already done your part by asking her/them politely to stop, which both gum snapping women seem to have completely ignored. Let the gum snappers now have to tell the BOSS that they'll just keep doing as they please.

He and I have talked about it. His office is right next to hers. He says it annoys him but yet HE hasn't said anything and I doubt he will. I'm at the other end of the hall and it's loud...but it's really loud in his office. I've told him it is driving me nuts but he hasn't taken the hint and said anything. I can't ask him to say something be cause it sounds so petty...but it truly is driving me nuts!

[mimitabby]

well, here's another perspective. you've given that cow incredible power over YOUR wellbeing. I realize that because you can't control it, it bugs you more, but really, is it so worse than the sound of 20 starlings eating the figs out of my fig tree? (That drives ME nuts)

If she really was a cow, making cow noises, would it really bother you?

[Dianyla]

They sat down across the aisle from us, and suddenly I began to hear this DISGUSTING slurping noise. I made the mistake of looking over at them - he was SUCKING ON HER TOES!!! GAG!!!

SO GROSS!!!

Oh, yeah... I believe that's called shrimping.

*shrug* Whatever floats their shrimpboats, I guess.

[teigyr]

Oh, yeah... I believe that's called shrimping.

*shrug* Whatever floats their shrimpboats, I guess.

There's a NAME for it???

Interesting. That's relatively icky too.

Re the gum thing, I think you probably can't change her behavior and therefore you have to modify your feelings. You can't be going crazy over it. White noise is definitely an option.

Of course the childish part of me would want to record her and then loudly play it sometime when she isn't paying attention. Maybe she doesn't realize how annoying it is?

[Starfish]

Just to weigh in...I really don't understand characterizing either gum snapping (however annoying) or toe sucking (despite that I probably wouldn't do it in public), as actually gross or disgusting.

I mean, someone chewing gum...I just can't muster up disgust over that (even if I might find the noise annoying). And, if the toes were relatively clean-ish, I mean, who cares?

But then, when I'm at the gym and practicing my breathing control techniques and really using my diaphragm to expel air, I suppose there is someone in the gym who finds my breathing to be disgusting ...I have read threads about that topic here on TE.

We sure are all different.

[michelem]

In particular, it was the LOUD slurping noises I found disgusting. Keep in mind, BART is loud in and of itself - to be able to hear the slurping noises over and above the train noises (I'm surprised people who commute by BART every day do not go deaf from the train noises) . . . In my opinion (and, yes, I do understand we are all different and have different opinions), some things just should NOT be done in public places - such as toe sucking!

Just to weigh in...I really don't understand characterizing either gum snapping (however annoying) or toe sucking (despite that I probably wouldn't do it in public), as actually gross or disgusting. We sure are all different.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Making loud open-mouthed noises while chewing gum is no different than chewing food with your mouth open. People should keep their mouths closed when eating and when chewing gum or when burping, etc. It's just the polite and considerate thing to do in public.
I am appalled at the multitudes of attractive intelligent young people I see these days in their teens and twenties -all eating food in restaurants with their mouths hanging wide open, displaying the food to the world as it slowly disintegrates, making gooey sticky noises. They often talk to others while doing this as well, exhibiting their amazing ability to multi-task.
It's just unbelievable to me.