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It's the open mouth chewing sound that causes me to get angry and violent really fast. To share my experience, I couldn't control it well when I was young. In

It's the open mouth chewing sound that causes me to get angry and violent really fast. To share my experience, I couldn't control it well when I was young. In my 20s I figured it was better for me to look rude and leave the table, than to start yet another discussion on this topic by suddenly asking the person to chew with their mouth closed, which makes me look rude anyway. In my thirties I learnt how to tolerate small instances of open mouth chewing, such as those that some people do when tasting new foods or drinks (it reminds me of birds drinking water), mostly because the sound is temporary. Otherwise, I am better at practicing mindfulness long enough to be able to excuse myself politely. I know why people chew with their mouths open. It's the air and the taste. It doesn't help with the strong reaction it causes in my brain. I go from liking you to want to stab you in 3 seconds. Since this is the Internet, I'd like to clarify that I have never gotten into a fight and am an average, non violent person. I used to have a mild reaction to closed mouth chewing and throat sounds, but I've been able to tolerate those better and now they don't bother me much. If I could go back in time, I would try to teach younger me how to handle these sounds in a more socially acceptable way. If you chew with your mouth open, please don't take someone else's strong reaction too personal. It's hard to contain the sudden burst of anger.

StavrosK 5y ago
I'm the same, and I have a friend who loudly smacks his lips when eating, it's insufferable. To make matters worse, whenever we meet it's usually over some kind of meal, so I am at a loss for what to do.
- goldenkey 5y ago
  The longer you wait, the more of an ability they have to come back with some riposte about how long you've been bottling it up. Just confront them, and laugh it off nonchalantly if they try to reason their way out of the clearly foul habit.
  - StavrosK 5y ago
    I tried that but they took it as a joke :/ Now they'll sometimes make fun of me (in a good-natured way) about hating chewing sounds, and to complain about it "formally" would be too serious/offputting.
    - goldenkey 5y ago
      I figured this kind of thing would happen. You had to double down at that point. Now all you can really do is a passive aggressive attack like putting on airbuds or earplugs to bait a decent debate with them. This will only work if they aren't an immoral person. Honestly, something as simple as unwillingness to admit flaws and change, is a fair reason to cut and run. Shooting the shit is fun, but if you actually value the friendship then these things come into play.
dntrkv 5y ago
I am exactly the same. It always seemed to happen at the company cafeteria for me. Sit down with a group, start eating, and someone starts chewing with their mouth wide open. It takes about 5 seconds for me to go from calm to fuming, so I have to excuse myself and go eat at my desk.
wefewwef 5y ago
Ever since the environmental push to abandon paper napkins, all members of my immediate family have switched to licking/sucking on their fingers and then wiping them off on cloth napkins. Nothing is more disgusting than sitting down to eat and having your utensils presented on a dirty cloth napkin that has someone elses saliva and food on it. I can't fucking standing it. We were cleaning up after making gingerbread houses, my family member was sucking icing off her fingers, and she picked up m&ms and put them back in the bag with her fingers. So now her spit is on all the m&ms in the bag. Disgusting. Then they went and gave these gingerbread cookies to other people to eat. They get upset if I point this out or say that I find chewing with your mouth open is disgusting. Sure, I am latching on to previous events that I should forget, but the disgusting behavior continues. The finger licking is not limiting to just eating a meal. It occurs frequently when cooking as well. They look like i just insulted them when I refuse to eat anything they cook. I can't fucking stand it. >I go from liking you to want to stab you in 3 seconds Nothing makes me rage more than having to listen to someones obnoxiously loud mechanical keyboard. I go from likeing my coworkers to being extremely angry at them. Yeah label me as an insane mentally ill schzoid psycho because these small things make me rage. I dont' care.

StavrosK 5y ago

I'm the same, and I have a friend who loudly smacks his lips when eating, it's insufferable. To make matters worse, whenever we meet it's usually over some kind of meal, so I am at a loss for what to do.

goldenkey 5y ago
The longer you wait, the more of an ability they have to come back with some riposte about how long you've been bottling it up. Just confront them, and laugh it off nonchalantly if they try to reason their way out of the clearly foul habit.
- StavrosK 5y ago
  I tried that but they took it as a joke :/ Now they'll sometimes make fun of me (in a good-natured way) about hating chewing sounds, and to complain about it "formally" would be too serious/offputting.
  - goldenkey 5y ago
    I figured this kind of thing would happen. You had to double down at that point. Now all you can really do is a passive aggressive attack like putting on airbuds or earplugs to bait a decent debate with them. This will only work if they aren't an immoral person. Honestly, something as simple as unwillingness to admit flaws and change, is a fair reason to cut and run. Shooting the shit is fun, but if you actually value the friendship then these things come into play.

dntrkv 5y ago

I am exactly the same. It always seemed to happen at the company cafeteria for me. Sit down with a group, start eating, and someone starts chewing with their mouth wide open. It takes about 5 seconds for me to go from calm to fuming, so I have to excuse myself and go eat at my desk.

wefewwef 5y ago

Ever since the environmental push to abandon paper napkins, all members of my immediate family have switched to licking/sucking on their fingers and then wiping them off on cloth napkins. Nothing is more disgusting than sitting down to eat and having your utensils presented on a dirty cloth napkin that has someone elses saliva and food on it. I can't fucking standing it. We were cleaning up after making gingerbread houses, my family member was sucking icing off her fingers, and she picked up m&ms and put them back in the bag with her fingers. So now her spit is on all the m&ms in the bag. Disgusting. Then they went and gave these gingerbread cookies to other people to eat. They get upset if I point this out or say that I find chewing with your mouth open is disgusting. Sure, I am latching on to previous events that I should forget, but the disgusting behavior continues. The finger licking is not limiting to just eating a meal. It occurs frequently when cooking as well. They look like i just insulted them when I refuse to eat anything they cook. I can't fucking stand it. >I go from liking you to want to stab you in 3 seconds Nothing makes me rage more than having to listen to someones obnoxiously loud mechanical keyboard. I go from likeing my coworkers to being extremely angry at them. Yeah label me as an insane mentally ill schzoid psycho because these small things make me rage. I dont' care.