Friday, August 18, 2006
Annoying sound
Two people who work near me are (wide) open-mouthed gum chewers. One of these sits very close. The other, although in an office and perhaps 4 or 5 yards from me, is obviously aiming for Guinness World Record status. I absolutely cannot abide this sound. When I used to chew, I did so with my mouth closed, as is the customary manner in England. I was surprised when I first came here to discover so many people showing their wad to the world and am happy that their numbers have dwindled over the years. Perhaps someone might please respond to this and explain to me what I must have been missing when I chewed with my mouth closed. Don’t these people hear their own chewing? Do they never hear other people doing it? Do they only think it annoying when others do it?