One of my biggest pet peeves (aside from the term "pet peeve” - I mean honestly, why “peeve?” It sounds so dirty when you say it. Also the term “pipe dream” frustrates me. Who knows what that’s about?) is when people chew with their mouths open. Talking with food in your mouth isn’t even that bad to me. It is honestly one of the most disgusting sounds a human being can make. It's not even that hard to do, either! At home, both of my younger sisters would chew with their mouths open. And every night at dinner I would tell them, "Please, keep your mouth shut! It's disgusting!" Then my mom would give some comment about me being a hot-headed teenager and I just need to calm down. Then I noticed my dad chewed with his mouth open, and I said the same thing to him, with an additional, "So that's where they got it from!" The unnecessary lip-tongue smacking, fish out of water sound just penetrates me to my very core and disturbs me from deep within.
Solving this problem is really just a matter of people regaining their common decency and manners. Etiquette dinners were both fun and informative. And delicious. Why don't we have more of those in Young Men's/Young Women's combined activities? Parenting is also a very large factor. I think even just parents being aware that manners are not innate and must be taught and emphasized to their children might help. I don't think this is an intentional thing parents do, they just don't think to teach kids manners beyond “don't play with your food” and using utensils to eat. If they're good parents, they'll throw in the “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.” But the very best parents stress the importance of keeping your mouth closed as you masticate, keeping your elbows off the table, and other such wonderful things that many of us take for granted.
So, please - use your manners. The lips can remain closed while the mandible is in motion. The world would be a much more civil place if we all were just a wee bit more conscious of our manners.
I completely agree! I have a cousin that does that all the time. A few times I have been so annoyed by it that I just gave him a good slap under the jaw! I recommend trying that its very effective and quite humorous! I think it's the worst when people do it while they chew gum. It makes that disgusting noise even worse than with food and it lasts so much longer.
ReplyDeleteYep I couldn't agree more! I also think it is stupid that a lot of people think that just because they are eating by themselves (like at the cannon) they can ignore all manners. People can still see you even if you are by yourself and it is very repulsive.
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect! People are sometimes so impolite. I think anyone who wants to eat that way deserves to eat alone!
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