Those who dislike people eating with their Mouths Open

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I don’t like eating around other people. Part of this is because I have an eating disorder: I tend to obsess about what I’m eating and how I look when I’m eating. The hardest thing for me? When someone asks me a question while I’m chewing. Then I have to figure out - do I make them wait for an answer, or answer them while trying to hide the food from them? For a person like me, that’s an exhausting exercise. Different people seem to respond different ways - usually the opposite of what I pick that time. :o
 
Zerg said:
Here’s just a quick message to those who dislike it when people eat with their mouths open–from what I’ve learned in a recent experience.

For years I’ve had a problem with a family member who still refuses to eat with a closed mouth and sometimes deliberately does it in an exaggerated way to irritate. It would irritate me so much that it would make me angry and even make me start harming myself. I now know that these were poor methods of trying to solve the issue.

When it happens don’t even cringe. Just accept it, and stay far away from sin. Swallow your pride and anger–you can control it.

Just like when sand gets into the shell of oyster and irritates it, the oyster turns it into a pearl.

Rather accept the irritation, than to create an enemy.

Say a prayer to avoid sin.

Lord, help me to avoid sin and conflict with others.

This is the solution to the problem that works.

+++ Lord, help us to see the good in people, especially our family and those we see often. Humble us, Lord, make us reject anger and hate. In your Precious Name, Amen. +++
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This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I’m sorry, but the sound of people chewing with their mouths open just annoys me to no end. I know I should be charitable, and that’s why I don’t say anything in front of them. There’s this one time I did say something to a classmate years ago, and he really, really blew up. Caused a scene in the lab, and it was not pretty. I kind of learned my lesson.

I know this thread is probably not the best place to say this, but people, if possible, please, please chew with your months closed. It would help the rest of us greatly with our spiritual lives. In the meantime, I will keep my mouth closed - yes, pun intended.
 
Sometimes something more is at play rather than simple dislike for people who eat with their mouth open. These people suffer from Misophonia (hatred of certain sounds) or selective sound sensitivity. It can include sounds like other people clipping their nails, brushing teeth, eating crushed ice, eating, breathing, sniffing, etc.

I suffer with this and the only suffering is caused by people eating with their mouths open. I just cannot tolerate it. It has nothing to do with pride but just hurts my ears and nerves, as if someone is repeatedly scratching their nails on the blackboard. You are not being proud if that sound is causing you discomfort and you want it to stop.

My husband chewed with his mouth open and we share three meals together plus chewing gum, candy etc. while in between. I tried tolerating/accepting it but I just couldn’t. I wanted to but was impossible. I must admit that in my opinion people eating with their mouths open don’t know table manners. It is bad manners to do so and when it is one’s husband and/or child one must make the effort to correct. Other people who are occasional diners are not our business and the acceptance and offering up of that suffering can apply here. Perhaps that is why it is easy for me to tolerate others with similar habits and with whom we eat once in a while.

But with my husband I just could not. It was a constant test of patience and constant discomfort. I could literally cry in pain and the only cure was either we stop eating together or he learns how to eat properly. He did learn and now we enjoy eating together.
 
ela2 said:
But with my husband I just could not. It was a constant test of patience and constant discomfort. I could literally cry in pain and the only cure was either we stop eating together or he learns how to eat properly. He did learn and now we enjoy eating together.
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That’s me and my mom. Although I think that I must have PTSD and I still dread eating at the table…😃

Here is a cute video about annoying sounds (from the movie Despicable Me):

youtu.be/OUGc15GPpH8
 
A definite pet peeve of mine.

I firmly believe children should be corrected in this behaviour. I also believe it approprioate to correct adults at times too. Often if a person tries to talk to me with food in their mouth, I’ll jokingly reply that “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite understand you through your lunch”. Of course I choose wisely who I say this to and it is typically taken in good homour. And of course, sometimes it is entirely true.

At family functions, I remind my wife to please ensure I am not seated next to, across from, or generally near her brother. He’s a nice guy, but his table manners are appalling.
 
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