Anyone else bothered by friends who talk with their mouths full of food?

[spooky3]

I try to distract myself but it drives me nuts if they do it constantly through a meal. I really don't understand why people who are about to say something first put a forkful of something in their mouths and then struggle to talk without spitting or choking. Over and over.

The etiquette websites still say the same thing that they always did--"don't do this--it's rude." But I have several friends who otherwise consider themselves educated, sophisticated, etc., yet do this consistently. Why??? I guess I have to try to find something else to do with them, like go to a movie, rather than go out to eat.

[47of74]

1. Or the ones that eat while on a conference line.

[Skittles]

7. I get stuck on conference calls for hours

I do the mute thing on and off and chomp away.....jeez I hate when they address me and I have just taken a big bite....I SCRAMBLE to clear it all before responding

[47of74]

9. I used to have a job like that.

I'd have to go on mute and sneak in a quick bite every so often during these 10 to 12 hour long conference calls. By the end of those calls my brain was fried. Last year I came in early to run a conference call then my boss wanted me to stay an hour past my quitting time. Then he started bitching about my vacation hours. I was so mad if I had the financial wherewithal I would have quit right then and there.

[whistler162]

2. Gum chawers especially standing

right next to you.

Chawers not chewers

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

3. My wife does it all the time

Takes a bite then decides she has something of great import to relate. Usually it comes out something like so: Mmmphh mmmph and then mmph mumble sorted out mmph. Then she gets mad when I don't reply because I didn't understand what she was saying.

What ticks me off even more though, is we'll sit through a good portion of a dinner, in near silence, having caught up while waiting for the meals to arrive. She'll watch me take a big bite and, knowing I won't speak with my mouth full and detest others doing so, ask me or say something requiring a response. Then she'll stare at me, while I try to hurry chewing and swallowing, with a posture and facial expression that scream I asked you a question. Answer me. NOW. dammit.

It just makes my blood boil. I can feel my ears and cheeks getting hot.

Man I hate that.

We've been together over 25 years. I've spoken to her about it countless times, yet I can guarantee, in all confidence, that she'll do it again within a couple days. And so on and so on.

[Laffy Kat]

4. Did you have kids?

Watching toddlers would REALLY bother you.

[femmocrat]

5. Or taking kindergarteners to the cafeteria for their lunch.

How can such cute little beings turn into such "monsters" at lunch time? LOL

[Skittles]

6. no, because I tell them not to do it

I tell them it is gross

[lindysalsagal]

8. How horrid.

Are they Hobbits?

[spooky3]

10. thanks to all who responded

[UTUSN]

11. Totally. Plus also their crunching chips for prolonged minutes.

Hmm, I don't know how *I* sound when I'm crunching and my crunching doesn't bother me!1