Mumsnet Talk

AIBU?

<crunch>

<burp>

<slurp>

YANBU. They are the same folk that microwave fishy things that whiff the whole office out. What are they eating?

Mmm, crisps.

<shuffles up to op>

<Eats crunchy apple>

Something annoyingly fucking healthy, like nuts or some shit like that.

Microwaving fishy things...
That is the worst!
Crunchy is annoying but smelly worse.
I once worked with a girl who often heated up egg curry in the microwave in the staff room that had no windows.

Crisps are not so bad Annie. It's apples and nuts and RAW VEGETABLES that piss me off.

Hang on, didn't you make that exact same comment on a different thread?

When I was at work I used to have a colleague who used to actually make his sandwiches at his desk (opposite mine!). He'd go out to the supermarket and buy a proper loaf, ham, tomatoes etc. He kept butter and leftovers in the office fridge. He'd sit at his desk, get out a bread knife and slice up the loaf, spread the butter, slice up the tomato with a different knife and put it all together [ shock]
His computer keyboard was always full of breadcrumbs

I would prefer it if they were gutting dead fish at their desk rather than crunching!

Oh, I hate having to listen to other people's eating noises. Revolting.

Seeline that's odd.

Ha ha. Annoying, but I agree that the fishy thing is the greater crime. A list needs to be made and discussions had in house of commons. Actually I feel a bit sick now just thinking about the fish thing.

Hmm, I guess I just really like fish and really hate crunching.

Definitely odd - he was a nice guy though
To solve your problem you just need to crunch on something louder to block out the noise

Actually although I am prone to eating an apple or two at my desk, a colleague drives me demented by snacking on very crunchy nutty/health snacks and sounds like a cat eating dry food.

Seriously though, why do people do it? Do they not wonder whether they might annoy someone else? I never eat on trains etc because I think there might be someone like me sitting nearby, who will be thinking murderous thoughts towards me.

Ooh have they got one of those crappy Graze boxes?

My colleague used to slurp lots of cans of pop. Found out after a few months it was't just pop in the can.

Your office needs a higher level of background noise

That's actually not a bad idea at all Seeline. I should get a stock of crunchy snacks in and secretly coordinate our eating.

Trills my office is dead silent unfortunately.

Apart from the crunching, obv.

Yes I did. I make no apology for that. The only difference is that I am not, at this very moment, eating any. Though now you come to mention it... <shuffles off to rummage in cupboard>

YANBU! Drives me nutty!
Thankfully, the crisp cruncher and the load keyboard tapper have now moved on from our small office.

Sparklingbrook no, no Graze box. She is simply so healthy that she brings in her own cutted up stuff.

When I worked in one office they employed people to come in and clean the screens and keyboards. they turned the keyboards upside down and dusted them with a brush. The food bits and crap that came out of some peoples was unbelievable.

Someone shouldn't eat nuts because they might annoy someone?!

Grips needed.

I have to do that to my one at home Sparkling after the kids have been on holiday They are not even allowed to have ffod near the computer so where it all comes from is a mystery.

I think they think they don't make any noise.

That's all I can assume.

for anyone reading this who thinks they are a silent eater....

NO. YOU'RE NOT. NOBODY IS.

I eat nuts at my desk. Couldn't give a flying monkeys fig stuff! Nuts a NOT. offensive.

Smelly fish, I grant you. But nuts or carrots? Good flippin' grief....

Correct Hecate!

We used to have morning and afternoon breaks and a lunch half hour so no need to eat at desk IMO.

ifancyashandy I don't think you quite appreciate how horrifying the sound of food crunching is to some people.

I worked with somebody who microwaved soup every day and it splattered all over the microwave. Did she ever clean it. No. And said everyone was far too fussy.

Sparklingbrook we have lunch hours, but no structured breaks. It's fine when everyone's eating together.

Though if I've finished eating and have to sit at the table listening to others finish I have to fight the urge to kick them in the face.

Lots of things are offensive to lots of people. I can't stand strong perfume. Or people eating with their mouths open. Or when people talk and get that 'spittle' between their lips. Or coffee breath.

Wouldn't dream on commenting on any of the above. We just have to deal with life's annoyances, no?

OOH lunchtime! Thank you all for diffusing my anger. Apart from proudnscary and ifancyashandy

Everything I like is crunchy

WW hula hoops.....crunch
Wasabi Peas - massive crunch
Apple - crunch

I do try and eat my lunch though when the others go out so I can crunch and know I am not annoying anyone apart from the office dog

Mmmm... Wasabi peas! I eat tonnes of them!

crunch crunch gulp slurp squelch chomp slurp chomp growl (yes, growl) gulp chomp audible saliva sounds chomp squelch gulp

I think everyone should eat in soundproof booths

Wasabi peas are bloody handsome. I always have a handful in my salad....yummy!! Good for the bowels too

Keeping their mouths closed whilst crunching is a bonus.

Your workplaces should provide you with some sort of a staff room, with space to do a bit of lunch preparation (microwaving something and dishing it up, or making a sandwich or some toast), and somewhere to wash up, and comfy chairs where you can sit and have your lunch or snack - so that the office isn't full of people's food smells or eating noises, and so that people can actually get away from their desks and relax whilst they have their lunch or break.

Seeline I used to make sandwiches at my desk (with bread rolls rather than having to slice bread). I can't stand sandwiches that have been festering in clingfilm in the fridge, especially if there's tomatoes making the bread all soggy <-- bleurgh

My colleagues used to laugh at my "picnics" but I cared not - I had lovely fresh non-soggy sandwiches

I can see the attration Nella but feel that tehy perhaps should be made in the office 'kitchenette' rather than over your work
(we had posh offices with 'kitchenettes' - when we first moved in we weren't even allowed to make a coffee and carry it back to our desk but had to drink it there in case we spilt on the new carpets - that didn't last long!!)

This thread makes me glad I work on my own!! My husband literally sounds like he is eating gravel!! People do think that no one can hear them though, and when you get at your own desk its like no one else exists outside their bubble!
<goes to find the crunchiest thing I have in my bag>

When I worked on the counter at the bank there was no eating or drinking obviously. There must be loads of jobs where munching and crunching aren't an option. We survived.

Right, well you can all just stop whining because until you have sat opposite my boss whilst he yops on his crisps and slops his sandwiches around his mouth, WITH HIS FALSE TEETH, you don't know what Hell sounds like.

Yopping should be a sackable offence.

Ah, BelieveInPink, that does sound worse. I feel better now.

I thank you.

I don't really like the sound in my head when I eat, but the sound of others really grinds my gears. So glad I don't work in an office any more as it was actually enough to make me hate people who were otherwise perfectly pleasant. I am down with making a sandwich at your desk - hate soggy tomato soaked bread and worked with people who thought cleaning up after themselves in the kitchen was a sign of weakness, so I would occasionally have a picnic myself!