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AIBU?

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Original poster

To eat crisps in office

68 replies

Foood · 10/04/2024 11:43

I'm currently pregnant and have terrible morning sickness.

The only thing that helps is keeping snacks in my bag; hula hoops seem to be keeping the sickness at bay.

A colleague who sits at the desk to the back of me hates the sound of chewing or crunching, and comments every time someone eats.

Am I being unreasonable that I just ignore this and carry on eating my snacks despite the glares when I turn around ?

OP posts:
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Iaskedyouthrice · 10/04/2024 17:38

Meganmeccano · 10/04/2024 15:37

Just go to the lunchroom or outside or elsewhere to eat (i.e. wherever you usually have coffee / lunch / breaks). I appreciate you're pregnant so might not be able to wait until lunchtime, but YABU just to eat in the middle of your office.

What, like everyone else including dramatic colleagues does? So it's only the OP that needs to leave when she eats? That would be singling her out wouldn't it?

SmudgeButt · 10/04/2024 17:34

Ask her if she'd prefer you threw up on her desk.

dolphinette · 10/04/2024 16:58

Are you eating with your mouth open? People always make a fuss about my jaw cracking like I can help it and it pisses me off, like what am I supposed to do about it?!

Whatifthehokeycokey · 10/04/2024 16:48

mitogoshi · 10/04/2024 13:00

A couple of times a day no problem but constantly eating sounds is really annoying and disruptive if you are sound sensitive, pregnancy doesn't trump other people's issues

Legally in this instance, I think it does.

Whatifthehokeycokey · 10/04/2024 16:46

I recommend mini cheddars as a pregnancy sickness snack. You can basically suck them.

landscapepainter · 10/04/2024 16:05

Foood · 10/04/2024 12:34

I do try to moisen the crisps in my mouth before I crunch down to muffle the noise.

Just to add, she will eat pretzels and nuts at her desk, but has no tolerance for other people eating.

Honestly just eat your crisps and stop giving it headspace. It's her problem.

Apollo365 · 10/04/2024 15:55

Ohhh you can rustle and crunch the same time then!

Apollo365 · 10/04/2024 15:55

Ritz biscuits great for morning sickness too

KreedKafer · 10/04/2024 15:55

The fact that your colleague gets upset by ordinary, standard things like people grabbing a quick snack at their desk is very much her problem and not anyone else's. She is rude to mention it every time.

There's nothing rude or inappropriate about eating a snack at a desk. It's not like you've microwaved a smoked haddock fillet and eaten it with one hand while scraping your fingernails down a blackboard with the other.

Apollo365 · 10/04/2024 15:54

Foood · 10/04/2024 12:34

I do try to moisen the crisps in my mouth before I crunch down to muffle the noise.

Just to add, she will eat pretzels and nuts at her desk, but has no tolerance for other people eating.

I haven’t RT whole FT but please start commenting on her crunching 🤣

PADDY17 · 10/04/2024 15:53

Crunching does not bother me but slurping is another thing. You know when someone brings in left overs and heats them up in the microwave but eats them at their desk. Think spag Bol. And they slurp with each mouthful. Makes me want to vomit.
So you crunch away at your hula hoops. That would not bother me at all.

Criceta · 10/04/2024 15:46

Hula hoops also got me through morning sickness. Crunch away, I say!

cantcatchmenow · 10/04/2024 15:44

I hate loud eating noises and some folk are particularly bad but it's my problem! Majority of people in my office eat at their desks especially snacks. It's hard not to if you work long hours and a busy job where you don't always get a break. Especially if she eats at her desk. YANBU

Meganmeccano · 10/04/2024 15:37

Just go to the lunchroom or outside or elsewhere to eat (i.e. wherever you usually have coffee / lunch / breaks). I appreciate you're pregnant so might not be able to wait until lunchtime, but YABU just to eat in the middle of your office.

Original poster
Foood · 10/04/2024 15:34

Definitely not "playing the pregnancy card" people come in with full on lasagne and hot meals and eat it ot there desk.. this is acceptable as it's soft with no crunch, however the smell makes me sick.. so I leave until they've finished

OP posts:
5128gap · 10/04/2024 15:29

Can't you just say 'Sorry Cheryl, I know you don't like the sound of eating, but if I don't eat snacks at the moment I'll feel sick.' She won't be any happier, but if she has to tolerate it, it might feel a bit better that you've explained, acknowledged and apologised.

Jokl · 10/04/2024 15:28

Foood · 10/04/2024 12:34

I do try to moisen the crisps in my mouth before I crunch down to muffle the noise.

Just to add, she will eat pretzels and nuts at her desk, but has no tolerance for other people eating.

You’re being considerate already, don’t change a thing, especially not for someone who is clearly an absolute fuckwit.

Wolfpa · 10/04/2024 15:26

Can either of you move?

kjv1234 · 10/04/2024 15:08

I am the same as your colleague. However, it's my problem not anyone else's so if someone is crunching too much for me I just go to the loo or for a leg stretch until it's safe for me to return!

Fannyfiggs · 10/04/2024 15:01

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 10/04/2024 11:48

I would get 10, stick one on each finger and eat them extravagantly at my desk.

😂😂😂 too funny @neverknowinglyunreasonable

OP, please do this for every single hula hoop you eat.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/04/2024 15:00

Hillarious · 10/04/2024 12:20

Perhaps you could talk to each other and come to a compromise?

Yes, maybe only eat every other hula hoop off your fingers?

LMMuffet · 10/04/2024 14:59

I work in an open plan office. I can’t bear the sound of people eating. Crunching, chewing, slurping etc. And I have very sensitive hearing so I can hear it all.

Do you know what I do? I put headphones on and get on with my work. Because it’s my problem and not theirs. They have every right to eat at their desk. And so do you - pregnant or not.

pikkumyy77 · 10/04/2024 14:56

Yes just talk to each other and your boss. If its misephonia she might need to wear ear protection.

Also: parenthetically, licking a lemon will often clear pregnancy related nausea wuite effectively.

whatthedickens5 · 10/04/2024 14:50

I have misophonia and someone eating crisps next to me will send me over the edge (eg severe uncontrollable rage). Even with my best intentions I would not be able to just ignore it. With misophilonia something in your brain just goes wrong and I personally won't be able to restrain my anger. 😭

Saying that I would also not eat crunchy stuff or snything in wrinkly paper stuff at my desk.

Technonan · 10/04/2024 14:44

If she has misophonia she can't control her reactions to triggering sounds. Eating noises are one of the worst triggers.

I have always found it difficult to tell people how I am responding to the sounds they make, because it sounds as though you are telling them they are in some way disgusting - which isn't the case. They are just making a sound that affects you far worse than nails being run down a squeaky surface. Most sufferers would give a lot to be free of it.

The effects can be pretty bad - I used to shake and break out in sweat if I was exposed to a sound I was sensitive to, my breathing would go haywire, my heart would start racing and it was difficult not to scream.

It's irrelevant that she eats at her desk herself, because misophonia is not triggered by your own eating.

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