Strange things that give you a kind of "ick" in everyday life

[CariahMary]

I don't mean getting the "ick" about a sexual or romantic partner. And I don't mean being put-off by things that are actually pretty grim. I mean random things that you inexplicably find a bit off-putting in everyday life.

For me, I get a kind of "ick" when I read other people talking about food on forums MN I honestly had no idea why. It's so odd, I really like reading food descriptions in books but in forums I find it really off-putting.

In the real-world, I also really hate opening other people's fridges. They always smell weird (different from my own). I have to hold my breath.

I know this is a weird one but people talking about "the children" when referring to, well, their children.

It always puts me in mind of a royal nanny from the 1950s hurrying a brood of inbred aristocratic kids in tweed through a cold stately home.

I prefer "the kids" 😂

People who sneeze without " catching it" in their throat, and thus, a load of wet snot sprays out of their nose. I have a friend who does this and thinks I'm nuts for suggesting there's a ' correct' way to sneeze. It's unhygienic and spreads germs, how can adults not understand this!

People drinking sugary fizzy drinks pre-midday! No idea why. I will be sat there with a coffee with probably just as much sugar so I think it’s the fizz that icks me out. Completely unreasonable from me though

CariahMary
When l was with my mother, and we met people in the street, she always introduced me as "This is the daughter."
Not 'my' or 'our' daughter. 'The' daughter. And not even by my name.
I always felt like she was distancing herself from me. It was strange.

People who say they ‘devour’ books or read ‘voraciously’

This is one of mine as well. People who cannot just enjoy reading. They have to be 'a voracious reader.'

I swear it's the same people who say 'methinks' and 'ye gods!.'

I don't think I have ever refered to DC as 'the children' but I don't like 'the kids'/kids either

So what? It can still give someone the ick, if that's how they feel about it. They're allowed to feel that way. Icks aren't something that can be argued against. If something gives someone the ick, it gives them the ick. It's not anything you can debate.

It always puts me in mind of a royal nanny from the 1950s hurrying a brood of inbred aristocratic kids in tweed through a cold stately home.

YES.

Having a banana's skin hanging over my hand when eating one.
I have to peel it all off, but then can't eat one in public as can't be seen holding a naked banana.

Seeing people cleaning their teeth in films and on TV. Ugh!

😂😂😂

And another one… my oh says lippy for lipstick 🤢🤢

The smell of the contents of what someone else has in their mouth, whether it's food, drink, chewing gum, toothpaste or cigarettes. Stringy spittle on lips (omg...) Bath breath/BO/feet. People who slurp hot drinks WTF is that about? To suck in cooler air?? Eating with mouth open. Clammy damp hands. Exposed feet that have dirty or bad nails. Spitting in the street especially or in sport.

• bad breath! Not bath breath 🙄

@BauhausOfEliott Icks aren't something that can be argued against.

Actually, they can be.

It's not a good idea to stifle a sneeze like that. Better to sneeze into a tissue.

No. You can disagree with an ick, you can think it's unreasonable, but you can't deny that somebody has one. They can't control it, in the same way that some people have incurable phobias.

The Kardashians/Jenners and similar 'celebrities' and their botched faces and massive backsides. Bleugh.

Also, bananas. Yuck yuck yuck

No they can’t. You cannot stop someone from thinking “Eww” when they, eg, see a raw tomato or hear the word “poo” by pointing out that tomatoes are a healthy food that lots of people like, or explaining that poo is a useful word because it’s easily understood.

Presumably you do understand that expressing a sense of revulsion for something isn’t equivalent to trying to say something shouldn’t exist? I get the ick in the tinned soup aisle of Sainsbury’s, but it doesn’t mean I’m telling anyone they’re wrong to buy tinned soup.

I really could go on forever, but for now I will add:

People cooking in long sleeves

The word 'loose' when applied to bowel movements

The phrase 'bowel movements'

Children eating in pushchairs (and yes, middle-class Mumsnetters, that includes your child with their Tupperware pot of organic lentil crackers; it doesn't just mean a child eating something from a Greggs bag)

Dirty clothing, towels etc being described as 'soiled'

The BBC Radio 4 programme 'You & Yours'

People calling sex 'making love' or even worse, 'lovemaking'

Knitted postbox toppers

Any food items that are crinkle-cut

A packet of mints in a car

A packet of mints in a handbag

Just packets of mints generally, really

Giant foam hands at sporting events / concerts

Curly wigs in team colours worn by football supporters

Vitamins in chewy form being described as 'gummies'

Football commentators describing a pass as 'sloppy'

Yorkshire puddings that are described as 'Yorkies'. Strangely, this ick only applies to Yorkshire puddings, not Yorkshire terriers

Evening wear or dance costumes that have that nude coloured illusion mesh that's meant to be invisible but isn't

Mugs with sloping sides

Wire coat-hangers

Seeing people drink from a water bottle or other such drinking vessel that has a built-in straw

A single helium balloon that has gone rogue and is floating off very high in the sky

Being very close to a large industrial structure you have only ever previously seen from a great distance

Jelly Babies

• using super instead of very
• calling husband ‘Hubby’
• calling pets fur babies
• cant stand seeing people eat runny eggs

Ah, thanks - that makes sense now.

An appalling thing to do!

Things with small deep holes. It's not so much a phobia as an inexplicable and deep revulsion. There's a name for it - can't recall at the moment.

Slugs

Also people who eat with their mouth open although expect almost everyone would find that disgusting