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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wear earplugs to block out colleague with vocal fry

72 replies

calmama · 06/03/2020 06:00

My god it’s grating. Wish she would do some work and stop frying all those words. AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH

OP posts:
YouJustDoYou · 06/03/2020 06:02

Vocal fry?

PureAlchemy · 06/03/2020 06:04
Confused
LadySlipper · 06/03/2020 06:04

Is she my son's girlfriend? Great girl, but the fry...arahhh!

Gatekeeper · 06/03/2020 06:06

God you poor bugger...bad enough hearing it on the telly. At least with that there's a mute button. Quizzical look with a slight clearing of your throat and pass her a Fishermans Friend. After all....if she is making such a noise she.must have a nasty sore throat

Purplelion · 06/03/2020 06:14

You do know that some people don’t do it deliberately right?

Nanna50 · 06/03/2020 06:15

Not sure what vocal fry is but a random thought often pops in my head of what Joe Swash and Stacey Solomon’s child’s voice will sound like.

Charlesthekingcavalier · 06/03/2020 06:17

I’m sure you speak perfectly, OP

SinglePringle · 06/03/2020 06:20

I’m with you OP. It’s so contrived!

PositiveVibez · 06/03/2020 06:21

I feel for you OP.

Vocal fry is totally done on purpose to emulate reality stars basically.

It's very damaging to vocal cords, so you have to go out of your way to put on that way of talking.

It would annoy me no end.

Youhedge · 06/03/2020 06:22

It’s usually an affectation, and a recent modern one. I heard a random outtake of a Kardashian get a strep test love. My daughter sings like it if she’s imitating a pop song Hmm

motherheroic · 06/03/2020 06:23

@Purplelion I think most people believe it's deliberate or preventable. There isn't enough breathe going through the vocal cords. It's as simple as that.

motherheroic · 06/03/2020 06:24

We can all do an intimidation of vocal fry. That doesn't mean it's fake and put on all the time.

Youhedge · 06/03/2020 06:24

I’d say something to her too, but I’m fairly straightforward. I wouldn’t be mean, but I would mention it

malificent7 · 06/03/2020 06:26

What is vocal fry?

Lifesabeach86 · 06/03/2020 06:27

What is a vocal fry???

PlumsGalore · 06/03/2020 06:28

Off to look on urban dictionary to find out what vocal fry is....

Illberidingshotgun · 06/03/2020 06:28

I have no idea what vocal fry is, but if she has a condition that you find distracting, and wearing earplugs would not prevent you doing your job, or affect the quality of your work, then why not?

PlumsGalore · 06/03/2020 06:29

Ha ha ha I get it now. Lots of examples on YouTube “ ohhhh myyy gawwwwd, i jusssst looooove it, like I went to the store yesterday and like it was soooo cooool”

StealthPolarBear · 06/03/2020 06:32

I have a colleague who does this, I'm fairly sure it isn't put on but it sounds so uncomfortable.

Lifesabeach86 · 06/03/2020 06:32

Just fell down a YouTube rabbit hole. Absolutely grating!!!! Find an article about the vocal fry OP and read it aloud next to her

hula008 · 06/03/2020 06:40

Why is it mainly women criticised for having vocal fry? Men exhibit it more often yet I only ever hear that it's "annoying" when a woman does it.

www.google.com/amp/s/time.com/5006345/what-is-vocal-fry/%3famp=true

OtherVoicesOtherRooms · 06/03/2020 06:51

if she has a condition that you find distracting,...

A 'condition' Grin

My D.C. can imitate this voice perfectly! It's awful.
YWNBU to wear earplugs.

OtherVoicesOtherRooms · 06/03/2020 06:56

hula
Interestingly the clip didn't actually show an example of a man doing it.
I'm guessing it's because their deep voice is actually their own and not an affectation.

overnightangel · 06/03/2020 06:56

I blame Dua Lipa.

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 06/03/2020 06:56

OMG I've just googled vocal fry.

I don't think I've ever heard this in RL.