Grown adults screaming when excited... just WHY?

[peakyblenders]

Inspired by last night's Big Brother - granted, people who go on Big Brother aren't exactly representative of the average person, but I'm noticing this in real life too and it bugs me no end.

I lost count of the number of times in last night's episode housemates randomly went 'AAAAAH!' for no reason whatsoever other than (presumably) being excited. Granted I'm an introvert, but I just can't understand why an adult would express excitement by screaming. Exclaiming loudly, yes, that's pretty standard. But that wordless 'AAAAAH!'? It truly baffles me.

This has been in the back of my mind lately because I feel I'm noticing it more in day-to-day life. I'm not talking young things in nightclubs, I'm seeing it in how people interact generally when excited. Example: I passed a woman on the street a few weeks ago who seemed to have spotted someone she knew and, as far as I could gather, hadn't seen in a while. She was clearly excited to see the other person, but instead of using actual words to express that she stood on the spot, assumed a position like she was laying an egg, and literally just went ‘AAAAAAAAAH!’ Then a very shrieky, huggy greeting as you'd maybe expect in the circumstances, but that initial ‘AAAAAAAAAH!’ totally bemused me. As does adults screaming in excitement generally. It just wouldn't occur to me to scream because I was excited.

AIBU to not get why grown adults do this?

I’d like to add - Smileys in work emails that are about work. Especially if I hardly know you. Especially if you’re asking me to do something shit.

I know I will not meet with much support for this. I just thought I’d get it off my chest.

An adult screaming - it's generally an immature, annoying sort of person who does this.

it is particularly unpleasant for those with hearing aids and some autistic traits. it is therefore disableist. also very distressing for young babies

Yes I understand that.

I go quiet when I’m overwhelmed too as I’m autistic.

But when I got the job I was desperate for I did a little ‘eeeeek’ squeal to myself with excitement and in the car on my first day is was more of an ‘ahhhh’ scream as I was excited but really nervous too.

I would be screaming and jumping around if I won the lotto though, as when I get excited I get really excited!

I agree with you OP, I could never imagine getting that excited about anything.

You can't be serious surely? Not letting a toddler do a happy/excited scream. That's just mean as hell for a little one whose emotions aren't fully understood or able to regulate themselves. @newamsterdam that is being very unreasonable

Haven’t you ever watched a sport? People get loud when excited. Louis Rees-Zammit’s hat trick was worth raising the roof over! And George North’s final minute try…
<cover your ears>

Oh for god’s sake, that is not what ‘ableist’ means. Someone getting overexcited and making a bit of noise about it is not discriminating against people with disabilities, which is what ableism is.

I don’t think it’s because people fear being judged (even if I was on my own I doubt I’d actually scream if I won the lottery. I’d be ‘gobsmacked’ I’d probably cry and laugh and my stomach would lurch but I wouldn’t scream. I guess you’re either a screamer or you’re not 😁

Congratulations on your amazing ability to purse your lips or nod your head when you receive some amazing news.

I would much rather flap my arms, jump up and down or run on the spot and squeal excitedly.

If people hate me for it then so what.

I can’t imagine anyone hating someone for doing such a thing but then perhaps I’m not as judgmental.

How is anyone meant to tell if someone is in danger or not if they are just screaming all over the place? It’s so alarming and unnerving when it is not something you are expecting

Like some sort of weird chicken....

Its not judgemental for people to be irritated by a grown adult making an annoying noise/display for no reason other than 'because I've not seen Cheryl since Friday!'

You flap your arms and jump up and down while screaming?

Christ. That sounds incredibly annoying but could also be hilarious. I would imagine you;re used to getting thrown out of places....

Screaming and flapping hands, and that tippy tappy "dance", are what two year olds do when their birthday cake comes in.

In anyone else, it's just fucking annoying attention-seeking twattery.

To your work smileys I raise you those extremely irritating 'pause for effect' silences when the presenters are trying to be dramatic while waiting for scores or who's been voted off or whatever.

How nice of you to describe stimming (that pp has stated in another comment that she is autistic) as ‘a weird chicken’ and ‘an annoying noise/display’ 🤨 do you feel the same about autistic kids?

I'm ND and I've almost walked out of a restaurant because of performance laughter, it's physically painful and so unnecessary

Same here. I also find loud screams quite painful. I think your eardrums clamp shut for protection. Or something like that.

If you are really excited would you not call that overwhelmed? It's how I react to any strong emotion.

A small squeal that you can't help is the same as a laugh you can't help, that is very different to loud performance squealing or laughing that can be painful and upsetting to others.

OK OK but you can shout "bravo" (alright "brava" for the pedants") at the opera can't you? At the end? Or scream "I love you Jarvis" at a Pulp concert?? Just at the end in the clapping bit? Definitely not screaming in the street but I would think effusive noise to praise a musical performance is OK?

Sorry everyone I've upset over the years but I just feel those hot baritones deserved my middle aged shrieking!?!?

I can't be doing with performative screaming either. I had someone do it recently at me at a dinner dance thing. I'd not seen her in a couple of years and she was quite pissed, and she did it right in my ear and nearly deafened me. I was quite started 😂

Or it’s because I have autism.

But even if I didn’t, so what.
Why are you so judgemental over something that doesn’t affect you at all?

If someone is happy or excited and doing something, I’m not going to judge them for it.

As long as they’re not overly loud or rude, then who’s to say what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.

As I’ve said there’s a big difference between obnoxious, over the top screaming which can be heard across the streets vs smaller screams that you do with your friends or because you’ve just got the job you were praying for.

Yes tbf and despite my comment above, I enjoyed a good whoop at a burlesque show I went to. Seemed very appropriate!

Posts like this are what makes me think its performative. Look at me, I'm enjoying myself, I'm so much fun. It's very possible to enjoy yourself without screeching, other people might not know that oh my god this is the best thing ever, I'm having so much fun but I'm perfectly happy without strangers validation.

If you would do it in church or similar then that's not a problem as that's a genuine reaction you can't control. If you wouldn't, then it's polite to consider others. Many people, especially ND people can't cope with sudden, high pitched noises.

I suppose we should be grateful that @1month doesn't have many exciting things happen to her, hence has few opportunities for performative screaming.

@PyramusandThisbe

Yes my life is very boring.

I guess every cloud has a silver lining 🤣🤣