Lip Smacking while eating

[EYEdROP0]

It drives me absolutley insane. I understand that some cultures do it as a sign of satisfaction. But why do so many Americans do this (especially students at my highschool)? Ive noticed alot of people dont even relize they do it or even completely deny it. Its either a full on SMACK-SMACK-SMACK, or a few subtle smacks when they are about to swallow, followed by an odd whining noise. Whats even worse is when they make moaning sounds, growl, and breathe heavily when doing so. Is it supposed to taste better that way?

[MDS]

My first roommate in college was a Chinese guy. The Chinese enjoy rice but this guy would put his mouth right next to the bowl and slurp it up. Yes it can be annoying to a western guy that is not familiar with that...but people are different.

[jamie2112]

They are just attracting flys aren't they?

[Sheep]

I know people that suck in every time they open their mouth, and they whistle. I have severed friendships by kicking people in the face over this.

SheepStar

[aberkowitz]

I know people that suck in every time they open their mouth, and they whistle. I have severed friendships by kicking people in the face over this.

SheepStar

Maybe you should try smacking them first instead of kicking them. You may save a couple of friendships that way....:D

[Halon451]

You should see some of the mannerisms from outside the country - in actually we're not that bad compared to some of the stuff I've seen. In the UAE for example, I observed locals balling up rice in their hands and shoving it in their mouths, chewing with their mouths open, dropping it all over - a practice that woud elicit horror from patrons in any American establishment.

If it bothers you, try sitting at a different table? ;)

[markw]

If it bothers you, try sitting at a different table? ;)Since it seems that it's only Americans that bother you that much, why not try another country?

Oh, that's right. You're only in high school and mommy and daddy still call the shots. Apparantly they don't seem to have problems with Americans.

Being a child sux, doesn't it?

[Clint DeBoer]

Oh, that's right. You're only in high school and mommy and daddy still call the shots. Apparantly they don't seem to have problems with Americans.

Being a child sux, doesn't it?Who are you talking to? Holy overreactions, Batman.

[rnatalli]

It's a low-class thing to do IMO. Slurping your soup, smacking your lips, and then of course dragging your feet instead of lifting them when you walk.

[markw]

Who are you talking to? Holy overreactions, Batman.I was hoping that the OP was the target would have been clear, but I apologize if it wasn't. What galled me the most is that he singles out Americans but also the immaturity of his post struck me. Yes, this is a disgusting habit but it doesn't need to be a main topic of discussion. If it offends him that much, simply avoid the people with whom he associates.

He should be a bit more choosey with whom he associates rather than biitch about their idiosynchrocies (sp?) to others. He will find out that in life, in some cases one can choose to disassociate themselves with those one finds distasteful. Unless the school has assigned seating, this is one of them.

If one choses to not avail themsalves of that option, then one should not complain to others about their associates shortcomings. He should be a man and broach the subject with those who offend him, not to strangers behind their back.

[niget2002]

I was hoping that the OP was the target would have been clear, but I apologize if it wasn't. What galled me the most is that he singles out Americans but also the immaturity of his post struck me. Yes, this is a disgusting habit but it doesn't need to be a main topic of discussion. If it offends him that much, simply avoid the people with whom he associates.

He should be a bit more choosey with whom he associates rather than biitch about their idiosynchrocies (sp?) to others. He will find out that in life, in some cases one can choose to disassociate themselves with those one finds distasteful. Unless the school has assigned seating, this is one of them.

If one choses to not avail themsalves of that option, then one should not complain to others about their associates shortcomings. He should be a man and broach the subject with those who offend him, not to strangers behind their back.

I've seen rants from much more "knowledgeable" people about much more trivial issues.

[MinusTheBear]

My first roommate in college was a Chinese guy. The Chinese enjoy rice but this guy would put his mouth right next to the bowl and slurp it up. Yes it can be annoying to a western guy that is not familiar with that...but people are different.

I am not chinese but I do love chinese food. It seems like slurping their food is accetable etiquette in chinese culture. Slurping chinese noodles comes to mind....Chinese noodles Mmmmmmmm. Hopefully someone that is Chinese could chime in on this because this has peaked my interest.

[jinjuku]

Noodle eating cultures (most of Asia) slurp the noodle to cool it down as they eat.

Though you would like to know.

To the OP: It's highschool, put your time in like I did and then you can go to STFU. In other words, get over it.

Trust me: Slurping is happening in high schools the world over. Not just us 'dumb', 'uncultered' Americans.

You may want to show some of the respect you desire whilst in the U.S.

[MinusTheBear]

[QUOTE=jinjuku;420279]Noodle eating cultures (most of Asia) slurp the noodle to cool it down as they eat.

Very interesting. Is slurping still acceptable when you go to more formal events such as a fancy restaurant?

[jinjuku]

[QUOTE=jinjuku;420279]Noodle eating cultures (most of Asia) slurp the noodle to cool it down as they eat.

Very interesting. Is slurping still acceptable when you go to more formal events such as a fancy restaurant?

Yes,

Just ask my wife who went to dinner with a bunch of Japanese delegates. 12 People, a $1600 bill. They were all slurping and most of them drunk.

[Halon451]

Sheesh, tough crowd here - take it easy on the poor guy, he's only in high school, he's still got a lot to learn about the way the world works, which he'll find out eventually like we all did at one point or another. Hell, I'm still trying to figure it out... :o

[jinjuku]

Sheesh, tough crowd here - take it easy on the poor guy, he's only in high school, he's still got a lot to learn about the way the world works, which he'll find out eventually like we all did at one point or another. Hell, I'm still trying to figure it out... :o

We are just trying to accelerate his understanding:D

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) said it best:

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education"

[EYEdROP0]

The thing is, I do tell the person up front about it when I need to, and Im not rude about it. Ill still associate with the people as though they were human beings and tell them politely to quiet down because Im trying to work. Im not trying to talk crap behind their back. I guess lip smacking is just one of my pet peeves, I hear it almost all the way through the school day. People are always snacking on something in class. I just figured I would let out some steam in this here steam vent.

And Im not singling out Americans. In fact, if you read my OP, I specifically acgnolige the fact that in other countries, its normal. In fact, I would probably be just as annoyed in another country, I just wouldn't say anything.

[jinjuku]

The thing is, I do tell the person up front about it when I need to, and Im not rude about it. Ill still associate with the people as though they were human beings and tell them politely to quiet down because Im trying to work. Im not trying to talk crap behind their back. I guess lip smacking is just one of my pet peeves, I hear it almost all the way through the school day. People are always snacking on something in class. I just figured I would let out some steam in this here steam vent.

And Im not singling out Americans. In fact, if you read my OP, I specifically acgnolige the fact that in other countries, its normal. In fact, I would probably be just as annoyed in another country, I just wouldn't say anything.

Cool, Cool, thx for the clarification. Yes it annoys me too...;)

[Rickster71]

Sheesh, tough crowd here - take it easy on the poor guy, he's only in high school, he's still got a lot to learn about the way the world works, which he'll find out eventually like we all did at one point or another. Hell, I'm still trying to figure it out... :o

Hi Halon,
The OP singled out Americans; which seems to be fashionable, as of late.
It sounds like Markw is just a little fed up with the hate / blame America first attitude.
This just may have been the straw...

[markw]

Hi Halon,
The OP singled out Americans; which seems to be fashionable, as of late.
It sounds like Markw is just a little fed up with the hate / blame America first attitude.
This just may have been the straw...Now, instead of "Americans", had he said something like "teen-agers" or "my fellow high school students" I most likely wouldn't have bothered to respond.

But, yes, he did specifically single out Americans and that's what plunked my magic twanger and I did mention his in each of my other posts.

As Bartles and James would have said, "Thanks for your support"

[MinusTheBear]

[QUOTE=EYEdROP0;420170]It drives me absolutley insane. I understand that some cultures do it as a sign of satisfaction. But why do so many Americans do this (especially students at my highschool)?

Whats so offensive about this?

[Halon451]

Hi Halon,
The OP singled out Americans; which seems to be fashionable, as of late.
It sounds like Markw is just a little fed up with the hate / blame America first attitude.
This just may have been the straw...

I understand - I didn't exactly overlook this little detail, but it seems as if he has made an attempt at clarifying anyway. I do agree with Markw and I too am fed up with the hate/blame America mentality that is dominating the population lately - I guess I just felt the response was too strong for his age/maturity level, but can understand his frustration nonetheless. I feel it too...

[rnatalli]

As an American, I actually agree with the notion that Americans have become sloppy people. It's like you can't go anywhere without being surrounding by people who don't even bother combing their hair and putting on clean clothes. Some areas are better than others, but Americans in general have been gravitating towards the lower-class end of the spectrum and it's a disgusting trend IMO.

[Pyrrho]

It drives me absolutley insane. I understand that some cultures do it as a sign of satisfaction. But why do so many Americans do this (especially students at my highschool)? Ive noticed alot of people dont even relize they do it or even completely deny it. Its either a full on SMACK-SMACK-SMACK, or a few subtle smacks when they are about to swallow, followed by an odd whining noise. Whats even worse is when they make moaning sounds, growl, and breathe heavily when doing so. Is it supposed to taste better that way?


Bad parenting is the reason. If the parents don't teach their children to have decent manners, they will most likely end up savages. Occasionally, people will raise themselves out of the gutter and learn on their own, but most don't. So they will probably stay savages. Unfortunately, most parents don't take their parenting responsibilities seriously enough, and just want schools to raise their children for them, even though, obviously, a school is no substitute for parenting. If they did take their duties and responsibilities seriously enough, they would probably decide to not have children, as doing a good job of raising children is an incredible amount of work. Most people quite simply are not up to the challenge of doing it well.

Since you are talking about manners in an American school, customs in other parts of the world are irrelevant. In any case, I doubt that most of your classmates would be models of politeness in other cultures, either.

[Pyrrho]

Now, instead of "Americans", had he said something like "teen-agers" or "my fellow high school students" I most likely wouldn't have bothered to respond.

But, yes, he did specifically single out Americans and that's what plunked my magic twanger and I did mention his in each of my other posts.

As Bartles and James would have said, "Thanks for your support"


I think his mentioning of Americans was to show that he was in a culture which does not (or hasn't in the past) thought of slurping as displaying proper manners. If he had said that he was somewhere where such behavior was considered the pinnacle of good manners, then it would be important to know that when responding. As it is, slurping in America is, among those who are not pigs, not considered appropriate manners while eating. Obviously, if one is entertaining someone from another culture, allowances should be made for different customs, just as one would hope that allowances would be made if one were visiting someplace else with different customs.

[Sheep]

He may have mentioned culture, but I know many Canadians, and "white people" that make lots of noise while eating. I was referring to them white people when I posted.

If you want to project the race thing in there by all means go for it, but it was not there to begin with.

Oh and Mark, if you don't want this to be a main topic for discussion, I suggest not posting.

SheepStar

[Sheep]

Now, instead of "Americans", had he said something like "teen-agers" or "my fellow high school students" I most likely wouldn't have bothered to respond.

But, yes, he did specifically single out Americans and that's what plunked my magic twanger and I did mention his in each of my other posts.

As Bartles and James would have said, "Thanks for your support"

You have a track record for getting your panties in a bunch any time someone mentions Americans.

Domestic cars suck.

SheepStar

[Pyrrho]

You have a track record for getting your panties in a bunch any time someone mentions Americans.

Domestic cars suck.

SheepStar

So, you don't like Canadian cars?

[MinusTheBear]

So, you don't like Canadian cars?

Canadian cars, american cars it is the same thing. Canadian cars would be anything made by ford, g.m or chrysler etc. I agree with sheep, after owning a honda and mazda after many years buying domestic i would never buy any north american manufactured car ever again. They have been very realible cars for me, I cant say that about my last ford. I think Ford bought out Mazda now, but i am not sure.

[annunaki]

Canadian cars, american cars it is the same thing. Canadian cars would be anything made by ford, g.m or chrysler etc. I agree with sheep, after owning a honda and mazda after many years buying domestic i would never buy any north american manufactured car ever again. They have been very realible cars for me, I cant say that about my last ford. I think Ford bought out Mazda now, but i am not sure.

I guess you would not buy a Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, Nissan, or Mitsubishi then either since many/all of them all have manufacturing plants in North America and are therefore manufactured here.

I believe Ford to be a Majority shareholder of Mazda, but they are allowed to operate independently with a bit of parts sharing.

[MDS]

I believe Ford to be a Majority shareholder of Mazda, but they are allowed to operate independently with a bit of parts sharing.

The Probe GT I have is similar to and can use parts from the Mazda MX-6. In fact, since the car is getting pretty old (14 years) it is very hard if not impossible to get parts locally from Ford and you have to get the equivalent Mazda part, if one is available.

That's the thing I don't like about taking a hard stance of 'buy American' or 'don't buy American'. They are all intermingled and there is no such thing as a purely 'American' made car nor are most foreign cars composed of parts sourced solely from that manufacturers local region.

[Sheep]

So, you don't like Canadian cars?

Canadian MADE cars, yes. Most of the Camry's we're having problems with were made in the USA. There is no Canadian car companies.

Toyota is crap, they are no longer Imports. Honda is better then Toyota. Don't want to believe me? Fine, buy one.

I wouldn't buy a Maz(ford)da, Subaru, Toyota, or Nissan. It's all about Honda.

SheepStar

[Matt34]

Where is the Smiley smacking his head on it's desk when you need it?

[majorloser]

My $0.02

(now you can close it)