# A Question about Oyster Slurping **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510 "2023-10-13T14:21:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/1 "2023-10-13T14:21:44Z")
Here is a recent [viral TikTok video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP8MP-jubcQ). Maybe NSFW for language. Okay, obviously the video poster is not a class act, downing four trays of oysters and also a dinner of crab cakes and potatoes on what was understood to be a date for drinks. But a lot of the commentary seems to be about how disgusting the slurping of oysters was. (Not so much on the YouTube commentary, but elsewhere the Tiktok is posted.) Yeah, the sound is not pleasant. It’s probably not the best way to make a first impression on a date. But honestly, is it possible to eat oysters on the half-shell without slurping? I’ve eaten oysters a couple of times, and I’m not sure I’m recalling correctly, but I think slurping was involved. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/2 "2023-10-13T14:26:54Z")
No loud slurping is required. But slurping is the way to eat raw oysters on the half shell. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/3 "2023-10-13T14:30:59Z")
Personally, if a date is willing to slurp raw oysters with me, I think that’s pretty sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/4 "2023-10-13T14:33:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No loud slurping is required. Yeah, no need to be noisy. I hope she was chewing them, and not just swallowing them. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/5 "2023-10-13T14:42:13Z")
I don’t think a slurp is necessary at all. Just tip them in and chew. If they are loosened from the shell they’ll slide right off. No more need to slurp than if you were downing a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/6 "2023-10-13T14:44:58Z")
Slurping is only acceptable if you have four legs, fur and a tail. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/7 "2023-10-13T14:45:07Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > If they are loosened from the shell they’ll slide right off. If they haven’t been loosened from the shell send them back. No self respecting oyster shucker would leave the least bit of attachment. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/8 "2023-10-13T14:51:09Z")
When I was in my early 20s I had a girlfriend who civilized me in several ways, one of which was training me not to slurp when I ate soup. But my understanding is that slurping is not only socially acceptable but necessary in Asian cultures, where people slurp their noodle soup. It’s served piping hot, so slurping the noodles is a way to cool them off so you don’t get second degree burns in your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-oyster-slurping/991510/9 "2023-10-13T16:17:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If they haven’t been loosened from the shell send them back. No self respecting oyster shucker would leave the least bit of attachment. well quite, but being “not quite” separated from the shell is the only scenario where a bit of extra oral purchase might be required and a slurp might result.