# Gum behind ear **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gum-behind-ear/167950 "2003-04-11T03:00:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gum-behind-ear/167950/1 "2003-04-11T03:00:11Z")
I was watching [_The Ice Storm_](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0119349) (1997), and there is one part where Eljah Wood’s character, Mikey, [sub](Everything comes back to Elijah. You have to expect that with my threads. I’m shameless.)[/sub] pulled his gum out of his mouth and stuck it behind his ear before kissing Wendy (Christina Ricci). I presume he did this to save the gum, but all I could think was “I do so hope you wash behind that ear.” I found the action totally disgusting. Do people really do that? I would imagine people would get sick from that. FWIW, my utmost respect for and complete adoration of Elijah has not been lessened in any way, shape, or form as a result of witnessing this action. For a milisecond, I found it endearing. I need a life. ---
**Author:** ![AntaresJB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AntaresJB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntaresJB)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gum-behind-ear/167950/2 "2003-04-11T04:07:50Z")
I think in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Violet mentioned something about this as well. I’m just wondering how they manage to not get any hair stuck in it. eww. ---
**Author:** ![Spiratu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Spiratu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiratu)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gum-behind-ear/167950/3 "2003-04-11T04:13:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AntaresJB \* > \*\*I’m just wondering how they manage to not get any hair stuck in it. \*\* Maybe you really stick the gum **in** your ear. 😃 d & r… ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gum-behind-ear/167950/4 "2003-04-11T04:34:34Z")
You know, this is even nastier in the context of that “rub your finger behind your ear and schniff it” post someone made a while back. Mmm, parmesean gum. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gum-behind-ear/167950/5 "2003-04-12T01:14:10Z")
Anyone out there actually done it? I’m tempted, just for novelty’s sake, but just can’t get the gum from my finger to my ear…