# Have you ever screamed? Have you ever heard someone scream? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 10, 2021, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717 "2021-04-10T01:52:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/81 "2021-04-18T16:17:34Z")
I DID need to know that. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/82 "2021-04-18T18:35:37Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I can’t picture myself screaming under any circumstances. Sit through an incoming mortar barrage and get back to me. It’s involuntary, believe me. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/83 "2021-04-18T20:56:23Z")
Hmm…I honestly still don’t think I’d scream. I’ll stand by what I posted. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/84 "2021-04-18T21:32:09Z")
I tried to scream, but it came out as more of a squeak, since the guy had his arm against my throat. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/85 "2021-04-18T23:00:13Z")
I had an American friend in Japan who started acting increasingly worse and worse when he drank. He discovered how to let lose a primal scream, inside whatever drinking establishment we were in. Then there were a couple of Aussies in one who let him know they didn’t appreciate the noise. He was also hitting up on other friends’ dates and such so we finally stopped drinking with him completely. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/86 "2021-04-19T12:11:01Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Hmm…I honestly still don’t think I’d scream. I’ll stand by what I posted. Just to clarify: Have you ever been startled? When you are startled, do you ever make a noise? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/87 "2021-04-19T14:00:35Z")
As will I. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/88 "2021-04-22T11:00:49Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > Hmm…I honestly still don’t think I’d scream. I’ll stand by what I posted. > > Just to clarify: Have you ever been startled? When you are startled, do you ever make a noise? I’ve certainly been startled, though I can’t recall a specific incident at the moment. I don’t believe I make any sound at all when startled. I know that there have been several times when I was with someone and _they_ were startled - by a very loud noise, for example - and they jumped out of their skin while I did not react at all. BTW I’m not claiming any sort of superiority here, just pondering what makes some folks react quite severely to an event while others may not react at all. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/89 "2021-04-22T11:05:28Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > I can’t picture myself screaming under any circumstances. > > Sit through an incoming mortar barrage and get back to me. It’s involuntary, believe me. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Hmm…I honestly still don’t think I’d scream. I’ll stand by what I posted. > > mmm > [@Chefguy](#): > > As will I. I’m trying to picture this. During said barrage everyone is standing there screaming? There is not one person who does not scream? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/90 "2021-04-22T14:16:39Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’m trying to picture this. During said barrage everyone is standing there screaming? > > There is not one person who does not scream? I couldn’t swear to that, as the detonations while we were cowering in our bunker clutching each other were deafening. I know that my fellow clutchee was screaming as loudly as I was. Can’t speak for the others, but I suspect they were, also. As I said, it was reflexive and not a matter of “Oh, I think I’ll scream now.” It was truly the most frightening thing I ever hope to experience. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/91 "2021-04-22T14:47:11Z")
My best friend in college heard someone screaming who had jumped off a bridge to commit suicide. I get chills thinking about it, even though I wasn’t there. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/92 "2021-04-22T15:44:53Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > I’m trying to picture this. During said barrage everyone is standing there screaming? > > > > There is not one person who does not scream? > > I couldn’t swear to that, as the detonations while we were cowering in our bunker clutching each other were deafening. I know that my fellow clutchee was screaming as loudly as I was. Can’t speak for the others, but I suspect they were, also. As I said, it was reflexive and not a matter of “Oh, I think I’ll scream now.” It was truly the most frightening thing I ever hope to experience. I can’t imagine going through that. I will concede that I don’t know how I would react. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/93 "2021-04-22T16:09:19Z")
I work with a woman who is extremely easily startled and screams every time. Mostly I say her name from a long ways away to make her look at me so I know she won’t scream. She’s also the most disorganized packrat I’ve ever encountered. Her cube looks like an episode of Hoarders. Once two people hid in her cube amongst the debris. When she sat down one guy stood up and scared the crap out of her complete with blood curdling scream. After those of us in the cube farm laughed and joked with her for a bit she went back in and sat down, at which point the second guy jumped up… ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/94 "2021-04-23T20:24:23Z")
Yes, I’ve screamed. (The first time I remember involved me coming my hair and a spider falling out.) There have been plenty of times since then. And I’ve heard others scream. (I remember once when a coworker screamed behind me. I swung around in my chair. She was pointing at a spider on the floor. I told her I was busy, but she wouldn’t stop screaming until I stood up and stomped on the spider. She congratulated me on my bravery. I pointed out that I was bigger than the spider and she was taller than I was!) ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/95 "2021-04-23T23:04:05Z")
I had a roommate once with a sensitive startle reflex. She was also tiny, and loved to nap on the couch in a pile of throw blankets. One day I came home with my then-boyfriend (now-husband). I didn’t know she was home and I definitely didn’t see her asleep on the couch. But our noise started her awake, and she screamed. Which made me scream, because ohmygod the couch behind me just screamed! Which made my boyfriend scream, because ohmygod my girlfriend just screamed in my ear! I still laugh when I think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2021, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/96 "2021-12-24T23:38:22Z")
to zombie: > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Then I stomped on the lump in my robe and the damn thing just weezed. Beetles wheeze? uh-say what? > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Suddenly, my neighbor ran over holding his baseball bat and pounded on my door. I threw the door open (totally naked) and hysterically screamed about it being in there while pointing at the kitchen and running out the front door. Heroic neighbor ran into the kitchen with baseball bat held high, then the roach FLEW at him and he ran out the front door screaming almost as loudly as me. Not bad hi-jinks. > [@Kelevra](#): > > I work with a woman who is extremely easily startled and screams every time. Mostly I say her name from a long ways away to make her look at me so I know she won’t scream. She’s also the most disorganized packrat I’ve ever encountered. Her cube looks like an episode of Hoarders. Once two people hid in her cube amongst the debris. When she sat down one guy stood up and scared the crap out of her complete with blood curdling scream. After those of us in the cube farm laughed and joked with her for a bit she went back in and sat down, at which point the second guy jumped up… I will not lie in saying that I derived much joy in this. Hate to see what she’s like at surprise parties. > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I also remember seeing a few films in the theater, most notably, _The Fly_ (Cronenberg), and _Alien_ , when I jumped in my seat, but did not scream; however, about 1/3 of the theater _did._ Watching a retro screening of _Wait Until Dark_ - the scene where Alan Arkin [_LURCHES_](https://youtu.be/n0s_qq2clHA?t=43)out to tackle Audry Hepburn - e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y in the theatre hit the roof. Possibly similar reaction, different theatre, with the [introduction of Richard Dreyfuss to Ben Gardner.](https://youtu.be/XDs5a0BcEzY?t=162) Most interesting screamer here: **Ulfrieda** , by far. inward screams - fun, but probably not good for the throat. Seen anyone scream? Only the teeming, dog-piling hoardes watching my old bands play back in the day. One customer I had - this disengenuous headcase of a dingbat - was having a perfectly regular convo with me, and then maybe a minute later, back in the house, lets off the longest wail of a scream - I could’ve counted off maybe seven or eight steamboats for its duration. I had to rule out earth-shattering orgasm because she had talked to me too recently for this to happen, and then found out later that she had been informed that her dog just died. However, even with a reason as understandable as that, she _still_ sounded ridiculously over-the-top; came across more like acting. Screamed? A couple weeks ago, this [sleep paralysis sufferer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776) got another attack, feeling like someone was leaning their knees on top of the side of my body, making me not so much scream as much as let out this sort of loud, moaning “OOOOOWAAAAAAAHHHHHHGGGGGAAAAHHHHNNNNNUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAA!”. TIL: - Jerusalem Cricket - water beetle - wind scorpion ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2021, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/97 "2021-12-24T23:56:25Z")
This summer, I went into the well house at my cabin to turn on the garden hose, a snake fell off the ceiling and wrapped around my neck; I screamed like a tween meeting Justin Bieber. Once a deer ran in front of our car and my wife screamed like a lunatic, which is surprisingly unhelpful. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/98 "2021-12-25T00:16:07Z")
On a moonlit night, I was walking down a gravel road on the outskirts of town. I heard a shuffling noise in the gravel nearby. I glanced over, and saw a cat about six feet away. And then I saw that it had white stripes down its back. And it was facing in the worst possible direction. The scream was not particularly loud, but in retrospect, the high pitch was rather embarrassing to the possessor of a Y chromosome. Fortunately, it just scampered off, and never even bothered raising its tail. I think it was probably more annoyed than frightened. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2021, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/99 "2021-12-25T01:10:14Z")
This past summer I was out in the back yard while Mrs J. and Pluto the spaniel were out on an afternoon walk down to the pond. I heard a piercing scream from that direction. It turned out that they had been walking past the entrance to the barn when a fox emerged. It saw them, _screamed_ and ran back inside. Apparently they had a den in there and weren’t expecting company. Addendum to previous post: the little girl who lives across the street has _not_ outgrown her predilection for loud screaming. If something really bad happened, would her parents react appropriately or just figure it was typical playtime hijinks? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717/100 "2021-12-25T02:54:32Z")
Same here, though to a lesser degree. I’ve rolled up on a lot of things that cause people to scream. Gunshot wound, suicides, overdoses found by their partner, car crashes. And I’ve helped deliver 2 babies, including on the side of the highway in my ambulance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717.md?page=6)