# I hate the person who invented gum. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 28, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007 "2012-01-28T18:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/1 "2012-01-28T18:34:08Z")
I really, really do. My SO and I are sitting here at our respective desks and he is working on that gum like there’s no tomorrow. What is the point of gum? No one ever looks intelligent chewing it and most people chew on it like it’s an Olympic event. Want fresh breath and to not look like an idiot? Have a mint. And if you crunch it, I’ll kill you! Seriously, what’s the attraction to gum? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/2 "2012-01-28T18:36:24Z")
I love it! Don’t take away my gum. I chew it out on the boat and it helps curb my appetite a little. Also keeps my breath fresh longer than a mint will. And I can never resist the urge to bite down on my mints. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/3 "2012-01-28T18:48:44Z")
_B - U - B-B - L-E G-U-M spells Bubble Gum (Bubble gum!) It’s the only decent kind of chewing gum (Chewing gum!) Man who made it must have been a real bum (Real bum!) B - U - B-B - L-E G-U-M, you see… It’s a goo that you chew Guaranteed to stick to you Bubble gum, for me!_ ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/4 "2012-01-28T19:46:03Z")
A side effect of a medication I take is a horrible case of dry-mouth. Gum works wonders for me during the day. However, I try to chew it only when I am alone at my desk or in the car. Without gum, I drink copious amounts of water and tea. And I do mean copious. Please don’t take away my gum. Go ahead and tell him that the gum chomping bothers you and that you are going to put on headphones to block out the sound. Then rock out. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/5 "2012-01-28T20:05:34Z")
It gives people something to do with their jaws and gives them flavor without actually eating anything. It does look awful, and people have been waging a pretty unsuccessful war against it since it started. I suspect that the worst result of gum is the sea of flattened ovals of used gum stuck to sidewalks and asphalt, picking up dirt and generally looking awful. It’s a pain to remove. Disney parks employ an army of gum removers. People have always, I suspect, chewed something. There’s quite a repertoire – betel nuts (and other nuts), tobacco, coca leaves, in Northeast America they chewed tree sap chewing “gum” that was purportedly capable of taking out teeth. The big one, of course, is chicle, from South America, which has probably been chewed since people first got there. Many sources Ive read credit Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna with introducing it into the US in his post-Prresidente days, when he needed the bucks. He suggested mixing it with mint flavoring and sugar, so maybe he’s the guy you want to blame. I suspect that others were also pushing it in the US, though, and inevitably someone would have. Later on, plastic-based chewing gum came around. It’s clearly big business. I prefer mints myself, but have used gum if they weren’t available. I try to wrap the gum up, though, and throw it in the garbage. I figure we don’t need another chewing gum dirtstain. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/6 "2012-01-28T22:21:17Z")
Deal with it. Gum helps me not snack between meals. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/7 "2012-01-28T23:22:38Z")
Would ya rather that people chewed _tobacco_? That’s what they chewed before gum. I think you should be thanking whoever invented gum, if indeed it was any one person. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/8 "2012-01-28T23:31:57Z")
I don’t care if people chew gum, but if you come into my workplace and leave it smeared on an exhibit, I will hunt you down and force-feed you glass shards. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/9 "2012-01-29T00:29:56Z")
In case you aren’t all aware already, The Master has spoken on [the history of chewing gum](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/309/the-amazing-history-of-chewing-gum). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/10 "2012-01-29T02:00:44Z")
My dentist told me that it’s better for your teeth to chew sugarless gum than to use mints. Gum is actually GOOD for your teeth. (Well, as long as it’s sugarless) Besides, I like my gum. You’re not taking it away. (I assure you, I don’t stick it anywhere, I actually just swallow it when I’m done with it) ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/11 "2012-01-29T17:04:22Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > A side effect of a medication I take is a horrible case of dry-mouth. Gum works wonders for me during the day. Same ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/12 "2012-01-29T17:52:10Z")
I hate gum too. I understand that it’s useful for some people and a comforting habit for others, but please, you look like a cow. And if you make any noise at all where I can hear it I will wrap duct tape around your mouth. Go ahead, ask me how I really feel. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cheryl44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@Cheryl44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheryl44)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/13 "2012-01-29T23:27:16Z")
I despise gum. It should be outlawed. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/14 "2012-01-30T02:39:26Z")
Sugarless chewing gum reduces tooth decay. [http://www.ada.org/1315.aspx](http://www.ada.org/1315.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/15 "2012-01-30T02:42:22Z")
> [@Cheryl44](#): > > I despise gum. It should be outlawed. Oh, great. Another one in favor of gum control. When gum is outlawed, only outlaws will have gum. I’m a lifetime member of The National Chicle Association. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/16 "2012-01-30T03:07:06Z")
> [@Cheryl44](#): > > I despise gum. It should be outlawed. Just wait until your tongue starts sticking to the roof of your mouth and you shall discover the wonder of gum. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/17 "2012-01-30T17:30:46Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Seriously, what’s the attraction to gum? It’s great for annoying the hell out of overly-uptight people! ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/18 "2012-01-30T17:36:59Z")
Blech. I don’t understand the appeal of gum. Chewed it when I was a kid, but can’t stand it now. Just the thought of it makes my stomach heave. Being near someone cracking their gum or having to smell it makes me feel like I’m going to puke or kill them or both. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/19 "2012-01-30T17:39:32Z")
I despise it, too. There’s nothing worse than an adult snapping gum and blowing bubbles. It’s so obnoxious. When I am ruler of the universe, I will outlaw gum chewing. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007/20 "2012-01-30T22:29:09Z")
Its an oral fixation. Having it prevents certain people from giving blowjobs all day [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-person-who-invented-gum/611007.md?page=2)