# I pit gum. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 2, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681 "2012-11-02T16:54:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/1 "2012-11-02T16:54:56Z")
You know what I really hate? Gum. I hate everything about gum. I hate having to sit near someone who’s chewing gum with their mouth open. I hate having to see their piece of chewed-up, spit-covered gum in their mouth. Of course, I can look away, but I can still hear that chomping sound and smell the stench of the gum. Just as bad are people who blow bubbles with their gum. Okay, I guess I don’t mind as much if a little kid does it, because they think it’s fun, but come on, adults should’ve outgrown it. There’s also that really bloody annoying thing some people do when they make a loud cracking/snapping noise with their gum. It’s so startling, so loud, so rude, and so _irritating_! I hate the fact that gum is everywhere. It’s inescapable. You can find dried gum just about anywhere. I’ve never seen a sidewalk or pavement without gum spots on it. It’s in every bus and subway car. It’s absolutely revolting. I especially hate it when people leave chewed gum on the undersides of railings and other places people are likely to touch it with their bare hands. I hate the sight, sound, smell, taste, and texture of gum. It’s come to the point where even the sound of a gum wrapper opening sets me on edge. To me, gum’s only redeeming feature is that it helps regulate your ears while flying in an airplane. (Also that some kinds of gum can clean teeth, and it won’t make you fat.) Other than that, I can’t think of anything to like about gum. (I’m still a relative newbie here, so I apologize if this rant has been done before, or if I’ve done something wrong.) ---
**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:** [November 2, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/2 "2012-11-02T17:08:28Z")
You don’t like the smell of gum? I can think of more than a few people who could use some gum-smelling breath, stat, regardless of all the annoying chewing and popping sounds ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/3 "2012-11-02T17:11:38Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > You don’t like the smell of gum? > > I can think of more than a few people who could use some gum-smelling breath, stat, regardless of all the annoying chewing and popping sounds Well, I don’t mind the mint-flavoured gum, or similar-smelling gum. I do hate the smell of fruit-flavoured gum, though. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/4 "2012-11-02T18:09:16Z")
Fess up **EmilyG**. You’re a tobacco chewer aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/5 "2012-11-02T18:52:06Z")
I’m with this OP. Gum chewers are disgusting. Smacking your gum on the train, on a conference call or in a meeting is just asshole behavior. I wish more bosses were like Oprah and banned gum from the workplace. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/6 "2012-11-02T18:58:38Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > Just as bad are people who blow bubbles with their gum. Okay, I guess I don’t mind as much if a little kid does it, because they think it’s fun, but come on, adults should’ve outgrown it. There’s also that really bloody annoying thing some people do when they make a loud cracking/snapping noise with their gum. It’s so startling, so loud, so rude, and so _irritating_! I was a champion bubble-blower as a kid. I love to blow bubbles. I will continue to do so until I die. (Granted, now I only do it at home where I can take the time to get the residue out of my hair.) \ Pop! ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/7 "2012-11-02T19:12:16Z")
I agree with you. Although I give men a pass on occasion. Chewing gum is very base and unladylike in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/8 "2012-11-02T20:02:15Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > I agree with you. Although I give men a pass on occasion. Chewing gum is very base and unladylike in my opinion. Thank you for the sexism. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/9 "2012-11-02T22:53:12Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > Chewing gum is very base and unladylike in my opinion. That’s why I don’t do it. That, and it interferes with my walking. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/10 "2012-11-02T23:01:32Z")
I think you just have a stick up your ass. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/11 "2012-11-03T00:10:45Z")
Saw this in my 8th grade art class: The gum-chewing student And the cud-chewing cow Look quite alike But they’re different somehow And what is the difference? I see it all now It’s the look of intelligence On the face of the cow. Put me _right off_ gum, from that day forward. Not that I’d been much of a gum chewer before then, but the image for some reason just … got to me. Gum being left everyplace is certainly damned annoying, but really, the ones who deserve the pitting are the inconsiderate boobies who stick the stuff wherever they please, generally places where it grosses every one out. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/12 "2012-11-03T00:38:42Z")
I can get behind this pitting because the few times I have chewed it the flavor goes away very quickly - seconds! - and then my stomach gets annoyed because no food comes down. gum is dumb. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/13 "2012-11-03T01:22:36Z")
I can get behind this. Very few people seem able to enjoy gum without being idiots about it. I switched to mints a long time ago and am glad I don’t look like a cud-chewing cow. Usually. For the most part. I admit I will on a rare occasion buy a sleeve of Rain-Blo gum and use it up during a movie at home. I only do this when I’m by myself though. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/14 "2012-11-03T02:20:31Z")
I had to check the date to make sure this pitting wasn’t from the year 1900. Really? Pitting gum and gum chewers? You guys are a bit late on this. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/15 "2012-11-03T04:00:02Z")
Let me guess…Um The bedpost leeched all the flavor from your Black Jack when you were a toddler? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/16 "2012-11-03T04:28:32Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > There’s also that really bloody annoying thing some people do when they make a loud cracking/snapping noise with their gum. It’s so startling, so loud, so rude, and so _irritating_! Some people? Please take a trip to South Korea. Get on the subway. Count the number of times you hear the loudest gum cracks you’ve ever heard in your life. I dare you to try to keep up with the count. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/17 "2012-11-03T15:24:24Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > I was a champion bubble-blower as a kid. I love to blow bubbles. I will continue to do so until I die. > > (Granted, now I only do it at home where I can take the time to get the residue out of my hair.) > > \ > > Pop! I don’t mind it if people do it at home, because then I don’t have to see/hear them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/18 "2012-11-03T15:33:07Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > You know what I really hate? Gum. I hate everything about gum. I would like to join your anti-gum club! I have four co-workers who are obnoxious gum chewers. When we have a staff meeting, it’s like sitting in the middle of a herd of cattle. Smack, slurp, chomp chomp, crack, smack, smack, slurp…it’s _nasty_. You would not believe how loud these people can be with their gum. I’ve tried to imitate it, but I just can’t get that much volume. Someday I’m going to lose it and snap at my supervisor when she smacks her gum in my ear while we’re talking on the phone. And I can’t say anything about it, because the head of our department is one of the worst offenders. She comes to hour-long meeting with a stack of about 4 different packs of gum. :rolleyes: I keep hoping they’ll all get TMJ so they won’t be able to chew gum any more, but so far no luck. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/19 "2012-11-03T15:38:33Z")
Chewing gum is one of those pointless things that other people do. Potentially mildly annoying, but not antisocial. On the other hand, leaving used gum on the sidewalk, street, or underside of anything is reprehensible. I spent a few memorable days scraping gum out of the sidewalk when I was a minimum-wage employee as a teenager. Hard, thankless, disgusting work. There’s a special circle of hell for people who discard used gum and / or cigarette butts on the ground. A combination of my two least favourite things about humans: laziness + inconsideration of other people. Inexcusable. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681/20 "2012-11-03T15:57:26Z")
Singapore’s the perfect place for gum haters since it’s illegal there. I don’t detest gum enough to pack my bags and book a one way flight, but I’m not a fan of oblivious/inconsiderate chewers. Yuck. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-gum/639681.md?page=2)