# What is the longest you have gone without saying or hearing a word from/to someone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2013, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990 "2013-11-28T08:03:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/1 "2013-11-28T08:03:05Z")
So for a bit of a contrast to Thanksgiving and all the “togetherness” Pretty much everybody at work who does anything important, except for me, took the whole week off. With the absurd scope of the load of things dumped on me , which I was warned of , I knew enough to start on the pile and last Saturday… I set up to hide in my cave(ie working from home) and get shit done. And while I was working from home I cooked a few freezer-able dishes. But as it happened tonight I decided to get a beer( and watch the hockey game where the Wings beat the Bruins like dead horses 🙂 ). I went to ye old watering hole, and she said “Hey ‘wolfman’ man whatcha having?” And I said “uhhhhghhch…erm…erghch”. At which point I figured out I hadn’t spoken since last Saturday, and being a smoker, there is a lot of shit in the throat. Now I’ve purposefully gone up camping in solitude before for up to three weeks,but I think 5 days is my new record for accidental silence. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/2 "2013-11-28T09:05:10Z")
I was going to say 6 days until I realized I talk to my dog on a daily basis but she probably hears, “uhhhhghhch…erm…erghch”. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/3 "2013-11-28T09:45:23Z")
About a month IIRC, years ago. It was when I was house-sitting for my father and stepmother while they were on vacation; with two dogs, three horses and a cat they couldn’t just leave it unattended and I was available. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/4 "2013-11-28T09:55:59Z")
I’ve gone three days without talking to a person, but I’ve never gone without speaking. I talk to myself, to my cats, to the tv, to the Dope. Even if I don’t speak, I still will laugh at stuff my cats do or at a movie or something on the computer. Voice definitely gets used on the daily. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/5 "2013-11-28T10:47:22Z")
I’m so close to me, I hardly go an hour without speaking to myself. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/6 "2013-11-28T11:18:48Z")
10 days, I was hiking alone in Cayonlands NP. Bliss. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/7 "2013-11-28T12:11:04Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > About a month IIRC, years ago. It was when I was house-sitting for my father and stepmother while they were on vacation; with two dogs, three horses and a cat they couldn’t just leave it unattended and I was available. Wow. Did you actually not speak at all during that time? If so, was your voice hoarse or different when you finally tried? If the OP means “not speak to another human” my record as about 5 days, but I do it a few times a year. About twice a year the number of people riding my back exceeds its carrying capacity and I either: 1) Take my boat to an obscure island and anchor for several days or, 2) go to my deer lease for a week and spend time exploring and/or reading. I always take my dog, though. So I occasionally talk to him. Obligatory [pics](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/rbp2/FinleyBeachTexoma_zps63c8bad9.jpg) of [the](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/rbp2/2011-03-04T16-10-16.jpg) solitude. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2013, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/8 "2013-11-28T12:42:16Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Obligatory [pics](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/rbp2/FinleyBeachTexoma_zps63c8bad9.jpg) of [the](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/rbp2/2011-03-04T16-10-16.jpg) solitude. Love the dog photo! Dog: “What are we gonna do now??” 🙂 mmm ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/9 "2013-11-28T13:12:54Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I’ve gone three days without talking to a person, but I’ve never gone without speaking. I talk to myself, to my cats, to the tv, to the Dope. Even if I don’t speak, I still will laugh at stuff my cats do or at a movie or something on the computer. Voice definitely gets used on the daily. Thank you. I’m so glad I’m not alone. I mean, talking to the critters is normal, but talking to one’s self; I always felt weird about that. Anyway, I believe my record is four days. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/10 "2013-11-29T00:07:48Z")
4-5 days without talking to another person in person, but there were pets, muttering to myself, and also a couple of phone calls in there. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/11 "2013-11-29T01:11:21Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > If the OP means “not speak to another human” my record as about 5 days, but I do it a few times a year. About twice a year the number of people riding my back exceeds its carrying capacity and I either: 1) Take my boat to an obscure island and anchor for several days or, 2) go to my deer lease for a week and spend time exploring and/or reading. I always take my dog, though. So I occasionally talk to him. > > Obligatory [pics](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/rbp2/FinleyBeachTexoma_zps63c8bad9.jpg) of [the](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/rbp2/2011-03-04T16-10-16.jpg) solitude. Nothing in the entire world sounds better than this right now. I need to start doing this for myself every now and again, but first I need a boat. And a dog. And money. Hmm, maybe I’ll just take more days off work and sleep in or something. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/12 "2013-11-29T01:45:54Z")
I don’t like talking to myself. It bugs me, and I never pay attention anyways. I used to go on 3-5 day camp hikes with my cameras back when. Summer t-storm at 11K ft is an awesome thing to experience. I think I probably saw other humans, tho, and would likely have at least uttered a greeting. So… maybe 3 or 4 days. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/13 "2013-11-29T02:23:31Z")
About four days, in the backcountry of Zion NP. One of the most memorable experiences of my life. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/14 "2013-11-29T03:07:24Z")
Two weeks. Canoeing in the [BWCA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Waters_Canoe_Area_Wilderness), or camping in the Okeefenokee. Haven’t done that in years. Solitude is nice sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/15 "2013-11-29T03:13:37Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Haven’t done that in years. Solitude is nice sometimes. That’s one of the few drawbacks to marriage—you can’t just run off into the woods by yourself when you want to. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/16 "2013-11-29T10:11:02Z")
2 months. mrAru was out to sea, and we didn’t have a roomie at the time, and we had just restocked the freezer with American Frozen Foods - all sorts of meat and veggies, a few odd desserts. With chickens you don’t need to go anywhere for eggs:p Hm, what did I do? took care of everything, watched TV, read books, played first person shooters and RPGs on the computer. Grunted at the cat to get off my warm spot occasionally. This was pre internet, so I didn’t even have email at the time. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/17 "2013-11-29T16:18:27Z")
I didn’t speak for three weeks after getting my tonsils out. I figure I was probably good to go at around the one-week mark, but I was enjoying it so much that I just kept going. I read, watched TV, played video games, and generally stayed very sedentary (those were doc’s orders- due to it being a late-in-life removal and the fact that as a redhead I’m a bit of a bleeder). It was lovely! Throughout 8th grade I only spoke when absolutely necessary. Bugged folks enough to earn a referral to the school counselor, who I found so useless I clammed up more than usual. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-you-have-gone-without-saying-or-hearing-a-word-from-to-someone/674990/18 "2013-11-29T16:28:42Z")
10 days while out camping with the dogs. After my divorce I went a couple of months where I had no real conversations but did order food or comment if asked. I holed up in a hotel room. It was hard just to look at people.