# Whats the worst sound you can think of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675 "2011-07-11T22:00:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [July 12, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/21 "2011-07-12T02:41:24Z")
The worst sound that I can think of is the splortch of a medical examiner pulling the pelvic organs out of the lower half of an open body cavity. But I’ve never actually heard that. Worst that I’ve actually heard? Baby crying in a nice restaurant. Any restaurant this happens at bugs me, but at a nice one that I’m paying a healthy chunk of money to eat at? Dammit, take that kid and roast it alive, and make the dumbass parents watch. At least then it’ll have a reason to cry, and I’ll feel like a Babylonian Empress. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/22 "2011-07-12T03:13:59Z")
Rabbits sometimes do this thing called agonal screaming before they die - I never ever ever ever ever ad infinitum want to hear that sound again (rabbit dies in my arms) ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/23 "2011-07-12T06:29:26Z")
When drinks are served into a glass/mug, the sound that is made when the liquid hits the bottom of said container. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/24 "2011-07-12T15:35:48Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > I am plagued by many bad sounds. The circular saw came up right away. It’s not the saw sound itself and of course I use one all the time. When I hear others using a circular or cross-cut saw I always expect to hear the scream of someone who had an accident. I’ve seen my share of accidents and they haunt me at these times. Oh yes, that too! Weedwacker/lawn mower/circular saw on a lovely summer evening makes it a trifecta. What the heck are they DOING with all those circular saws in their garages? Not a day goes by I don’t hear one whining away. I’ll add now - telephone ringing. It’s never anything good. It’s either bad news or someone wanting something. Dogs barking at night. There’s one around here that has a particularly high pitch bark, followed by a whine, that’s like a drill on an un-novocained tooth. And a couple of hounds got loose once and ran into the woods across the street and barked! barked! barked! for hours (having treed a cat or raccoon). I actually got up at 2 a.m. and walked outside to see if I could spot the M.F.s, and a man in a car driving by saw me and stopped and said, “I’m looking for those dogs, too, I have to get up and go to work in 4 hours.” (don’t know what we would have done if we found those dogs, though.) ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/25 "2011-07-12T15:42:38Z")
The sound of two people making out/french kissing. Any type of wet sound the body makes, especially if it has to do with pus and/or infection. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/26 "2011-07-12T15:47:46Z")
Silverware being jangled about. That sharp, harsh sound just gets inside my head and gives me the cranial equivalent of hitting my funny bone. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/27 "2011-07-12T15:52:32Z")
> [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](#): > > People eating (crunching, really) on chips. > > Obviously there are few people out there who would say they like to hear this, but I include it because for me it taps into some sort of primal well of anger and hate that is otherwise inaccesible. > > My roommate (who I’ll even admit doesn’t eat particularly loud) used to know that if I was anywhere in the house, chips were a no. I could be in my room watching pornography with the headphones on, but if he started eating chips in the main room it was like instant RAGE RAGE RAGE. > > I’m getting worked up thinking about it. You and me both. I have a coworker who brings carrot sticks to work every day. I don’t know where in the fuck she buys her carrots because they are the loudest goddamn carrots I have ever heard a person eat. It’s not just the crunching. It’s this huge _ **SNAP!!** _ with every bite she takes. One day I was having a particular cranky day and I had to leave the office for 20 minutes while she was eating her stupid carrots because I was about to burst into tears of rage and frustration. Eating sounds (and that does include gum-snapping—who on earth considers that an acceptable sound?? Why would you do that in public? Why would you think that was OK?) make me stabby. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/28 "2011-07-12T16:05:04Z")
This may land me squarely in the “crabby old man” bin, but: Children singing. Yes, I know it’s all precious and adorable and everything, but any song sung by a child or children just makes my temples tighten. I don’t care if it’s one kid or a chorus, on key or off key. I just can’t stand those shrill little voices piercing through the air. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/29 "2011-07-12T16:07:59Z")
The sound of my own voice. Not the way I hear it, but the way others hear it. And yes, I do get occasional comments on it, none of which are complimentary. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/30 "2011-07-12T16:37:09Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > This may land me squarely in the “crabby old man” bin, but: Children singing. > > Yes, I know it’s all precious and adorable and everything, but any song sung by a child or children just makes my temples tighten. I don’t care if it’s one kid or a chorus, on key or off key. I just can’t stand those shrill little voices piercing through the air. I can’t stand it either, but then again I don’t like little kids or babies in general. They actually sell CDs of current songs covered by children’s choruses. How they ever sell a single CD is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/31 "2011-07-12T16:45:18Z")
“We need to talk.” ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/32 "2011-07-12T17:08:06Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The sound of my own voice. Not the way I hear it, but the way others hear it. And yes, I do get occasional comments on it, none of which are complimentary. Me, too. I have such a dumb, whiny, little-girl voice that people find it hard to take me seriously. They express astonishment whenever I say something deep or intelligent. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/33 "2011-07-12T17:56:47Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Me, too. I have such a dumb, whiny, little-girl voice that people find it hard to take me seriously. They express astonishment whenever I say something deep or intelligent. I have an awesome voice. People have told me it’s very sexy. But when I hear a recording of myself, I cringe. I sound like such a dork! ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/34 "2011-07-12T18:20:18Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Babies screaming. isn’t an infant crying _supposed_ to be annoying, when you think about it? it’s a sound that’s intended to grab the parent’s ears to respond to distress. It’s just annoying when it’s _someone else’s_ baby 😉 > [@Ponch8](#): > > I can’t stand it either, but then again I don’t like little kids or babies in general. They actually sell CDs of current songs covered by children’s choruses. How they ever sell a single CD is beyond me. I think it’s more the really little kids, who don’t really “sing” as much as they talk really loudly with some sort of cadence. it’s usually unintelligible mush. It’s especially bad when local businesses run those cheap commercials and use (what are presumably) their kids in them. As if a few little kids “singing” is going to make me want to hire you to put a new roof on my house. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/35 "2011-07-12T18:47:24Z")
Take a butcher knife and saw a Styrofoam cooler down one side. Yeah, that sound. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/36 "2011-07-12T18:57:48Z")
Babies screaming through a vuvezela while my M-I-L unloads plates from the dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/37 "2011-07-12T18:59:29Z")
Vomiting. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/38 "2011-07-12T19:08:25Z")
The sudden unexpected sound of a siren in the vicinity of my rear bumper. Followed by a red/blue flash in the rearview. Always tends to ruin my day. SS ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/39 "2011-07-12T19:37:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Vomiting. … followed by sympathy vomiting and/or screaming. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675/40 "2011-07-13T00:15:32Z")
Children in general. That high-pitched squeal is like an ice pick in my ear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-sound-you-can-think-of/588675.md?page=3)