Gum Chewing - What's Oprah's problem??

[ckay87]

Yesterday's show - at least the one that was on in my area - might have been a repeat. It was about etiquette, but got real off topic with the bikini waxing. But that's another story.

Something that really bothered me...
It is rude to chew gum in public. Not cracking gum, blowing bubbles, sticking gum in inappropriate places. Simply chewing gum in public is rude.

Oprah seemed to be the one with the real problem with this, but nobody disagreed.

Am I that backwards, that uncultured, that it never even occurred to me that simply chewing gum someplace other than the privacy of my own home/car is rude?

Or is Oprah a snob?

 

[shep]

I never heard of that..
I guess I'm rude..

 

[smilie]

I thought the same thing. Why is it rude to chew gum? I don't understand that. If you're not pulling it out of your mouth or chewing "loudly" I don't see the problem.

 

[liznboys]

I don't think you are uncultured, and I don't think Oprah is a snob. She just doesn't like gum chewing! And my mom is the same way (and my mom is not a snob!!). I think gum chewing is just one of those things some people are annoyed by. It doesn't bother me though.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

She's a snob. (But then again, I don't like Oprah. )

 

[JuliaEeyore]

Bad breath is far ruder, IMHO!!!

Julia

 

[bananiem]

Uh oh! Dd10's class just voted to allow chewing gum during quiet study times. Guess they're rude! Note- I do NOT agree with the kids getting to chew gum but I also noticed the novelty wore off after about 3 days for dd.

 

[Alice28]

I find it rude when someone is working and chewing gum (and they deal with the public in ANY way). I don't like being on the phone with someone regarding business and hearing them chewing gum. Or at a store..certainly not a restaurant (ew). But, if you're just walking around at the mall, shopping, or grocery shopping, etc., I don't care. I grew up being told it was very rude to chew gum in church as well....that's what mints or breath strips are for I guess.

 

[oogieboogie]

I don't think it's rude but personally I hate talking to someone who's talking and chewing gum at the same time. I have this fear that the gum is going to come flying out of the person's mouth and hit me at a moment's notice.

If you want to chew gum, be my guest - but please throw it out when you're talking to someone. I really don't need to see the inside of your slobbery mouth.

 

[Fortuosity]

I remember gum-chewing not being permitted at school, and *especially* not during music class.

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/oompa.htm

Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-do
I have another puzzle for you
Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-da-dee
If you are wise, you'll listen to me

Gum chewing's fine when it's once in a while
It stops you from smoking and brightens your smile
But it's repulsive, revolting, and wrong
Chewing and chewing all day long

The way that a cow does

Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-da
Given good manners, you will go far
You will live in happiness too
Like the Oompa Loompa doom-pa-dee-do

 

[leahannpen]

I don't think it's rude as long as you don't pop or snap it like a crazy person, which I'm guilty of.

I love to chew gum, and do it alot. I love it. I do TRY my best not to annoy people with it though. I'm sure sometimes I crack it and don't even realize it. But it you're just chewing and not being loud, I don't see the big deal.

 

[Beth76]

Oprah just doesn't like it and was throwing a hissy because someone was chewing it in her home. Big whoop! That's her own problem-she needs to deal with it. I would have to agree with her about the woman then taking the gum out and putting it on her plate. That is rude. Otherwise, general chewing of gum in public is OK, just be curteous about it.

 

[jeleebeene]

I don't think it is rude as long as you aren't talking to someone in a professional manner (like at work). I answer the phones at times and people will be smacking their gum in my ear (or eating for that matter) and it drives me nuts. I chew gum in public, but know when to dispose of it, or hide it so I can talk.

 

[lovemygoofy]

But did you hear about the part about why she didn't like gum? Her grandmother used to keep used gum stuck to the inside of a cabinet drawer. Apparently it was quite alot.

Oh just for the record my grandmother taught me that women shouldn't chew gum because "it looked like cows eating grass." I will chew gum in the house or in the car but not in public.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I HATE when I see people chewing gum. Yes, just chewing. But, that could be my own weird problem. It probably dates back to when I was in Jr. High, all the popular girls who tormented me chewed gum.

I don't chew gum, and I don't allow my kids to chew gum on a regular basis.

As for bad breath, they do make mints for that.

 

[BabyTigger99]

Oprah just doesn't like it and was throwing a hissy because someone was chewing it in her home.

I guess next time Oprah invites me over, I will not bring my gum with me!

 

[Octoberbeauty]

I don't like gum chewing either, but it's just my personal preference. I rarely chew gum and don't let my kids have it very often either.

 

[disykat]

I think chewing gum is often rude as well. However, I think it's okay if you are doing a solitary activity (like shopping, driving in the car, working on the computer, etc.) to have gum in your mouth. I occasionally pop a piece of breath freshening gum in my mouth (I can't find sugar free breath mints), but spit it out after a brief time. I hate it when I put in a piece and then find myself in a conversation with someone - it's impossible to talk politely around a piece of gum IMO.

I don't think Oprah threw a hissy fit. She didn't even say anything to them. She was just grossed out. I'm not grossed out by gum in that way, but can understand how she is - she views it as partially chewed food. Picture if someone sat at your table and took a piece of food out of their mouth and stuck it in plain view on the corner of their plate. IMO that's what napkins are for.

 

[Kermit]

I've always heard (from my mom) that chewing gum any time you're in an audience (like at church) or interacting with people is rude. I would guess it would be okay if you were doing something alone. But like I said, I learned that from my mom, and my grandmother was a very proper British lady, so my mom's standards were a little different than most people's.

Personally, the thought of chewing gum makes me gag, so I've always been fine with thinking it was rude. I can chew gum for a few seconds, but as soon as the flavor starts to fade, I have to get rid of it.

 

[Hippychickali]

This is also a pet peeve of mine. I very rarely chew gum myself unless I'm short on a breath mint and then it's only for about three seconds. To me, it's a bad habit. I don't understand the appeal.

Ali