What do you consider to be proper gum-chewing etiquette?

September 13, 2007 8:25 PM

What do you consider to be proper gum-chewing etiquette?

How does one address incessant gum chomping/popping in a professional environment without coming across as an overly sensitive, fussy person?

posted by LecheFresca to human relations (24 comments total)

What do you consider to be proper gum-chewing etiquette?

If one is concerned about etiquette, one does not chew gum.

How does one address incessant gum chomping/popping in a professional environment without coming across as an overly sensitive, fussy person?

If one is in a position of authority over the person chomping/popping, then one politely tells the offender that gum chewing is inappropriate for the job, or that it must at least be kept quiet and unobtrusive. If one is not in a position of authority over the chomper/popper, then one keeps one's mouth shut and deals with it, knowing that eventually the chomper/popper will become equally annoying to someone with authority to put a stop to it.
posted by The World Famous at 8:29 PM on September 13, 2007 [5 favorites has favorites]

If you're on a pro baseball team, you probably shouldn't say anything.

In an office environment, I'd just use the "Hey -- can I be honest with you a second?" approach.

As long as this person is not your boss I can't see any negative fallout. Everyone will back you up.
posted by Camofrog at 8:42 PM on September 13, 2007

You are not alone. 693 comments!
posted by tellurian at 8:52 PM on September 13, 2007

I'd go the high school method: as long as they've brought enough for everybody, they can keep doing it. I hope you work for a big company.

But honestly, as long as they're not chewing noisely, open mouthed and leaving gum stuck to the underside of everything then I wouldn't have an issue with it.
posted by robotot at 8:55 PM on September 13, 2007

Wasn't there a thread/question posted once about some people being unusually sensitive to the sound of people chewing?
posted by smackfu at 8:55 PM on September 13, 2007

Oh, there we go. And another.
posted by smackfu at 8:57 PM on September 13, 2007

Here is a previous chewing related thread. I could've sworn there was a gum-at-work question too, but I can't find it.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:59 PM on September 13, 2007

If you're shy, just send them a link to this thread.
posted by alms at 9:08 PM on September 13, 2007

Stop that. It's annoying.
posted by borkingchikapa at 10:32 PM on September 13, 2007

In all seriousness old boy the phrase chewing gum etiquette is a contradiction in terms. I wouldn't say that it was up there with the arms industry as the most disgusting industry their is but it's certainly one of the shining examples of the tyranny of the majority school of thought.

This idea of being 'tolerant' is an interesting one. We call ourselves and like the notion of being 'tolerant' but in fact there are certain things we should not be tolerant of. I presume you are not the manager in the professional environment you speak of otherwise you would just send a memo round stating that it is forbidden. I presume you are talking about people on the same strata as you in your work environment? I also presume if your company is any sort of meritocracy that the people at the top would not dare be so uncouth to consider gum chewing acceptable so why don't you discuss with them?

Just make the very real point that if looks unprofessional.
posted by numberstation at 1:15 AM on September 14, 2007

I think that the appearance of gum-chewing is as bad, if not worse, than the sound of it. Something about a person chewing gum gives them an appearance of "I don't give a shit," a look of being above-it-all, almost an appearance of disdain for people they encounter.

Does anyone else agree with this? I tried to explain this to my wife once, and she didn't agree.
posted by jayder at 5:25 AM on September 14, 2007

"Whatever cow is chewing his cud over there, knock it off. It's annoying."

Works for me, and I don't even know what 'cud' is.
posted by bondcliff at 6:33 AM on September 14, 2007

Whatever cow is chewing his cud

Cows are girls. Bulls are boys. You are mean.

As a person in a sub-managerial position, let me put it as plainly as possible: If it wasn't a rule when you hired me, it isn't a rule now. That's obviously not the reality of the situation, but that's the mindset. Add the insult, "You disgust me," and hey presto, you've got yourself a disgruntled employee.

I think the best way to go about it is to make it official and to keep it from getting personal. Put up a notice, send out a memo. Do whatever you can to get the word out to everybody that it's not acceptable workplace decorum.
posted by Reggie Digest at 7:09 AM on September 14, 2007

If you're on the same rung of the professional ladder as the gum-chewer, though, these are your options: a) Get over it; b) Complain to the higher-ups, who could reprimand the chewer for chewing or you for being petty, not being a "team player," and wasting their time.

You may have the god-given right to complain to the offending party, but if you don't have any authority, they're just going to roll their eyes and bitch about you to their friends at the water-cooler.
posted by Reggie Digest at 7:17 AM on September 14, 2007

"Excuse me, could you please chew that with your mouth closed? Thanks."
posted by tristeza at 7:57 AM on September 14, 2007

How about offering them some gum that turns your mouth blue? Or give 'em the classic finger snap.

This probably won't stop them, but since you're dealing with such a gum addict, they're bound to fall for it, which could be funny.
posted by jeffxl at 8:07 AM on September 14, 2007

I work in a pretty relaxed environment in which gum chewing in meetings is no big deal (unless in a sales meeting etc), and once I was in the conference room with a bunch of developers when one snapped at me for loud gum chewing. I was horrified. Sometimes people don't realize. Something like:

"Excuse me, could you please chew that with your mouth closed? Thanks."

I'm not sure if that's necessary.
posted by sweetkid at 8:41 AM on September 14, 2007

gum chewing (and eating) at work is a messy affair. i have four underlings where i work, and i have the implicit rule of no eating/chewing with your mouth open. part of this is because it's a major pet peeve of mine, but most of it is because it's unprofessional.

i let my workers chew gum (i'd be a hypocrite otherwise), but i don't want to hear it or see it. a simple, "excuse me, but could you please stop snapping your gum." has worked in the past. done fairly discretely and without making it personal. no jokes about cows and cud, because that's just rude.
posted by kendrak at 9:20 AM on September 14, 2007

Why all the hate on gum chewing, folks? It's now unprofessional to freshen my mouth after a meal?

Now, gum *popping*, as LecheFresca asked about, is inappropriate for anyone over the age of 10 to do, especially at work!
posted by odi.et.amo at 9:54 AM on September 14, 2007

Well, I chew gum in class, because it helps me stay awake. Dumb, but there you go. (Maybe your co-worker is a jonesing smoker.) Still, I can't stand people chewing with their mouth open under any circumstances. It's perfectly fine to ask people to chew with their mouth closed. I actually wish more people would be vocal about this sort of thing, because it's downright disgusting, be it gum or food (lip smacking and little "num num" noises while eating are an instant crush deflater. EWWWWW).
posted by oneirodynia at 11:12 AM on September 14, 2007

Chewing anything with your mouth open is disgusting.

Gum popping is gross.

But if you have a problem with people chewing gum with their mouth closed, I believe that it is you who has the problem.
posted by Afroblanco at 11:24 AM on September 14, 2007

Why all the hate on gum chewing, folks? It's now unprofessional to freshen my mouth after a meal?

It's not unprofessional to use the toilet after a meal, either, but don't pee in my office, please.
posted by The World Famous at 11:32 AM on September 14, 2007

That's a faulty analogy, The World Famous, and I think you know that.

I'll just repeat Afroblanco: If you have a problem with people chewing gum with their mouth closed, I believe that it is you who has the problem.
posted by odi.et.amo at 12:22 PM on September 20, 2007

That's a faulty analogy, The World Famous, and I think you know that.

Yes, I know that it's a faulty analogy to pretend that gum chewing in a professional setting is necessary to freshen one's mouth after a meal.
posted by The World Famous at 12:35 PM on September 20, 2007