Re: Touchy subject, but looking for honest feedack

[Guest guest]

I'm a Navy brat. Altougth, I'm the baby of 5 kids, my siblings got the most of

the military moving every 2 years, we still moved quite a bit after my parents

divorced/father retired. I still move quite a bit but not a frequently.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I am mostly a lurker to this group, but have found it

therapeutic to post things here when I don't really have any other outlet for

them.

> >

> > It's a personal flaw I am sure, but I categorize people and

don't let them out. I hold grudges and rarely allow my initial

impressions/opinions to change. I have many categories when it comes to my 4s

triggers. I attribute personal flaws to trigger people that they manifest in

their chewing behaviors (eg: uncouth, unprofessional, lower classe, etc).

> >

> > There's no easy way to broach this subject so I will dive right

in. There's one categorization that I am ashamed of, but I can't seem to break

myself of it. I have a negative reaction to all African Americans because of

what is a generalization about how they eat. I immediately categorize them as

triggers. I am quite confident that there are aspects of African Americans and

their chewing habits that are truly different. I am totally uenducated on any

of the subjects so I would not want to surmise on whether they are due to

physical differences, cultural customs, or something else. I only know it to be

true that there are differing behaviors.

> > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to chew gum

(especially so in a professional workplace)

> > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to

pop/crack their gum while chewing it

> > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to make

distinctive smacking sounds while eating

> >

> > I am generally only triggered when I hear a sound or see

someone's jaw moving who I know is making a sound that I simply cannot hear.

However, when I encounter an African American I am immediately triggered. That

trigger doesn't go away until I have checked them to make sure they are not

chewing gum or eating.

> >

> > I hope that if there are any African Americans on this group you

are not offended. If so, please accept my apology now if I did a poor job of

relaying my experiences and did it in an offensive manner. If any of you

(African American or not) are offended, please know that I am horrified by my

own reactions. I recognize them for what they are but can't control them. The

sweetest woman I know is an African American and it breaks my heart to know that

I would have such a negative reaction to her if I met her on the street.

> >

> > Not exactly sure what I'm looking for in a response - maybe

nothing. Maybe I simply feel that if anone else is having a similar reaction

they can find some solace in knowing they aren't alone.

> >

> > -

> >

>

[Guest guest]

You're right - I'm sure it does vary across the world. I suspect that Americans

chew gum more than most other nations because, according to Wikipedia, chewing

gum originated in the US. I think US soldiers during WW2 made it popular in many

other countries (the UK, Australia, New Zealand).

It's interesting that the no-gum rule is still enforced in the UK. What do you

do to the miscreants who infringe that rule?

>

>

> I think this may be something that depends where you are in the world. I work

in schools, covering for teachers when they are off through illness or having to

attend meetings. Every school I have worked at here in the UK has had a policy

of no gum in the classroom - which means I get to enforce that

>

>

[Guest guest]

When I was in school (many moons ago), in the U.S., the teacher made us stick our gum on our nose, and then stick our nose to our desk with the gum. I don't think teachers could get away with that now!

From: Soundsensitivity [mailto:Soundsensitivity ] On Behalf Of IanSent: Monday, January 10, 2011 4:39 PMTo: Soundsensitivity Subject: Re: Touchy subject, but looking for honest feedack

You're right - I'm sure it does vary across the world. I suspect that Americans chew gum more than most other nations because, according to Wikipedia, chewing gum originated in the US. I think US soldiers during WW2 made it popular in many other countries (the UK, Australia, New Zealand).It's interesting that the no-gum rule is still enforced in the UK. What do you do to the miscreants who infringe that rule?>> > I think this may be something that depends where you are in the world. I work in schools, covering for teachers when they are off through illness or having to attend meetings. Every school I have worked at here in the UK has had a policy of no gum in the classroom - which means I get to enforce that > >

[Guest guest]

Quite simple - they are told to empty their mouths. They all know the rules and generally comply. If not then there is always a warning system, which gradually increases to detention. I try not to go down that route as chewing gum is not that important an issue really, but I have given warnings in the past - more for failing to follow school rules and failing to follow instructions than for chewing itself.

> To: Soundsensitivity > Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:38:55 +0000> Subject: Re: Touchy subject, but looking for honest feedack> > You're right - I'm sure it does vary across the world. I suspect that Americans chew gum more than most other nations because, according to Wikipedia, chewing gum originated in the US. I think US soldiers during WW2 made it popular in many other countries (the UK, Australia, New Zealand).> > It's interesting that the no-gum rule is still enforced in the UK. What do you do to the miscreants who infringe that rule?> > > >> > > > I think this may be something that depends where you are in the world. I work in schools, covering for teachers when they are off through illness or having to attend meetings. Every school I have worked at here in the UK has had a policy of no gum in the classroom - which means I get to enforce that > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------> > PLEASE BE AWARE THIS IS A STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL GROUP AND NO MESSAGES ARE TO BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE OUTSIDE OF THE YAHOO GROUP MEMBERSHIP SITE OR REPRODUCED OR COPIED AND MAILED FOR ANY PURPOSE. > > ALSO DO NOT SHARE MEMBER EMAIL ADDRESSES OR NAMES WITH ANYONE.> Thank you. MJ

[Guest guest]

Did you recently move to DC? from what was it...Atlanta?To: Soundsensitivity Sent: Mon, January 10, 2011 1:52:28 PMSubject: Re: Touchy subject, but looking for honest feedack

I'm a Navy brat. Altougth, I'm the baby of 5 kids, my siblings got the most of the military moving every 2 years, we still moved quite a bit after my parents divorced/father retired. I still move quite a bit but not a frequently.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I am mostly a lurker to this group, but have found it therapeutic to post things here when I don't really have any other outlet for them.

> >

> > It's a personal flaw I am sure, but I categorize people and don't let them out. I hold grudges and rarely allow my initial impressions/opinions to change. I have many categories when it comes to my 4s triggers. I attribute personal flaws to trigger people that they manifest in their chewing behaviors (eg: uncouth, unprofessional, lower classe, etc).

> >

> > There's no easy way to broach this subject so I will dive right in. There's one categorization that I am ashamed of, but I can't seem to break myself of it. I have a negative reaction to all African Americans because of what is a generalization about how they eat. I immediately categorize them as triggers. I am quite confident that there are aspects of African Americans and their chewing habits that are truly different. I am totally uenducated on any of the subjects so I would not want to surmise on whether they are due to physical differences, cultural customs, or something else. I only know it to be true that there are differing behaviors.

> > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to chew gum (especially so in a professional workplace)

> > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to pop/crack their gum while chewing it

> > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to make distinctive smacking sounds while eating

> >

> > I am generally only triggered when I hear a sound or see someone's jaw moving who I know is making a sound that I simply cannot hear. However, when I encounter an African American I am immediately triggered. That trigger doesn't go away until I have checked them to make sure they are not chewing gum or eating.

> >

> > I hope that if there are any African Americans on this group you are not offended. If so, please accept my apology now if I did a poor job of relaying my experiences and did it in an offensive manner. If any of you (African American or not) are offended, please know that I am horrified by my own reactions. I recognize them for what they are but can't control them. The sweetest woman I know is an African American and it breaks my heart to know that I would have such a negative reaction to her if I met her on the street.

> >

> > Not exactly sure what I'm looking for in a response - maybe nothing. Maybe I simply feel that if anone else is having a similar reaction they can find some solace in knowing they aren't alone.

> >

> > -

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Actually, I've been in DC (this is my 3rd time) for 7 years now. I moved from

Philly. I was in Atlanta post college (1983-1985).

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > I am mostly a lurker to this group, but have found it

therapeutic

> >to post things here when I don't really have any other outlet for them.

> >

> > >

> > > It's a personal flaw I am sure, but I categorize people and

don't

> >let them out. I hold grudges and rarely allow my initial

impressions/opinions

> >to change. I have many categories when it comes to my 4s triggers. I

attribute

> >personal flaws to trigger people that they manifest in their chewing

behaviors

> >(eg: uncouth, unprofessional, lower classe, etc).

> > >

> > > There's no easy way to broach this subject so I will dive

right

> >in. There's one categorization that I am ashamed of, but I can't seem to

break

> >myself of it. I have a negative reaction to all African Americans because of

> >what is a generalization about how they eat. I immediately categorize them

as

> >triggers. I am quite confident that there are aspects of African Americans

and

> >their chewing habits that are truly different. I am totally uenducated on

any

> >of the subjects so I would not want to surmise on whether they are due to

> >physical differences, cultural customs, or something else. I only know it to

be

> >true that there are differing behaviors.

> > > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to chew

gum

> >(especially so in a professional workplace)

> > > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to

pop/crack

> >their gum while chewing it

> > > - I find that African Americans are much more likely to make

> >distinctive smacking sounds while eating

> > >

> > > I am generally only triggered when I hear a sound or see

> >someone's jaw moving who I know is making a sound that I simply cannot hear.

> >However, when I encounter an African American I am immediately triggered.

That

> >trigger doesn't go away until I have checked them to make sure they are not

> >chewing gum or eating.

> > >

> > > I hope that if there are any African Americans on this group

you

> >are not offended. If so, please accept my apology now if I did a poor job of

> >relaying my experiences and did it in an offensive manner. If any of you

> >(African American or not) are offended, please know that I am horrified by my

> >own reactions. I recognize them for what they are but can't control them.

The

> >sweetest woman I know is an African American and it breaks my heart to know

that

> >I would have such a negative reaction to her if I met her on the street.

> > >

> > > Not exactly sure what I'm looking for in a response - maybe

> >nothing. Maybe I simply feel that if anone else is having a similar reaction

> >they can find some solace in knowing they aren't alone.

> > >

> > > -

> > >

> >

>