Slurping happens accidentally – but some people make the noise on purpose when eating or drinking. It’s a rude gesture that disturbs everyone around you at a meal.
Why is slurping rude? Why is this noise an awful choice when eating or drinking at a table? Is slurping impolite everywhere, or is it a cultural phenomenon? What makes slurping terrible?
Why Is Slurping Rude?
1. It’s Unpleasant
It’s unpleasant to hear someone slurp. The noise is sloppy and irritating, resemblant to the digestive system inside the body. It’s not something ears enjoy taking in.
Slurping is on the same level as chewing with your mouth open. Nobody wants to hear food or drink as it makes its way from your mouth to the center of your stomach.
If you’re at a meal, slurping can make people lose their appetites in no time at all. It’s the best way to end a gathering early.
2. It Displays Lack Of Manners
Manners are a staple of society. Even if you’re in a casual place, most people have the decency to enact basic manners like chewing with your mouth closed.
If you slurp, it reveals that you either don’t understand manners or don’t care about them. Either way, people may get frustrated with the choice to make noises.
Maybe you didn’t learn manners. If so, it’s best to practice while you still have the chance. People will appreciate the effort, and meals will become more enjoyable for all.
3. It’s Inconsiderate
Slurping is inconsiderate. It’s a loud noise and shows you care more about what you want to do than what others see at an eating experience.
Of course, there are cases where you can accidentally slurp. In this case, an apology is to repair the experience at the table.
If you want to show other people you care about their feelings, ensure you stay away from slurping. It’s one of the rudest intentional choices you can make.
4. The Sound Is Off-Putting
The sound is off-putting. There are noises to expect at a meal – chewing, talking, clanking silverware on dishes. A sound no one expects is someone slurping up a meal.
If you want to avoid making people feel uncomfortable, try not to slurp. It will push the meal off course and make people feel more awkward than they should at a gathering.
There are other ways to enjoy a meal. You can sip something or say “yum” when you inject a tasty item. Slurping is never the way to go when eating a meal.
5. It’s A Cultural Thing
There are many cultures where slurping is a positive thing. It’s even a sign of politeness. Unfortunately for those in the west, it’s rarely taken well at a dinner table.
If you want to slurp your food, you might have a better time in countries like Japan or China. There, it’s a sign of appreciation to slurp your noodles when you finish eating.
In the United States, it’s rude to slurp your food. Our culture hasn’t adapted to the noise and won’t in the future.
There may be families who appreciate slurping. It depends on who you are around. You need to tread carefully to avoid being rude.
6. It Indicates Fast Eating
Slurping shows you are eating fast. It displays that you don’t care about the meal and want to get out of the room. You want to complete it.
Imagine you spend hours creating a meal for someone. You want to sit down and enjoy it with them, maybe take on an interesting conversation with them if you can.
If they eat fast, slurping all the way, it shows they don’t care about where they are or what they’re doing. They want to eat the food, not enjoy it.
Slurping shows that you want to get the meal over with. It’s frustrating for chefs everywhere.
7. It Means You Don’t Care
Eating carefully shows care and attentiveness to the person serving the meal. If you slurp your food, it may signal that you don’t care about the effort put into the food or setting.
It might not mean that to you. It might mean you’re enjoying the meal and you want to show you appreciate what the cook did. Unfortunately, slurping means the opposite in many places.
If you want to be polite during a meal, you should avoid slurping. You don’t know when it will be rude and when it will be polite.
8. Misophonia Nightmare
Misophonia is a problem where the affected person gets angry when they hear noises. Slurping is a definite way to drive a person with misophonia insane as they enjoy a meal.
Imagine someone taps you on the head. They repeat that action over and over again. For most, that would be maddening. Misophonia is like that with sounds.
If you slurp, you lack consideration for your friends with misophonia. They are going crazy with the sounds and you don’t care about it at all. It’s rude.
9. It’s Gross
Slurping is gross. Everyone knows that chewing is a process that comes with eating, but people don’t want to hear them. Slurping is one of those noises that should stay hidden.
This action might not be as gross as chewing with your mouth open, but the action is up there. It reminds people where the food is and what is happening inside their mouths. It’s not fun.
If you want to keep people comfortable and not grossed out, don’t slurp your food. It’s not worth making the meal awkward and disgusting for everyone at the table.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why people chew with their mouths open, why putting elbows on the table is rude, and why whispering is rude.
Conclusion
Slurping might mean a positive thing to you, but to the world, it’s rude. Slurping is impolite because it’s inconsiderate, indicates fast eating, and means that you don’t care.
If you can, try not to slurp at the dinner table. There are only a few cultures where this action is a quality reaction, and American culture is not one of them.