how or should you tell a friend something?

Steamer

I am lucky enough to be living with my two best friends. As is normal we all have things that annoy us about the other, that's life.

There is one thing though that seems to have snuck up in the last year. Basically my friend makes a lot of noise eating and sometimes I can even see the food in her mouth. I never noticed this before and I have lived with her in the past but it is very prominent now. I have to sometimes go into the kitchen if she is eating in the sitting room because I find it disgusting.

So I mentioned it to our other housemate and she has noticed it now too.

My question is, as a friend, should I say something to her? And how could I even begin to do that!! It's such an awkward thing. I don't want her going out on a date etc and some guy thinking that she has no table manners etc. She is a really neat person and I don't know where this came from all of a sudden but it's not pretty. What should I do?

Canard

Not in a smartass way but what I'd probably do is ask if she's eating something that you know she isnt. If she asks why - just say it looked like that in her mouth, but in a jokey way.

I hate the noise of people eating! Theres no easy way to tell them though.

sexdwarf

I had to tell my ex-boyfriend that his eating habits were driving me insane. He had no concept of how to close his mouth and smacked and slurped his way through meals. It is one of those things that I just can't handle, my blood boils!

I eventually had enough one day and said it straight out. I said, I was sorry that I had to raise it as an issue but that I have a thing about hearing people eat loudly and that he had a habit of forgetting to close his mouth when he ate. In fairness to him he took it on the chin, but it was habit at that stage and I had to keep saying it.

He'd say oh yeah yeah sorry and quieten down, but 3 minutes later I'd hear it again.

You may say it to her and it could go either way, but you've nothing to lose. People need to be made aware of these bad habits. I know if I was doing it I'd want to know. It's one of the most unpleasant habits after nose or ear-picking.

Miss Fluff

I'd want to know! For def I would want to know. You have to say something to her, and if you are going to say something just be kind but make it clear that it is vile and gives a bad impression.

LegacyUser

maybe i'm different with my friends but if it was me i'd just say "ahhh ew close your mouth when you're chewing!!" in a light hearted jokey way and then drop it. she probably doesn't know she does it, but once it's alerted to her she'll probably make a conscious effort to stop. if this doesn't work, then just tell her, it's ok to say to her if you do it sensitively, this is what friends are for, to call you out before you make an even bigger eejit of yourself in public! good luck.

Steamer

Thanks a mill guys. I will try to say it to her in jokey way someday soon and if not I will try and bring it up in a nice way. She can be pretty defensive so I don't want to hurt her feelings but as you say, I am her friend and I would like to know if it were me.

Thanks again, have a nice weekend