Ask Erik Episode Sixty Three

To Erik: What sounds drive you insane or annoy you the most?

This isn't going to be a very long answer, but I've had this question sitting on the back burner, and while I still get acclimated to my new job, one that doesn't involve a lot of work seems appropriate.



Here's the sounds I hate most in the world:

The sound of someone chewing loudly, with lots of smacking and the sound of moisture causing 'pops' of air pockets.  It makes me envision what's going on in their mouth, and that's just not pleasant.

That sound you get in a car when you roll a window down and the air suddenly has difficulty figuring out where to go, causing a "thup thup thup thup" sound that makes your ear drums cry out in pain.

That really high pitched off-settling note from Britney Spears' Toxic.

Sirens that are supposed to be celebratory, such as you might find attached to arcade machines, slot machines, or people who think tiny cars are "fun."

The high pitched tone from an old television when it's left on but has no signal.

An almost empty bottle of ketchup being squeezed over and over again.

However, the sound I hate the absolute most isn't fingernails on a chalkboard.  It isn't crying babies, jackhammers, or even the sound of a knife on a glass (why is it so many horrible sounds involve glasses?)...

...it's the sound of someone holding a styrofoam cup given to them from a frozen yogurt stand, and all that's left is a bit of liquid, so they're scraping the wet styrofoam with a plastic spoon.

I've hated that noise since I was a child, and will always hate that sound.