PeevePile • A Pet Peeve Archive » Dinner companions who eat slowly.

Dinner companions who eat slowly.

Particularly peevous was one girl, named Amy, who refused to eat while anyone else at the table was speaking. I could only have dinner with her if I was willing either: (a) to remain perfectly silent in order that she would concentrate on her plate; or (b) to deprive her of the opportunity for nutrition outright.

— Chimney Sweep from Brooklyn | none | 5.22.2009 | Comments (7)

I'm a fast eater so have to just sit there. It helps if someone's a normal eater but it's a LONG MEAL if someone is a slow eater. A long meal.

— Bronxy posted 5/22/2009

I eat pretty fast, but I hate it when people have an all-business approach to food. Eating is such a nice way to enjoy life -- why not make it about the whole experience and not just chewing and swallowing (or, if it can only be about that because you have to perform surgery in ten minutes or whatever, don't subject me to it!). I usually finish my meal before others, but then I like to sit and talk to people and digest rather than sprinting off to the next thing. Also, demanding that people be completely silent while you eat? Sounds more like an eating disordered type, or someone who recently escaped from a monastery (I completely see where you're coming from if this particular incident drove you crazy).

— Diana posted 5/22/2009

My husband's friend takes forever to eat because he will not stop talking. He drags meals to last two hours and always gets a refill of iced tea when we think we're ready to leave. He seems to love just sitting in Bob's Big Boy all night.

— Acacia posted 5/22/2009

I'm a pretty slow eater, and believe me, we feel bad about prolonging the meal. It's particularly uncomfortable if you're the last one eating and you can feel the frustration of the rest of the table. I often simply stop eating shortly after everyone else, declaring I'm full - which is heartbreaking if it's a really good meal and you're hungry!

— Vicki posted 5/23/2009

I'm a super fast eater, so I'm always sitting waiting on others to finish. I've actually been told that I'm rude for finishing first!

— Brooke posted 5/24/2009

I have to agree w/ Acacia. My father is notorious for not figuring out social clues. There will be a table of guest out at a restraunt. 4 of the Six will tell the waiter that they don't want a refill. My father still eating, will finish, with everybody looking at him, and will have another refill. I have stopped eating with him.

— Rafiq of the Many posted 5/26/2009

I have found the words "Hey, we're ready to leave" surprisingly effective for communicating the fact that you are ready to leave.

— Diana posted 5/26/2009

Saying that men watching their own kids are "babysitting." » 5 stars

Water on the counter at a public bathroom such that when you lean over to wash your hands, your stomach and crotch area get all wet. » 5 stars

When people tell me to "calm down" when I am already calm. » 5 stars

Putting on a clean pair of socks, entering the bathroom or kitchen and standing in a water splash left on the floor, thus getting your clean socks wet and forcing you to change them. » 5 stars

Excessive and difficult-to-remove packaging » 4.95238 stars

Rolls of toilet paper in which the size and weight to tensile strength ratio renders it impossible to dispense the paper in the usual manner (ie: pull on the end, roll turns, paper advances). » 4.93333 stars

Doctors "shortening" your wait time by making you wait in the exam room instead. » 4.93333 stars

People who touch computer screens. » 4.91667 stars

Using mobile phones at the register. » 127 Comments

The non-existance of unpadded bras in cup sizes less than D. Macy's, Victoria's secret, and Bloomingdales do not carry them. unpadded. » 41 Comments

People who put ketchup in the refrigerator. » 41 Comments

When pregnant women complain about being pregnant. » 39 Comments

People who deliberately pronounce words incorrectly and repeatedly. » 34 Comments

Women who are just so beautiful they don't have to contribute to sex... » 32 Comments

"Irregardless." » 30 Comments

Saying that men watching their own kids are "babysitting." » 27 Comments

Using mobile phones at the register. » super – luctroyally 2/6

Using mobile phones at the register. » super – Cireekeld 2/6

Using mobile phones at the register. » super – Kannyhila 2/6

Using mobile phones at the register. » super – Steashamate 2/6

10.31.10

Thanks to a recent torrent of spam, I’ve had to disable comments for a while. I’ve now removed the ability to put links in the comments. Email me if you want to put something in, such as five links to knock-off handbag sites, and I’ll happily oblige.

09.10.10

I’ve added two features to the sidebar: Highest Rating and Hotly Debated. They will be updated daily. To my surprise, the ketchup-in-fridge peeve seemed to really incite some anger — it’s clearly a complex situation that affects us all.

It should be noted that the star ratings indicate how much you agree with, or appreciate, the peeve, not how you feel when it happens.

I will be adding a Paragon Peeves section as well, for my and my friends’ personal favorites.

Please enjoy, and contact me if you have any new feature ideas.