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It really annoys me when people whistle. I find it to be loud, obnoxious and rude.
Is this normal? Do other people enjoy it as music? I just can't understand it!
I think the reason why it bothers me is because it seems as though the person whistling feels as though he has the "right" to be loud or do whatever he wants in public no matter if annoys anyone or not. I think it is basically a selfish act. Therefore I want to kill them.
I'm so glad I found this site, and this post in particular. The sound of whistling -- and pretty much any other gratuitous noise -- provokes homicidal urges in me. When I hear someone whistling, humming, talking to themselves, cracking their gum, eating noisily, or a host of other sounds, I see red. I want to go up to them and choke the life out of them. It takes all my will to stop myself from screaming for them to shut up before I do them bodily harm. Few other things bother me, but stupid human noises drive me bug nuts insane.
I know this is an old post but I can vent. I wasn't sure there was anyone else out there that had the same violent reaction to people whistling at work. I share a space with two others. Both really nice people, I like them I just can't stand the constant whistling,humming and singing to the radio they listen to all day long. They do it all day, every day and I sometimes want to cut my own throat just to keep myself from doing the same to them. I didn't have the confidence to say anything when I first started the job, they asked if I minded the radio and I said I didn't mind the radio, but I didn't know it would be accompanied by the sound of their whistling, humming and singing. I had been unemployed for too long and couldn't risk offending anyone. Three and a half years later, five days a week ...I'm sometimes limp with the effort of holding in my reaction. I used to love music. Now I hardly ever listen to it anymore. My ears have become super sensitive to high pitches and low pitches. I have never understood why anyone (especially nice people as they are)would put their co-worker in the position of having to ask them to stop what they are doing. How could you not know that it's obnoxious? I've waited too long. Afraid of the touchy nature of the two people (they are nice but high strung), not wanting to create an awkward work atmosphere or bad feelings, not wanting confrontation, being lowest on the totem pole at work;the problem has become huge in my own head. My own fault. They don't bother each other so for a long time I wondered if it was just my own oddity that I hated it so much. At least now I know I'm not alone in my feelings on the subject. The stress of dealing with it and wishing they would magically obtain the basic knowledge that what they do is obnoxious and distracting, is unbelievably tremendous. I'm looking for another job, but I have convinced myself that they are getting some kind of malicious enjoyment out of it, that after a few years they couldn't fail to notice the signs that they bother me, the getting up and walking away from my desk when they start, the cringing the holding of hands over my ears. I better stop, my vent has turned into a rant.
hi..i've googled this out of desperation, i really have to find out why i am affected this way, and intend to get some phsyco help, really! i've roared with laughter at some of these posts, glad to find your recent entry to reply to! it is hilarious to read of others' reactions and comments,your comment about thinking your colleagues are highly strung made me laugh, think they would say that's us!
but really, it can destroy your life, and relationships. i sympathise with you completely. when the person is not whistling, i feel so normal, and i really like them, they only have to whistle a note, and my feelings go from 'normal' to really intense dislike, why, oh why do they think i want to have my space/ears assailed (if that's the right word!) by their horrible, piercing racket!!!!!!! tuneful or not, i dont give a ****! (damn.)
in the supermarket, there is ALWAYS a brain dead whistler, looking at stuff, picking it up, whistling along whilst reading the ingredients..GRRRRRRRRRRRRR
i want to smash their face into the freezers!(hope that doesn't contravene the regs of the site, of course, i'd never do it... would i?)
always knew i should've gottn that role in 'serial mom', instead of kathleen turner! funny film, watch it! sorry to ramble..... anyways, it was my neighbours' whistling this morning which prompted my joining this site, his house is not that close, but it carries very clearly and crisply, luckily, he is not outdoors much, but when he is, he must 'whistle whilst he works' for some reason unknown to mankind. sometimes i slam the window shut very hard, don't think he can hear this to take the hint, but it has destroyed the window..sometimes i go outside and do my best rendition of a 'hilda ogden whilst polishing' horrible, tuneless la,la,la song, which makes my dog howl, and sometimes i just whistle back, very loudly and tunelessly. Trouble is, once they know how we hate it, won't they just do it all the more???????
ho hum...there he goes again...must be his 'outdoor job day' today, roll on the rain!
...stick with it, areldite! if you can't beat 'em join 'em! best wishes to all,'mentalisticorwot'!
now, where did i put that cleaver? !!!
I was glad to know i wasn't alone as well. In desperate times we all try to clump together in solidarity. I really thought there was something seriously wrong with me. I went to an ENT, thought maybe there was something wrong with my ears because of how much it bothers me. She said there wasn't anything wrong and if I was sensitive to certain sounds well, I'm screwed. Nothing can be done. Oh well. I stopped carrying around my utility knife lest it end up in the wrong place. I do wish I had the courage to tell the three big whistlers at work to just grab a big bag of shut the hell up and shovel it down.
Not sure if anyone still reads any of the posts on this particular thread, but if you haven't found a new job by now, there must be a way to get your point across without starting a shitstorm between you and the noisemaking coworkers. Maybe leave each of them a very nice note citing a medical reason for the annoyance (ie. the singing/humming/whistling trigger a migraine for you). That ought to make them at least aware that they're being rude. As far as stopping it? For some people, this behavior is a firmly-embedded habit that they don't even realize they do...which sucks even more for the rest of us! Good luck!!
I agree. For some reason it really annoys me to no end. I sit across from a guy at work that whistles to his music and it's is loud. I feel like asking if i can move cubicles. I just put my head phones on and crank up my tunes to block him out. So you are not alone in this. I also hate hummers...i wonder if because my eyes are bad if my ears are super sensitive and that is why it bothers me. lol.
IT IS NOT NORMAL it is a real condition. My daughter is a Psychotherapist. Some people have extreme sensitivity to noise. It is their brain. They project their discomfort on to the person/people making the noise so they feel like that person is doing something wrong. They are not, just being human. I don't think there is treatment for it except treatment for anxiety. Most of these people were fussy babies and continue to feel uncomfortable all of their lives. These people also tend to have anxiety disorders. Sadly, they tend to blame others when in fact, they have a disorder that makes them extremely uncomfortable around noise,smells,light etc. Ask your parents how you were as a baby and small child. It is sad because you cant change the world around you. Normal brains are able to tune out and filter noise but the highly sensitive brain can not do this. They hear the noises all at once or even louder than they really are. They can also be hyper sensitive regarding smells. I can smell things far away from me. I can detect fires and what the source is when no one can smell anything, I smell chemicals and can say what they are. It makes me very uncomfortable but everyone around me smells nothing.
Shut up mate, Ain't my thought you's a stupid whistling retard. Society should create sound proof coffins for idiots like you. Bury you six feet under and let you whistle on your last little bit of fucking air till you all out. Stupid demented cunts have to walk around making stupid fucking bird sounds because you so fucked in the head. Shove em all in a sound proof gas chamber and let em whistle on poison. That's the answer. A bullet in the face could eliminate your stupid kind. Nobody wants to hear that stupid fucking sound.
OH MY GOSH!! I am so happy to find others that find whistling annoying. My husband whistles when he is doing little jobs around the house, and when he is cooking. I think it's attention-seeking...but I feel bad if I complain because it seems kind of picky. Help me so I don't lose my cool!!!
I hate whistling too, no matter how "good" it is. In fact, I hate anyone's gratuitous noise-making. I've worked in lots of offices, and every one turns up a new sort of noisemaker. Currently working in a larger room with 8 or so. The guy next to me drums his fingers and hums. Not good for the concentration. Many offices have someone who clips their fingernails at their desk.
Outside, there are other gratuitous noise-makers, look how many guys make purposely their cars louder, as if being a noise-generator is somehow a prime function of being on the road. These people have low levels of conscientiousness and are compensating for something.
I travel a lot for business. Once on the plane, it is difficult to turn off the whistlers. There are several whistler personalities:
The random notes whistler. Just blowing out some notes that do not add up to a tune anyone would know. They are usually lost in space somewhere, not aware of the surroundings.
The "blow heart" whistler. Wanting everyone around know that they are happy and proud of their whistling abilities. If they weren't whistling, they would be telling you your favorite hosptial operation stories.
The "sales whistler", ready to sell you something. This person is anxious to sell you something and the whistling helps them break the ice. Just hope this person does not sit next to you on the plane.
The best way to overcome the whistlers, is to ignor. Easy to say. I cannot. I usually whistle back, as loud as I can and act like it is what I do. You won't believe this, most act annoyed ans stop.
I do the same for gum crackers- I get out a piece of gum and go at it with loud disgusting slurps, cracks and even bubbles if I can. They stop
The key is: act like you did not know they were there and move a close to them as you can.
Have fun.
I also have remedies for: People who pull the back of your seat when they get up, kids who kick the back of you seat, people who tap the feet during the entire flight, people who try to see what you are working on or look at your computer while you work, people who take off shoes during flight and put feet up to make sure you get a good wiff!, people who give you bruises from lagging their luggage and hitting everyone on the aisle as they pass through, flight attendance who try to break eardrums closing doors on storage compartments, etc
ron
Oooo....
I can't whistle, but you've given me a good idea.
I think I'll record a tape of a hugely loud whistler. When I am stuck with a live whistler, I'll turn it on. Maybe THAT will stop the madness. It unhinges me in the most murderous way.
I am going to give this a try. However, it must be difficult to do because you know you are annoying people when you whistle at the whistler. Also, I'm ashamed to whistle and behave like this, even though I know why I'm doing it. (for a good cause, haha) Good post. Thanks.
Thank you for your post. I needed to see that others feel the same before I went insane. When a co-worker across the hall whistles loudly (no particular tune, just noise), I can not function. I'm an engineer who works with tedious calculus and trigonometry equations all day. I don't need random noise from others. What I have been doing is slamming my metal desk drawer loudly three times in a row. I repeat this every 60 seconds until he stops. Because of his rude and selfish nature, it doesn't take long for him to start up again. So I repeat my methods.
What makes me the most angry is that his inconsiderate and rude actions force ME to be the bad guy and say something.
Next steps are:
1) getting a tracphone with a number he doesn't recognize and call him the second he starts whistling and hang up.
2) putting a drop of cat pee on his chair every night after he leaves.
3) Telling him that I joined a community theater. Everytime that he whistles I will start to sing twice as loud. I am the world's worst singer.
Thank you for this opportunity to vent.
Thank god Ive found some people who find annoying whistles like me. I though it wasn't normal.
I can't describe you my hate about whistles, just can't stand it.
My husband whistles all the time. Drives my daughter crazy. Me, sometimes it annoyes me especially if we are in the car.
Whistling only irks me when the person is randomly whistling. It's not a song; it's not a melody; it's just random notes thrown together pell mell and it's just a big mess- that's annoying. I do enjoy hearing a good whistler- sadly, a good whistler is hard to find.
depends on what you call normal.
do i walk around shouting as loud as i can most of the day?
no.
that would probably be classed as attention seeking.
but its fine to walk around subjecting everyone else close by to your whistling noise?
no.
but because you enjoy the pastime its okay.
no.
i would enjoy putting an air horn to your ear but i use restrain - im not an attention seeking idiot.
life goes on, and ive got to put up with idiots who go around whistling all day long as loud as they can because - .....
Whistling....It drives me crazy for every reason you pointed out.
No, it's not okay to walk around shouting, so why is whistling somehow excluded from this antisocial behavior?
I would like to stop whistlers and blow a horn in their ears. But I won't, because tht would be uncivilized.
Please, whistling idiots, STOP WHISTLING IN PUBLIC.
Do it in the shower, in your apartment, with your pet if he or she likes it (which I doubt).
Otherwise, I might just come up behind you and smack you on the head.
AMEN...FashionSlave really made me laugh. I thought it was me. I have never liked it when people whistle. It just seems inconsiderate. They are forcing everyone to listen to them. Its messed up and has always annoyed the crap out of me. So glad I'm not alone.
Talking on your cell phone in public is rude. It doesn't matter if the person has a pleasant-sounding voice, or is conversing about chocolate or bacon or Gerard Butler.
Cracking your gum loudly in public is rude. It doesn't matter if the person can crack in morse code or to the beat of Riverdance, or that the gum smells really good.
Playing your music in public is rude. It doesn't matter if it's Michael Bolton or Meatloaf, which are your favorites.
Singing in public is rude. It doesn't matter if the person sounds like Susan Boyle.
Whistling in public is rude. It doesn't matter if the person sounds like Leon Redbone or Axl Rose in "Patience". It's all annoying -- whether it be the purposeful, on-key song or the random, tuneless note.
The point I'm trying to make -- which has already been stated on here -- is anyone who engages in any of said behaviors in a public setting should be whomped on the head with a bloody great bat.
Walking down the sidewalk? Eh, that may be an exception. But yes, in an enclosed area, no no NO!
These people are either 1.) utterly oblivious of their own ability to cause noise pollution, or 2.) are aware but indifferent to the auditory suffering of others. Whether they fall into the first or second category, I am convinced they are all arrogant and think that for some unearthly reason, the rest of the world actually *wants* to hear their verbal diarrhea.
Whether it's the supermarket or the workplace, other people are there to fulfill a function. As nappers mentioned, it is impossible to get work done when surrounded by noisemakers. This can jeopardize your performance and ultimately your job. Those who would say, "Just deal with it" not only aren't offering a real solution, but are catering to the rude employees. It's beastly unfair for us to have to be respectful toward others, plus tiptoe around those who have no respect for anyone else!
I personally always seem to encounter these dills when shopping. I don't know about you, but when I get a chance to shop, it's like traveling to Mecca; I live 53 miles from the nearest department store. A store or supermarket should be a relaxing environment -- one that allows the shopper to peruse and make selections at his/her own pace and with all the right parameters in mind. When I encounter a whistler or other such noisemaker, anxiety kicks in and I feel like I have to quickly grab what I need and make a beeline for the check-out counter. Sometimes shopping requires more time and thought than that; I don't want some a**hole ruining that for me.
Unfortunately there's no cure in the book for lack of consideration; however, I have absolutely no reservations about giving such folks a dirty look and asking them, "Do ya mind?!"
I think whistling is SO irratating. My whistler starts the minute inside the house. There are either 2 things going on. 1) The perp puts up his "Noise Sheild" because he doesn't want to talk to the other person, and that makes it seem like the perp is nonchalant, or 2) The perp has NOTHING interesting to say at all. OR BOTH! It's MOST annoying, when the whistle MORPHS into a sort of "breathing song", where you can't figure out the tune. Solution, turn the radio on, and even though they sing to that, there's an infintesimal hope that once in a while the radio will outblast the noisemaker. My little dogs BARKS all the time and I don't notice it,(the whistler can't stand it) but if that dog learns how to whistle, it will get the boot.
Yeah, it's normal. I can't stand the high pitched sound of whistling whether it's a melody or random noises.
I'm so pissed off right now. Next time, I think I will just look straight at him in his eyes, and say "Will you please stop, that is very rude while I am trying to learn a language, let alone anwser a question. Youre being obnoxious". Will everyone think I'm a bitch? Or couragous for asking the prick to stop?
Today in class, just as the professor asked me a question, an older guy in class just started whistleing. In a QUEIT CLASS ROOM, WHILE ALL EYES were on me... WTF??? What am I supposed to do about that? What a prick. Why would he do that?
Thankfully I'm not alone! Thought I was misanthropic, but apparently there are kindred spirits that detest the idle, annoying, attention-seeking souls that whistle (although the rare, accomplished, non-tone-deaf whistler seems to be ok...sometimes..maybe).
Sadly, Madison Avenue has discovered that whistling cuts through our ears for whatever biological reason, and radio ads are now not complete without human whistling involved. I change the station quickly, vowing to call the station (or start a website) and let them know that they lose listeners as a result of these ads. I now feel better!
whenever someone that I have to stick around for a while for different reasons like that im visiting or such.
then i first start to sigh and make upset noices, when that does not work im feeling my blood boil and i try to sit further away or make it clear im annoyed.
in worst cases ive been hiding in a bathroom crying for a while and feeling the urge to hurt myself or break stuf.
and thats about the time i cant stand it anymore, say i got things to do and leave the fuck home!
its hell every time >.<
I especially hate whistling while I'm working on something intricate and the person is right behind me breathing down my neck (and whisling down my neck). It gives me high blood pressure as much as someone who chews gum with their mouth open and makes those stupid little bubbles out of it in their mouth and popping it inside of their mouth. My dentist used to chew gum like that while working on my teeth. Needless to say, I have ten unfilled cavities
people that whistle cant take hints either. i really dont get it. how obvious do you have to make it, and how clear in order for a person to get that its annoying when you sit there few yards away with murder in your eyes looking like you're ready to break a spine.
"It is normal to be a little annoyed, but it is not rude to whistle. Just focus on something else"
Yeah, make sure you change what you are doing or work even harder to block out the twit that is whistling. Don't bother them and their completely rude and annoying insanity!
I HATE whistling so much. I experience almost pure rage when I hear someone tweeting around. It's not happy, it's not enjoyable, it's the most disgusting sounds that anyone could emit from their body.
Why would someone assume that i'm OK with them whistling near me?
I feel sick just thinking about it.
Oh my god, I love you people!! Can we all get together and have weekly meetings? "Hi, my name is Carla and I'm a whistle hater." The whistler in my life is my boss. Not only is he my boss, but he's the mayor! So there's just absolutely nothing I can do about it, beyond secretly working on his political opponent's campaign. Maybe that's the most frustrating part, you know, the complete lack of control over the situation. I can't tell him to shut up or even throw anything at him. Even though I've fantasized about it several times. The closest I've come to recourse is to start whistling with him. A different song. And certainly not as good. The look on his face was priceless. It was one of shock and irritation. How dare I! I haven't been brave enough to do it again.
I wish I could do that- I can't whistle! I’ve been with a company for over half a year, and there are 4 (FOUR!) whistlers (they take turns to ensure whistling at least every two minutes) in a building that is very open and conducive to sound traveling well. It seems to me to be a very rude habit, like singing out loud, except it travels through the entire building, subjecting everyone to it rather thna just those in humming range. I don’t mind whistling- or at least I didn’t- but constant exposure day after day to constant shrill warbling is driving me up the wall. Plus, I'm an "office person" located above the shop area, and all the whistlers are "shop people", so we don't interact on a daily basis... so to approach them all and ask them to stop would be very awkward.The last guy who had my job was apparently irritated by it- don’t know how he lasted 14 years. On the worst days I find myself trolling job boards, because it seems I’m the only one who has a problem with it.
I think most people on this thread have misophonia. There are some good message boards online for people like us.
I dont know if U know by now but what most of UR describing is called misophonia. I have it. I believe most people who hate whistling have it. We hate all the above as U do, although some more than others. The violent urges go away, once the sound does.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misophonia
The fact that so many commercials have whistling now, drives me nuts!!!! I thought I was nuts with the anger but then saw something on 20/20 about it. This is real and we are not alone.
Sometimes it's not misophonia... I had no issues with whistling until I was exposed to it constantly, every day, at work, for over 6 months. Now, strangely enough, I seem to be developing a bit of a sensitivity to it.
THANK YOU!!!! I have misophonia too and I totally HATE these stupid whistling commercials!!!!
My boss is the worst with it. He'll do little intervals throughout the day, and the most cringe-inducing is when he adds vibration to it. Just imagine that...a whistle with vibrato...yeaaaahhh..
Many years ago I owned a CB radio. People would get on there and whistle all the time. Sometimes their whistling would interfere with other peoples use of the radio.
One day a friend and I were riding around while we listened to the CB. Someone was whistling. Several people were whistling. My friend says to me What's with all the whistling?"
I stated "It's air escaping from empty brain cavities."
Whistling in any form continues to annoy me to this day and it's been almost 40 years since that conversation occurred.
Oh thank goodness there are people who are just like me!! I thought I was weird because I HATE HATE HATE whistling soooooo much!!!!! There is nothing more irritating and screechy. It drives me insane and I feel like I just want to go and poke them in the eyes.
Thankyou like minded people for making me feel somewhat normal in this world with random whistling people :)
I truly hate it and I think it's just stupid when people whistle (especially in public) for no apparent reason other than they're just uncomfortable with silence. This usually happens while waiting in queues or waiting room, standing/sitting still on public transport between stops, or during working hours in the office.
I get that waiting can be boring and uncomfortable but can't they just choose other activities to keep them occupied that won't annoy someone else???
But the particular reason that drove me to find this thread is a co-worker who is sitting next to my cubicle as I'm typing this entry away. He's a 20-something cool kid who can't-live-without-music type of guy.
He would whistle or make all sorts of tapping and drumming noises with his fingers and feet as if he was Ringo Starr. And I just don't understand why he needs to make the loud and aberrant piercing high-pitched whistle while he's got his headphone on!!!
I've got half a heart to pull out a bazooka on him everytime he did that, ugh!!
I get very angry at my wife when she whistles, it's probably a deep rooted mental problem. SO I guess it is normal.
The sound of whistling fills me with incandescent rage for some reason. I'm glad I'm not the only one!
Lord praise this thread (I'm not religious but I felt the quote itself was appropriate)
My brother whistles constantly, he's 21 I'm 27 and he lives with my partner and I. I feel like he does it to irritate me on purpose sometimes, like whistling while I'm watching television or when I'm reading or doing something that requires attention. He will walk around the house and whistle for no fucking reason, it gets so under my skin sometimes so much that I feel like kicking him out. He whistles while making coffee, playing on his console... just whistling all the damn time! How do I approach this situation without doing what I impulsively want to do all the time which would be me screaming "shut the fuck up and fuck off" at him... please need help hahah
Normally whistling wouldn't bother me. But, I'm in an environment where a little twerp all full of himself struts around like cock-of-the-walk and inevitably just blurts out his whistles, abruptly, and loudly. It usually is his rendition of whatever song was playing on the PA system, which apparently gets stuck in his little noggin and the only way out is to whistle it out. Although I don't wish him ill, or the death of any whistler, I do believe it's time to have open discussions about being able to forcibly duct tape a whistler's mouth shut and bind their hands so they can't free their lippy noisemakers.
Yes! I am sane! So happy to find normal people! :) I can whistle but I don't because I hate it! It was so pleasing to read all the other peoples comments.
:)
This is such a deep topic.
I'm Australian, live in Japan and work in construction. My pet peeve the most annoying whistler in the world is the seedy old drunkard fuck that whistles at me like a dog to get my attention to do something. As soon asI hear that I have fantasies about ripping their lower jaw off and jamming it up their arse! Whistle now fuck face!
As I said, live in Japan, work in construction so have no problems voicing my oppions. When some seedy old fuck whistles at me like a dog to do something I straight up tell them, not a dog mate don't whistle at me. And best part is I learned a foreign language to yell at the whistling fuck wit neighbour to shut the fuck up! There is some positives in whistling fuckwits, tell them to shut the fuck up, learn a new language and have someone to vent your anger on. I don't play Cowboys from hell by Pantera super loud everyday but why do you think I wanna hear you whistle?
So happy I found this post. I have always cringed at the sound of whistling, tapping, humming and people singing to the radio (mostly at work). It gets to the point where I become enraged. I have no idea why I get so bent out of shape but I can't control it. And I always think "how can that not piss anyone else off besides me?!" It got to the point where I was having anxiety attacks. I ended up going to a doctor. I know it sounds ridiculous and over dramatic to some but I'm just happy others can relate to me. I usually turn my volume up on my headphones but I can still hear them over my own music. The medicine I'm on stops the anxiety attacks but I'm still annoyed by the sounds to the point where I want to just punch them all in the face.
What I really want to do is take a survey of whistlers asking them what their perspective is on their habit. I just can't understand how they can be so dense when it comes to how it affects others. If they would actually carry a popular tune it might be 30% more tolerable. I have a site where I publish Onion-like headlines, and I created one awhile back on this very annoying habit that you can find at https://www.facebook.com/SurplusSatire/posts/249115651765590
(it is not a spammy link)
Yes, this is something I empathise with entirely. I have a complete Kn*b Jockey in this office who whistles Jan Hammer's 80s tune 24/7 al as it's Xmas, 'we wish you a merr f'ing Xmas'!
Seriously want to drown myself in the toilet via the multi flushing method. Ban whistling and also idiots who lick their fingers after eating. Repulsive!!!
The worst kind of whistler is the one who doesn't actually whistle, but rocks from side to side with pursed lips while walking, as if poised to whistle at any moment. Ususally scruffy but cheerfully worksome.
I had acquired a hatred of whistling upon returning from Amsterdam. The Dutch, you see, have whistled at each other across canals for centuries and now they do it willy nilly, walking past a pooster, whistling while stopping to read it. Whistling long and slow to get smeone's attention in a barroom. Etc Etc. And that habit got decanted out into the Netherlands so now you can't go to the Netherlands without hearing "fffweep" every so often. Or "ffrwwwwweeeeeeffffff-tssss-tssss-tssss". It's like car horns honking for no reason, but from people.
But this irksomeness has followed back home to Britain. I just hate anyone who whistles. ALL whistling is inane.
Many many thanks for all who have posted in this thread, I feel better too. For a while I thought I was the only one suffering from this but obviously I'm far from alone, which at least is a start. Whistling has definitely diminshed my life as I am a much more socially withdrawn person since I got sensitive to whistling. I can go shop and such but I certainly don't like it, I do it because I have too. In my younger days I really enjoyed eating out and walking around Town, going to concerts etc. But I don't anymore because of whistling, which of course also goes on at work and it's a real pain.
Thank you all -- this has been incredibly helpful! I still don't know what to do, though -- there are workmen at a neighbors' house and one of them whistles, loudly and tunelessly, all day long. I am a writer who works at home and it's driving me crazy...I don't think telling him to stop is an option in this situation (do you agree?).
And I don't think playing music loudly to drown him out is fair to the other neighbors, so I wear headphones and play music loudly on them, which also annoys me. I should be able to have silence in my own house! The whistling is too loud for a white noise machine to work - I've tried and the whistling pierces the barrier.
What I am afraid I will do is say something to him like:
"Did anyone ever tell you that you're a really bad whistler?" -- I know this would be mean and I won't really do it. I am just whining! if he COULD whistle I think it would annoy me less but maybe not.
As for all of you who work in offices: you have my sympathy! And for those of you who have talked to the whistlers and made them stop, well done! In my experience people inconsiderate enough to make this kind of noise don't change their behavior when they hear how annoying it is, but maybe that's just chance.
If a coworker did it, I would probably go to a manager - but that doesn't always work either.
Lastly, I thank my stars every day that I am a freelancer and don't have to deal with noisy coworkers....but noisy neighbors or their workers can be annoying, too! Luckily most of the neighbors here are really considerate and even have well-behaved dogs.
Anyhow, thanks loads to all of you who posted--it did actually make me feel better to know that I am not alone in finding this annoying. As some of you have said, it's both the sound of it and the lack of consideration. Thanks!
I really hate it too. I work in a cube farm, and there is one girl who just CANNOT BE QUIET!! She is either whistling, throat clearing, humming, singing, or speaking very loudly like everyone should care about the fact that she is talking. She's rude and I can't stand it. I have almost flipped numerous times now.. i've made comments, but obvi she doesn't get it.
In all fairness, she is a very insecure person, so maybe she feels like she needs to be heard to "count" idk but i really just wish she would shut the fuck up most days. Give us 5 minutes of peace!! The worst part is she works earlier than me but stays often after her shift so I get no peace at all some days. Lord help me.
Seriously, many of you need to relax and get a life. With all the stuff going on in this world your biggest annoyance is someone humming or whistling? GMAFB
Yeah well I hope one day you develop a mental disorder and some one tells you to "just get over it". Peoples Brains are wired differently, you should just get over it... Maybe get a life and not worry about posting things on random web sites. Seriously you need to relax man.
So when I was in second grade out of no where, when the teacher Shushed the class it would drive me insane, some times to tears. eventually the kids caught on and that was not fun. So for years it was torment... and I went to all sorts of professionals to try to help with no luck.
Years went buy and it got a bit better but it start to manifest 20 years later. Now in addition to shushing I am just mentally scrambled and enraged when I heard people whistle. I just keep muttering "Stop it... stop it stop it" till I get away or they eventually stop.
Obvious from my younger years I've learned that I can't tell any one about it, so I just reside with the fact that my coworkers must think I'm hearing voices...
It must be psychological because even thinking about it scrambles me now and even after they stop I need a few mins to recover. But it does have to do with the frequency, Whistling in songs doesn't effect me, and young kids that are not good at it doesnt bother me. but when people are well practiced it brings me down to an enraged mess. Sometimes I just punch a stone wall to get my mind off it.
22 years and I just can't deal with it...
Advertising jingles
WHAT THE FUCK?! For like two years now, every freaking backing track to every US TV ad these days has despicable whistling -- sometimes multitracked -- plus the worst instrument ever, the ukulele... and a dipshitted singalong WHOAWHOAWHOA chorus of like thirty people as the cherry on top! I'm going to jam a phillips head into my right ear if this continues any longer.
HAVE THEY NO DECENCY?!?!?!
Apparent sensitivity to certain sounds ironically can be a sign of hearing loss. The Primary Auditory Cortex of the brain automatically filters out many disruptive sounds that could drown out more important sounds. It also gives you the ability to consciously "tune-in" or "tune-out" certain sounds at will. It also makes loud sounds seem softer and soft sounds seem louder, effectively "compressing" the decibel range of human hearing into a narrower, more tolerable experience. This is called Auditory Discrimination. In order to make use of this ability, you must be able to hear adequately well in BOTH ears. Any significant deficiency in one or both ears limits the amount of sound data that your brain needs to create that effect. You thus end up hearing the world as it actually is, unfiltered. It's a little like not being able to adjust when going from a dimly lit room to bright sunlight. If you can see in the room, you will be blinded by the sunlight; if you can tolerate the bright sunlight, you will be effectively blind in the room. This is why older people tend to hate rock music - they get assaulted the full impact of the louder sounds, even as they have already lost the ability to hear the softer ones. Since everybody does not have exactly the same hearing, it's not unreasonable to require people to be more mindful of unnecessarily noisy habits. The problem is, the 21st century world is much too narcissistic to be willing to accommodate those of us who have real hearing problems. It seems that the efforts to protect the "self-esteem" of non-disabled children has casued them to grow up to be obnoxious adults, who interpret the First Amendment as a legal right to be as loud and irritating as they wish, absolving them of any responsibility to balance that with others' right to live in peace. As a lifelong disabled person, I have also found employers to be equally unsympathetic, or too lazy to do anything constructive. The Americans with Disabilities Act is virtually meaningless, having been appropriated by dishonest lawyers to shakedown legitimate businesses.
I was at a big box store today waiting in a long line when an older man in another line began to whistle song after song. I had to fight the urge to film him with my cell phone with the hope that he'd ask me if I intended to post it online. I fantasized of telling him: "oh yes! and the title will be: A**holes who whistle in public and who are oblivious to how obnoxious they are".
But then I was further dismayed when a man in front of Mr. Whistle turned around and gave him a thumbs up sign. I must begrudgingly admit that as whistlers go he was pretty good. But to me whistling in public is like two other things I loathe: second hand cigarette smoke and people blasting music (any type) from their car at intersections. It is other people making personal choices that I would not make yet their choices directly and negatively affect me.
Yet more dismay arrived when the clerk at the check out stand also complimented Mr. Whistle on his "talent". Mr. Whistle went on to share (blessed relief from more whistling at least) how he'd developed his skills while being a UPS driver when UPS drivers were prohibited from having radios or any kind of music player in their delivery vans. My next fantasy: to approach Mr. Whistle and tell him that if I would have been his UPS partner in the van then I would have... and at this point I gesture making my hand into a pistol and I point it up into the roof of my mouth.
Thanks to all the other people who shared. A relief to know I'm not alone.
I can't stand it when my husband whistles or hums. Singing is just OK. It's such a problem that it puts a strain on our relationship. I have a friend who is a hypnotist. I might try her services to see if it helps. I will re-post to let you know.
I can't stand people who whistle. The fact that I'm around 2 really obnoxious, loud, annoying whistlers makes it even worse. THEY JUST DON'T STOP, GOD DAMN. One of those is my mum's boyfriend and if he ever moves in I might end up not just killing myself. Honestly though, do people not understand that it's rude? When people do it my anger sets off and every thought just turns bad. I'm already really depressed as it is, I don't need an idiot to come and start whistling. HE DOESN'T STOP! It's continuous and i'm sure he doesn't even breathe. It's kind of obvious that i don't like it because I have to cover my ears up so I can't hear it or else I will explode and end up doing something irrational. Idgaf if they are showing that they're happy or whatever they are doing, why don't they just shut up for once.
I hate other people's noises, movements, gazes, and just about everything about another person which indicates to me "hey, I'm another person". I think that when Sarte wrote that "hell is other people" he had me in mind (as someone for whom others are hell, not because for him I am hell).
But of all the things I HATE, there is nothing I hate MORE than a certain kind of whistling. Not just any whistling, but a certain KIND of it. It has to be done by a certain kind of person, and I can tell what kind of person just by the fact that it is THIS KIND of whistling. They go together.
This whistling must also take place in a specific context.
When these three factors come together, what kind of whistling, what kind of person, and when and where (context), I know I have understood WHY "hell is other people".
By the way, I will not go into detail about this, because giving others THIS KIND OF INFORMATION about yourself is like asking for trouble in the worst way. Remember, we are all being watched now...
I know really very well what you mean!
For me it is hard to talk about this to anyone, as it feels like giving weapons to the hands of others...
And they do not understand the gravity of this situation, and they may quite well (and it has happened) try their own self-cooked therapy of exposing the victim to his fear so that he learns not to fear it!
Like giving a loaded gun to a kid.
Oh I'm so glad I'm not the only one. My boyfriends son recently taught my daughter how to whistle. My boyfriend whistles too. So three people walking around whistling sometimes causes me to lock myself in the bathroom. Ahhhh it drives me nuts!!!!!!
I hate whistling. It might not be as bad if it were on key, but it's still so high-pitched and irritating.
I lost my job just when I was about to move out of the room I have renting in this house, so I could not move. MY landlord is home all day long on Monday & Tuesday and never, ever leaves the house. He doesn't even go to the store and he has no friends nor even a girlfriend. So I don't have a job to go and I just lost my boyfriend so I can't go to his house to get away. My landlord lives on the same floor as me which is horrible enough. Then he walks up and down the stares all day and night whistling non-stop, so loudly I can hear it through my door even with a fan turned on for white noise. The only thing I can do is put on my headphone and blast out my ears. I daydream about chopping off his head and putting duck tape across his mouth, after stuffing something down his throat. And I am a really good person who never hurts anyone. I hate this man for many other reasons as well, but the whistling drives me over the edge. He has no sense of boundaries. I wish he would just drop dead. I've ordered a new battery for my laptop so I can just take my laptop and things and just leave when he's here.
hollyhobbit..i so sympathise, but make sure that before cutting off his head, you apply the duck tape a few dozen times, peeling it off very slowly, (hopefuly he has a large bristly moustache! and make sure it's a fresh strip each time, for full adhesion!!)
i have laughed my socks off at your post, and many of the others... i remain the most avid, faithful, never to waiver whistle-loather in this entire universe!
keep chopping! best wishes to all fellow whistle haters out there...mentalisticorwot!
I have murderous thoughts about whistlers too. I think everyone on this thread has misophonia.
I don't find the noise annoying. But I do hate people who can whistle just because I can't do it.
It’s hard to tell if a yes vote is for “is it normal to hate whistlers” or “is whistling normal?” I am sitting here next to a person whistling. He’s also self-entitled and lazy. A real jerk who “identifies as vaccinated” but isn’t and who won’t wear a mask and comes within six feet of people “while whistling” which is an exhale movement like laughing - it’s more than just breathing. There’s so many layers of jerk on this guy I can’t even. Of course he’s whistling. So I googled “I hate whistlers” and this ‘is it normal’ popped up lmfao - yes it’s normal to hate whistlers and it’s not normal to whistle. It’s like nails on a chalkboard to some people and like a dog whistle - self entitled jerk - and teah he’s a WM so surprising sorry not sorry
There is an arsehole outside my building whistling like a retarded inbred monkey. I want to scream: "Stop being so selfish you CUNT"!!!!! God help me!! I want to slap him a hundred times across his unself aware face. WHISTLERS ARE ANNOYING. He does it everyday. I want to cut off his lips so that he may never whistle again!!!!!!!!
I too find whistling offensive and intrusive. People who think is normal to just whistle in public spaces are just selfish. Just because whistlers find whistling charming or calming for themselves they still have to remember that they share the world with other people. I often wonder what is going through the whistlers mind as he/she is sound bombing us at the top of his lungs - is there no self-awareness?
I particularly feel sorry for people who have to share a home with whistlers. If you cannot find peace and tranquillity in your own home...you are screwed! Or those who whistle chronically at the office, with no care as to how it can offend or distract co-workers. There is something almost arrogant and unnatural about the act of whistling in public spaces almost. It’s as if the whistler wants to forcefully assert their presence by making a noise through their pursed lips. So gross and annoying!!!! Lately I have noticed insecure women whistle a lot in the presence of a women that they find more attractive than them or whom they perceive to be superior so they whistle in a "I'm not threatened by you - I'm even going to whistle to show you how not insecure I am" I have observed guys do it too. When an insecure guy sees another guy whom he deems to be a threat he does a creepy alpha male thing and starts whistling. I also think people with a low emotional IQ will whistle in public spaces.
Whistling is like fingernails on a chalkboard. If someone feels that they are happy and must whistle, take it to the backcountry where no one else has to put up with that high shrill noise. A smile on their face is all that is required if they are happy~~no obnoxious noises coming through their lips infringing upon my airspace.
I just created a blog that speaks to the suffering and anger I've seen on this board. I think just about everyone here has a neurological condition called misophonia. The tone of my blog is quite rude, but by the sound of it we all need an outlet like that! http://confessionsofamisophoniac.blogspot.ca/
It's normal. I'm neutral like Sweden when it comes to whistling. It depends on the situation and the volume of the whistle. With these things in mind, I can either LOVE it or DESPISE It.
My supervisor has been whistling more than usual lately. I think he does it because he's bored. It's my fault as I am doing all the work he used to do. He doesn't have anything much to do all day. So, he sings with the radio, he whistles to the radio and he drums on his desk, smashes soda cans and tosses them in a metal trash can. The other co worker, does the same thing, but I think she does it absent mindedly and because she loves the sound of her own voice. I theorize that they are more influenced by their teenagers' behaviors than their teenager are influenced by them.
We were happy right up until the moment that YOU started ruing our day with your incessant whistling!!!!! It's like nails on a chalkboard!!!!! We are not mad, we are as irritated and frustrated as one can possibly feel. We are enraged and filled with hatred in our souls directed toward the whistler. I get mad at my boyfriend, I don't want to kill him. I want to kill you the whistler, for violating my rights and ruining my peace.
I know this is an older thread, but I have been driven here by an office person who lets out the loudest possible random whistles every time she enters. I have seniority, so I am not afraid to say something to her. When I did, she claimed, like you, Happy Face Whistler, that I was mad because I could not whistle. Let's set this straight. Whistling in any form is disruptive, is inconsiderate and is very rude. If believing you are the object of angry envy when you perpetrate this noise pollution, you are in a fantasy world. STOP IT!
Genuinely happy people don't need to brag to the whole world that they are oh so happy!!!. People who are truly content with themselves are not loud and obnoxious
I find more men whistle, more women will sing.
We know we may be off key, but I don't think we are as afraid of being judged. By the time men are older and more confident, many are quite good at whistling, so they DO seem to enjoy it.
Yes it's so fucking annoying. And my son of a bitch autistic just turned 14 year old sister is in the hallway whistling like crazy and im trying to do homework. Ugh i just wanna go out there and slap her face so hard she can't smile anymore. My little sister is always annoying. She always does things to annoy me.
Why put someone in the uncomfortable position of having to ask you to stop being obnoxious?
And nothing pisses ME off more than glib assholes like you who trivialize other people's suffering.
If it's "normal" for people to be annoyed by an action, then it IS in fact rude to do it in front of other people.