Sounds We Hate

Most, if not all of us have a sound or more that just send us climbing up a wall. You know, something like fingernails across a chalkboard. On a side note: are there still chalkboards in schools these days?

We asked the Whale Nation what sounds really drive you nuts, and we got back some interesting responses. One person commented that the sound of a female scream was on the top of the list. I can relate to that in terms of those older 1950s and 1960s horror movies. You know the ones where the monster is about to grab a female after she tries to run away, but suddenly fell down even though there was nothing in the way to cause her to fall. And then comes the ear-piercing scream just before a monster like the Creature form the Black Lagoon for example, grabs the victim and takes her to his underwater home.

Some other sounds the Whale Nation commented on, include chewing gum, slurping or eating with your mouth open, brakes squealing, a fork on a glass, electric drill, a person humming (and doing it badly), a crying baby and a sudden loud bang.

As for me, I have a few. When I was young, at times a firetruck, ambulance or police car would drive by my house in the middle of the night with the sirens blaring, and it would scare the hell out of me. I felt frozen in my bed. I don't know why, but to this day, I still cringe when I hear a siren of any kind.

Another sound that drives me up the wall is a dentist drill on teeth. I have a hard time dealing with that, and add on the smell of my tooth being drilled on is more than enough to make me gag.

And finally, it grosses me out when someone nearby starts cracking their knuckles. That's not something I want to listen to. Add to the list, sounds that drive you crazy here or on the Whale Facebook page.