Usually I don’t need help in deciding if something is annoying or not, because OBVIOUSLY everything is super annoying (related: everyone is also out to get me), but lately I haven’t been myself (although, bad news, I also haven’t been Angelina Jolie) and need some help getting my bearings. So I need your help in helping me decide if something that someone has been doing lately is annoying or super-annoying. Sorry, I mean, if it’s annoying or not annoying. Lives and bond applications and a career as a Snapped star hang in the balance, so I’d appreciate your honestly.
As always with I’m Right, You’re Wrong, I don’t tell you which party to the disagreement holds what position, so that you can judge the situation on its merits and not on the fact that I am your favorite.
Here we go!
Dilemma: Is it annoying when one party to a marital relationship, suddenly and for no good reason, starts walking around the apartment while brushing his/her teeth? For example said party may walk to the dresser to check his/her smartphone, all the while brushing, or watch the news on TV. Then that party, walks back to the bathroom sink, rinses, and gets some Listerine in his/her mouth and proceeds to circle the apartment again.
Disagreers: Marinka and Husbandrinka
Position One: Multi-tasking. Saves time.
Position Two: Nails on chalkboard have become so cliche, and this is a fun substitute. So. Annoying.
What do you think?
No pressure!
UPDATE: Thank you for everyone who answered or tried to send me a telepathic message. As you may have guessed, I’m in the annoying category. Hmm, it’s entirely possible that I need to reword that sentence. But my beloved Husbandrinka has recently started regarding teeth-brushing as a moveable feast, much like Paris, and walks around the apartment brushing his teeth. Over the festive holiday weekend I told him that I was going to ask the people who read my blog if it was annoying or not and he said, after spitting, “and ask them if it’s annoying when someone talks to you while you’re brushing your teeth, too” which makes me think that he and Dad’s Primal Scream are on the same wavelength.
One year ago ...
- Decision - 2011
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Not annoying at all. Only annoying if the person attempts to hold a conversation with the toothpaste or Listerine in mouth. In fact that may be the very reason it annoys the non-brushing spouse…the brushing spouse has momentarily become inaccessible to converse. And we know spouses must ALWAYS be available for consultation and banter.
A. Noy. Ing. I don’t need to hear your ablutions all over the house. Stare at yourself in the mirror for those 2-3 minutes just like the rest of us.
Twitter: jukeboxbarb
November 27, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Mildly annoying. Public flossing =s immediate divorce request.
Gross!
Position 2.
I am guilty of the same, Sorry
I think it’s annoying, only because when I brush my teeth it’s like, lather-city, baby! And water everywhere and it’s just… not… lovely to look at, and if I walked around I’d be like, spitting toothpaste everywhere. I NEED to have a sink under me. I don’t get when people just walk aroudn and SOME PEOPLE EVEN TALK WHEN THEY BRUSH THEIR TEETH LIKE HOW DO THEY DO THAT? So yeah. Annoying, especially if it was ME.
Annoying as hell. Stoppit!! And how long do you need to brush those teeth anyway? Holy crap, go do that in the bathroom, for god’s sake!! No one wants to watch you do that!! (Ummmmmmmmm, am I too subtle here?)
Twitter: Mamabirddiaries
November 27, 2012 at 2:08 pm
totally annoying. keep dental hygiene in the bathroom. please.
Twitter: kidsvomitmice
November 27, 2012 at 4:30 pm
I can’t even LISTEN to my husband floss his teeth, let alone watch. He flosses really loudly. I don’t even know how that is possible.
So, yeah, maybe I’m not the right person to ask.
Very annoying. I hope it’s not you.
Horrifyingly annoying.
My kids try to do this all the time. I think its just so I actually see them with a toothbrush in their mouth and don’t accuse them of lying. It’s disgusting and so help me God if there is even a DROP of Fresh Mint slobber on the floor I will effing lose it! Is this for attention? For some sick need to be watched? To what degree of freak exhibitionist do you have to be to parade around like this?
But I’m sure Husbandrinka is a perfectly lovely guy.
what’s next? shaving? ear cleaning?
super-annoying.
Twitter: highlyirritable
November 28, 2012 at 6:48 am
Annoying. Child #2 does this, and I’m left with white chalky drip marks on the floor, the walls, the ceiling (?)
I’ve told him I’m installing an invisible shock fence across the doorway if he keeps it up.
Twitter: mannahattamamma
November 28, 2012 at 9:25 am
er…am reading this while brushing my teeth.
Twitter: NorthWestMommy
November 28, 2012 at 12:37 pm
I am still fast asleep when my marital half is brushing. But I believe it would be annoying.
Regardless of the annoying/not annoying thing – people who walk around while brushing their teeth actually brush for longer than those who stand at that sink. Therefore, they get cleaner teeth.
My husband has a habit of brushing and walking, and so i started to get into the routine….and my dentist said my teeth were in better shape because i was brushing longer.
The toothbrush should not be seen outside of the bathroom.
And also: why would you want to be Angelina Jolie. You would have to sleep with Brad Pitt and quite frankly I don’t really like him anymore since he has this weird beard thing going on.
So if you ever do become Angelina, please force him to get rid of that miserable facial hair…
Twitter: NonaNelson
November 28, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Super annoying and extremely gross.
Yep, annoying.
annoying!
Super annoying and gross. Watching people brush their teeth makes me gag. I’m a very “private bathroom” type of person. All bathroom activities need to be performed in the bathroom, alone. I threatened my husband with divorce early in our marriage because he kept opening the door and talking to me while he was using the toilet. I wasn’t joking.
Not annoying. Keeping the door open while on the toilet, gross and annoying and awkward. Having hair sniffed (my son), utterly annoying.
Brushing teeth, eh. If you think this is annoying, you have a charmed life.
Not that annoying. When your husband follows you around the house, turning off every light that you turn on–annoying.
Wait a minute – why does everyone expect it is husbindrinka that is the one doing thsi?
Joe: because it is.
Annoying, yup. Messy too.
LOVE the update…. mostly because I love Husbandrinka’s reply. I like him!
But then after reading all the comments I realize I’d annoy all the women on here in some way with my bathroom habits… hehe
As for talking during it, my ex always seemed to have something to say while I was brushing or while the water was running …but can anyone hear while brushing teeth or standing next to a running tap? Why would you even consider talking to someone in that position? Whether he’s walking around seems irrelevant.
This totally reminds me of a voting booth question I posted once, back when I used to post on this one particularly intellectual message board. The question was: “What do you do while brushing your teeth?” And the choices were things like:
Read
Exercise
Walk around
Practice dance moves
And then for balance, I included an option like, “Nothing. I just stand there and brush my teeth.”
You will be relieved to know that the results of this extremely scientific survey show that most people just stand there and brush.
It’s possible, however, that you and I should not get an apartment together anytime soon.
upss… I guess I should stop walking and checking my phone and just brush my teeth from now on.
My wife brushes her teeth and walks around every night. Very annoying. And she wont stop it. It pisses me off. She also trys to talk to me while brushing. She even flossed in front of me and my daughter last week. I almost threw up. She keeps on doing her routine every night. Because she does whatever she wants to. Regardless of what me or my daughter think. #KeepitintheBathroom!!!!!