Pro tip: Chew gum to stay calm during spicy book debates

It gives your mouth something to do so you don't interrupt. I find it helps listen better before jumping in.

3 comments

3 Comments

Totally agree with this tip! I tried chewing gum during a loud book club talk last week. It kept my mouth busy so I didn't jump in too fast. It also made me listen better to what others were saying. Sometimes I worry about looking rude, but it's worth it for better talks. Going to use this trick all the time now!

alexe751d ago

Wish I could pull this off but I'd absolutely swallow the gum the second things got heated. My nerves turn me into a total gum-choking hazard during any real debate. I'm that person who talks way too fast and trips over my own words when I'm passionate about a book. Probably need the gum super glued to my teeth or something. Might still try it though, because my usual method of just biting my tongue clearly isn't working.

spencer_park261d ago

My friend Jen tried the gum trick during a family argument about movie endings and literally choked on it when her brother surprised her. She had to do that awkward cough-into-a-napkin thing mid-sentence, which totally killed her point. It was exactly the kind of thing @alexe75 mentioned, where nerves just take over. She said the gum felt helpful for a second by making her pause, but then it became the main problem. Now she sticks with just chewing quietly before she talks, not during. The whole scene proved sometimes the trick to listening better is just a quiet mouth, not a busy one.