KEY POINTS:
A person vomiting is the most offensive sound to the human ear, a worldwide survey has found, but for Australians an argument in a TV soap opera is almost as bad. The growl of a Tasmanian Devil was also high on the list of the most horrible noises, coming in at No 11 -- ahead of a dentist's drill and fingers scraping down a blackboard.
>> Read about that study here
What sound annoys you the most?
Send us your views
>> Check out views on today's other hot topics
Here is the latest selection of your views:
Greg
Your next door neighbours sound system blasting amplified bass seemingly during every leisure moment, where you seek to read the newspaper, talk to friends who drop in, or just eat your meal with out being bomblasted by anothers musical preference. This noise will penetrate even the thickest walls and to try and escape the worst of it, will force you in doors with your windows shut just to find some relief on the hottest evenings and days . Normal neighbourly tolerance disagrees as it wears you down over time, probably due to the increasingly infuriating realisation gnawing away at your insides that this problem is as one might politically correctly describe it as a clash of cultures. One where its not worth a a moment of ones thoughts to care about anothers space regardless how many times polite attempts have been made asking for the obvious noise to be reduced.
Dave Hamilton
A dentists drill biting into a tooth (accompanied by the worst smell - burning enamel); the squeal of tires just before the crash; someone starting a conversation with, "We have to talk....
Homey
Aussies with their twangy accent.
Neroni Mack
I hate the sound of those wannabe gangsters that yell out their respective schools name or gang name and follow it up with "WHATTTTT"...
Jason Glynn
The sound of a mosquito buzzing around your head when your trying to sleep - getting up out of bed(dead to the world) - no where to be seen - turn off the lights and back to bed - buzzZZZZZzzz !
P Halpin
Being around someone who eats with their mouth open , the accompaning noise. ewwwwwwwww
Chris Brazendale
The voice of Helen Clark.
Julia
I cant stand the sound of someone coughing up flem.
Raj Subramanian
The horrible sound I hear is the virtual games with big noise explosion next to my ears. I love seeing a game, whatever it is, from motor sports to cricket, but hate the noise generated by the virtual games in e motor races, in virtual characters fighting and in virtual world wrestling contests to name a few .
Natarlia
Living in an apartment with no sound proofing especially if the sounds come through the floor boards crystal clear and it appears the people above, are living with you!! You can hear everything - dropping a pencil, when they were dancing, running to the telephone, dropping a pot, arguing, talking. Its so hard to live with. I ended up moving out after 2 months of putting up with it.
Ray Carter
The sound of someone sniffing up their own snot and then spitting it out in public - these people should be put in Jail!
Mary Anderson
One of the most offensive sounds would have to be the drivel coming out of politicians mouths!
Viv Keohane
Hip Hop music played loud by neighbours, causing nothing but an audible thump thump noise inside my house.
Madeleine Ware
Vomiting is certainly one of the most offensive sounds, and I would always prefer not to hear it, but it isnt annoying. I think among the most annoying sounds are that of young children whining to be bought stuff in shops, the rattle in the boot of the car that you can't seem to locate or fix, flies buzzing around, the alarm going off every morning, the sickening crunch when something expensive and difficult to fix hits the ground, cellphones beeping or ringing at the movies, children playing Christmas carols on recorders, Michael Bolton singing anything, loudly ticking clocks, chainsaws/lawnmowers/car stereos before 10am on a Sunday
Carl
Surely a car alarm at 3am going off would have to be near the top of the list. A liitle child pulling a tantrum is also very unpleasant. Not to mention the sound of sandpaper and running your fingernails down a blackboard. Vomiting? Not such a big deal as we have all been there before.
Ollie
Having to sit in a quiet room and listening to grandad eat without dentures.
Leo de Beurs
I have an irrational dislike of people chewing loudly especially apples. I sit and silently seethe. How pathetic!
Chris Brady
How could researchers possibly decide that the worst sound is that of vomiting? Have they never listened to Barry Manilow?
Tania
My list of worst sounds would include: the sound of a car crash, someone falling back onto concrete, a child in pain. The sound of vomitting is not pleasant - but surely there are worse things.
