Link: https://old.reddit.com/r/autism/comments/1tc7h0i/racist_for_having_sensory_issues/

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The original was posted on /r/autism by /u/VallieLovesCats on 2026-05-13 17:58:23+00:00.

Okay so for context, I've got EXTREME sensitivity when it comes to mouth noises and while I do always carry my noise cancelling headphones with me, they don't always work that well and some sound still leaks through. There is this one area my friends and I sit in during breaks, and this guy sometimes appears there. Now I've got no personal issues with him aside from the fact he always eats so loudly and always with his mouth open.

My close friend has asked him to chew a bit more quietly, we both suffer from sensory issues and sometimes it gets so unbearable that I have to hold my ears shut until my finger joints start hurting and I get a headache. The thing is, this guy doesn't stop. I've taken to avoiding that area cause I just can't bear the sound of him chewing but all my friends refuse to move cause the rest of the college is so crowded during breaks.

Today it got a little too much to handle, and on my way to class, I asked this one mutual friend we have to pressure him a little. I don't know if I worded it wrong or something but this mutual friend told me the guy can't help it because its part of his culture and I'm being mildly racist by insisting he stops???

I don't know where that conclusion came from, literally everyone in that area knows how bad my sensory issues are. I never intended to insult his culture I just wanted him to stop chewing loudly cause it bothers so many people aside from me?

No clue what to do. Clearly its not going to stop so I'm thinking maybe just trying to find an isolated area and spending my breaks there. I just want some advice cause I cannot see how I came across as racist.