I went years not eating these because of the terror and anxiety of having to open one. And one day by chance (dropped it in the sink that had water in it.) I found the secret to not getting the piss scared out of you.
Here it is. These cans are cardboard. Cardboard disintegrates in water.
If you peel back just a little of the paper. And sit it in a bowl, Make sure the side you peeled is facing down. and pour in a little water.
Then quickly leave the room or put it in your fridge or something. And in a minute or two it will pop open. And you will hear it from a safe distance. And you will be okay.
It’s actually called the startle reflex.
A lack of the startle reflex can be indicative of neurological problems. So it’s a pretty good feature to have.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startle_response
However, like many reflexes, it can be over-ridden with effort.
Being ready for a response can often help negate a startle reflex.
However, I am unable to do that for these fucking canned biscuits! Although I can for other loud sounds.
I think it’s because I can’t perfectly predict when it will happen.
Years of trauma will not allow me to try breaking the can on the counter. Which would be a way to perfectly predict the sound. But I’ve been fearful of the biscuits for too long.
You’ve got to tap them … It’s a sensory delight
I’ve never once not tapped them, it sounds horrible
People with cptsd have a sensitive reflex. A lot of us people with autism have cPTSD.
Might make such people more prone to being bothered by them.
But anyone can be bothered by these damn biscuits.
Being startled by canned biscuits popping is not a diagnostic criteria for autism or PTSD.
But it would be very convenient to have such an easy and cheap test. Getting diagnosed is a hassle and not cheap over here.
Well of course not, I was just trying to explain why people equate it with autism
I’m right there with you. These, and balloons.
I also figured out how to pop balloons.
Pinch the bottom. Use scissors. Cut it. Let some air out slowly at first then you can let go once the pressure is lowered.
Figured out the best approach after helping clean up after family’s kids birthdays.
Kids love those damn balloons. A pain to pop them all. The kids help. Their approach was to sit on them.
Scissors better.
The other thing that works is to commit violence against balloon kind. Popping one is stressful, if you pop the first as you are already jabbing at the next one it’s great
You just gotta go ham
[Doom music intensifies]