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I regularly go about 2 ½ days without making a single audible sound with my voice. Friday through Monday.

I used to talk to myself a bit or sing/hum along while listening to music but I kinda stopped doing that.

The funny thing is, I've recently realizied that the last and first thing I say throughout the weekend are usually the same. I say "Goodbye" to my coworkers on a Friday evening, and then I say "Goodbye" to the cashier near the self checkout at the grocery store where I grab my lunch for the day on a Monday morning. It's sort of ironic that the first thing I say after a long period of time, is something that usually ends a conversation.

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[-] Fallibilist@feddit.uk 12 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

I can go days without talking to another human but I don't think a day go by without me making any sounds. After all, I'm constantly talking to my pet and house spiders and when outside I talk to birds, squirrels and food delivery robots.

[-] laranis@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 hours ago

I can go a long time not talking to another human but I talk to myself in the third (second?) person, probably more than a healthy person should.

"Laranis, look what you did now."

"Alright, enough Lemmy, Laranis. Time to get on the chores."

And then there are the dogs. They need engaging conversations to keep them emotionally engaged and happy.

So sounds? Always. Other people are optional.

[-] foreverknew@lemmy.zip 1 points 14 hours ago

Does it get lonely sometimes or is it a choice you made?

[-] Fallibilist@feddit.uk 4 points 12 hours ago

Well sure, but it still beats being in a bad relationship. Ideally I'd be with someone who I like being with and who likes being with me but you can't have it all. Relationships aren't my #1 priority in life.

[-] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 5 points 15 hours ago

I spend decent stretches of time alone but I usually talk to myself or something. I totally get why crazy hermits who live alone in the woods do it, it's awesome

[-] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 2 points 5 hours ago

No better conversation partner for me than myself.

[-] tacotroubles@lemmy.world 53 points 1 day ago

If it weren't for my cat, it would honestly be weeks without any speech. But she needs to be told she's sweet and perfect.

[-] deacon@lemmy.world 9 points 23 hours ago

They mustn’t be allowed to forget. It simply wouldn’t do for them to pass more than a few minutes without being reassured of their absolutely perfection.

[-] real_squids@sopuli.xyz 9 points 1 day ago

Same. Mine need to be told not to steal food or do other tomfoolery.

That and reciting lyrics of random songs that get stuck in my head every minute or so.

[-] LouNeko@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Yeah, I guess pets force you to communicate.

[-] neidu4@piefed.social 27 points 1 day ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

3-4 days straight, every 5ish months.

I used to work 5 week shifts on a ship, and as an introvert, once I arrived back home my social battery was well beyond spent. Since I was offshore, people were used to my phone being "outside of reception". But the truth was that once I arrived back home it was an important part of my self care ritual:

Upon arriving back home, I sent an SMS to my mom letting immediate family know that I was no longer on the other side of the planet, but back home and safe. I then turned my phone completely off and left it under my bed, and did whatever I felt like doing. After about three days I felt ready to interact with society again.

[-] LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz 5 points 18 hours ago

Ive had a lot of jobs where i worked alone. Ive also had a few stints of prolonged unemployment and other random things that kept me isolated. I started talking to myself, just kinda about whatever i was doing. Sure i look crazy but it helps. Now i have co workers and stuff i bs with so its better.

[-] THE_GR8_MIKE@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago

Not sure, but it was during covid. I remember the first few hangouts with my buddies left my throat sore as shit the next day. And not because of that, you wish.

[-] Apytele@sh.itjust.works 6 points 20 hours ago

So I'm not pathologizing you specifically but from my entry level knowledge in psychiatry I feel like that's gotta do something real weird to a human's neurotransmitters. Not even necessarily bad even I'd just be fascinated to know.

[-] radiofreebc@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

I was stuck on an empty cruise ship (as crew) for 9 months at sea during covid. I normally went days at a time without ever seeing anyone. I don't think i talked once during my three 2 week quarantine periods.

https://youtu.be/M067F55j8Rw

[-] LouNeko@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Dann that's crazy, never thought about what was going on on cruise ships during Covid.

[-] CrazyLikeGollum@lemmy.world 6 points 21 hours ago

The longest would probably be something like three months. During CoVID I got tasked with keeping the IT infrastructure running in one of our satellite buildings. I was the only person in my shop assigned to this building and one of two total people in the building on any given day. The other being the janitor who did his rounds at night and then locked up the building.

I also live alone and tend to use the self-checkout at the grocery store. The only person I would have even had any real opportunity to speak to would have been the attendant at the self-checkout and they would have at most gotten the customary head-nod of greeting.

It was the second happiest time of my life, second only to the three weeks immediately following that where I did all the same stuff, but from home.

[-] Elting@piefed.social 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Im bout the loudest person I know, probably never been completely quiet more than an hour or two of my waking life.

Please stay away from me.

Sincerely, a introverted Finnish person

[-] Dagnet@lemmy.world 7 points 21 hours ago

Why did you say introverted twice?

I like to labor the point

[-] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago

I talk to myself pretty often, so no more than a couple of hours.

[-] LouNeko@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I used to too. I don't even know why I stopped. Maybe at first it was a challenge of how long I could avoid talking to myself. But then it just became the new normal.

[-] Scrogu@lemmy.zip 4 points 22 hours ago

8 months. I was premature.

[-] Gyrcas@piefed.zip 7 points 1 day ago

Not very long, I usually make sounds while thinking

[-] LouNeko@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago
[-] Gyrcas@piefed.zip 3 points 1 day ago

I sometimes do bubble sounds with my mouth

[-] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 2 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

I meow to my cat every single day.

[-] cts@midwest.social 2 points 22 hours ago

Hey fellow human, I get that as I work from home. That being said I put effort into going out / finding people to talk to and it really helped my mental health. If that's not for you, or if there is something preventing it I get that but please make sure you're taking care of yourself.

[-] rounding_error@lemmy.today 2 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

The obvious would probably be when I was 4 years old. Went 4 whole years from birth without speaking, Lol. My parents said I was “selectively mute” and put me in a class with a lotta differently abled kids, which ended after they realized I just didn’t like speaking.

[-] deacon@lemmy.world 2 points 23 hours ago

My cats would miss our talks.

[-] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago

Im married and even when I walk my dog I talk to her. I never shutup :) (actually most people consider me rather quiet).

[-] slazer2au@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

yea, about 2 and half for me too over a weekend. Couldn't get the whole 3 days even on long weekends because I would go out with friends over that weekend.

[-] LouNeko@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Sorry I'm over 30, what is this "go out with friends" thing your talking about. /s

[-] zxqwas@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

I'll talk to myself at least once a day, so not very long.

[-] stoly@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I can go a week, easily, if I am on staycation.

[-] LouNeko@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

"Staycation", I'm so stealing that.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

I thought about this, I think its impossible for me. Especially because I'd be talking to my dogs or cat, or I'd be singing. The longest, not including sleeping, is probably like 3 hours.

[-] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I could probably go for quite some time if I was all alone, but eventually I would speak out loud while thinking about a conversation I'll probably never have.

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[-] LouNeko@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I feel like your voice is sort of a use-it-or-lose it type of thing. Even by "nobody likes the sound of their own voice" standards, my voice is objectively very unpleasant. But since I started using it less and less, it became even more nasal, more hoarse and even more high-pitched.

I just really don't have a lot reasons to speak, neither do I really want them. I think everything I say throughout the entire week fits on a single sheets of paper. Which sucks when I inevitable do have to hold a meeting or presentation, and I permanently sound like I got a lump in my throat. I have a coworker who's voice literally sounds like nails on a chalkboard, it's unbearable and I feel like mine is not far removed from that.

I really envy people that have a nice crispy deep voice or a beautiful singing voice. I feel like your voice carries way more power and attractiveness than your physical appearance despite being the hardest to significantly influence.

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[-] eurodyne@piefed.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I talk to myself a lot, and I also use Siri a lot. Not to mention how much I talk to my cat.…

Now, I may go several days without interacting with another person… but I eventually have to go out and buy cigarettes.

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this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2026
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