Bad Table Manners

[Paisley]

There's an App for that.

iPhone apps run background checks on potential dates.

A background check just to go on a date?

What about people with common names? And how in the world would records show someone has a boyfriend or girlfriend?

 

[Tomasso]

[YOUTUBE]nqMc9B7uDV8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[vintage_jayhawk]

Several years ago, before I married my husband, I was eating lunch with his daughter. As I always do, I put my napkin in my lap and look over to see her doing the same. She was about 4 at the time and I realized at that moment that leading by example was going to be the best way to get through to this kid. So, I try very hard, even when it's just us at home, to use my best manners and watch her on the sly to see if she's copying. So far so good.

 

[Tomasso]

^^^^

Hey vintage jayhawk, I see by your avatar that you've a fancy for Buckingham Fountain. Me too.

 

[Idledame]

I don't recall learning many rules about dining. My parents were relatively civilized at the table so I guess we picked that up. Mainly my brother and I weren't supposed to speak at the table unless asked a question. It was a time for the grown-ups to talk about their day. That's how they were raised. I've actually learned what few rules I know from old movies. That's how I learned about no elbows on the table, and scoop soup away from you. Unless Andy Hardy or someone got yelled at in a movie for doing something wrong I probably don't know the rule. The American rule about constantly changing hands to cut one peice of meat drives me bonkers and I tend to just cut lots of pieces at once unless I'm with non-family.
I found this site
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/DiningEtiquetteGuide.htmI
Good grief there are a lot of rules I've broken because I didn't know them. Don't you think part of the problem in America is that we all come from so many different countries and classes? Then there were rules for the upper classes and their masses of silverware and glassware, and the peasants probably had different simpler rules or maybe few rules. I think it just wasn't very important for alot of the lower classes like my grandparents.

 

[vintage_jayhawk]

Hey vintage jayhawk, I see by your avatar that you've a fancy for Buckingham Fountain. Me too.

I absolutely LOVE Chicago (and Buckingham Fountain as well)! If I wasn't so opposed to cold weather, I'd move there. But, seeing how I whine all winter long in Oklahoma, I probably couldn't survive!

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

Several years ago, before I married my husband, I was eating lunch with his daughter. As I always do, I put my napkin in my lap and look over to see her doing the same. She was about 4 at the time and I realized at that moment that leading by example was going to be the best way to get through to this kid. So, I try very hard, even when it's just us at home, to use my best manners and watch her on the sly to see if she's copying. So far so good.

:eusa_clap Setting the example is definitely the most powerful learning tool I think. Good for you.

I still try to look for others I can emulate and learn from. And the lessons I have taken most to heart are the ones I have seen my parents live out consistently over the years.

 

[Cigarband]

Also, I have no idea how to hold a fork correctly... I didn't realize there was a way to do it wrong. [huh]

There are two ways to do it correctly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zigzag_method#American_style

 

[Cigarband]

Yeah, some people aren't multi-taskers. I've gotten pretty good with time, but that's from practice, practice, practice.

Multi-taskers less efficient than others.
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august24/multitask-research-study-082409.html

 

[rue]

Did your family teach and enforce table manners? Do you teach and enforce it with your children? Are you turned off by others' lack of table manners?

My parents were total enforcers and my brother and I were taught manners from the moment we could sit upright in a chair. My children have been raised the same way. It's so natural to me that I don't think about it until someone points it out.

For example, I was taught to tear off a piece of my bread and butter it, instead of buttering the whole thing. For whatever reason people get really upset by this and make a big deal out of it.

Yes, it upsets me when people have bad manners, but they would never know it, because it's rude to point it out to them

 

[Justin B]

My roomies are all open mouth chewers. It drives me absolutely up a wall to the point if they start eating I have to leave the room. I cannot abide hearing someone eat.

 

[RichardH]

My roomies are all open mouth chewers. It drives me absolutely up a wall to the point if they start eating I have to leave the room. I cannot abide hearing someone eat.

My dad is an open mouth chewer. Drives me in-freakin-sane. I simply cannot understand why people can´t chew with their mouth shut.

 

[GamaH]

Open mouth chewing is disgusting, just on a common sense level. The same way you don't spit out food on a plate and show it to everyone, why would someone want to see the mushed up food in your mouth? Ugh..

 

[Gregg Axley]

I grew up in a proper setting, and I know HOW to use proper manners, but since I've been married my wife and I eat while watching tv. Not what I consider proper manners, but since it's just us I guess it really doesn't matter.
I agree, cell phones at the table are very bad manners IMHO.
Maybe one day a week I'll ask my wife to eat at the dining room table instead. For a change...
I swear this place is changing me back to the way I used to be. So is that a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[rue]

I think it's a good thing

I think eating at the table is a good idea, because you'll talk to each other instead of starring at the boob tube, even if it is only once a week.

 

[Tomasso]

I think eating at the table is a good idea, because you'll talk to each other instead of starring at the boob tube

I agree and would go further to say that any type of entertainment expierienced during a meal (beyond softly played music) detracts from the culinary experience as well.

 

[Gregg Axley]

We do that anyway. It takes us about 2hrs to watch a 1 hr show, because we put it on pause a lot.
Plus we talk off and on during the day via cell phone.

 

[Stray Cat]

I think eating at the table is a good idea, because you'll talk to each other instead of starring at the boob tube, even if it is only once a week.

I never had my meal any other way. Only at the table.. That is why dining tables are made for, no?

Another bad manner (in my opinion):
"The thinking man" while eating soup:
This one.
Holding his head like it's going to fall of his shoulders.. or like the meal is taking SO much effort..
(my brother does that ALL the time, and no matter what we say or do.. he still goes int his "thinking man" pose).
I'll slap him one day. lol

 

[rue]

Yes, I agree. That is what tables are for

That description is hilarious Stray Cat lol

Along with that is the arms around the bowl or plate and hunched over like someone is going to take their food from them. What is that about??

 

[Stray Cat]

Along with that is the arms around the bowl or plate and hunched over like someone is going to take their food from them. What is that about??

Obsessive-compulsive disorder?? lol