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Table Manners

  • 25-03-2008 04:40PM
    #1
    Quality
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,900 ✭✭✭Quality


    I had visitors down over the weekend and the lack of table manners was unbelievable.

    Elbows on tables. Using the cutlery in the wrong hands. Belching. Chewing with the mouth open.

    Does this annoy anyone else?

    Do you have manners?


«134

Comments

  • #2
    Rb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,277 ✭✭✭✭Rb


    Bad table manners annoys me alright. I was taught good table manners from an early age.

    Table manners seems to be something that everyone outside Dublin has never heard of, I've never witnessed good table manners anywhere else in the country. It's bizarre.


  • #3
    ojewriej
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭ojewriej


    I hate bad manners, no only at the table, but in general. I really notice that in people.


  • #4
    Princess Consuela Bananahammock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,779 ✭✭✭✭Princess Consuela Bananahammock


    Next time serve them in a trough. That'll get the message across.

    Everything I don't like is either woke or fascist - possibly both - pick one.



  • #5
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,788 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    No.

    I don't really put my elbows on the table. I need the full range of movement for shoveling food into my mouth.

    I also use the cutlery in the wrong hand, I've abandoned all the old imperialistic arse that was left over from the occupation. I eat free as Dev intended me too.


  • #6
    matrim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,516 ✭✭✭matrim


    Personally I wouldn't count elbows on the table or using cutlery in the other hands as bad table manners.

    But belching and eating with the mouth open would annoy me.


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  • #7
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,260 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    What exactly is wrong with having your elbows on the table and using cutlery in the wrong hands?


  • #8
    ojewriej
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭ojewriej


    AlmightyCushion wrote: »
    What exactly is wrong with having your elbows on the table and using cutlery in the wrong hands?

    Well, it's bad manners.


  • #9
    aidan_walsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,208 ✭✭✭✭aidan_walsh


    ojewriej wrote: »
    Well, it's bad manners.
    Says who? Discounting people who died in 1860.


  • #10
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    I was thought good table manners when I was younger but it doesn't really annoy me. I wouldn't count using cutlery in the wrong hands as bad manners.


  • #11
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Table elbows and cutlery hands are specific to various regions. ie it's only bad manners in certain places for example in France they hold the fork in their right.

    Probably the same for belching and chewing with open mouths, that's just gross. Really. Please don't share your bodily functions with me.

    On the scale of bad manners, bad table manners are a minor infraction really.


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  • #12
    ojewriej
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭ojewriej


    aidan_walsh wrote: »
    Says who? Discounting people who died in 1860.

    Not everything old fashioned is bad.

    I think it's good to have a set of basic social rules which make interacting with each other much easier.


  • #13
    Quality
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,900 ✭✭✭Quality


    Ruu wrote: »
    I was thought good table manners when I was younger but it doesn't really annoy me. I wouldn't count using cutlery in the wrong hands as bad manners.


    Well it annoyed me to see one person in particular hacking into the roast beef with his knife in his left hand and his fork stabbed in with his right!!


  • #14
    aidan_walsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,208 ✭✭✭✭aidan_walsh


    True enough but a lot of old fashioned stuff is archaic and pointless, those two examples in particular. What does it matter if I hold my fork in my left or right hand? As long as the food gets to my mouth whats the problem?


  • #15
    ojewriej
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭ojewriej


    aidan_walsh wrote: »
    True enough but a lot of old fashioned stuff is archaic and pointless, those two examples in particular. What does it matter if I hold my fork in my left or right hand? As long as the food gets to my mouth whats the problem?

    Why don't you eat with your hands then?


  • #16
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Quality wrote: »
    Well it annoyed me to see one person in particular hacking into the roast beef with his knife in his left hand and his fork stabbed in with his right!!

    *faints in horror*


  • #17
    qwertz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,726 ✭✭✭qwertz


    There are cultural differences to be taken into account as well regarding what hand to use for what type of cutlery. And let's not forget about left-handed and ambidextrous people.
    Quality wrote: »
    I had visitors down over the weekend and the lack of table manners was unbelievable.

    Elbows on tables. Using the cutlery in the wrong hands. Belching. Chewing with the mouth open.

    Does this annoy anyone else?

    Do you have manners?


  • #18
    aidan_walsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,208 ✭✭✭✭aidan_walsh


    ojewriej wrote: »
    Why don't you eat with your hands then?
    Because I don't want to get my hands dirty. So no reasonable, sound answer then?


  • #19
    Davei141
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,541 ✭✭✭Davei141


    Quality wrote: »
    Well it annoyed me to see one person in particular hacking into the roast beef with his knife in his left hand and his fork stabbed in with his right!!

    Shame it wasn't your head he stabbed the fork into, same with a lot of people in this thread.


  • #20
    LouOB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,181 ✭✭✭LouOB


    Quality wrote: »
    I had visitors down over the weekend and the lack of table manners was unbelievable.

    Elbows on tables. Using the cutlery in the wrong hands. Belching. Chewing with the mouth open.

    Does this annoy anyone else?

    Do you have manners?

    Only if the people who invited me to dinner put their elbows on the table, would I.
    Most people were not thought proper manners - FULL STOP.
    Table manners is one step beyond


  • #21
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    ojewriej wrote: »
    Why don't you eat with your hands then?


    Cause then you'd have to wash them and you'd get gick all over your drinking glass.


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  • #22
    John Mason
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 10,661 ✭✭✭✭John Mason


    Quality wrote: »
    Well it annoyed me to see one person in particular hacking into the roast beef with his knife in his left hand and his fork stabbed in with his right!!

    Oh the humanity of it all

    (are you sure the person wasnt left handed)


  • #23
    The_B_Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭The_B_Man
    Something about sandwiches


    Quality wrote: »
    Well it annoyed me to see one person in particular hacking into the roast beef with his knife in his left hand and his fork stabbed in with his right!!

    as opposed to hacking into the roast beef with his knife in his right hand and his fork stabbed in with his left???

    big difference like! You're making a good argument against table manners here tbh.


  • #24
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,260 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    Davei141 wrote: »
    Shame it wasn't your head he stabbed the fork into, same with a lot of people in this thread.
    Tone it down a bit please.


  • #25
    i71jskz5xu42pb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,806 ✭✭✭i71jskz5xu42pb


    Quality wrote: »
    Well it annoyed me to see one person in particular hacking into the roast beef with his knife in his left hand and his fork stabbed in with his right!!
    I'm with you on this one. Just plain bad manners.
    Please don't tell me he (I'm guessing it's a he) held the fork in his fist.


  • #26
    ojewriej
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭ojewriej


    aidan_walsh wrote: »
    Because I don't want to get my hands dirty. So no reasonable, sound answer then?


    Ok, fair enough.

    The way I see it, it's about having a bit of dignity while you eat. It sounds funny, but it's true. It amazes me how many people look like complete savages while they eat. Knowing how to sit properly, and how to use cuttlery is a big part of it. It's something people should know by the time they reach their teens.

    ANd please, don't be so quick jumping into conclussions.


  • #27
    LouOB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,181 ✭✭✭LouOB


    I like the way nobody has presummed that Quality overcooked the roast beef - hence the hacking
    Ah well.....;-)


  • #28
    Quality
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,900 ✭✭✭Quality


    I would take into consideration if this person was, left handed, had a different culture to me or was even a bit mentally challenged.

    This person was old enough to know better.

    I wont apologise for being brought up with manners and etiquette.


  • #29
    Quality
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,900 ✭✭✭Quality


    LouOB wrote: »
    I like the way nobody has presummed that Quality overcooked the roast beef - hence the hacking
    Ah well.....;-)


    I dont think so darling, The Roast Beef was perfectly cooked....

    I should report your post for personal abuse!


  • #30
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,260 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    ojewriej wrote: »
    It amazes me how many people look like complete savages while they eat.


    How does using a fork in one hand make you look like a savage but using it in the other makes you look dignified?


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  • #31
    Quality
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,900 ✭✭✭Quality


    Cristian Icy Something wrote: »
    I'm with you on this one. Just plain bad manners.
    Please don't tell me he (I'm guessing it's a he) held the fork in his fist.


    Yes....

    And he was sitting beside me.


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