Table manners ( negatively or positivley Speaking

[Dave Hounddriver]

3 hours ago, robert k said:

have been places Jack where there were no napkins or so forth

Yes, there are many, which is why you will seldom find me without a clean handkerchief in one pocket at tissues in another.

I have bad habits.  I eat chicken and pizza with my fingers.  I also eat MacDonald's hamburgers and fries with my fingers.  It surprises me to see some people using a knife and fork to eat some of these things, and then see those same people eat rice with their fingers.

Another pet peeve is how some cultures (or people from those cultures) think it is good manners to loudly slurp their soup or pasta and burp heartily

 

[Gratefuled]

7 hours ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

My wife does the same thing... my stiff old joints don't understand it. She says it is comfortable.

Talking about eating with your hands... we were at the Bulabog Putian National Park today (who knew there is a cave system 1 hour from Iloilo?), anyway... picnic in the car.  Everyone was eating with their hands, sharing containers of food. I brought boiled eggs and commented that I forgot the salt.  Our cousin reached in her bowl, scooped out some salt, with her fingers, dropped it in my wife's hand. My wife picked it up and put it in my bowl.  So...yeah... we eat with our hands and our cousins hands.

 

And they know not to even give me a fork or spoon at Mang inasal ha ha (I do use a spoon for the ice cream if I get it)

 

The salt experience reminded me of my father. He told us that in the Army when out in the field, and they didn't have any salt for their boiled eggs, they would just rub the egg on their armpit for the salt.

 

[Gratefuled]

Table manners or customs?

Back in the states, I saw a couple of Asian women who had just finished their meals  and were talking. They both were picking their teeth but had one hand covering their mouth as they picked and spoke. I never thought that it might be bad table manners if they saw that I did not cover my mouth when picking.

[Larry45]

18 hours ago, Gratefuled said:

Table manners or customs?

Back in the states, I saw a couple of Asian women who had just finished their meals  and were talking. They both were picking their teeth but had one hand covering their mouth as they picked and spoke. I never thought that it might be bad table manners if they saw that I did not cover my mouth when picking.

Yes, you're basically a heathen for not covering your mouth.    But, that always makes me laugh, and reminds me of religion here.  You can eat with your hands, talk with food in your mouth, slurp your soup, smack your food, suck your teeth, spit on the floor and basically have less manners than a pig.  But if you only cover your mouth while picking your teeth afterwards, it absolves you of all your wrongdoings.     

[Jack Peterson]

16 minutes ago, Larry45 said:

Yes, you're basically a heathen for not covering your mouth.    But, that always makes me laugh, and reminds me of religion here.  You can eat with your hands, talk with food in your mouth, slurp your soup, smack your food, suck your teeth, spit on the floor and basically have less manners than a pig.  But if you only cover your mouth while picking your teeth afterwards, it absolves you of all your wrongdoings.     

 HUH! where is our little ROFL man when you want him.

Edited March 26, 2016 by Jack Peterson
just to Highlight the really funny bit from Larry

[Jack Peterson]

 When I said Table manners I was not just referring to eating habits, which I find , in may cases just bad. I was referring to normal table manners that we were brought up with,  when I have Guests  all some want to do is use there damn Phones, Overtalk, even the kids shout. Getting up and Down from the table, Food on the table not on Plates, people just not being respectful of the table they are eating at. OH! the list could go on but to me, it is just another show of Never having had any Discipline in Pure basic Manners, My Opening Question was:

 Are the Any?  and the more I sit and think about it and read the posts, I am convinced the Answer is   NO!

 

Jack

[mogo51]

17 hours ago, Jack Peterson said:

 Are the Any?  in your house or Places you Visit?

Just a Question but it will hold my attention to the Answers and there are days I feel it does need discussing.

 

Manners whether at the table or anywhere else are not taught in  Thailand. If they are males, forget it!

Don't have the same problem with my SO, very good manners (but I have worked on them a bit).

 

[mogo51]

58 minutes ago, Jack Peterson said:

 HUH! where is our little ROFL man when you want him.

Yes Jack, does seem a contradiction of terms.

[mogo51]

15 hours ago, Gratefuled said:

My wife has a habit at home to put one foot on the chair while eating. She only does it at home. She says it is comfortable. It seems awkward to me but what do I know. 

Saw half way through the leg of the chair.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

What I have seen, from friends and family here, is that at home they are relaxed and enjoying each other's company.  Manners don't seem to be an issue.  When we go out to eat at 'real' restaurants, they know how to eat 'properly'.  They use serving spoons, and eat with their fork & spoons.  At home it just does not seem to be an issue. (and at Mang Inasal ha ha)

So if they feel comfortable enough at my house to use their house manners instead of their public manners - I kind of take it as a compliment.

...but I spent 27 years as Hindu and am very used to eating with my hands...