Elbows on the table

[Cloud]

I chastised grandson for putting elbows on the table at a restaurant recently, and BDNo. 2 (who's into Questioning Authority) these days, said, why? and why do we have to follow customs we don't understand or don't have a purpose?

A very quick perusal of ze almighty interwebs suggests these possible reasons for the taboo:

--it's unhygienic to put body parts on the table
--you could tip over cups and bowls
--you could tip over the table
--it makes other diners feel crowded
--it's bad for your digestion
--shows you're focused only on the food and not the company

in other words . . . no one knows why. Or , all of the above.

yes, I know this is only loosely related to "Food and Drink" but what the hey