Elbows on the table - Page 2

Chocolatl · 08-08-2008, 01:11 PM

My family was never crazy about table manners. Then again, we rarely ate at the table. Meals were more of an "every man for himself" type of event, with each person eating whatever they wanted whenever they got hungry.

That said, elbows were usually okay on the table before or after you were eating, but not during. I do have have a habit of leaning my forearms on the edge of the table while I eat, though. Is that considered rude, as well?

TheMercenary · 08-08-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

What a revealing post.

It all changed significantly when I turned about 16. Three were gone from home, middle child moved back in at the age of 20 something because he pretty much failed at everything he tried. Dad was on his 3 job and drinking pretty heavily, mom was trying to hold things together, and I moved to another state to live with my brother as I was out of control at home and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Education was very important. Everyone was expected to go to college, everyone did, not everyone finished with a degree. Only me and the oldest brother went to college and in the military and both of us have advanced degrees. Somehow or another a month before HS graduation (after living with my brother for the last two years of HS) I changed my mind and did not join the Navy as an enlisted man but chose to go to college and get my degree. It was all up hill after that and 20 years later, in '02 I retired from the Army with an advanced degree and skill that gives me a healthy earning, with a life time of retirement pay.

BigV · 08-08-2008, 01:37 PM

Revelations abound!

Curious about "somehow or another..." Seems like that kind of MAJOR choice, or perhaps, minor choice with Major effects would be a big deal.

I know for me, entering college was like any other school transition. Like 13th grade. I had been indoctrinated since before I could resist that I would go to college. End of discussion. Actually, there wasn't and "discussion" at all. It was more like...a foregone conclusion.

I freely confess I repeated such indoctrination as a parent myself. Proud of it, too.

glatt · 08-08-2008, 01:38 PM

My wife has a thing about guys wearing hats inside. She especially looks down on guys who wear baseball hats to a diner, for example. I never used to notice it, but now I also see it when I go out to eat. It's rubbed off a bit on me.

HungLikeJesus · 08-08-2008, 01:52 PM

When we see someone wearing a hat in a restaurant, my wife says, "Where's Tony Soprano when you need him?"

DanaC · 08-08-2008, 02:04 PM

Just as long you don't put that hat on a bed, we'll all be fine.

HungLikeJesus · 08-08-2008, 02:12 PM

Bob: Hats. Okay? Hats. If I ever see a hat on a bed in this house, man, like you'll never see me again. I'm gone.
Diane: That makes two of us.
Nadine: Why a hat?
Bob: Because that's just the way it is, sweetie.

TheMercenary · 08-08-2008, 02:17 PM

If you sit on it would that make it an ass-hat and because you don't want to be one of those you avoid putting it where you can sit?

Shawnee123 · 08-08-2008, 02:23 PM

A bunch of these damn people had their elbows on the table.

Shawnee123 · 08-08-2008, 02:25 PM

But these chicks know how to do it right!

TheMercenary · 08-08-2008, 03:00 PM

Was it just me or do all the people in the UK eat with the fork in the left hand points down and keep the knife in the right hand, because that is the way I remember it in HK and on my visits 2 years ago.

Cloud · 08-08-2008, 03:01 PM

we had a whole thread about the knife and fork etiquette:

http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=1...ght=knife+fork

For me, I was always told that elbows on the table were okay after you've finished. don't know why.

The one that gets me is the napkin. Put the napkin in your lap and use it to wipe your mouth. Not your hand, or your shirt, but the napkin. Is that so hard?

Merc, not sure my upbringing was too similar, but we had very formal meals always. My dad was a proper Southern gentlemen. We ate with sterling silver utensils, properly set out with a full place setting (no matter what we were eating) and cloth napkins at every meal. Later in life my mother persuaded dad that paper napkins were okay at lunch.

We never had any kind of informal meals like spaghetti or tacos for dinner. It was always meat, starch/vegetables, salad, bread and butter. And I had to eat every bite, or I'd get the Victory Garden story.

ETA: In my entire adult life, I don't think I've ever had a dining room table. And the silver is sitting in a closet. somewhere.

TheMercenary · 08-08-2008, 03:06 PM

We did China and Silver only on an occassional Sunday or for every holiday, Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.

Cloud · 08-08-2008, 03:27 PM

We had two sets of silver and china; one for everyday and one for holidays. We had stainless steel flatware in the kitchen. I think.

Undertoad · 08-08-2008, 03:29 PM

In this household we wait until everyone is in front of the TV before starting the meal. It's just polite.

08-08-2008, 01:37 PM	#18
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Revelations abound! Curious about "somehow or another..." Seems like that kind of MAJOR choice, or perhaps, minor choice with Major effects would be a big deal. I know for me, entering college was like any other school transition. Like 13th grade. I had been indoctrinated since before I could resist that I would go to college. End of discussion. Actually, there wasn't and "discussion" at all. It was more like...a foregone conclusion. I freely confess I repeated such indoctrination as a parent myself. Proud of it, too. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

08-08-2008, 01:52 PM	#20
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	When we see someone wearing a hat in a restaurant, my wife says, "Where's Tony Soprano when you need him?" __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

08-08-2008, 02:12 PM	#22
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Bob: Hats. Okay? Hats. If I ever see a hat on a bed in this house, man, like you'll never see me again. I'm gone. Diane: That makes two of us. Nadine: Why a hat? Bob: Because that's just the way it is, sweetie. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

08-08-2008, 02:17 PM	#23
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	If you sit on it would that make it an ass-hat and because you don't want to be one of those you avoid putting it where you can sit? __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

08-08-2008, 02:23 PM	#24
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	A bunch of these damn people had their elbows on the table. Attached Images __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

08-08-2008, 01:11 PM	#16
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	My family was never crazy about table manners. Then again, we rarely ate at the table. Meals were more of an "every man for himself" type of event, with each person eating whatever they wanted whenever they got hungry. That said, elbows were usually okay on the table before or after you were eating, but not during. I do have have a habit of leaning my forearms on the edge of the table while I eat, though. Is that considered rude, as well?

08-08-2008, 01:38 PM	#19
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	My wife has a thing about guys wearing hats inside. She especially looks down on guys who wear baseball hats to a diner, for example. I never used to notice it, but now I also see it when I go out to eat. It's rubbed off a bit on me.

08-08-2008, 02:04 PM	#21
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Just as long you don't put that hat on a bed, we'll all be fine.

08-08-2008, 02:25 PM	#25
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	But these chicks know how to do it right! Attached Images __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

08-08-2008, 03:00 PM	#26
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Was it just me or do all the people in the UK eat with the fork in the left hand points down and keep the knife in the right hand, because that is the way I remember it in HK and on my visits 2 years ago. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

08-08-2008, 03:01 PM	#27
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	we had a whole thread about the knife and fork etiquette: http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=1...ght=knife+fork For me, I was always told that elbows on the table were okay after you've finished. don't know why. The one that gets me is the napkin. Put the napkin in your lap and use it to wipe your mouth. Not your hand, or your shirt, but the napkin. Is that so hard? Merc, not sure my upbringing was too similar, but we had very formal meals always. My dad was a proper Southern gentlemen. We ate with sterling silver utensils, properly set out with a full place setting (no matter what we were eating) and cloth napkins at every meal. Later in life my mother persuaded dad that paper napkins were okay at lunch. We never had any kind of informal meals like spaghetti or tacos for dinner. It was always meat, starch/vegetables, salad, bread and butter. And I had to eat every bite, or I'd get the Victory Garden story. ETA: In my entire adult life, I don't think I've ever had a dining room table. And the silver is sitting in a closet. somewhere. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!" Last edited by Cloud; 08-08-2008 at 04:13 PM.

08-08-2008, 03:06 PM	#28
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	We did China and Silver only on an occassional Sunday or for every holiday, Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

08-08-2008, 03:27 PM	#29
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	We had two sets of silver and china; one for everyday and one for holidays. We had stainless steel flatware in the kitchen. I think. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

08-08-2008, 03:29 PM	#30
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	In this household we wait until everyone is in front of the TV before starting the meal. It's just polite.

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