To despair that so many people have appalling table manners?

[Redpanda99]

Maybe I am just old fashioned, but when did it become acceptable for people to make loud slurping and lip smacking noises, chew with their mouths open, talk with their mouths full, scrape their fork against their teeth with every mouthful...aaargh!!! Whatever happened to good table manners? How can people eat and drink so noisily with no consideration for the people they are with? Surely it can't just be me who finds it disgusting? It gives me the rage!

My DH eats with his wrong hand because of an invisible disability. You can't see it and he hides it quite well but he physically can't eat with one of his hands (can't move it in that way). I did wonder what people think of it sometimes. Looks like a range of different opinions, so that's good.

I can't stand it when people (usually those who move their hands a lot when they talk) start waving the cutlery around when they're talking, so distracting. Even worse when knife and fork are in the wrong hands.

You were asked to go to the toilet before, wash your hands, and prepare for dinner. Imagine being at a dinner and making a fuss about going to the bathroom, shuffling, and scraping chairs.😂

Apparently, as a young boy, I sat at the table long after everyone had finished, I'd been nagging to leave as I'd finished. I was told to wait and be patient.
When asked why I was still sitting down, I replied, I'm waiting for patience.😂

Imagine being at a dinner and making a fuss about going to the bathroom, shuffling, and scraping chairs.
I've done it lots, zero fuss or shuffling, just politely excusing myself and go to the bathroom.

I agree OP. The way some people eat, particularly whilst out in public, is revolting.

Why do you make a fuss every time you go to the toilet?

You could not be excused either for a toilet trip or leave it when you had finished. You had to wait.

But really, why is it good manners to make children sit there once they've finished? What's the point except as some kind of odd power trip?

I'm with you op. It's noises more than anything else.

It's teaching them, mealtime etiquette, which includes enjoying food, manners, discipline, behavior in groups, and how to socialize. These skills bleed into other areas.
Basically what has happened in the past 20 yrs is the de-socialization of 1 or 2 generations. Then you end up with entitlement.

🙄 I insist on my children being polite but I honestly don't think sitting at the table after a meal teaches them any of this.

It teaches them to be patient and that everyone is important, that we don't just do our own thing but spend time with others

But what's correctly? If they're not actually dropping them, then they're holding a knife and fork.

Which hand and how to hold a fork gets into snobbery , but not talking with your mouth full is just good manners

God your poor kids.

If drinking pints at a restaurant or by the pool is so horribly wrong, why do they sell them there? And as for the on the go thing never go to a place where street food is common, you'll hate everyone there. Although I suspect you get off on judging people so maybe you'll like it.

Have you ever considered that you're the one with the problem, not everyone else?

Exactly.

I wish people would get away from the idea that holding knives and forks in the "wrong hands" is poor etiquette. There is no such thing as it being wrong, just some ill conceived idea from back in the day when uneducated superstitious people thought that left handed people were evil.

I think some of it is utter bollocks made up by insecure, snobby twats who like to look down on others to make themselves feel better. Also very anglo centric as other cultures vary.

No-one wants to see what you are eating or have food sprayed over them, you shouldn't wave your arms around at the table while people are bringing food, or be rude to the waiting staff. But I can't say as I've ever noticed how people hold their cutlery- as long as they aren't encroaching on others' personal space or waving a fork around dangerously. I feel very relaxed at formal dinners and have no worries about what I'm doing or how the man next to me is holding his knife.

But what's correctly? If they're not actually dropping them, then they're holding a knife and fork.

Holding them correctly is holding them in the way that allows you to cut your food and convey it to your mouth in the tidiest and most efficient way. So not in your two fists. Or, as a pp said, using the knife to hold the food and dragging it apart with the fork. Or holding the fork like a spoon to scoop up the food. Or eating off your knife.

I taught my kids that once they'd finished, they could ask to be excused, and would be, that they'd take their plates out. However, once excused, they could not come back to the dining table. Too bad if they'd forgotten dessert! That worked quite well.

They could get down if they wanted to, but they didn't get to pick and choose, it was once down, all out.

Street food is a concept where a range of global home-style cooked food is consumed in a social setting, it's not the same as nipping to Greggs and shoving a sausage roll down one's face.

And I'm sorry a pint on a restaurant table just looks wrong, a pub meal, no bother. Pints by a sun lounger, it just looks grim.

Judging is having standards not everyone wishes life to be kebab and a pint int working men's club.

What's the difference between eating a sausage roll when out and eating a bratwurst or noodles? And why do you spend your time in restaurants worrying about the size of other people's glasses?

You have serious issues and I hope you don't pass them on to your children.

And I'm sorry a pint on a restaurant table just looks wrong, a pub meal, no bother. Pints by a sun lounger, it just looks grim.

Are we allowed two half-pints or is that non-U?

And I'm sorry a pint on a restaurant table just looks wrong, a pub meal, no bother. Pints by a sun lounger, it just looks grim.

Judging is having standards not everyone wishes life to be kebab and a pint int working men's club.

I wonder, what sort of people are you imagining when you think of these activities 🤔

It must be exhausting keeping up with all your made up rules.

I don't care about elbows on the table. That seems like a weird "manner", it doesn't change anything.

Agree with everything else like making noises and chewing with mouth open. Makes me feel a bit sick.

😂😂😂

You're making me feel better about myself.

I don't live in the UK. A lot of your 'rules' are complete nonsense here and could even be considered rude in themselves. What makes you think YOUR style is the right one?