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!

I went to a carvery a couple of weeks ago with my MIL and the table manners of the people on the opposite table were shocking. One girl who looked maybe 12 or 13 used her fork to pile mashed potatoes into a Yorkshire pudding then picked it up and ate it like a sandwich. One of the adults with them also ate with his hands. We're talking roast lamb here!

They can also all open a bottle of wine (move the bottle not the corkscrew)
Someone tried to explain left-handed corkscrews to me on here once. I still don't get it. It has never occurred to me that using a corkscrew in my left hand presented any issue. It's gripping and turning. How is there any handed bias in that and why would anyone need a left-handed version?

I’m also left handed and use both hands with a knife and fork.

It makes me heave to eat with people with no table manners. It’s such an important life skill that has zero to do with class and everything to do with consideration.

I think that this is the most pretentious thing that I’ve read on here.

The number of ways that people invent to pretend that they are better than others is quite something.

This is one of the most 'British' threads I've read.

I love travelling and eating...eating with a huge group of jovial people who are talking with their mouths full, handing food to each other, wandering around the table, hugging, scooping food up with breads and genuinely enjoying everything about it is one of the most pleasurable things in the world.

I don't see how a conversation can flow naturally if the food is utterly sublime yet you can only speak between mouthfuls. Maybe I have just been brought up amongst troughing pigs....

Imagine getting worked up about what kind of glass other people use.

And I would also suggest it's just as rude to ignore those at your own table and take the time instead to invest in what the '12 year old girl' or 'family of 16' are doing at their tables. Says a lot about your own company and enjoyment of the food.

If you don’t put your knife and fork together when eating out, don’t expect your plate to be cleared - waiting staff will not know you’ve finished - jyst pop them together when you’re done

if you Use the wrong cutlery when eating your courses, don’t shout at the waiting staff you don’t have the correct knife and fork- it’s not our fault you didn’t use the correct type

dont try and hand your plate to staff passing when others at your table haven’t finished eating - you might be rude but the staff have to be polite

I don't see how a conversation can flow naturally if the food is utterly sublime yet you can only speak between mouthfuls. Maybe I have just been brought up amongst troughi

don’t you take turns eating, listening and talking?

I'm sure lots of people dream of returning to an era of Downtown.

Well, the lights were much brighter there. You could forget all your troubles, forget all your cares…

No. We are generally excited to be in each other's company and there's so much going on. Whether I'm with extended Bajan family or Turkish friends it's all about merriment and enjoyment.

Totally agree...

It's the difference between having the risk of someone spitting their food over you🤮 and just some ancient etiquette manual.

I often use the wrong hand for eating... I'm left handed... And it impacts precisely mo one apart from me

It's obvious I'm talking about a particular setting, I just think beer glasses look shit on a certain type of table. A stemmed glass looks much better.

Do you really think this happens in rural Russia/Lithuania? No.
Does mama have special table settings and rarely used crockery, glasses, etc for special occasions. Of course.

Of course, we eat with our fingers and drink from beer bottles or eat food off TV trays, or move about. I might even pick food up off the floor and eat it too.
The difference is, that I'm aware of others, customs, and where I am.

I think I'd be concerned about what happens in rural Russia or Lithuania, if I were there.

Do I think that what happens there, matters here? No. I really cannot understand why anyone would.

I'm unclear why you keep referencing rural Russia/Lithuania? It's unlikely any of us will be there and need to know. I also don't know anyone from Rural Russia so unlikely to need to know their customs and rules around etiquette

@Hrpuffnstuff1 I think in the downtown abbey era, you would've been scullery maid!

A proper lady wouldn't use the word shit.

And where I am it is perfectly acceptable to drink out a beer glasses regardless of how snobs think it looks.

This.

Can you imagine? A guest sitting down, looking at the table setting, and sniffing, saying 'oh, I see you don't use stemmed glass ware for the ale. How. . . quaint'. .

I'm sure you wouldn't, HrPuffnstuff1 - or would you?!

My stepson is awful for this, and it honestly makes me want to scream. He eats with his mouth open, making a horrific noise with every single mouthful. It drives me fucking mad - eating noises give me the RAGE.

Worst thing is, he's 18 years old, and should definitely know better.

It's an example of differing global customs.

We don't all live our lives 2km from our homes or eat at Toby carvery.

Tell me you're a judgy bitch without telling me your a judgy bitch.

We don't all live our lives 2km from our homes or eat at Toby carvery.

Well no, I've lived in many countries and visited even more. Nowhere has it mattered what hand holds your fork. Nowhere has it been polite to talk whilst spraying food on your dinner mates. I'm not mad on Toby Carvery but it's handy enough if I can't be bothered to cook and fancy a roast as there's one down the road.

We don't all live our lives 2km from our homes or eat at Toby carvery.

I travel internationally for work and I think you sound insufferable........(that's the politest way I could think of putting it). The vast majority of people don't need to be aware of what is considered proper etiquette in rural Russia. It's completely irrelevant to this discussion other that allowing you to demonstrate that you're better than everyone else.

I'm actually quite partial to a Toby Carvery and occasionally choose to have pint with a meal. I also use my cutlery in the 'wrong' hands but I also do a lot of things the 'wrong' way as I'm only marginally right hand dominant.
It doesn't actually matter.

Tell me you're a judgy bitch without telling me your a judgy bitch..

😂😂😂
At least they've stopped trying to use a northern accent to signify the commoners