Would You Judge Me Over Table Manners?

[TheShellBeach]

I eat with my fork in my right hand and my knife in my left hand.

I have always done this. I am not left-handed and have lost count of the number of people who have asked me if I am. It just feels easier for me. DH is the same.

Seriously - would you judge me and think I had bad table manners over this? AIBU to think people should use their cutlery whichever way round is comfortable?

If you haven't noticed it, that will be because someone hasn't sat next to you doing it. Because if they were, you would notice.

Or because I wasn't sat close enough to them to be elbowed.

No judgement here.

Just don't speak with food in your mouth and in general, keep your mouth shut while there's food in it.

Oh my goodness I never knew this was a thing. I'm right handed but use my right hand for my fork, is this wrong???

I'm right handed but use my right hand for my fork, is this wrong???

According to the arbiters of outdated pointless etiquette and people who dine too closely to the person next to them, yes. However, I don't think it is wrong.

@RampantIvy Thanks! I'm genuinely shocked. Can't believe I got to this age and didn't know this 🙈😂. I don't think I'd be able to change now.

Or maybe just an environment sufficient to meet the needs of the people invited or paying to eat there. The primary purpose of a shared meal is to consume food and socialise, not to show how well one is able to comply with a set of rules, and criticise those of our companions who don't. That is extremely rude. As is likening human beings to animals.

That’s exactly how I eat, I didn’t know it was wrong 😂

I'd doubt id notice and if i did I wouldn't care

I'm not fussed which hands you use, as long as you're not shovelling food in your face or elbowing people, but holding your cutlery the other way around is nothing to do with being left handed. I'm a leftie, various family members are and we've all just learned to use cutlery in the conventional way because that's how it's done, not to do with handedness.

Some things make sense to adapt to left-handedness, like holding a pen, using scissors or a mouse, but it's not like you need particular strength or dexterity (ha!) to use a knife and fork. Surely getting your fork or spoon into your mouth with your left hand is easier when it's your dominant hand.

That said, it's different when it comes to chopsticks. Having not grown up with them, they're challenge enough to use without having to do it with my right hand as well!

Surely getting your fork or spoon into your mouth with your left hand is easier when it's your dominant hand.

I guess you are right, but if you are cutting a piece of steak or a pork chop you would want your knife in your dominant hand, wouldn't you?

I'm right handed and hold my fork in my right hand.

If anyone "judged" me for this, zero shits would be given.

I’m pretty big on table manners, but wouldn’t even bat an eye lid at this - would assume your left handed.

You don't eat out much then. I get why you haven't noticed then.

I don't eat out in big groups much. Usually there are two, three or four of us so no-one's elbows get in the way.

The only time I am in a big group is at Christmas for a work do or similar. I think also, I don't notice it because it isn't important to me.

Nope. My DH eats that way aswell, always has done and I've never even noticed tbh

Goodness. I hope your good manners with cutlery compensates for your rather uncouth behaviour in discussion.

I've been dying to say this, but did you mean to be so rude?

No because I do the same.

@RampantIvy calls for the head tile, tinkly laugh I reckon 😂😂

*tilt

I'm left handed and didn't even realise this was a thing for lefties?! I use fork in left and knife in right. My brother, who is right handed, holds fork in right, knife in left. I just thought it was preference and nothing to do with handedness 🤷🏼‍♀️

I defo wouldn't judge anyone for how they choose to use their cutlery!

My dad did it, I do it. I wasn't even aware my dad and I both did it and it was considered unusual until dh pointed it out years ago.

DH is left-handed and eats right-handed.
I'm right-handed and eat left-handed.

Is licking the plate permitted?