table manners

[Cynth]

I thought as much, myself.

Thank you on her behalf!

[Wombat]

When farting at table in public, I think good manners dictate that one NOT direct one's emissions toward others whenever one has such an option. Right or left becomes a matter of exercising consideration and, consequently, social skills.

Absolutely. Serious etiquette is involved here. People can get fractious. Witness the following exahnge:

1st man: How dare you f*rt in front of my wife?
2nd man: I'm dreadfully sorry. I didn't realise it was her turn.

[Nanohedron]

There's a form of table etiquette that I picked up during my brief stay in Japan: with rice bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, I pick up pieces of food, position them over the rice bowl (extended toward the dish of food) to catch any drips, and bring both bowl and chopsticks up to and somewhat under my face, and eat thusly. Putting one's face down toward one's food to eat is considered boorish, there, speaking of boors.

Even in Chinese restaurants, now, I needs me rice bowl. Can't stand it if it's heaped up on a plate.

[Denny]

I'd like to extend a hand of reconciliation. Let's join hands, around the table, and sing! "There's no place that I'd rather be than right here, with my red necks, white socks..."

Ah! Tip of the baseball cap to Walden!

Be it ever so bumble...

[Wanderer]

But it isn't about YOU at all. It's about YOUR HOSTESS and HER feelings.
[/b]

I'm wondering, in a college mess hall, who was the hostess that was going to be offended?

Even in Chinese restaurants, now, I needs me rice bowl. Can't stand it if it's heaped up on a plate.

Lol, I do the same thing. I find it amusing when occasionally I get the sideways glance from the more "socially refined" when I eat this way. Amusing, because it's the proper way to eat rice, and doubly amusing when I watch them try to eat rice with chopstics when it's served on a plate with a bit of a lip.

[Denny]

Even in Chinese restaurants, now, I needs me rice bowl. Can't stand it if it's heaped up on a plate.

Lol, I do the same thing. I find it amusing when occasionally I get the sideways glance from the more "socially refined" when I eat this way. Amusing, because it's the proper way to eat rice, and doubly amusing when I watch them try to eat rice with chopstics when it's served on a plate with a bit of a lip.

Well duh!

If you are going to eat rice with chopsticks it is much easier to do it in the traditional way...

[Darwin]

Even in Chinese restaurants, now, I needs me rice bowl. Can't stand it if it's heaped up on a plate.

Not to drag the thread off down a bunny trail, but most Chinese restaurants I've been to in the US have terrible rice. It's usually so dry that you can hardly pick it up with your chopsticks. Japanese and Korean restaurants don't seem to have this problem. My older son thinks it's cooked that way to match American taste. My wife's suspicion was that they cook it dry so that they could re-steam uneaten rice the next day--and the day after that--without it becoming unmanageably soggy. Whatever the reason, it's no excuse.

[Nanohedron]

But it isn't about YOU at all. It's about YOUR HOSTESS and HER feelings.
[/b]

I'm wondering, in a college mess hall, who was the hostess that was going to be offended?

The surly one with the hairy mole and who chews gum while occasionally scratching her arm with the ladle.

[Wanderer]

The surly one with the hairy mole and who chews gum while occasionally scratching her arm with the ladle.

Well yeah, I suppose you wouldn't want to offend that one

[Denny]

But it isn't about YOU at all. It's about YOUR HOSTESS and HER feelings.
[/b]

I'm wondering, in a college mess hall, who was the hostess that was going to be offended?

The surly one with the hairy mole and who chews gum while occasionally scratching her arm with the ladle.

This is not the one to set off.

[Nanohedron]

Even in Chinese restaurants, now, I needs me rice bowl. Can't stand it if it's heaped up on a plate.

Not to drag the thread off down a bunny trail, but most Chinese restaurants I've been to in the US have terrible rice. It's usually so dry that you can hardly pick it up with your chopsticks. Japanese and Korean restaurants don't seem to have this problem. My older son thinks it's cooked that way to match American taste. My wife's suspicion was that they cook it dry so that they could re-steam uneaten rice the next day--and the day after that--without it becoming unmanageably soggy. Whatever the reason, it's no excuse.

THANK you. If it's to "match" American tastes, nobody asked ME. Chinese restaurant rice often tastes bad, too. Chalky, like. I suppose that's what the drippings are for: to modify the taste.

[djm]

That's done to make fried rice the next day. Round-eyes order more fried rice than steamed rice, which, of course, offends the Chinese, who consider fried rice to be leftovers, not something to server to guests. Same with hot and sour soup - something for leftovers, but the round-eyes love it.

We haven't got into the other gaseous exchange - belching. My favourite trick is to sit back in a comfortable way after a big meal and let a good one go, just to see how many others will let go before they realize they've committed a faux pas. I catch a lot of women out this way. I know belching is considered good manners in some places, but none that worry about such matters as we here.

djm

[Nanohedron]

That's done to make fried rice the next day. Round-eyes order more fried rice than steamed rice, which, of course, offends the Chinese, who consider fried rice to be leftovers, not something to server to guests. Same with hot and sour soup - something for leftovers, but the round-eyes love it.

Oh, fer cryin' out loud. They could just leave the day-old stuff to frickin' DRY OUT ON ITS OWN. As if it wouldn't. How lazy, and inconsiderate of the patrons. Sheesh. Argh. Grumble.

We haven't got into the other gaseous exchange - belching. My favourite trick is to sit back in a comfortable way after a big meal and let a good one go, just to see how many others will let go before they realize they've committed a faux pas. I catch a lot of women out this way. I know belching is considered good manners in some places, but none that worry about such matters as we here.

djm

I never considered that burps, like yawns, might be contagious!

[Cynth]

...We haven't got into the other gaseous exchange - belching. My favourite trick is to sit back in a comfortable way after a big meal and let a good one go, just to see how many others will let go before they realize they've committed a faux pas. I catch a lot of women out this way. I know belching is considered good manners in some places, but none that worry about such matters as we here.

djm

You catch out a lot of women this way? You mean they start leaning back in their chairs and start belching along with you and then suddenly realize they are behaving like the very people who have been embarrassing them all their lives? I just plain don't believe that . You are clearly swallowing too much air while you are eating if you have to let a "good one go". Probably if you didn't shovel in your food it would help. Dude, the way you describe your table behavior makes me wonder that there are a lot of women who will dine with you !!!If you don't get repeat customers, I can suggest some reasons why that might be. Mercy!

[djm]

I think it reveals how much many women appreciate the satisfaction a good belch brings after a sumptuous repast. Either that, or the belch was already lurking in the background, and as Nano points out, the power of suggestion encourages release before the hapless victim has a chance to consider the propriety of letting that deep, rich, reverbrating blast echo about the room.

djm