Table etiquette

[Popeye_Card]

I can't even picture how you were holding it?

Pretty close to how you hold a knife to cut food. Using the index finger closer to the neck for control. That just seems more natural to me than using a fork like a spoon. I'm just a freak I guess.

[jim]

I've pretty much refuse to learn table etiquette.

My etiquette begins and ends with utelizing my pinky to ensure that my glass/bottle of beer does not slip from my grasp.



True story. I went my whole life using an overhand grip with my fork. It was only pointed out to me a couple of years ago that I am pretty much the only person on earth that eats this way. For some reason, I have never noticed that other people do not eat this way, and no one has ever noticed that I do it. Now I feel like a barbarian.

Guarantee you that people noticed. I would have. I wouldn't have thought you were a bad person, but I would have to admit that my dining experience would be slightly less enjoyable because of it.

All I'm saying is that I wish somebody would have pointed it out to me before. I honestly had no idea for 25 years. It's not like I grabbed it with my fist--I held it with my fingers. Just overhand instead of underhand.

I can't even picture how you were holding it?

Palm down instead of palm up. Most people I've seen do that hold it with closed fist in their palms, sounds like popeye was trying at least.

And I'm guessing the reason nobody said anything is that it's not a major deal. I said it would detract from my dining, that's an overstatement. It just looks unusual, and I notice it. But it's one of those minor things that you would feel bad about pointing out unless it was your kid or something.

[clevername]

I'm cool with folks as long as the food makes it into and stays in their mouths. How they get it there (short of not using utensils at all) I don't really care.

[JL21]

I can't even picture how you were holding it?

Pretty close to how you hold a knife to cut food. Using the index finger closer to the neck for control. That just seems more natural to me than using a fork like a spoon. I'm just a freak I guess.

Are the tongs down?

[cardinalkarp]

I can't even picture how you were holding it?

Pretty close to how you hold a knife to cut food. Using the index finger closer to the neck for control. That just seems more natural to me than using a fork like a spoon. I'm just a freak I guess.

Are the tongs down?

If not it would be awkward watching Popeye eat. He'd be contorting his wrist all over the place to get the food on the fork, either that or he would just "scoop" it.

[JL21]

If not it would be awkward watching Popeye eat. He'd be contorting his wrist all over the place to get the food on the fork, either that or he would just "scoop" it.

I've seen some old codgers do it that way, believe it or not. There was definitely scooping going on. It's the scoop-n-stab method of eating.

[cardinalkarp]

I've seen some old codgers do it that way, believe it or not

You just called Popeye an "old codger".

[Popeye_Card]

I can't even picture how you were holding it?

Pretty close to how you hold a knife to cut food. Using the index finger closer to the neck for control. That just seems more natural to me than using a fork like a spoon. I'm just a freak I guess.

Are the tongs down?

If not it would be awkward watching Popeye eat. He'd be contorting his wrist all over the place to get the food on the fork, either that or he would just "scoop" it.

No, tongs up. And I used it like everyone else uses a fork. Honestly, my wrist feels less contorted that way. I mean, we do pretty much everything else in life overhand (typing, etc.). That's the way my wrists naturally go.

[lukethedrifter]

I gotta say that with kids it's a whole lot easier to teach them some basic table manners early than have to try to undo some gross and embarrassing habits later.

[haltz]

No, tongs up. And I used it like everyone else uses a fork. Honestly, my wrist feels less contorted that way. I mean, we do pretty much everything else in life overhand (typing, etc.). That's the way my wrists naturally go.

Just put the tongs down, that's how you're supposed to eat if you don't switch hands. And how the fork should be held in your left hand until you do. I can't picture this either, BTW.