Are Table Manners Important?
Ask a Question
Are table manners important?
I was just listening to Armchair Expert (the podcast) and they were discussing what you should and shouldn't do at the dinner table. The thoughts were that you shouldn't have elbows on the table, that's it's okay to eat before everyones food has arrived, and that you shouldn't lie across the table to reach across it for something.
Yes they are very important I think. Not elbows on the table though I don't regard that as a must!
Yes they are important. I don’t care for elbows. I understand eating before others’ meals have arrived and hot while waiting could go cold but the host/cook should say ok to start first or you ask if ok. I hate people reaching across, always ask someone nearer to pass product along. The one that really annoys me though is loud indiscreet obvious burping/belching. I think that’s really bad manners. Do it quietly or apologise and leave the room.
JLouM This.
Plus, the type of conversation brought up can also be a good/bad thing make someone feel uncomfortable and even lose their appetite.
Here's 'nother one... Folks speaking while eating. Man, just eat and then talk.
PhilipMarc Well yes. Mouths should be closed whilst eating. Conversation in between and at pauses.
I believe table manners are important especially when in company of others. What you do in your own home is your own business.
I think some things are definitely important as they can put people off their food. Other things are just pointless and i wouldn’t have a problem doing them infront of friends.
Table manners are somewhat important depending on the occassion. In public it is always great if people do not behave in a way that is obviously going to offend those around them. I have not long returned from a local woodland cafe where one customer had no problem sitting there with his trousers hanging off his bottom exposing far more than anyone wished to see. He then blew his nose extremely loudly filling up a tissue and offering it to his companions to examine. So yes in some circumstances I believe some table manners are necessary.
Yes very important, it might not be for some, but for us it is mandatory in our house
Yes they are. I see kids eating at school and there's loads with literally zero table manners. It's not OK to see
Yes they are important. We teach our son table manners and that they need to be used at home, at school, at his Grandparents house and in public.
MelissaLee1 i so agree with that. I threaten to microwave the mobiles if they are being used when everyone is sat down to eat!
Yes I think so. Elbows on table don’t bother me, but I always wait until everyone has food before I start, and always put my knife and fork together on the plate when I have finished
We were always taught that elbows on the table was wrong, and we were not allowed to leave the table until everyone had finished - or we were given permission to leave by one of the parents. At boarding school we were not allowed to leave the table until everyone had finished either. Used to annoy the quickest eaters - it was fun to ask for seconds just to annoy everyone else who then had to wait!
Doesn't really bother me as long as they are being good and not being loud as some people can talk really loud which is more annoying
I do think table manners are very important as I believe manners are necessary throughout your whole life and make the world a pleasanter place to live in.
The most annoying thing for me is people who eat with their mouth open. Why anyone would imagine that other people want to see what is going on in their mouth is beyond me and is a big no-no, and it becomes like a car crash, you just can't look away 
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
