I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
doing the same.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:17:06 -0400, Metspitzer >
wrote:

> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> doing the same.

Is your head in one hand while you shovel food into your mouth with
the other?

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 4/16/2013 11:17 AM, Metspitzer wrote:
> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> doing the same.
>
I was taught the same thing about no elbows on the dinner table at home.
Also, napkin goes on the lap, not tucked into the front of your shirt
like a bib.

I'll put my elbows on the table at home. I still don't do it if I'm
eating in a restaurant, at least not until the plates have been cleared
and we're waiting for the check.

Jill

On 4/16/2013 11:17 AM, Metspitzer wrote:
> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> doing the same.

The Emily post etiquette clan says it's fine to put your elbows
on the table. Just don't just it as a fulcrum to shovel food
into your mouth.

nancy

On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 11:17:06 AM UTC-4, Metspitzer wrote:
> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
>
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
>
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
>
> doing the same.

So, you share the room with other boors. Big deal.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:33:13 -0700 (PDT), Kalmia
> wrote:

>On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 11:17:06 AM UTC-4, Metspitzer wrote:
>> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
>>
>> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
>>
>> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
>>
>> doing the same.
>
>So, you share the room with other boors. Big deal.

Shouldn't that be boobs? I always look around to see how many women
have their big deal breasts on the table.

On 4/16/2013 11:33 AM, Kalmia wrote:
> On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 11:17:06 AM UTC-4, Metspitzer wrote:
>> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
>>
>> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
>>
>> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
>>
>> doing the same.
>
> So, you share the room with other boors. Big deal.
>
Just what is wrong with elbows on the table? It's a perfectly natural
position especially for an after dinner discussion.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not" in Reply To.

On Apr 16, 11:16*am, James Silverton >
wrote:
> On 4/16/2013 11:33 AM, Kalmia wrote:> On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 11:17:06 AM UTC-4, Metspitzer wrote:
> >> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
>
> >> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. *When that
>
> >> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
>
> >> doing the same.
>
> > So, you share the room with other boors. *Big deal.
>
> Just what is wrong with elbows on the table? It's a perfectly natural
> position especially for an after dinner discussion.
>
> --
> Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)
>
> Extraneous "not" in Reply To.

We weren't allowed to put elbows on the table either at home or out in
a restaurant. I believe at the time, it was considered uncouth or
uneducated in the finer aspects of acceptable public manners, so to
speak. I'm talking 40s/early 50s. I still think it's rude. For one
thing, if the table is at all crowded, an elbow on the table tends to
get in the way of the tablemates to your right and left.

N.

On 4/16/2013 12:44 PM, Nancy2 wrote:
> On Apr 16, 11:16 am, James Silverton >
> wrote:
>> On 4/16/2013 11:33 AM, Kalmia wrote:> On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 11:17:06 AM UTC-4, Metspitzer wrote:
>>>> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
>>
>>>> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
>>
>>>> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
>>
>>>> doing the same.
>>
>>> So, you share the room with other boors. Big deal.
>>
>> Just what is wrong with elbows on the table? It's a perfectly natural
>> position especially for an after dinner discussion.
>>
>> --
>> Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)
>>
>> Extraneous "not" in Reply To.
>
> We weren't allowed to put elbows on the table either at home or out in
> a restaurant. I believe at the time, it was considered uncouth or
> uneducated in the finer aspects of acceptable public manners, so to
> speak. I'm talking 40s/early 50s. I still think it's rude. For one
> thing, if the table is at all crowded, an elbow on the table tends to
> get in the way of the tablemates to your right and left.

It sounds like you are appealing to the ultimate authority on etiquette
:-) As they say in Scotland, "Ma Mammy telt me".
--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not" in Reply To.

Metspitzer wrote:
>
> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> doing the same.

That bit of dining etiquette seems to have gone the way of the dodo,
even in some pretty high end restaurants. Times change, people change...

In article >, gravesend10
@verizon.net says...
>
> On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:33:13 -0700 (PDT), Kalmia
> > wrote:
>
> >On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 11:17:06 AM UTC-4, Metspitzer wrote:
> >> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> >>
> >> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> >>
> >> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> >>
> >> doing the same.
> >
> >So, you share the room with other boors. Big deal.
>
> Shouldn't that be boobs? I always look around to see how many women
> have their big deal breasts on the table.

Your mother must have forgotten to wean you. I just hope she was more
successful with pottie training.

Janet

On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 10:44:30 AM UTC-6, Nancy2 wrote:
> On Apr 16, 11:16*am, James Silverton >
>
> wrote:
>
> > On 4/16/2013 11:33 AM, Kalmia wrote:> On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 11:17:06 AM UTC-4, Metspitzer wrote:
>
> > >> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
>
> >
>
> > >> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. *When that
>
> >
>
> > >> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
>
> >
>
> > >> doing the same.
>
> >
>
> > > So, you share the room with other boors. *Big deal.
>
> >
>
> > Just what is wrong with elbows on the table? It's a perfectly natural
>
> > position especially for an after dinner discussion.
>
> >
>
> > --
>
> > Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)
>
> >
>
> > Extraneous "not" in Reply To.
>
>
>
> We weren't allowed to put elbows on the table either at home or out in
>
> a restaurant. I believe at the time, it was considered uncouth or
>
> uneducated in the finer aspects of acceptable public manners, so to
>
> speak. I'm talking 40s/early 50s. I still think it's rude. For one
>
> thing, if the table is at all crowded, an elbow on the table tends to
>
> get in the way of the tablemates to your right and left.
>
>
>
> N.

Frankly it is something that I never worry about...it all depends on how the
table/chair/booth arrangement is set up. Some booths have a a fairly high table
and tight fit...others provide more room. What Emily Post wrote a hundred
years ago means nothing to me. If I want to rest my elbows...so be it...
who gives a red rat's ass anyway?
===========

On 16/04/2013 11:25 AM, jmcquown wrote:

> I was taught the same thing about no elbows on the dinner table at home.
> Also, napkin goes on the lap, not tucked into the front of your shirt
> like a bib.
>
> I'll put my elbows on the table at home. I still don't do it if I'm
> eating in a restaurant, at least not until the plates have been cleared
> and we're waiting for the check.


Never while eating, neither at home or in a restaurant.

"James Silverton" > wrote in message
...
> On 4/16/2013 12:44 PM, Nancy2 wrote:
>> On Apr 16, 11:16 am, James Silverton >
>> wrote:
>>> On 4/16/2013 11:33 AM, Kalmia wrote:> On Tuesday, April 16, 2013
>>> 11:17:06 AM UTC-4, Metspitzer wrote:
>>>>> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
>>>
>>>>> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
>>>
>>>>> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
>>>
>>>>> doing the same.
>>>
>>>> So, you share the room with other boors. Big deal.
>>>
>>> Just what is wrong with elbows on the table? It's a perfectly natural
>>> position especially for an after dinner discussion.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)
>>>
>>> Extraneous "not" in Reply To.
>>
>> We weren't allowed to put elbows on the table either at home or out in
>> a restaurant. I believe at the time, it was considered uncouth or
>> uneducated in the finer aspects of acceptable public manners, so to
>> speak. I'm talking 40s/early 50s. I still think it's rude. For one
>> thing, if the table is at all crowded, an elbow on the table tends to
>> get in the way of the tablemates to your right and left.
>
> It sounds like you are appealing to the ultimate authority on etiquette
> :-) As they say in Scotland, "Ma Mammy telt me".

lol quite right

--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 4/16/2013 9:17 AM, Metspitzer wrote:
> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> doing the same.
>


My late mother-in-law taught her children:

Mabel, Mable, strong and able
Take your elbows off the table.
This is not a horse's stable
But a first class dining table.

gloria p

On 4/16/2013 10:17 AM, Metspitzer wrote:
> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> doing the same.


We do not do that, not at home or in a restaurant. I wouldn't have all
these teeth if I did that at home. Not sure that people do that here,
but now I will start looking.

Becca

On 4/16/2013 1:40 PM, gloria p wrote:

> My late mother-in-law taught her children:
>
> Mabel, Mable, strong and able
> Take your elbows off the table.
> This is not a horse's stable
> But a first class dining table.
>
> gloria p

How wonderful, I love this one, Gloria.

Becca

On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 2:51:48 PM UTC-4, Ema Nymton wrote:
> We do not do that, not at home or in a restaurant. I wouldn't have all
>
> these teeth if I did that at home. Not sure that people do that here,
>
> but now I will start looking.

Actually, someone's elbows on the table aren't as bad, my MY book, as caps on heads or screaming kids. And let's NOT get into open-mouthed chewing or shoveling with a bread-aided fork, right and left hands going a la Gene Krupa.

On Apr 16, 2:50*pm, Kalmia > wrote:
>
>
> *And let's NOT get into shoveling with a bread-aided fork.
>
>
I *think* I know what you mean, but would you clarify this statement
please?

"Metspitzer" > wrote in message
...
>I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> doing the same.

I don't think I do that. Not when I'm eating anyway...

On 4/16/2013 2:50 PM, Kalmia wrote:

> Actually, someone's elbows on the table aren't as bad, my MY book, as
> caps on heads or screaming kids. And let's NOT get into open-mouthed
> chewing or shoveling with a bread-aided fork, right and left hands
> going a la Gene Krupa.

We have to remind my secondborn that he can not wear a hat in a
restaurant, we did it just 3 weeks ago.

What bothers me in restaurants, is noise. Many restaurants play music
that is too loud, I am not a Country music fan, so that makes it even
worse. There is a restaurant about 30 minutes away, that George likes,
and I do not like going there because they play Country music. It is
just something I never got into.

Becca

I can keep my elbows off the table, but the nicety I always forget is,
"Little ships go out to sea." Spoon your soup away from yourself.

Tara

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:14:48 -0500, Tara >
wrote:

>I can keep my elbows off the table, but the nicety I always forget is,
>"Little ships go out to sea." Spoon your soup away from yourself.
>
I always get............Stop slurping!

On 4/16/2013 5:17 AM, Metspitzer wrote:
> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> doing the same.
>

You should just forget about what the other slobs in the restaurant are
doing and be yourself. Don't forget to wash your hands before eating and
make sure your hair is neatly combed. Sit up straight and make sure to
keep both your feet firmly in place on the ground. I think you'll find
that dining experience will be a whole lot more enjoyable. Good luck!

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:42:13 -0500, Ema Nymton >
wrote:



>
>We have to remind my secondborn that he can not wear a hat in a
>restaurant, we did it just 3 weeks ago.
>

I was taught that gentlemen removed their hats indoors all the time,
not just restaurants. Many years later I still do. I rarely wear a
ball cap preferring an English Driving cap.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:42:13 -0500, Ema Nymton >
wrote:

> What bothers me in restaurants, is noise. Many restaurants play music
> that is too loud, I am not a Country music fan, so that makes it even
> worse. There is a restaurant about 30 minutes away, that George likes,
> and I do not like going there because they play Country music. It is
> just something I never got into.

I second that. Country music and no alcohol. What an awful
combination.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:50:23 -0700 (PDT), Kalmia
> wrote:

> On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 2:51:48 PM UTC-4, Ema Nymton wrote:
> > We do not do that, not at home or in a restaurant. I wouldn't have all
> >
> > these teeth if I did that at home. Not sure that people do that here,
> >
> > but now I will start looking.
>
> Actually, someone's elbows on the table aren't as bad, my MY book, as caps on heads or screaming kids. And let's NOT get into open-mouthed chewing or shoveling with a bread-aided fork, right and left hands going a la Gene Krupa.

Good lord, where do you eat? Not even the fast food crowd is that
bad.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:14:48 -0500, Tara >
wrote:

> the nicety I always forget is,
> "Little ships go out to sea." Spoon your soup away from yourself.

I just plain ignore it.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:42:13 -0500, Ema Nymton >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>>
>> We have to remind my secondborn that he can not wear a hat in a
>> restaurant, we did it just 3 weeks ago.
>>
>
> I was taught that gentlemen removed their hats indoors all the time,
> not just restaurants. Many years later I still do. I rarely wear a
> ball cap preferring an English Driving cap.

Real cowboys don't wear hats indoors.

Greg

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:43:19 -1000, dsi1
> wrote:

> On 4/16/2013 5:17 AM, Metspitzer wrote:
> > I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
> > it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
> > happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
> > doing the same.
> >
>
> You should just forget about what the other slobs in the restaurant are
> doing and be yourself. Don't forget to wash your hands before eating and
> make sure your hair is neatly combed. Sit up straight and make sure to
> keep both your feet firmly in place on the ground. I think you'll find
> that dining experience will be a whole lot more enjoyable. Good luck!

Are you telling him to grow up?

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 4/16/2013 3:30 PM, The Other Guy wrote:
>
> And DON'T FORGET TO WEAR CLEAN UNDIES.
>
> OR, you could just RELAX and quit obsessing!!

You certainly can't argue with that line of thinking.

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To reply by email, lose the Ks...
>

On 4/16/2013 6:50 PM, sf wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:43:19 -1000, dsi1
> > wrote:
>
>> On 4/16/2013 5:17 AM, Metspitzer wrote:
>>> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant. Since
>>> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When that
>>> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the room
>>> doing the same.
>>>
>>
>> You should just forget about what the other slobs in the restaurant are
>> doing and be yourself. Don't forget to wash your hands before eating and
>> make sure your hair is neatly combed. Sit up straight and make sure to
>> keep both your feet firmly in place on the ground. I think you'll find
>> that dining experience will be a whole lot more enjoyable. Good luck!
>
> Are you telling him to grow up?
>

We'd get along a lot better if we lived our lives using those grade
school educational films as our guide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XGG1NouAzg

Tara > wrote in
:

> I can keep my elbows off the table, but the nicety I always forget
is,
> "Little ships go out to sea." Spoon your soup away from yourself.
>
> Tara

In Asian countries, it's perfectly acceptable to pick up the bowl of
soup, hold it just under your mouth with one hand and spoon the soup
in with spoon held in the other hand.

Metspitzer > wrote in
:

> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant.
Since
> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When
that
> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the
room
> doing the same.
>

If you google "origin of manners and etiquette", you get close to
800,000 hits. The concensus of the few I read seems to be that
manners were developed for many different reasons, some of them to
create a discipline in social situations and some of them just
plain arbitrarily to make a distinction between the upper classes
and the peasants. And as society changes, so do manners.

There's a lot of similarity between etiquette and grammer in this
context. We're taught in school (or at least we used to be taught
in school...) that you shouldn't split infinitives, e.g., you
shouldn't say "to boldly go", you should say "to go boldly". The
reason? Much of our grammer is inherited from Latin, and in
Latin, infinitives are only one word and therefore _can't_ be
split. So some guru of the English language hundreds of years ago
made a purely arbitrary decision that we still live with today.

Personally, I don't put my elbows on the table because I find it
uncomfortable, no other reason...

On 4/16/2013 10:42 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:42:13 -0500, Ema Nymton >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>>
>> We have to remind my secondborn that he can not wear a hat in a
>> restaurant, we did it just 3 weeks ago.
>>
>
> I was taught that gentlemen removed their hats indoors all the time,
> not just restaurants. Many years later I still do. I rarely wear a
> ball cap preferring an English Driving cap.
>
Just watch some of the old movies where the men *always* wore some sort
of hat (fedoras were common). The first thing they do when they step
inside is remove their hats.

Jill

On 4/17/2013 5:22 AM, Alan Holbrook wrote:
> Tara > wrote in
> :
>
>> I can keep my elbows off the table, but the nicety I always forget
> is,
>> "Little ships go out to sea." Spoon your soup away from yourself.
>>
>> Tara
>
> In Asian countries, it's perfectly acceptable to pick up the bowl of
> soup, hold it just under your mouth with one hand and spoon the soup
> in with spoon held in the other hand.
>
They've got cool spoons, too!

Jill

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:22:02 -0500, Alan Holbrook >
wrote:

> Tara > wrote in
> :
>
> > I can keep my elbows off the table, but the nicety I always forget
> is,
> > "Little ships go out to sea." Spoon your soup away from yourself.
> >
> > Tara
>
> In Asian countries, it's perfectly acceptable to pick up the bowl of
> soup, hold it just under your mouth with one hand and spoon the soup
> in with spoon held in the other hand.

The last time I checked, the USA wasn't considered an Asian country.
You can/should slurp your soup in China (to show appreciation) too,
but it's not considered polite here. In some countries, it's also
considered polite to produce a belch at the end of a meal... but that
isn't acceptable behavior here either.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:02:02 +1000, John J > wrote:

> On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:33:10 -0500, Alan Holbrook >
> wrote:
>
> >Metspitzer > wrote in
> :
> >
> >> I was taught not too put my elbows on the table in a restaurant.
> >Since
> >> it is a very comfortable position, I ignore my manners. When
> >that
> >> happens, I always look around and find, at least, half of the
> >room
> >> doing the same.
> >>
> >
> >If you google "origin of manners and etiquette", you get close to
> >800,000 hits. The concensus of the few I read seems to be that
> >manners were developed for many different reasons, some of them to
> >create a discipline in social situations and some of them just
> >plain arbitrarily to make a distinction between the upper classes
> >and the peasants. And as society changes, so do manners.
> >
> >There's a lot of similarity between etiquette and grammer in this
> >context.
>
> And spelling?

Completely up to whomever wrote the dictionary you use to arbitrate
the situation.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:50:14 -1000, dsi1
> wrote:

> We'd get along a lot better if we lived our lives using those grade
> school educational films as our guide.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XGG1NouAzg

"All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten"
by Robert Fulghum

Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life -
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 4/17/2013 10:59 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 4/17/2013 5:22 AM, Alan Holbrook wrote:
>> Tara > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> I can keep my elbows off the table, but the nicety I always forget
>> is,
>>> "Little ships go out to sea." Spoon your soup away from yourself.
>>>
>>> Tara
>>
>> In Asian countries, it's perfectly acceptable to pick up the bowl of
>> soup, hold it just under your mouth with one hand and spoon the soup
>> in with spoon held in the other hand.
>>
> They've got cool spoons, too!
>
> Jill

It's common enough in Japanese restaurants to just pick up a soup bowl
with both hands and sip from it, contrary to what "Ma mammy telt me".
Yes, either chopsticks or a spoon are needed when the soup contains
vegetables, noodles or meats. I won't go into making enthusiastic sounds
either.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not" in Reply To.