Why is elbows on the table bad

Whether you realize it or not, your elbows are likely encroaching on those around you. But in a causal, familiar setting, it's totally fine to do it every once in a while. In fact, etiquette queen Emily Post is known for happily eating with her elbows on the table from time to time.

By Meghan Overdeep. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. The rule is that you should always keep your left hand, or your non-dominant hand, pinned down by your side while eating. Yes, you are allowed, within this rule, to use your other hand to help cut meat or as generally needed to deal with the food, but you should immediately put down any extra utensil, such as a knife, and return the free hand back to its immobile prison.

Try it and see how much you enjoy your dinner! Yet, this rule of the invisible hand was not the case on the European continent, where diners usually were encouraged to keep both hands in plain sight on the edge of the table at all times. People were quite often itchy in the old days, not having a morning shower like we do, and they were apt to scratch at the table; bad manners indeed.

So, now you know what I think, but what do you think? Does it bother you when people keep their elbows on the table or do you think we all need to get over it? All Rights Reserved. Please contact for permissions. Visser, Margaret. New York: Grove Weidenfeld, It was important that people could see you were doing your best to be civilized and considerate to others around you. Failure to do so suggested your behavior was unpredictable, and you may start fighting at any moment.

People could become scared when others exhibited bad table manners in the fear that a brawl was going to erupt. The general rule was to ensure that your arms remained within the confines of your tableware, which acted as a border. Do humans still have a 'delivery season', or are births evenly distributed across the calendar?

There is no international delivery season. However, there are local delivery seasons in countries where the weather has an impact on living conditions. For, example in the Middle East, birth rates increase seven to nine months after summer ends. Probably due to the necessity of staying inside where it is cool. Why is it considered bad manners to have elbows on the table? Please try again later. The Sydney Morning Herald. July 30, — Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later.

Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size. Tony Muir, Tamarama It is bad manners to eat with your elbows on the table because my mum said so - nuff said. Christian Carter, Bellevue Hill There is no answer. David Mathers, Lidcombe Most animals don't have elbows.

Oliver McKenzie, Annadale. Will Kemp, Lismore. After amputations and liposuctions, where do the leftover bits go? Dudley Filkins, Port Macquarie. Given to a fatuous Fat-o-Gram. Steve Barrett, Glenbrook. John Frith, Paddington When my Welsh grandmother amputated a finger and thumb in a shotgun accident at the age of 16, her parents buried the digits in a cigar box in the family vault with a shortened form of the burial service.

Christian Carter, Bellevue Hill It is well known within the film industry that they use leftover bits in the making of gory films. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury. Barry Thinn, Bankstown. To fool's paradise. Richard Ramsden, Mosman Why is there a seemingly never-ending supply of bottled "natural mineral water" when there are water shortages? Sandy Parkinson, Hilton, WA.

Trevor Doornbos, East Ryde How do we know if the fridge light has turned off when we close the door? Robert Anderson, Berowra. Kevin Halsey, Split, Croatia Drill a small hole and have a peep. Ray Armaghanian, Sydney On my fridge, when you are just about to close the door you can see the light turns off. Matthew Pirozzi, Hunters Hill Two ways: you can look at the crack between door and fridge as you slowly close the door and observe the light vanish just before the door closes best done at night , or switch everything except the fridge off, and check to see that the electricity meter is no longer turning when the fridge door is closed as long as the fridge motor hasn't kicked in this will work!

Sandy Parkinson, Hilton, WA Because I've personally tested out this theory as a kid, by slowing shutting the door and watching the light carefully to see if it's turned off Karina L, Kingsgrove I spoke to the little man in the fridge who operates the light and he assures me he always turns the light off when the door is closed. Ask Schrodinger's Cat. Kyle Crick, Mogo If a milk bottle falls over in the fridge, and there is nobody to hear it, does it make a sound?