How important are good table manners in a partner?

[Fuuma]

I have faulty Donut eating manners, I usually manage to cover myself and the surrounding area with the white dust they sprinkle over them. I thankfully almost never eat Donuts. I guess I'm not marriage material and show my lack of cop breeding or something.

 

[Narciso]

Originally Posted by otc

Since its been spam-revived, I might as well chime in.

I know that the switching hands thing is proper in some places so it isnt something that would bother me per se...I just think it seems really illogical. Are your motor skills that bad that one of your hands is only useful for holding something in place?

My bigger issue is the lack of knife usage. Half the time, if there is nothing that doesn't require specific cutting (that is, it can't be mauled with a fork into pieces in absence of a knife), my roommates won't even set the table with knives. I see two problems with this. First is that while it is possible to squish your way through a chicken breast with the side of the fork, the knife is 100% unarguably the right way to do this. Second, how do you push things onto your fork (lets say..peas)? If the plate has a good ridge, you can use that but otherwise you are stuck sneaking in a little two-finger push...at that point why not just pick it up with your fingers. A knife is part of a place setting and should be present out of habit not only when deemed necessary.

As far as dating someone with faulty table manners...I don't know. I have never had to do so to a point where I was annoyed...Table manners can be taught so it might be fixable (although how many of you would have much luck telling your girlfriend they eat wrong?). As long as it isn't rampant open-mouth chewing and comes off ok in front of my family, it wouldnt stop me from dating them. If we end up having kids, maybe they will absorb the rest when I teach the kid how to do it.

You use a spoon. If you want to talk about illogical, knives are illogical for everything but pork chops and bad steak, but most people use 'em anyway. Spoon and fork is way easier, but I avoid it at most restaurants since it's not the norm in the US.

 

[username79]

Originally Posted by scarphe

breastfeeding at the table etc.,
I find this disturbing at restaurants; especially when they put the baby on the table.

 

[Maharlika]

There was a stunning young lady next to me at a restaurant here in L.A. called The Ivy. She was with an older gentleman and thought they were an interesting couple. The moment she picked up her fork and used it as a toothpick, my impression immediately changed and turned the opposite direction. That's how important good table manners are. On a personal note, there is not going to be a second date if they have not read Emily Post on etiquette.