Why do people eat with one of their arms on the table?

Question

It looks like they are shovelling food. Is this American etiquette?

Let me re-phrase and say, is this proper etiquette... don't get all upset about the "american" comment... geez

Answer 1

Miss Manners says it's perfectly OK for your arms to be on or touching the table. It's too awkward to avoid touching the table altogether. It's not proper table manners, though, to put your arm around the food. The following rule is probably a good one. Your hand and your wrist can touch the table. Your forearm can touch the table. Your elbow can even touch the table. But you've crossed the line when your elbow and hand/wrist are touching at the same time. To that, for starters, you practically have to bend over.

Answer 2

Sure, some people will say bad manners.. But here's MY reason.. A long while ago, I used to not eat with one arm on the table.. BUT.. when I did this, if I was wearing a hoodie with pockets I would put that hand in the pocket unless i wanted to grab my drink I'd use that hand but when I was done, I'd put it back in my pocket.. Soooo, that didn't last too long because those around me kept on making fun of me, saying I was stealing food, putting it in my pocket, and saving it for later and then if I was in a public place, strangers aroudn me would here it and a couple times I heard them whisper "Oh my god, that girl is stealing food from the tables.. Maybe she's poor" because they overheard the people I was sitting with talking and took it seriously!! Ugh! And so then I just put it on my lap or between my legs to keep it warm but oh no, that wouldn't do either. The people I was eating with would then comment/joke/make fun that I was touching myself!! And again people eating around us would stare! And so now, I've given up and I eat with my arm on the table, where everyone can see it and can't say anything about it.. Except for it's rude.. but then I just say "I've heard worse" and continue to eat.. Some people.. you can never please them, jeez!

Answer 3

We eat with our right, and rest with our left. It's not a matter of shoveling food - it only looks like that because you are eating at McDonalds.

You might notice that when people are uncomfortable they keep their arms to their sides, and when they are relaxed they tend to 'stretch out' a bit. It's the same at the dining table. When we are comfortable we have an elbow resting on the table. It's really a subconscious display that we enjoy our dinner company.

I hope that helps.

Answer 4

I don't know why this is. Maybe because it's more comfortable? Sometimes I do this when I'm not thinking. Honestly, I would rather my dinner partner(s) eat with one arm on the table than chew with their mouths open, smack their lips, blow their nose, talk on their cell phone, or anything else that's not considered proper dinner table etiquette! :)

It's actually OK for you to rest BOTH arms on the table, as long as your elbows aren't touching the table (i.e. you can rest the part of the area between your elbows and wrists on the edge of the table, as long as your elbows aren't touching)

Answer 5

They obviously do not know proper table manners.
....And may I say, your etiquette is a bit off with your rather rude generalization of an entire country, based on the actions of a few.
tisk*tisk

Answer 6

The whole arm should not be on the table. In fact, good (Victorian based) manners state you should not have more than your forearm touching the front edge of the table,
One, whole arm on the table takes up room and that's plain rude
Two, Victorians had this wierd sexual theory about elbows and joints. Heck they put skirts on their tables to hide their legs.
Or perhaps whomever you are eating with was in prison for awhile and is protecting their food ;)

Answer 7

I am guilty of this and most of the time not even conscience of doing it. My mother used to always scold me and say, "Get your elbows off the table!" This leads me to believe this is not etiquette and not polite, however, many people seem to have this habit. Again, I think it's completely an unconscience behavior.

Answer 8

i have no clue for an actual scientific answer. But i think its jsut habitual. Like for me i always have my left hand grab the right side of the chair. I dont know why, i just do it without thinking. No big. Why r sum people so uptight about what they do when they eat? just freakin eat. Eating is for nourishment not to put on a show about how much u know rules.

Answer 9

Actually, it is just plain rude hillbilly behavior and not typical of most eaters. Hell, I put both elbows on the table when I'm shoveling the grub in!

Answer 10

It's bad manners, but two reasons - comfort, to keep anyone else from stealing out food