Do you mean to tell me?

Question

The Chinese invented more than any other culture on the planet, from gunpowder to the printing press, but they couldn't figure out the fork?

What's that all about? And do they still use chopsticks in China now that the rest of us have moved on to advanced cutlery? Just curious.

You people kill me. How is it that anyone was able to take this question seriously?

I am actually quite good with chopsticks, by the way, and appreciate the novelty of using them at sushi (and other Eastern fare) restaurants.

This question, like all of my questions, was offered in jest as a little food for thought. Some of you hotheads should really quit taking it so personally. You're really making this Yahoo Answers thing a drag.

Other notes: The fork is most certainly a more advanced way to get food from the plate to the mouth and I am willing to prove it by challenging any and all dissenters to a spaghetti and meatball race. I don't care how good you are with chopsticks, I will shovel more food into my pie-hole, and faster, with a fork than you can possibly with a pair chopsticks. I understand that eating is not about who can eat the most in the shortest amount of time, but we are talking about efficiency here, so we need some way to measure.

Answer 1

Apparently you've never viewed a seasoned "chopsticker" at work. I could get far more pasta and meatballs into my "pie-hole" with chopsticks than with a fork! And I never picked up a pair of chopsticks until I was 17 ( a fork when I was 2).

It is not always about what is best...I haven't seen many "Forkers" or "Chop-stickers" that looked like they were starving...sometimes it's just about what works, so...fork you... 'stick me...let's go get some Chinese!

Answer 2

Why mess around with a fork when the chopsticks work so well? Cutlery isn't needed as it's cut to bite-size in the kitchen. Let the cook do the work, right?

I travel to China frequently. I also lived in Korea for a year and got very good with the sticks while living there. My Chinese hosts are a bit frustrated that I can swing the sticks nearly as well as they do.

That said, you can find Western style restaurants in almost any of the larger cities in China, and they use knife, fork, and spoon in those establishments just as we do here.

BTW, the food in China is nothing like the "Chinese" restaurants in the west. I'll have to admit that it does take getting used to, but I manage to gain weight every time I go over there. ;)

Answer 3

That's a very arrogant attitude!! Who the heck are YOU to claim that a fork is more 'advanced' than chopsticks?????

For your information, the fact that chopsticks were around well BEFORE the fork does NOT make the fork more advanced! There are some things that need a knife and fork, and others that are best eaten with chopsticks!!!!

It sounds to me like you're just JEALOUS because you're too dense to learn how to use chopsticks...!!
; )

Answer 4

just because you have difficulty using chopsticks doesn't mean its bad or hard or backwards in technology besides what's so advanced about a fork besides its probably easier for them to use chopsticks than a fork,, prolly just cuz of the habit and more importantly its a tradition.

Answer 5

I think they were all so used to eating with chopsticks that they never bothered to try and think of something else to replace them.
I mean, why bother to invent something redundant?

As for the second part of the question, I think they do still use chopsticks

Answer 6

I actually think they use the chopsticks because it's healthier than using metal. People that follow natural ways of life, are aware of that eating out of metals are bad b/c they affect our health. Eating off of western forks, we periodically ingest the metal b/c it does wear off and it tends to affect the health in numerous ways. Using wood, bamboo is way healthier alternative, as well as cooking with bamboo pots/pans and ceramic, instead of metal pots, which some cultures also do.

Answer 7

it's culture. They rarely use forks. Not even now. It's not that they're stupid or whatever but i guess they're just used to the chopsticks.

Answer 8

It takes a certain skill to use chopsticks, I think the only reason they use it is so they can show off.

Answer 9

Good Question

Answer 10

yes they still use chop sticks (even some americans do) but they only use it 4 noodles and ramen and stuff like that