kayleigh w thinks it's bad manners to pick at the manners of others, do you?

Question

When you are sitting across the table from someone and they are chewing with their mouth open and talking with their mouth full as you sit there watching little particles of food fly your way landing on your plate and clothes, is it proper to reinerate what that persons parents should have taught them or just grin and bear it? If you chose the latter, what would you do the next time you attended a summit meeting and the seating arrangement was the same and you had no other seating choice,(A) set up a barrier to stop the presidents projectiles from reaching your plate and have everyone wonder why or (B)wish you had realized that you had every right to let someone know that their bad manners made your meal inedible?

Answer 1

I have friends that I absolutely love, and would do almost anything more... except eat with them because their table manners are so appalling that I would rather jab a fork in my eye and cut off my ears with a butter knife than to watch and listen to them eat. Unfortunately you are in a work situation so you really can't tell the president's to keep his food from projectile air flight out of his mouth. If possible, try to sit away from him. If you can't, as disgusting as it is, you will have to grin and bear it. However, you can strike up a conversation with the person across from you on the manners of kids today and work in how the importance of tables manners is no more with many people... who knows, the president may get the hint.

Answer 2

I would say something to the other party, too. Is this person a friend or an acquaintance? If so, speak up. They may not be aware that their table manners are less than desirable. (I would be embarrassed, myself)

If it is a stranger, I would probably say nothing and try to find another place to eat. You never know what kind of trouble you would run into if you speak up.

Answer 3

To publicly humiliate a person for their manners is inexcusable. If the person is really that insufferable for you then quietly approach them privately and explain that you can see and feel their food when they are eating. It won't go well--nobody likes being criticized but if they are half human they will be careful to chew with their mouth closed from now on.

Answer 4

I would just throw out subtle hints at them first....

"Hey, my foods pretty good! Your's is too, it keeps landing on my plate!!"

"I want the news....not the weather" (used when they spit if they eat).

Then if that didn't work, I'd move to more direct means of dialogue:

"G*dd@mn....are you sure you need a plate? Should I just ask the waiter to bring a trough over??"

Answer 5

If someone spit food in my face, hell yeah I would point it out. That is one of my biggest pet peeves along with smacking your food. Anyone reading this? Don't smack or open your mouth when your eating. That is so disrespectful!

Answer 6

Yes, stay out of other people's business.