Hi. I have a question. My fiancee and I disagree on this and we decided to see how America feels in general about this topic. This is the scenario. We were invited to his mothers house for a Sunday Easter dinner. It was a nice dinner, not just an everyday family kind of supper. Anyway, there was a hockey game on, and some of his family were engrossed in the game. Dinner was ready, so we all went to the table, and they continued watching the game during the dinner, turning away from the people at the table and focusing on the game. I thought it was incredibly rude. He thinks its perfectly fine. When I have a nice dinner like that at my place, the tv is off. I invite people over for the company, not to be distracted by a game. I must say, I'm NOT a hockey fan, but it could have been any program, I felt it was rude of them to continue watching it once we were at the table. His step dad did the identical thing at Thanksgiving, turning to watch a football special, and ignoring his guests.
2007-04-18 08:13:05 · 22 answers · asked by NONAME 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Their tv is almost behind where he was sitting, so he kept his head turned and attention focused on his show. I sat beside him and thought he was being so rude. Maybe it is just the way I was brought up, maybe this is acceptable to many people. I still think its rude. We are now wondering, how others feel. He tried to say that had it been a show I liked, I would have also had the tv on and watched it during say my Christmas dinner that I host. I can honestly say for a fact that I would NEVER do that, and if there was a show on at that very moment that I couldn't possibly live without seeing, then I would tape it and watch it later, once my guests went home. Am I just being nit-picky? Sorry for being so long, and thank you to all who respond:-)
2007-04-18 08:20:12 · update #1
That is pretty rude to watch tv during dinner. The tv should have been turned off. If I were the person hosting the dinner, I'd be pissed, otherwise I probably wouldn't care too much.
2007-04-18 08:22:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well... I think it's rude that dinner would be served during the game!!.... no I don't...I'm kidding. LOL. Seriously, was it just one person watching the game or several of the guys? This is something that is pretty common in my family during Thanksgiving dinner. It's a given that the guys are gonna want to watch the game. I'm not into sports at all... but... it's something that the guys look forward to... they all get together for some testosterone bonding amongst themselves and discuss their favorite teams and sports stats. Some people have different ideas of what the holiday means to them. If you want more of a religious holiday, then you can decline the invite the next time to go to church instead. If you want more of a family get together without the TV, invite everybody to your house for the evening that you have in mind. Doesn't have to be a holiday.
2007-04-18 08:30:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it just depends on the family and how he was raised. We always ate dinner together every night, with no TV, growing up. So when hubby gets home, I like to have dinner on the table, TV off, and have a nice meal. He grew up with a single mom who worked 3 jobs, so they ate whenever they could and never had dinner together. He likes to finish his meal and go get on the computer or watch TV, which makes me crazy because I'm stuck at the table alone.
That being said, his family still has nice, sit-down meals for holidays. No TV, eat in the dining room, fancy dishes kind of thing. I think that for holidays, it's nice to sit and talk to family. The TV can come back on after dinner. However, I can understand that that may be the norm with your fiance's family, and they don't see anything wrong with it. If you're the only person bothered by it, it may just be one of those things you have to learn to live with. It's really a minor issue considering all the things that could come up between you and your in-laws!
2007-04-18 08:24:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep, I agree, it is really rude to be watching TV while the whole family is gathered for a holiday dinner. Anyone ever hear of recording the program????
I have to admit that I eat in front of my TV, but then I live alone. When I have company the TV is never on.
But to some people, this is just the way they have always done it and they really don't see what the problem is.
To sum up, tell them to record the game, eat dinner like civilized people, then go watch the game afterwards.
2007-04-18 08:28:21 · answer #4 · answered by meg3f 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are rude. Dinner is a significant family thing to do together and should not be distracted or come second to tv. They should have recorded it and have a nice dinner together at the table, then watch the recording later. People who eats dinner in front of the tv are somehow considered not "upper class".
2007-04-18 23:50:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think watching the tv (or even having it on in the background for "noise") is horrible--especially during a special family holiday dinner.
I work full time, and when I get home and it's time to eat, even my little 3 year old son knows to turn the TV off. I say, "Supper's ready!" and he hops up from his cartoon or playing or whatever it is he's doing, flips the tv off, and comes into the kitchen.
I think meals should be reserved for catching up on the day's events, spending time with family, etc.--NOT watching sporting events (or anything else for that matter!).
2007-04-18 09:24:18 · answer #6 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
During just an every day casual family dinner I think its fine just because I grew up like that- my grandfather and cousin would always want to watch football, they wouldnt want to miss a second. But for more special occasions like holidays and birthdays I think the TV should be off. I don't think I would be extremely offended by it but I would think they were being pretty rude.
2007-04-18 08:26:46 · answer #7 · answered by aly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right, it is rude to watch television during a meal, period. What he and his family may regard as perfectly acceptable, does not make it right. When you are having a meal, even if it's just two people, you sit at a table and eat. That's why restaurants with televisions are called "sports bars" (in America anyway). Cheers.
2007-04-18 08:25:20 · answer #8 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm going to go counter to pretty much everyone. I have to say it's no big deal. Families differ. It seems that sport watching during big family dinners is part of the tradition. Just roll with it at his families house, and turn the thing off durning family dinners at your house.
2007-04-18 09:11:20 · answer #9 · answered by raynne_iceni 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OH I AGREE! Turn of the tube! They might as well have sat in the room with the TV and not at the table (which is what I would have suggested they do had that happened at my house)...
It was thoughtless and uncaring and down right rude...Miss Manners would have a fit!
2007-04-18 08:21:54 · answer #10 · answered by Toots 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋