Originally posted by mmaser   So the plasticwear made in a dirty factory, all sealed in white paper is more sanitary than your hands after washing them?  Love the logic here!  It's not just Brazilians but a lot of Americans hold that view as well.   -Marc

But most Americans love to eat with thier hands. I'm proud to say I was never trained in "proper" dining etiquette. Perhaps it is because of our frontier culture roots but I don't think most people I know back home (semi-rural western US) would know what is considered "proper" with a fork and knife. You just use it as you see fit and as long as you are not doing anything too strange, such as holding it like a baby, nobody seems to notice.

Edited by nesne2 - 18 September 2012 at 14:06

Originally posted by nesne2 Originally posted by mmaser   So the plasticwear made in a dirty factory, all sealed in white paper is more sanitary than your hands after washing them?  Love the logic here!  It's not just Brazilians but a lot of Americans hold that view as well.   -Marc But most Americans love to eat with thier hands. I'm proud to say I was never trained in "proper" dining etiquette. Perhaps it is because of our frontier culture roots but I don't think most people I know back home (semi-rural western US) would know what is considered "proper" with a fork and knife. You just use it as you see fit and as long as you are not doing anything too strange, such as holding it like a baby, nobody seems to notice.

Wow, it seems there are quite a few people with views on this!

Can I just repeat what I said at the start of this thread i.e. I'm not some snob looking down on people who don't eat with the right 'etiquette'.

I'm just befuddled as to why people don't eat in the easiest way. Today I saw a woman trying to cut a piece of meat in a restaurant - knife in left hand, fork in right. Rather than cutting she tore it apart, and knocked food off her plate in the process.

As I said before, like trying to drink soup with a fork? It doesn't make any sense to me. But..each to his (or her) own...

I've gotten some truely priceless expressions! -Marc

Sometimes I use chopsticks, being part Japanese, but its a bugger trying to cut steak, takes forever.