fork wielding at the table

[Lady Snowdon]

And, this post reminds me of a CSI episode I saw once where one of the detectives noted to his partner how another person had his elbow/arm on the table around his plate while he was eating.  The partner said, "Someone's had some jail time.  Who else but ex-cons guard their plate like that?"

Sounds very typical of CSI -- jumping to conclusions as the "only reason it could possibly be."  Probably arrested someone based on that.

(Hmmm... growing up with 4 older brothers might make someone guard their food like that.)

FMIL is one of ten. You should see how the youngest eats...crouched over the plate, eating as fast as he can.

You don't have to have a lot of siblings/family members for this to happen.  I'm an only child, but when I was younger, my DAD was the one who stole food off my plate.  I eat with my elbows on the table, slightly crouched over my plate, still and it's been 12 years since he tried to steal my food!

[jaxsue]

There are companies that teach young execs good table manners. Apparently it's an issue that has warranted attention.

For many reasons, some people grow up without learning good table manners. Maybe it was a family that never ate together, ate in front of the TV every night, or, as PPs have mentioned, some have had to "guard" their food from others.

There were 6 kids in my family, but my mom was strict about table manners. We had to learn which utensil to use, how to sit, how to ask for something, and we even had to stay at the table when we were done eating in order to be social. After a respectable time we could politely ask to be excused.

I imagine that that kind of thing would drive some 21st century (and 20th century) kids crazy! Kind of sad, IMO.

[Chocolate Cake]

Sounds very typical of CSI -- jumping to conclusions as the "only reason it could possibly be."  Probably arrested someone based on that.


Yes, they did.  In that episode: a) the person WAS an ex-con; and b) did have info regarding the crime they were trying to solve.   

Just remember......it's only a show on television.

[jaxsue]

Sounds very typical of CSI -- jumping to conclusions as the "only reason it could possibly be."  Probably arrested someone based on that.


Yes, they did.  In that episode: a) the person WAS an ex-con; and b) did have info regarding the crime they were trying to solve.   

Just remember......it's only a show on television.

ITA. It's entertainment.

[Bijou]

You learn your manners at home, I think, and maybe when he reached that careless at the table stage no one said anything to him.   I would think his parents or siblings would be a less embarrassing approach for him, but you can't count on this. 
A good way to start a discussion could be that he is entering a new world (that of business) and as a lawyer he will be associating with many people from many different walks and maybe ethnic backgrounds and a general conversation about how to deal with this could easily evolve into a discussion of general etiquette, including table manners.