Why is it impolite to put elbows on the table?

Question

i never got this. why does it make a difference???

Answer 1

Can you suggest any other posture while waiting for your dish to be served watching other people around you eating from their plates ?

Answer 2

depends on your culture, it is considered to be a display of greediness, like you are just waiting for the food to arrive to grab it all for yourself. this goes back to olden times where food was served on a large tray and you would cut your portion.  .

Answer 3

well i always do it untill im told by my mom that it's impolite and to take my elbows off the table. im assuming it's shows lack of manners and posture but in my opinion it doesn't. i don't see what the big deal is though as long as your comfortable and it's not like your hurting anyone.

Answer 4

hm

Answer 5

improper posture, bad etiquette. some consider it lazy. but that was back in the day... if your not in a super posh circle then i wouldnt worry about it. its the 21st century

Answer 6

It is just good manners.I know it can be considered rude to do it but it always depends on your company.Say if you are at someones house for dinner and they have their elbows on the table then it is ok for you and they won't judge you for it hehe.If it is your own home,do what you want of course because it is 2008.I remember my grandparents telling me something like my elbows are too dirty to put on the table where we eat when I was little lol.

Answer 7

It doesn't, except people assume you grew up in a shed without parents.

It's not impolite, just bad manners. Like slouching or staring, or pointing.

Thing is, it probably dates back 500 or so years.

It had reasons at some point.

Think about it. If you are forbidden to rest your elbows on the table, that automatically decides how close you are sitting, and how close you are to items on the table. It prevents you from over-reaching. Larger families of long ago would definitely have worse dinners if all the kids were shoulder-deep into the table top.

It also prevents you from holding your head in your hands. This half-asleep stance looks very sloppy.

None of this matters in most situations. But if you are accustomed to doing these bad habits, eventually there will come a time when it does matter. Like when you are at lunch with a potential boss. Yeah, they are that picky!

Answer 8

It isn't. I do it all the time.

Answer 9

i dont know