Do YOU hold your cutlery wrong? Woman divides opinion after revealing her partner mocks her table manners because she holds her knife in her left hand
- British woman, who is right handed, holds knife in her left hand and fork in other
- Posting on Mumsnet, explained her partner comments on her incorrect method
- She asked if table manners matter and argued she doesn’t eat like a slob
- Responses were torn as some admitted they judge those who hold cutlery wrong
A woman who holds her cutlery unconventionally has divided opinion over the importance of table manners after revealing her partner repeatedly comments about how she eats.
Posting anonymously on Mumsnet, the British woman explained she’s right handed but eats with her knife in her left hand and fork in her right hand because it feels more comfortable.
She went on to say her partner of nine years has commented on her eating etiquette on multiple occasions but insists she isn’t ‘a slob’.
Responses were torn as some argued the way cutlery is held doesn’t matter, while others admitted they judge those who don’t follow societal conventions when dining.
A British woman has sparked a heated debate about the importance of table manners, after revealing she holds her cutlery unconventionally (file image)
Posting on Mumsnet, the woman who is right handed, explained she holds her fork in her right hand and knife in her left hand
Asking for opinions, the woman wrote: ‘With all the things going on in the world right now, I’m writing a post about how we hold cutlery.
‘I remember being told I’m cack-handed by my grandmother when I was a child. She didn’t say it in a nasty way but said she was similar. I’m right handed. I hold my fork in my right hand and knife in left. This is the way I’ve always done it and felt comfortable, was never told or taught the correct way.
‘For years my partner has joked about how I can’t hold a knife and fork properly and even mentioned trying it the other way. I’ve tried – it doesn’t feel right to me. He told me that his mother would probably tell me to switch hands as it’s her “pet hate”. We’ve been together for nine years. He’s not mentioned it for a while (until tonight) and I’ve avoided eating in front of his mother as much as possible else I feel paranoid. Feel like I’m being watched!’
She added: ‘Generally my table manners are okay I think. I’m not a complete slob when It comes to eating or anything!’
A stream of responses admitted they judge those who don’t hold their cutlery correctly, with one claiming it ‘shows a disregard for social norms and disrespect to your hoses and general laziness that you can’t be bothered spending a bit of time learning to do it properly’.
Another person wrote: ‘Well I’d definitely notice and judge you for it I’m afraid. It’s about table manners. Children with special needs, I can make an exception for but there’s no excuse for adults. “It isn’t comfortable for me” is a bit of a pathetic excuse.’
And one commented: ‘I don’t see what’s wrong with making an effort to hold your knife and fork properly tbh. Other cultures hold each other up to high standards and I’m not sure why that’s so wrong. We can all pretend we don’t judge or it’s no big deal but there is an established way to hold a knife and fork so why not just follow it?’
A stream of responses to the post admitted they judge those who hold their cutlery incorrectly and argued it’s important to learn
Others argued table manners don’t matter, as many confessed they also hold their cutlery in the wrong hands.
‘I’m right handed but I eat left handed as that’s the way I was taught to eat by my left handed mother. It feels comfortable and it achieves the aim of transporting food to mouth. Which is kind of the whole point,’ one argued.
‘I honestly cannot bring myself to care enough about which way a person holds their knife and fork. Do it whatever way works best for you, I honestly cannot see how it matters which way round you hold them.’
Another said: ‘No. It does not matter at all. Chewing with your mouth open or talking with your mouth full while eating with others, that matters! Because it’s revolting to watch.
‘Someone using a knife and fork switch round is totally unimportant beyond oh gasp, shock, horror but manners.’
A third added: ‘In a restaurant I subconsciously swap as soon as I pick the cutlery up. At home I set it the way I want as my wife is exactly the same. Life is too short to worry about what hand you hold your knife.’
Other responses to the post claimed it isn’t important how cutlery is held and revealed they also do whatever feels most comfortable
