TOTALLY GEEKED!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
totallygeeked -> totallygeeked general -> Dear Miss Manners: Dinner Conversation
Post Info TOPIC: Dear Miss Manners: Dinner Conversation
Lady Gaga Snerd


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 25897
Date:
Dear Miss Manners: Dinner Conversation
Permalink  
 

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Over the years, I have been at a dinner table when the person on my right is speaking with the person on their right; the person on my left is speaking with the person on their left; and the people across from me are engaged in their own conversation.

I don't consider that anyone is being rude; it is just happenstance.

I do not know what I should do in this circumstance. I put a pleasant to mildly happy look on my face and attend to my dinner, but feel I either look foolish to those sitting at other areas of the table who see my situation and wonder why I have that strange look on my face, or just plain seem pathetic. In other words, I am very uncomfortable. Any recommendations you have for these situations would be greatly appreciated.

GENTLE READER: Yes, but no one would listen. There is an etiquette rule specifically designed to prevent this awkwardness, but it was laughed at, dismissed as being "artificial" and, by now, probably forgotten.

The rule is that every other person at the table begins by talking to the person on his or her right. Halfway through the meal, the hostess is supposed to "turn the table," signaling that it is time for every second person to turn left.

Ignoring the rule, expressly intended to correct the problem of "happenstance," did not solve it, as you have discovered. So the best you can do is to lean in one direction, hoping to catch a few words so that you can enter the conversation, or to concentrate on chasing your peas around your plate.

Miss Manners is pleased to know that you maintain the properly cheerful expression. Should anyone stare at you, you should shrug your shoulders to signify coping with a situation with which they are probably only too familiar.

http://www.uexpress.com/miss-manners/2015/9/13/dinner-party-conversation-is-best-when

 



__________________

https://politicsandstuff.proboards.com/
Lady Gaga Snerd


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 25897
Date:
Permalink  
 

Screw em. Just pull out your iPhone, lol.

__________________

https://politicsandstuff.proboards.com/
Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Status: Offline
Posts: 27192
Date:
Permalink  
 

Huh.

__________________

LawyerLady

 

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. 
Tinydancer


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 6573
Date:
Permalink  
 

The things people ask advice columns about makes me wonder at the state of mankind...

__________________

“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.”
― Julia Child ―


 

 

 
TrudyML


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 10458
Date:
Permalink  
 

Tinydancer wrote:

The things people ask advice columns about makes me wonder at the state of mankind...

HAHAHAHaha!  Agreed! 



__________________
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

Uh... flip the peas across the room.

Start talking to yourself.

Laugh out loud and then go back to silence.

Or just look at somebody and ask what they are talking about.


__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
FNW


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 18703
Date:
Permalink  
 

OH sheesh.

__________________

#it's5o'clocksomewhere
TrudyML


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 10458
Date:
Permalink  
 

Maybe everyone thinks you are a D bag!

__________________
ed11563


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 9186
Date:
Permalink  
 

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Over the years, I have been at a dinner table when the person on my right is speaking with the person on their right; the person on my left is speaking with the person on their left; and the people across from me are engaged in their own conversation.

I don't consider that anyone is being rude; it is just happenstance.

I do not know what I should do in this circumstance. I put a pleasant to mildly happy look on my face and attend to my dinner, but feel I either look foolish to those sitting at other areas of the table who see my situation and wonder why I have that strange look on my face, or just plain seem pathetic. In other words, I am very uncomfortable. Any recommendations you have for these situations would be greatly appreciated.

GENTLE READER: Yes, but no one would listen. There is an etiquette rule specifically designed to prevent this awkwardness, but it was laughed at, dismissed as being "artificial" and, by now, probably forgotten.

The rule is that every other person at the table begins by talking to the person on his or her right. Halfway through the meal, the hostess is supposed to "turn the table," signaling that it is time for every second person to turn left.

Ignoring the rule, expressly intended to correct the problem of "happenstance," did not solve it, as you have discovered. So the best you can do is to lean in one direction, hoping to catch a few words so that you can enter the conversation, or to concentrate on chasing your peas around your plate.

Miss Manners is pleased to know that you maintain the properly cheerful expression. Should anyone stare at you, you should shrug your shoulders to signify coping with a situation with which they are probably only too familiar.

http://www.uexpress.com/miss-manners/2015/9/13/dinner-party-conversation-is-best-when

 

 I have an iPhone app that turns my phone into a microphone for my ear bud. So I could place my phone in the path of someone else's conversation, and hear every word.

Then I could chime in from 5 feet away.

 

(No, I never tried it.)

 



__________________

The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.

Always misinterpret when you can.
FNW


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 18703
Date:
Permalink  
 

Well, she could be a beotch and get out a book and start reading. It would probably solve her problem because she wouldn't get invited back.

__________________

#it's5o'clocksomewhere
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
totallygeeked -> totallygeeked general -> Dear Miss Manners: Dinner Conversation


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard