| Author |
Message |
|
|
|
Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:03 pm  |
Okay, I can't believe I never really noticed this, after 20 years of being together, 15 of those married...but my husband and I were enjoying a nice dinner, and when he cut his steak, he cut his piece, put his knife down, switched hands to put the fork in his other hand, then ate his piece of steak? Is this a right handed thing? 
I am a leftie, hold the fork with my left - cut with my right, but the fork never changes hands, it goes from plate to mouth...
I told him that couldn't be normal, and he just stared at me and said - "go ask some right handed people!"
So I'm asking...is this what most righty's do?
Maria  |
_________________
Maria, early 50's, post meno, normal to dry skin, more dry in winter, some sun damage... |
|
|
|
|
Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:20 pm |
maria, i'm a righty and that's what i do  |
|
|
|
|
|
Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:23 pm |
I do that sometimes, but mostly I leave the knife in my right hand and use the fork w/my left.  |
|
|
|
|
|
Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:50 pm |
| That's totally what I do! My SO just thought I was strange because I was thinking about what I did and making the "cutting/fork" motions in mid air to remember how I did it! He kinda looked at me like I'd gone crazy! |
|
|
|
|
|
Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:00 pm |
Hm....I don't switch hands.
My left hand holds my fork, and the right, the knife. |
|
|
|
|
|
Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:46 pm |
| I've done both with something tough to cut, but I try not to switch if I can get away with it. I am also a fan of cutting things with my fork. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:31 am |
| I dont switch hands. but I think most people do (my husband does). |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:55 am |
According to Emily Post (my mother's Bible), it's actually not "proper" to switch hands. You're supposed to cut with one and pick up the food with the other, so "proper" righties would probably cut with the right (the more stable hand) and pick up with the left.
My mother's adherence to Emily Post might explain why, at the age of 35, I'm completely crazy. It could also be that I'm in recovery from years of Catholic school.  |
_________________
36, skin in a "new" phase? Oil/break-out free but now having bouts of sensitivity and surface dehydration. |
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 4:47 am |
I'm right-handed & cut with my right. If I had to use my left, I'd probably starve! Mmmmmm....  that gives me an idea! |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:30 am |
I cut with my right and then switch to use the fork.
I remember being told long ago that it was the "American way", dating back to the Pilgrims who wanted to keep one hand free to grab their muskets if any hostile animals or Indians should attack. No idea how true it is but I've always thought it's an interesting theory. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:57 am |
My husband & I took a dining etiquette class (he used the "fist-style" of holding his fork & didn't like me commenting on it).
The instructor said the style of keeeping your fork in left hand and using the right only to cut is the "European method." The method where you switch from left to right with the fork is the "American method" (although she didn't go into the history - I like the Pilgrim theory). She also said neither was wrong or right - they were just different. I tend to do both, depending on what I'm eating & how often I'm using the knife. My hubby is a lefty, so he tends to keep the fork in his left hand anyway (just not in a fist anymore ). |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:47 am |
| catmcall wrote: |
The instructor said the style of keeeping your fork in left hand and using the right only to cut is the "European method." The method where you switch from left to right with the fork is the "American method" |
That's exactly what I've heard. |
|
|
karrieann
New Member
 
Joined: 17 Jun 2006
Posts: 6
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:44 am |
| catmcall wrote: |
The instructor said the style of keeeping your fork in left hand and using the right only to cut is the "European method." |
Wow I feel so regal! This is what I do. I want to get that food to my mouth ASAP! LOL! |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:57 pm |
| I switch, too. I need my right hand for the important stuff- making sure I don't cut myself with the sharp knife, and then making sure the food goes in my mouth, not on my lap! |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:10 pm |
I'm a righty too. I switch back and forth.
I never really thought about it before, but I as I noticed myself pretending to cut meat in front of this computer just now-I realized I should get out more. |
_________________
40. Routine: OCM, ThayersRoseToner as needed, Dr. Denese Dream Cream and Eye Cream |
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:41 pm |
| Switching hands is definitely an American thing - even if Emily Post frowned upon it. It is such a recognizable American trait that I have heard of someone who was working in areas where he faced a potential risk as an American training his son not to switch hands so that his nationality would not be so readily apparent. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:23 pm |
I usually switch too... and I never really thought about it until now! (Thank goodness my roommate is not home because I was just sitting here at my desk miming using a fork and knife, imagining I was cutting a steak, to see what I do!)
I realized also that if I'm eating something with a fork using my right hand, I usually put it in my mouth with the tines pointing (curved) up. However, if I'm using my left hand, the tines are pointing (curved) down. It's just too awkward to have tines up in my left hand.
Granted, I am American... but I think I usually blend pretty well--I've lived overseas for large portions of my life, and have been mistaken for being German, Irish, French, and even part-Arab... until I've opened my mouth. Now I'm worried about what I do with my fork!!! |
_________________
29--oily somewhat acneic skin, hazel eyes, long dark brown hair |
|
|
|
|
Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:08 pm |
| I switch hands also. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:31 am |
| karrieann wrote: |
| catmcall wrote: |
The instructor said the style of keeeping your fork in left hand and using the right only to cut is the "European method." |
Wow I feel so regal! This is what I do. I want to get that food to my mouth ASAP! LOL! |
I'm a righty and I don't switch hands. Was told in my younger years that "switching hands" was not "proper" and it was a European thing. Dunno, but I like it!! It's much easier and quicker!! |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:36 pm |
| I'm a righty, so I do everything with it, the cutting and the shoveling in of the food. My bf does the same thing and he's righty as well. I tried using my left to eat, because I thought it'd be more classy, but I felt weird doing it. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:00 am |
LOL! I remember being so shocked on my first visit to the US when I saw Americans eating that way. Growing up in the UK, I would have been told off for having bad manners for doing it!
I was also horrified to see people resting their elbows on the table when I went to live in France. That was always regarded as the height or rudeness over here!
I think it's good to have different ways of doing things and find it very interesting. I do hope that Pilgrim Fathers story is correct - it's a really good one. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:17 pm |
| I'm a righty and switch. That's probably why I cut all my food at once. Never thought about it before but very interesting. |
_________________
blonde, blue eyes, fair, normal/dry skin, 53 |
|
|
|
|
Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:19 pm |
| I'm a righty but I keep the fork in the left and the knife in the right. I don't switch...and whenever people see me eat they ask if I'm a leftie.. |
_________________
Combination - dehyrdated, acne, sensitive, late 20's. |
|
|
|
|
Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:19 pm |
| I'm right handed. Fork stays in left, knife in right. |
_________________
early-mid 30s || oily-combination, sensitive & acne-prone skin || mild breakouts (Aczone helps a lot) || occasional eczema rashes || fine lines around eyes || very dark under eye cirlces- concealer a must || very fair neutral-warm complexion, blue eyes, blonde hair |
|
|
|
|
Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:57 pm |
i may be weird but i use either hand for either or both tasks... i just depends how my brain is wired for that day.
Sometimes if feels completely natural to cut right/pick up left and other times it feels better to cut/left and pick up right. |
_________________
oily tzone;fair; mild roseacea;PCOS symptoms-hirsutism,occasional cystic acne. Mid 30's-light-med brown hair, light brown eyes |
|
|
|
| Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:55 am |
If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.
Click Here to join our community.
If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site. |
|
 |
|
