November 20, 2019
Chopstick Etiquette, Removing Socks on a Plane, Splitting the Bill, and More – Were You Raised By Wolves?, Hosted by Leah Bonnema and Nick Leighton
Check out the Were Your Raised by Wolves? Episode Page & Show Notes
Key Takeaways
- Chopsticks should not be scraped together, placed vertically in rice, or used to “harpoon” food
- It’s rude to ask someone what they do for a living or where they went to school
- Why? – These questions have socio-economic implications
- Instead, for a better conversation opener, ask: How do you spend your free time?
- Only take your shoes off on an airplane if you’re wearing socks and you don’t have a foot odor problem!
- When splitting the bill at a restaurant, 99% of the time, just divide it equally – don’t pull out the calculator
- If one person ordered a considerably more expensive meal, they should offer to get the tip
- If your wedding is outside or has potential environmental challenges for your guests, disclose that information in the invitation or provide for their comfort
Intro
- Host: Leah Bonnema (IG:@leahbonnema), a NYC-based comic
- Check out her website
- Host: Nick Leighton (IG:@nicholasleighton), an Emmy award-winning television journalist and producer
- Check out his website
Japanese Chopstick Etiquette
- Wooden chopsticks are called waribashi
- Avoid scraping chopsticks together when you split them apart (it’s considered rude)
- Never pass food from one pair of chopsticks to the other
- If reaching for food on a communal platter, flip the chopsticks around and use the back side
- Use a chopstick rest if one is available (or make your own out of the chopstick wrapper)
- Don’t spear food – a chopstick is not a harpoon!
Is it okay to ask someone what they do for a living?
- No, it puts a person in a socio-economic box
- If someone wants to talk about their job, they’ll bring it up
- For a conversation opener, try: How do you spend your free time?
- It’s also rude to ask where someone went to school – again, it’s a socio-economic question
If you’re a house guest and the place is messy, is it okay to clean it?
- “There is no way to do this without it being an implicit critique of your host” – Nick Leighton
- If the home condition bothers you, decline future invitations and stay in a hotel
- However, doing the dishes is okay
- Rearranging furniture is not okay
Is it acceptable to take your shoes off on an airplane?
- Ground rules:
- Keep your socks on
- If you have a foot odor problem, keep your shoes on!
- Never walk down the aisle with socks, especially if you’re heading to the bathroom
Bill-Splitting Etiquette
- Most of the time, just split the bill equally
- When the check comes, be quick – don’t pull out the calculator!
- What about big eater (steak/wine) vs. modest eater (salad/water) situations?
- It helps if the person who spent more offers to get the tip
- Another option: one person pays the full bill and Venmo requests everyone later with what they owe
- This is a preferred method to doing calculations table-side
- A note on tip etiquette:
- You have to tip, even if your meal was just $5
- “The waiter should not be penalized because you feel like you’re being screwed by you friends” – Nick Leighton
- You have to tip, even if your meal was just $5
Do you need to give specifics about the wedding environment to your guests?
- If there are environmental concerns (such as mosquitoes in Maine) you should disclose that in advance or provide for the comfort of your guests
- For example – hand out citronella candles
- If it’s an outdoor wedding, specify this in the invitation
- Be clear – a vague reference such as “stilettos not advised” isn’t helpful
