eBusiness Weekly
Enacy Mapakame
The rise in information technology and social media has made communication much easier.
But this has come with its costs too – among them failure to observe good table manners.
Table manners and etiquette date back to centuries ago.
Even in the rural set up where there were no tables to talk about, where the whole extended family sat in a circular form having a communal meal, “table” manners were and are still observed.
For instance, you would know elders have the first pick of the meat, even when you were angling for it. It would be a done deal, and such matters were not open for discussion or any form of protest.
Visitors would get first priority at the “table” even if they came in the middle of the meal when you were ready to pick your piece of meat, it would go to the visitor.
You would also know what it meant when your mother, aunt or grandmother looked at you with the corner of her eye, after the meal you would be answerable for your misconduct at the “table”.
Today, so many changes have taken place in the information communication technology with the rise in use of smart phones, which have seen the rise in use of social media.
People want to keep in touch with their loved ones, update them of what is going on in their lives – every single move is updated on social media.
The world knows on social media someone is wearing new shoes, flying to God-knows-where, stuck in traffic jam, doing school run, going for a board meeting, partying with family and friends or having dinner at blah blah blah.
I have already posted on social media that I am writing an article.
Making updates is not an issue here, but respecting the table that matters. This might not go down with many, but it is bad manners to make or take calls, text or use your phone while on the table.
Often times you see pictures posted on social media of the yummy food on plate, those are bad table manners.
Before eating, always put personal items off the table, including smart phones. Put phones on silent and check calls or texts after the meal. This is one of the basic top 10 table manners.
While it is tempting to take selfies and pictures of the nice food to show off where we are having dinner, always remember such behaviour qualifies as one of the top 10 bad table manners. I know many already dislike me for this.
Many feel the need to use the complimentary Wi-Fi at restaurants to browse the internet on the dinner table. Again, these are bad table manners.
If there really is need to check the phone, then excuse yourself from the table and dash to the bathroom for whatever updates, texts, chats or calls.
Otherwise, ditch the phone.
