Faux Etiquette Infographics

The above is etiquette gobbledegook!

“Bring Complaints Book”? This graphic is just more etiquette nonsense!

We’ve addressed these crazy infographics before, but they are multiplying. Most of these pictured are, for lack of better words, etiquette nonsense. Etiquette gibberish.

Someone sent this graphic to me, asking for my thoughts. I think this graphic and others like it, need to be removed from anyone’s site who claims to be promoting or teaching etiquette. I think they are ridiculous. 

Etiquipedia has an open mind and is more than happy to explore etiquette from all over the world, but not in this case. Teaching or promoting silent commands like, “I still eat” “Do not take the plate” or “The meal is over” is questionable at best, incredibly rude and makes extra work for others!

There are only 2 sets of depictions on this infographic which actually mean anything:

1.The positions actually signaled by both depictions of “the meal is over” (though we prefer the word “finished” — unless someone has put you in charge and you cannot help but be pompous —and we also prefer that utensils sit more to one side of the plate, to enable easier and quieter removal for the wait staff).

2. The “I still eat” and “Do not take the plate” depictions, which sound hostile and clunky. We prefer “pause” or “rest position” (though we prefer the “12:00 and 3:00” for one’s knife and “7:00 or 5:00” for one’s fork).  

Such passive aggressive messages, supposedly being sent by “I wait new dish” and “service was bad” are not only cumbersome for graceful plate and utensil removal by the wait staff, but outright insulting, if one were to convey them verbally to those waiting on tables, cooking or hosting.

No restaurant or wait staff would recognize any of the depictions other than the utensil placement  if one is resting or pausing and when one is finished dining. These are the only times utensils can be used  as subtle messaging. Trust us... We’ve asked! And if a waiter or server believes someone is sending non-verbal messages like the overtly rude, “Bring Complaints Book”, let’s just hope the next course arrives in truly edible and sanitary condition.

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia