Chopsticks vs. Western Cutlery

[Plains-Cow]

as far as you know

with proper technique, they might be used as any, or as all of chopsticks, spoon, and fork at the same time.

I can see fingers used as a spoon of sorts (even though they'd be pretty poor at the task, and what would you be scooping out of that you can't lift to your mouth from its container? River water?), but I don't think I've ever seen someone using fingers as forks. What foods would need to be stabbed with fingers to eat? Hence, as fingers are used like chopsticks, it seems like the natural extension of the practice of eating most finger foods would be to use man-made chopsticks rather than forks.

 

[Farm Boy]

Frosting. Peanut butter. Boston creme eclairs.

 

[Plains-Cow]

Frosting. Peanut butter. Boston creme eclairs.

Aren't these ingredients, and not meals? Also, eclairs are a finger food, no?

 

[Valka D'Ur]

You could always put the ketchup on the side of the same dish. Cream pies sound like a finger food to me. Noodles with chopsticks are very common; have you tried using chopsticks with pasta? If you have a dexterity problem, it's the only time where I'd assume a fork is always better.

Okay, here's the thing: I don't tell you how to eat. Please return the courtesy. I like my ketchup ON the fries, end of story, that way to buy the t-shirt. I also like my pepper ON the food, not off to the side. I like my crackers IN the soup, not off to the side. Ditto the pepper I add to the soup (explain how I should eat tomato soup with chopsticks, dipping it in a pile of pepper?).

Banana cream pie is only finger food if you're of an age to still sit in a high chair and have a parent to clean up after you.

I have arthritis and fibromyalgia, plus whatever else comes with diabetes. My dexterity and sense of touch no longer work properly. Chopsticks are not an option.

Except when eating Bugles.

Then fingers serve as little perches.

Bugles are discontinued in Canada.

 

[Farm Boy]

Yes. No. Yes. Stab!

 

[Gori the Grey]

Bugles are discontinued in Canada.

Quel dommage. Why?

 

[Plains-Cow]

Okay, here's the thing: I don't tell you how to eat. Please return the courtesy. I like my ketchup ON the fries, end of story, that way to buy the t-shirt. I also like my pepper ON the food, not off to the side. I like my crackers IN the soup, not off to the side. Ditto the pepper I add to the soup (explain how I should eat tomato soup with chopsticks, dipping it in a pile of pepper?).

Banana cream pie is only finger food if you're of an age to still sit in a high chair and have a parent to clean up after you.

I have arthritis and fibromyalgia, plus whatever else comes with diabetes. My dexterity and sense of touch no longer work properly. Chopsticks are not an option.


Bugles are discontinued in Canada.

Never told you how to eat. I even said forks are better for those with dexterity problems. The thread is about different philosophies on eating.

Soups that are just liquids I'd drink from the cup. I feel like spooning it up into my mouth is pointless and risks sloshing liquid over unless slowly carrying it.

Quel dommage. Why?

Probably choking hazard or seen as too dangerous for kids. Happens all the time with various foods. Kinder Egg had the same issues in some countries.

 

[Broken_Erika]

Quel dommage. Why?

apparently, our population centers are too far apart that they cant make enough money due to shipping costs, and inflation drove many consumers to cheaper store-brand snacks.
Now we have to make due with these

Available at many asian supermarkets

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Never told you how to eat. I even said forks are better for those with dexterity problems. The thread is about different philosophies on eating.

Your post came across as really pushy. My sense of humor and banter only goes so far before I get annoyed if it seems my very real issues aren't being taken seriously.

Soups that are just liquids I'd drink from the cup. I feel like spooning it up into my mouth is pointless and risks sloshing liquid over unless slowly carrying it.

Campbells used to have a line of drinkable soups that you could heat in the microwave and drink straight from the can-shaped container. That was a handy way to have a quick helping of tomato soup.

They don't have them anymore.

Probably choking hazard or seen as too dangerous for kids. Happens all the time with various foods. Kinder Egg had the same issues in some countries.

Yep, the Canada-is-too-big excuse, never mind that Bugles were sold in every food store larger than the snack aisle in a gas station.

I still think they look like the planet-killer in the Original Star Trek episode "The Doomsday Machine."

 

[Gori the Grey]

Now we have to make due with these

Are they good? They look exactly like Bugles.

 

[Broken_Erika]

Apparently, some people can't tell the difference, others say they are slightly spicier.
Essentially, they are a Japanese version of Bugles.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Are they good? They look exactly like Bugles.

No idea.

 

[Gori the Grey]

others say they are slightly spicier

That's not a terribly high bar!

 

[Plains-Cow]

Your post came across as really pushy. My sense of humor and banter only goes so far before I get annoyed if it seems my very real issues aren't being taken seriously.


Campbells used to have a line of drinkable soups that you could heat in the microwave and drink straight from the can-shaped container. That was a handy way to have a quick helping of tomato soup.

They don't have them anymore.


Yep, the Canada-is-too-big excuse, never mind that Bugles were sold in every food store larger than the snack aisle in a gas station.

I still think they look like the planet-killer in the Original Star Trek episode "The Doomsday Machine."

When would I have known about your issues or have dismissed them when my OP itself says forks have an advantage for the disabled and those with hand problems?

I remember those Campbells soups. I always thought they ripped you off for the serving size you got.

I don't know what "Canada-is-too-big" means.

Apparently, some people can't tell the difference, others say they are slightly spicier.
Essentially, they are a Japanese version of Bugles.

Spicy food is amazing.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

When would I have known about your issues or have dismissed them when my OP itself says forks have an advantage for the disabled and those with hand problems?

Look, I stated my views of ketchup and fries, and had previously mentioned my disability issues. You kept on harping about couldn't I put the ketchup on the side?

No. I don't want to. End of story.

I don't know what "Canada-is-too-big" means.

Too much distance between major population centres. It makes for longer distances and times for shipping, which costs more, especially when you consider that two of our provinces are islands and the capital of another is on an island. When you consider the Territories, some communities are only accessible by vehicle during the winter. Food costs are insane up there.

I think we're done, though.

 

[Plains-Cow]

Look, I stated my views of ketchup and fries, and had previously mentioned my disability issues. You kept on harping about couldn't I put the ketchup on the side?

No. I don't want to. End of story.


Too much distance between major population centres. It makes for longer distances and times for shipping, which costs more, especially when you consider that two of our provinces are islands and the capital of another is on an island. When you consider the Territories, some communities are only accessible by vehicle during the winter. Food costs are insane up there.

I think we're done, though.

Yeah I got nothing else. Thanks for the Canada info.

 

[aelf]

The replies are pretty hilarious. Ask a bunch of people who are not culturally chopstick users and... they obviously don't favour chopsticks except in a few situations.

My skills at using chopsticks as an East Asian are mediocre at best. In fact, I don't use them correctly (it's hard to break an ingrained habit). But if you've ever seen skilled chopstick users - and this level of skill is common in some places - they can pick up large pieces of food, even things not that soft, and eat by taking bites. I've seen people eat chicken wings cleanly with chopsticks and never having to touch them with fingers. So, yes, some people can eat steak and pizza with chopsticks.

Also, just about any chopstick user in this part of the world can shovel food into their mouths from a bowl. This is a common technique when eating rice, so there's no requirement for the rice to be stuck together. The pairing of chopsticks with a bowl is key to this maneuver. Between picking up, stabbing and shoveling food, about the only thing chopsticks can't handle is liquids. But with a bowl, liquid is easily drunk by tipping the bowl's contents into your mouth.

The response that the only thing chopsticks are good for is sushi is especially hilarious. It speaks volumes and not in a good way.

 

[Farm Boy]

I like chopsticks with salad. Salad is boring to eat*, so hard mode cutlery is a fun bit. Grab little morsels. Pikachu I choose you, <nompf>.
Past that, they're a menace for the incompetent with them. The western equivalent would be giving everyone a serving spoon to eat off, have everyone use thier own to serve from the middle, and eat off of, but don't let it touch your mouth, that's gross. Like, I get it, communal sharing of food is fun, but that's just a situation just flat designed to have the inexperienced be ikky and gross. Stressful when dinner should be fun. Unfun!

*if anything is depression fuel, a dude sitting alone eating a salad qualifies.

 

[Plains-Cow]

The replies are pretty hilarious. Ask a bunch of people who are not culturally chopstick users and... they obviously don't favour chopsticks except in a few situations.

My skills at using chopsticks as an East Asian are mediocre at best. In fact, I don't use them correctly (it's hard to break an ingrained habit). But if you've ever seen skilled chopstick users - and this level of skill is common in some places - they can pick up large pieces of food, even things not that soft, and eat by taking bites. I've seen people eat chicken wings cleanly with chopsticks and never having to touch them with fingers. So, yes, some people can eat steak and pizza with chopsticks.

Also, just about any chopstick user in this part of the world can shovel food into their mouths from a bowl. This is a common technique when eating rice, so there's no requirement for the rice to be stuck together. The pairing of chopsticks with a bowl is key to this maneuver. Between picking up, stabbing and shoveling food, about the only thing chopsticks can't handle is liquids. But with a bowl, liquid is easily drunk by tipping the bowl's contents into your mouth.

The response that the only thing chopsticks are good for is sushi is especially hilarious. It speaks volumes and not in a good way.

Outstanding points.

Do you think that chopsticks would win against any single western-style utensil by itself? I do.

 

[aelf]

Outstanding points.

Do you think that chopsticks would win against any single western-style utensil by itself? I do.

For sure.

Personally, I do like fork and spoon myself. But that's partly due to upbringing, and I recognise that chopsticks are more versatile and therefore superior.