[miss_crayon]

I think it's the way the person was brought up. If you aren't taught table manners, eating etiquette..."rude behaviour" kinda just goes on cycle after cycle. Although a lot of Asians do have this bad habit..I've seen other cultures that can be equally rude or having bad table manners.

My parents were taught at an early age table etiquette and "no shaking their legs" because it was seen as rude and "ugly." My mom's grandma was very into the British lifestyle with the way they dressed, culture etc and table manners are a big thing to them. There's a certain way to set your table...eat with your fork and knife..etc etc...and my parents were all taught this which thus led to them passing the info to myself and my brother.

For instance, you're suppose to cut your steak with your fork on your left, knife with your right....then put down your knife and eat with meat morsel with your right hand. NOrmally..you'd just cut and eat with your fork in your left hand. I still cut and eat but if I'm in a "fancier" restaurant then I'll do this.

I don't know if they still do, but there use to be "Etiquette" classes that you could take (outside of school). One of my gfs took this when she was a child and even though I feel I'm pretty trained....this girl takes politeness at the table to a whole new level.