Goodbasictablemannersareimportantbecausetheyensurethatbothguestsandhostsarecomfortableatthetable.Tablemannersaremostlycommonsense.FollowingthesewillcarryyouthroughmostcommonsituationsfromFormalDinnerstoanightofpokerwiththeguys.

　　1.Situpstraight.Trynottoslouchorleanbackinyourchair(evenifyouareplayingcardsanddon'twantyouopponentstoseeyourhand).

　　2.Don'tspeakwithyourmouthfulloffood.Sure,you'veheardyourmothersayitahundredtimes,butnoonelikestoseeaballofmasticatedmeatinyourmouth.Ifyoufeelyoumustspeakimmediately,ifyouhaveonlyarelativelysmallbite,tuckitintoyourcheekwithyourtongueandspeakbriefly.

　　3.Chewquietly,andtrynottoslurp.Thisisacorollaryofrulenumber2.Makingnoisesisnotonlyunappetizing,anddistracting,butitcanalsointerrupttheflowofconversation.

　　4.Keepbitessmall.Inordertofacilitatetheaboverulesitissmarttokeepbitesizestoamoderateforkful.Cutmeatandsaladsothatitdoesn'thangfromyourmouthafteryoushovelitin.Don'tcutallofyourmeatatonetime,thistendstoremindpeopleoffeedingsmallchildren-andthemessinessassociatedwiththisactivity.

　　5.Eatataleisurelypace.Thisrule,besidesbeinggoodforthedigestion,alsoshowsyourhostthatyouwanttoenjoythefoodandthecompany.Eatingquicklyandrunningissignofdisrespectforthehost,asitshowsthatyourfocusisonthefoodandthatyouwouldratherbeathomewatchingthegrassgrowthanpassingtimewithyourhost.

　　6.Don'twaveutensilsintheair,especiallyknivesorifthereisfoodonthem.Besidesthedangerofknockingoverglasses,piercingwaitersorlaunchingapeaintotheeyeofyourdate,thisisasignofover-excitednessthatmaybeunappealingtothosepresent.Earnestnessistobecommended,butirrationalexuberancegoesbeyondthelimitsofgoodtablemanners.

　　7.Keepyourelbowsoffthetable.Youhavealsoheardthisonefromyourmother,adinfinitum,butinclosediningsituationsitisavitalrule.Elbowstakeuptablespaceandcanbeadangerinknockingplatesorglasses.Elbowsonthetablegiveyousomethingtoleanonandtendtolullyouintoslouching.Ifyoumustleanonthetableagoodtacticistotakearollorpieceofbreadintoyourfreehandandrestpartofyourforearmonthetable.

　　8.Don'tReach.Youdon'twanttogetinthewayofpeopleeithereatingortalking.NotonlyisitasimpoliteasstandinginfrontofaTVwithotherpeoplebehindyou,butthereisalwaysthepossibilityofupsettingglassesorrunningyoursleevethroughsomeone'smashedpotatoes.

　　9.Don'tforgetpleaseandthankyou.Thesearehandywordsinmostsituationsbutespeciallyvitalatthetablewherecommoncourtesiesarenoticedbyeveryonepresent.

　　10.Excuseyourselfwhenleavingthetable.Youdon'twantpeopletothinkthatyouaretiredoftheircompany.Ifyoumustleavethetablemakeyourexcusessomewhatobviousandappeartobepressing.Youwanttoleavepeoplewiththeimpressionthatyouwouldratherremainatthetabletalkingwiththemthandoinganythingelse,butthematterathandissopressingthatitmustbeattendedtoatonce.

　　11.ComplimenttheCook.Evenifthefoodisperfectlyawfulsaysomethingnice.Youdon'thavetolie,simplyfindthepositivesideoftheburntlegoflamb..."Gee,thesaucewassuretasty."Itisalwayspleasanttoendamealonapositivenote.