do you eat off of others' plates??

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Do you eat off of other people's plates??

At church potlucks and at members' homes, I've noticed that many people eat off of others' plates. Kids put their fingers up their noses, then put their hands all over the food, and their parents don't say a word. When I've asked people if that bothers them, the usual answer I get is "we are all God's children so we can share the germs." They seem to think it's *cute.* ICK. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/yucky.gif" alt="" /> I have no desire to share someone else's spittle and/or boogers. Bleah!!! Am I the only one to feel this way? I've not seen this behavior in any of my non-Adventist relatives and friends, but it is surely seems to be part of the Adventist culinary culture (though I'm sure it exists elsewhere too).

ICK. And again, I say ICK. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

(If anyone's eating when they read this... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/oops.gif" alt="" /> )

[Naomi]

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rudywoofs said:

Do you eat off of other people's plates??

................

ICK. And again, I say ICK. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

(If anyone's eating when they read this... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/oops.gif" alt="" /> )

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Double ICK <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/yucky.gif" alt="" />

[Nan]

Certainly not a thing I do - except in the past with my own children occasionally eating off mine, and ditto with my husband - as I guess we really do share the same germs.

This reminds me of a story told us by one of the local guides when we were in China last year. The lady whom I will call K was engaged to a man whose parents lived a couple of hours from an inland city, and where the winters were brutally cold. She had visited the family midwinter, and was appalled at their way of eating. The noodles or whatever were dished out and all ate till the food became cold. At that stage the remaining food was tipped back into the pot, heated up and redistributed. K's objections were much as yours, Pam - but she had little choice but to conform <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Gail]

LOL I might do that to my husband but use my fork

Yes, the possibilities could be numerous- oh, the thought of it!

That's one part of kids that I don't miss!

[Nicodema]

Pam, I haven't seen that particular thing happen but I have been distressed on more than one occasion when people seem to think that because their small fry are present, it means you are fair game for being climbed over, stepped upon, kicked under a table, having sticky hands wiped on your clothing, etc. and you're supposed to just sit there and take it with a smile. If you express your displeasure at this behavior, you're mud.

I don't blame the smallfry of course; they are just being children. I blame the parents that can't be bothered to monitor them and can't be bothered to teach them any better.

[Clio]

Eeeeeeeewwwwwww!!!!! That is just gross!!!! If I had ever caught my kids doing that... their hiney would have been quite warm.

Genuinely good manners are not just a nicety, they are a necessity. And my kids learned very young that their food was theirs, and other people's was other people's.

[LifeHiscost]

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Naomi said:

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rudywoofs said:

Do you eat off of other people's plates??

................

ICK. And again, I say ICK. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

(If anyone's eating when they read this... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/oops.gif" alt="" /> )

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Double ICK <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/yucky.gif" alt="" />

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Seems like we're commenting on just what Stan said we ought not, gossip. In my over 50 years of association with Adventists, I cannot recall ever observing conduct by children as the initial post describes(not that it didn't happen). Maybe it's because I have a poor memory, maybe I don't spend my time remembering the negatives about my brothers and sisters. It could even be I've adapted to allowing my brothers and sisters the right to be just as <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/yucky.gif" alt="" /> as they wish to be, and removing myself from the issues I find myself unable to deal with graciously. And maybe I make an effort to allow them the right to live as they feel appropriate, certainly a gift given by God since many of us feel uncomfortable unless the world ascribes to our accepted beliefs.

Having no righteousness of my own, thank God for His forgiveness and intervention, for His glory.

[:"red"] "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." [/] 1 Thessalonians 4:9 KJV

[:"red"] "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." [/] 1 John 3:10 ASV

[Barbara]

I can't imagine leting my kids eat off of other peoples plates. With family it is different. Say I fixed a bunch of french fries the kids and I would share a plate so we don't have to dirty more than one.

[Dr. Shane]

Never done it or seen it done but it sounds like an endearing tradition.

[Barbara]

This is in no way gossip. I think it was a good question. She just want to know if this bugs and grosses out others like it does her.

[LifeHiscost]

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Barbara said:

This is in no way gossip.

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As I understand gossip, it's repeating the bad characteristics of others we've been privy to have occur in our presence, to others not having been there at the same time, who then pass the story on to others and so on, ad nauseum.

[:"red"] "Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases " [/]

Proverbs 26:20 NASB

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/DOVE.gif" alt="" />

[Nan]

This could also be seen as an attempt to warn others of what can happen at such gatherings, so measures can be taken to avoid the practice in future. It would hardly make guests feel welcome if unruly children behaved in the various manners described.

And LHC, the fact that you have never observed/recalled such behaviour may just be due to your gender <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

[LifeHiscost]

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Nan said:

This could also be seen as an attempt to warn others of what can happen at such gatherings, so measures can be taken to avoid the practice in future. It would hardly make guests feel welcome if unruly children behaved in the various manners described.

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And LHC, the fact that you have never (observed/recalled) such behaviour may just be due to your gender <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. .

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> parenthesis mine LHC

Never thought of it that way, but I'm willing to say that the former (observed) could very possibly be true. While the latter (recalled) at my age is more than likely true. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/mittelgr124.gif" alt="" />

[Dottie]

Eating off someone's plate who is not a family member is not polite from where I sit.

But at our house, we used to share things, like ice cream cones if we had different flavors, to see how each other's tasted. When we had foster children--toddlers and pre-schoolers, after a while, when they had sort of become like family, I thought that that type of sharing would make them feel more a part of us, not just visitors. It would be after they had been at our house awhile, and we had all eaten the same foods, and shared the same germs, etc.

But now, that we have adopted a child, he's very sensitive to "germs" on everything. One of the things he does to keep us at a distance, is to not share anything. For example, if I check the temperature of his food with a spoon, he wants a clean one to use. If he has a glass of milk, he wants a clean one for juice. Also, my husband has never shared his food with me or any of the children, and I think that our boy has picked up on this.

Personally, I don't think sharing food is so bad, but don't get me started about bad manners at potluck!!!!!!

[LifeHiscost]

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Dottie said:

Eating off someone's plate who is not a family member is not polite from where I sit.

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Maybe this should be a post for "Things we don't talk about", and it isn't addressed directly to you, Dottie, or anyone else, but wouldn't you feel somewhat hypocritical if you happened to be one of those <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/yucky.gif" alt="" /> ones who share a little tongue on occasion.

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/1poke.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/icon_smile_sick.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/mittelgr124.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Diet Health & Sports food

[gina i]

Weird, I've never noticed this in Adventist behaviour. But I've noticed in in just people's behaviour. It's certainly not an 'adventist' thing, it's a world thing.