# Can you use Chopsticks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 3, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405 "2007-10-03T17:19:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405/101 "2007-10-05T07:01:00Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Hurrah for Google Video! No upload limit. My dear **chowder** , I present to you: [How to use chopsticks](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6624816952785064151&hl=en), the English way, with special guest appearances by Cookie Monster and a bowl of macadamia nuts. Good Christ I sound posh. I don’t sound like that in my own head. (BTW to eat noodles, do it leaning over the bowl - it’s how the locals do it.) [/QUOTE] Heh, very educational so I gave it a try…ye Gods it works! Managed to pick up a peanut (Planters, the big uns) but as yet my attempts to pick up more than one are proving less of a success. Practice will be the order of the day. Cor mate you do sound ever so posh. The cat is a cute little rascal ---
**Author:** ![threnodyangelfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@threnodyangelfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threnodyangelfire)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405/102 "2007-10-05T07:13:44Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Hurrah for Google Video! No upload limit. [/QUOTE] That is a total crack up - thanks for the laugh. Now can you please read me “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” - all four books in your wicked accent? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405/103 "2007-10-05T08:28:23Z")
[QUOTE=spooje] I can use them quite well. But frankly, I don’t see the point. Western utensils easier to user and more efficent. [/QUOTE] I find chopsticks are easier for certain things, like sushi, some kinds of dim sum, or cooking in a hot pot. Hell, eating out of a Chinese takeout box is easier with chopsticks, because forks are too short. Also, sometimes I eat Doritos with chopsticks when I’m at the computer so I don’t gunk up the keyboard. Try doing that with another utensil. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405/104 "2007-10-05T08:53:31Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] Also, sometimes I eat Doritos with chopsticks when I’m at the computer so I don’t gunk up the keyboard. Try doing that with another utensil. [/QUOTE] That´s actually a very good idea, let´s all pretend that I came up with it in the first place!.. no? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405/105 "2007-10-05T11:10:40Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] I find chopsticks are easier for certain things, like sushi, some kinds of dim sum, or cooking in a hot pot. Hell, eating out of a Chinese takeout box is easier with chopsticks, because forks are too short. Also, sometimes I eat Doritos with chopsticks when I’m at the computer so I don’t gunk up the keyboard. Try doing that with another utensil. [/QUOTE] A spoon? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405/106 "2007-10-05T15:37:19Z")
One thing that I haven’t noticed in this thread yet, but is worth mentioning: IF YOU ARE LEFT HANDED: The good news is that there is no real cultural taboo against using the things in your left hand - at least not in the (Sino-)Vietnamese culture I’m used to (but I can’t speak for Korea, Japan, etc…). Go to a Vietnamese restaurant, and you’ll see a person here and a person there eating happily with the left hand. And that’s fine, but… THE BAD NEWS is that you really, _really_ need to remember when taking your seat to either sit next to a fellow left hander, or sit at the left edge of the table. If you don’t, it’s fencing practice all night. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405/107 "2007-10-05T21:24:08Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Heh, very educational so I gave it a try…ye Gods it works! Managed to pick up a peanut (Planters, the big uns) but as yet my attempts to pick up more than one are proving less of a success. Practice will be the order of the day. Cor mate you do sound ever so posh. The cat is a cute little rascal [/QUOTE] This is why I love the Dope. ETA: I love Cookie Monster! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-use-chopsticks/421405.md?page=5)