# Chop Sticks **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 15, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486 "2003-03-15T01:40:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/21 "2003-03-15T16:22:39Z")
I’ll use them if I’m in a Chinese restaurant but no where else, otherwise I feel it’s just an affectation JMO (if you haven’t used them your whole life) . Case in point: My friend uses chopsticks to eat cup-o-noodles at home… (no he’s not Asian) ---
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/22 "2003-03-15T16:46:35Z")
I’m not too good with them, and I have no desire to improve my skills. I cannot conceive of a situation where chopsticks could do something a fork couldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/23 "2003-03-15T18:38:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Vampire \* > What I don’t understand is why some people insist on using chopsticks even though they clearly can’t. I’ve seen people use their left hand to push rice into their chopsticks held in their right. If you can pick your own utensils and don’t have to suffer the indignity of specifically asking for a fork, why use utensils that you’re incompetent with? Well, some folks want to learn to use chopsticks (for whatever reason) and of course they’re going to be clumsy at first, whatever age they start at. I’ve taught a few other folks how to use 'em - sure they’ll fumble around for awhile, and the first couple times about halfway through the meal they’ll surrender and use a fork just to finish eating. For that matter, Asians who come over to the West can be every bit as clumsy using forks and knives for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/24 "2003-03-15T18:55:40Z")
**Peper Mill** and I always eat Chinese, Japanese and Thai with chopsticks. We even have a set of joined-at-the-top chopstick “tons” for our daughter to use. It just seems _right_ somehow. We had some Chinese businessmen visit our company, and I impressed the heck out of them by plunging my chopsticks into the icewater and pulling out an ice cube in one deft move – they didn’t think Americans could use chopsticks. ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/25 "2003-03-15T19:13:26Z")
I was just talking about this recently…having previously lived in small towns and otherwise un-urban areas, I’m familiar with having to ask for chopsticks at Asian restaurants. Imagine my joy when the place where I’m iterning recently ordered Chinese for lunch (and really good stuff, too, yay!) and evereyone used chopsticks. I had to restrain myself from doing the moihappydance. Additionally, thanks to **Broomstick** for sticking up for people who bungle using chopsticks. I had to sit through a meal of eye-rolling from one of my relatives the first time I ate dumplings with chopsticks. But I wanted to learn! ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/26 "2003-03-15T19:14:07Z")
Another one here who leasrned to eat with chopsticks as a young’un - perhaps 6ish? Took a while to get the hang of without _stabbing_ larger items such as chicken or shrimp and using fingers to assist rice and peas. Am now quite good and can use chopsticks left or right handed. Chinese places in the UK don’t seem to offer chopsticks like they do in the US, which is unfortunate. In Japan my chopstick skills came in handy, people were amazed I could pick up a single grain of rice, or slippery veg with no problems. Chopsticks are loads of fun! ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/27 "2003-03-15T19:15:37Z")
I never used them until I started dating a guy in college who used them when we ate at chinese restaurants. I continue to use them. It seems to me that I see lots of other peopel in the restaurants eating with them. (I’m on the East Coast) ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/28 "2003-03-15T19:23:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JRootabega \* > I’m not too good with them, and I have no desire to improve my skills. I cannot conceive of a situation where chopsticks could do something a fork couldn’t. Well they can pick up a marble in a bottle/jar (it took me about 30 seconds. The record was 10) I do prefer to use chopsticks when eating Chinese. I don’t often eat Japanese or Thai but I also usually eat those with chopsticks. I’m about the only person in my family who does though, which makes me wonder _where_ I learned to use them because I learned a long time ago. It’s always funny… go out for dinner with the family at our fave Chinese restaraunt and I ask for chopsticks while the other 6 people are using forks and knives. I do have a little trouble with rice but I am adept enough that I manage. It’s fun to eat with chopsticks! Rounds out the whole experience I feel. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_Schmeese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Marconi\_Schmeese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_Schmeese)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/29 "2003-03-15T19:24:44Z")
I _prefer_ to eat with chopsticks - no matter what “ethnicity” of food I am consuming. In fact, I own at least a dozen pairs of non-throw-away chopsticks made of various materials: bone, metal, laquered wood, etc. **Washte** , I’m extremely impressed that you can eat with chopsticks with both hands. I’m pretty ambidextrous, but I haven’t attempted that yet. That will be my next adventure. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/30 "2003-03-15T19:58:57Z")
/off topic? btw there are many ways to use chop sticks but _crossing_ them to grab at food is not proper. to me it’s like grabbing a fork with your fist. just my 2 cents 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/31 "2003-03-15T20:27:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl of Sandwhich \* > \*\*It seems that movie and television characters are frequently depicted eating Chinese food with chopsticks. > Now, I’ve never eaten with chopsticks, nor have I seen anyone else eat with them; in fact, it’s never even occured to me to use them. How about you all? \*\* I’ve almost never not eaten asian food with chopsticks. Whether it’s cooked at home or obtained from a restaurant. (the exception…when we were very small, and could barely handle forks and spoons, we ate with those, but my parents were using chopsticks and we switched over as soon as we could.) I almost never see anyone not using chopsticks. Occasionally someone will ask for a fork, but for the most part when eating chinese food (or other foods that are loosely related to an area that uses chopsticks) I see people eat the food with chopsticks. FTR (from the west coast (CA & WA). ethnicity: african american, if it matters) ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/32 "2003-03-15T21:01:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shijinn \* > /off topic? > btw there are many ways to use chop sticks but _crossing_ them to grab at food is not proper. to me it’s like grabbing a fork with your fist. just my 2 cents 🙂 Crossing them? You mean people do that? I’ve _never_ seen anyone cross them… ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/33 "2003-03-15T21:11:20Z")
(hehheh) I learned to use chopsticks when McDonald’s came out with those teriyaki and sweet-and-sour dipping sauces with their McNuggets. Fortuitously, I went to San Francisco later that year and got to hone my skills in Chinatown over there, where plastic chopsticks were part of the place-setting as a matter of course. I only use chopsticks occasionally however, like when I’m at a place (usually out-of-state) that accomodates them well. If I’m just going to some buffet up the road where I expect to eat a lot quickly, I’ll use a fork. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/34 "2003-03-16T02:13:39Z")
IMHO chopsticks are just more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/35 "2003-03-16T02:36:35Z")
We are all chopstick adepts at my house, hubby and myself, daughter (3) and son (4). The kids aren’t really “adepts” yet, but can get things into their mouths. I learned with Froot Loops. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/36 "2003-03-16T08:41:03Z")
Must be a west coast thing. Started when I was in first or second grade and we’re a white bread no crust family. My two year old can use chopsticks with mixed success – you can say the same thing about her with a spoon or a fork 🙂 I use chopsticks for anything where they are more convenient. I’ve got friends that use chopsticks for anything greasy like french fries or fried chicken legs. I can use chopsticks on such items but prefer the way I was raised to use my fingers. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/37 "2003-03-16T11:56:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Obsidian Flutterby \* > I do have a little trouble with rice but I am adept enough that I manage There is a good reason why East Asians eat rice from small bowls: you shovel the rice with chopsticks into your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/38 "2003-03-16T12:01:54Z")
When eating Chinese food, I always use chop-sticks. Thank you ex-Mother-in-Law! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/39 "2003-03-16T12:11:55Z")
When I lived in Hong Kong I started using choppies more and more, until eventuallu I had completely crossed over, and didn’t use a knife and fork for about a year. Here in Ireland, I actually have to ask for them in Chinese restaurants, as the Irish haven’t quite embraced them yet. I always get a funny look from the Chinese waiting staff. My Irish coworkers mocked me when I asked for them at lunch a few years ago. So I said the following: “you can drink champagne out of a coffee mug, but it just doesn’t feel right”. And they laughed at me even harder. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486/40 "2003-03-16T13:08:58Z")
> [@](#): > > _Johnny L.A._ > **So was serving a spoon with the soup because Canadians use spoons to eat soup when they are in a Japanese restaurant? Or is it a Korean thing? Or did the proprietors just see a couple of white guys and assume we would need spoons?** **Johnny** , not being able to get inside their heads, I can only guess that they thought they were doing what most Canadians / Westerners would feel comfortable with. Drinking soup from the bowl is a _real_ no-no in Western cultures (well, at least that’s what my mum taught me as a kid - so I’d do it… 😃 ), yet I can imagine drinking it with a spoon for a Korean would be seen merely as a bit silly. I’d wager they were opting for what they’d consider the safest course of action. > [@](#): > > _Urban Ranger_\*\* > There is a good reason why East Asians eat rice from small bowls: you shovel the rice with chopsticks into your mouth.\*\* It’s also why the rice is very glutinous, as opposed to the rice in, say, an Italian dish. It’s possible to pick up entire mouthfuls of rice at a time with chopsticks. BTW, a good technique for those still learning to use them: to pick up much of the “impossible” stuff (slippery button mushrooms, etc) is to _not_ attempt to bring the chopsticks together to grip the food. Hold them about half an inch apart, parallel like railway tracks. Scoop the food onto them using the side of the bowl. Then just bring the chopsticks horizontally to your mouth, forklift-style. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chop-sticks/161486.md?page=3)