Soup followed by fish....

Actually most people these days do not know how to set the table with soup spoons, salad forks, forks, knives, spoons, and dessert forks and all the plating etc. I do know how to set a proper table because we had several occasions where the table was set properly, but in our household on an every day basis I don't see any reason to be so formal. I usually set the table with what is needed. If what we are eating requires a spoon I set the table with a spoon, if it needs a fork I will set out forks if we need butter knives or steak knives I put those out. If we need forks for desserts we usually just use the same ones we used for dinner I don't want to have to do any more dishes then I have to. Same for plates I just put out what we need.

I don´t set the table, because we don´t have a table. But I know how to and I´d be horrified if I thought my kids didn´t know how to. I remember having to demonstrate that I knew how to do it for a Brownie badge many years ago. Maybe the subject of your TV programme was never a Brownie!

I would almost bet that there are many people anymore that doesn't know the proper way to set a table. I also bet that if you ask many young brides that have been married in the past couple of years that they would say that there was not really a need to set a proper table. So many young people anymore do not know how to cook or set a table. It is sad to see how the value of home skills has decreased recently.

hi pikefish I grew up on a farm and we did not do anything fancy in setting the table but when I grew up I learned how to set the table for a party but really my husband and I were laid back Americans and what i did was put the knife, forks and spoons where they belonged and that was that. Not being really wealthy we did not do dinner parties at all. In fact a lot of the time we ate in front of the television. sorry to sound so casual but this is America and Southern California. If I ever get out of this tiresome retirement center where I do nothing and into an apartment again I will insist on eating at our table. I do not get to do anyting here that I used to do at home. we are cooked for, have our beds made for us, its so boring without my computer I would go nuts in a hurry.

Dear Mr. Manners, Could you please instruct me in the proper placement of the soup spoon in relation to the fish fork? Thank you ever so kindly. PS is it proper to slap the hands of people who use the wrong utensils?

I was taught place settings while in Girl Scouts, but I've never really used it except for the basics: knife and spoon on the right and fork on the left. I never have dinner parties and when my mother did, the table was set like it would be for our family. Knife and spoon on the right and forks on the left. Beyond that, there was nothing else special we did with placement.

Not everyone is posh like you Sir. :P I would possibly know my way around how to set up a table with the basics although I would set cutlery out the wrong way round because that's how I use it! We had a dining table when I was little but I think we only used it for special occasions or if we'd got people round. I, personally, have never owned a dining table and I don't think setting a coffee table would be appropriate!

Unfortunately, no :( When I was growing up, we always had meals together....but didn't eat a traditional Indian meal on a leaf (wasn't available where I lived). But we always went the traditional way during festivals and would invite all our friends to have a meal on a banana leaf sitting cross legged on the floor. But now...we don't sit down together for a meal...let alone have a traditional one. I would insist during the earlier days of our marriage and after our older son was born. But my husband found it irritating and we ended up arguing. So, I've let things be. But I do know how to set the table when we invite people...though nowadays my husband prefers taking people out to dinner...and I don't need to cook...lol

We do not eat formally here. I know how to set a table, however I only do it for special occasions and holidays. Otherwise, we dont even use the dining room table, we eat at the bar in the kitchen. There you get your plate and a fork. Some days even a napkin! lol I have full china sets and full silver sets along with all of the linen but we never use it.

Yep, I do. Not for just me of course unless it's a special something meal but for myself and anyone else and I the table is set with glasses, placemats, cutlery in the correct order and so on. It must be an Irish thing and probably and English one too. Jolly good show eh what? Pip pip and all that jolly rot old fellow.

better to ask if we even BOTHER to eat at the table (no)

If I have friends or family in to eat and it is a special occasion then I sort of set the table correctly. I say 'sort of' because over here they seem not to know what fish knives and forks are used for. I have a set that belonged to my grandmother but they are completely in dis-use now sadly. I was lucky that I learnt at training college and worked in hotels as I never saw my mother set a table in full ceremony. Then there is the other side of the coin. If I set the table with all the cutlery and in the right order, would my guests be embarassed as to which should be used for each course?

In our house setting the table properly for meals means to fill the catfood dish and put it on the table. It's the only place I can feed them without the dogs eating their food. Mostly we eat in front of the TV. When I was growing up, we at at the table...until the game shows started being shown at dinner time. Our library has an excellent selection of BBC shows on DVD. For the past few weeks we've been watching the old, 'Are You Being Served' shows.

No, we do not do this in my home. I never grew up like that either. We are mere convicts here and have rebelled against those English aristocratic ways! I would not have a clue how to set he table "properly" and do not care to either. Why is it "proper" to do this anyway? Just another silly pointless rule really. Who gives a toss!

I grew up with a properly set table, too, and my mom taught all of us the proper placement of dishes and utensils. Food was never served in the vessels they were prepared in but pretty bowls or platters. Even now my mother will not eat a frozen dinner in its own serving dish but arrange it on a nice plate. My sons know how to set a table and which utensil to use for what--it's come in handy for them a few times already. People don't know about the nicer things in life like table settings because many of this last generation have grown up eating out of fast food containers or just grabbing something from the kitchen. At least, that's my theory. There's no time for the niceties of life and etiquette has flown the coop in favor of convenience. We no longer dignify our lives with any formal rules regarding behavior and custom, we're too busy.

Hi P1key, When I used to live with my Mother many years ago, we always have our meals at the dinner table which I normally had to set, it was my job and we always seems to get unexpected visitors arrived, Mum used to say they must have smelt the cooking, but nowadays as I am alone most times I don't bother with all that and have my dinner at my coffee table, also we don't have many people come for dinner these days so all this setting the table has all gone out the window. Hugs. Tamara xxxx

For me yes if i had a time it is feel tired after all if you are alone serving it with the crowed of many person.