BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Etiquette What was the first rule of etiquette you can remember being taught?

For those of you subscribed to the Etiquette newsletter, you already know that this week we will be highlighting the importance of etiquette. In accordance with this focus, our forum question for the week is:

What was the first rule of etiquette you can remember being taught?

Think back as far as you can remember and let us know!!!

The first thing I can remember being taught was:

If you cough, or if you sneeze
Cover your mouth, if you please.

I have no idea where I learned this, but when I visited the church I attended as a child, my then Sunday School teacher told me that I would always repeat it. Even when she'd ask specific questions, I'd always answer by saying this rhyme.

I don't know, I guess because it rhymed, it didn't seem so terrible to remember.

The old standards of "Please" and "Thank You" were among the first things I was taught, as well as asking to be excused from the dinner table when I finished eating. Not talking with your mouth full of food. And of course, covering my nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.

Don't pick your nose! Come on I know you all did it when you were little. I still see little kids doing it and laugh.

I didn't pick my nose (it grossed me out even then) but my sister did! Bleagh!

DON'T TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL!

For some reason, that one reminds me of "Don't play with your food!"

I also remember, "You're not leaving the table until your plate is clean." but that isn't etiquette is it. The torment of childhood. I'd love the skin and the body size but I'd never go back. eek!

I remember "Please" and "Thank You" being the first things I was taught. I got a big lesson on those two words when I went to visit my grandparents in KC when I was young. They bought me one of those Fisher Price windup TV things and I absolutely refused to say Thank You for the gift. It sat on top of the mantle in their living room until they tricked me into saying Thank You...LOL!

I'm not sure if this is the first one I learned, but it is the one that is most prominant...

Elbows off the table.

Please and thank you followed by virtually everything else. My mom was a real stickler for proper etiquette.
My dh and I have had some conversations concerning this topic since his mom is British and some of the rules of etiquette he was taught conflict with some of the rules I was taught. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Keep your elbows off the table!
I don't know if it was the first thing I was taught but it must have be drummed into me harder!

Please and thank you, followed by NO ELBOWS.

I was taught the same as everyone else mentioned above.

The most prominent teaching I remember, and one that I don't always practice (sp?) <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> -- sometimes called the golden rule -- "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

I don't remember learning "please" and "thank you" and "ma'am" and "sir".... I was taught to say those things as I learned to speak. They are so incredibly ingrained in my speech that if I don't say them I actually feel like I've missed something.

The first thing I actually remember being taught goes something like this... (Insert child's name for "daughter")

*ahem*

"Daughter, Daughter,
Strong and able,
Please take your elbows
Off the table."

*grins and curtsies* <img src="/images/graemlins/queen.gif" alt="" />

"ma'am" and "sir". My parents are horrified today at the lack of kids being taught to say "Yes Ma'am" or "No Sir". I don't know if this is country-wide, but teachers are not ALLOWED to correct this oversight of respect in their classrooms in Georgia anymore!

THe standard please and thank you followed yes ma'am no ma'am and sirs. My mom and grand mothers insisted on me where dresses ALL THE TIME so i had to learn how to sit "lady like".

A few years ago they tried here (Louisiana) to require kids in public schools to use "yes ma'am/sir" and "no ma'am/sir" when addressing teachers and administration, with some pretty strict consequences for failing to do so... And parents went absolutely batshit insane, indignant that the school board would "force" their children to address adults with respect. *sighs* These are the same parents who expect teachers to do their jobs for them, and yet condemn the teachers when they try. <img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

And then wonder why kids don't respect adults anymore?!?
HMMMMM, I wonder. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />