Do you think etiquette is important in these days and times?

And by this I mean, folks are on the move 90 percent of their day - who has the time to say for example to sit down and have those "famous" dinners - yes, the ones where you need a degree to figure out which of the 7 spoons are to be used first, then second and so on (lol).

To be honest, as much as I hate dinners like that - I MARVEL at the TV shows that contain them. The table is AWESOME!!!

With respect to forks and knives and demitasse, etc., that's just Schematics. True etiquette where please, thank you, eye contact, smiling at others, encouragement and consideration is always important and will never go out of style.

Not only is the arrangement of silverware mere schematics, one doesn't actually need a degree to figure it out.

Here is the long form: From the outside in.

This is a course of study one should be able to complete in a year or less.

Etiquette evolved as a form of communication. First of all as a way of showing intent then, later, social status. In parts of the Orient elaborate etiquette was also a way of keeping minor nobility busy learning elaborate social skills that ate into their plotting against the reagent time. Also it thinned out warfare between neighbouring territories.

Interesting, Ian! Fascinating, actually.

Today, I opt for courtesy over etiquette. Social "rules", devised by those who want to feel superior than the lower classes, bite the big one. Spoons, etc., are designed for specific purposes and, hence, learning which is for which function is fine by me. But any sort of meaningless ritual-like table protocol...why?

Better to expend common courtesy that springs from respect for the other person.

Well, I suppose you just told me why, Ian! LOL.

There's some lovely send-ups of etiquette in the Terry Prattchet book Hogfather