Dinner talk - how small?

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From time to time everyone rebels against the tradition claiming it is a waste of time or old-fashioned ritual better forgotten. Like small talk when you meet people, especially those you don't know very well. They re-discover the importance of meaningful, deep-going conversations and the joy of getting to know other people forgetting that unchattered waters could be murky.

What is your relationship with God? What is something you fear in life? These may be great topics for conversations, but we rarely tackle such meaty topics at social gatherings. Instead, our discussions usually centre around summer travel plans, the latest home repair horror story and, of course, the weather.

This is a shame. http://www.wired.co.uk/article/banning-small-talk

Banning any exchange of little pleasantries at your dinner party might be fun. You don't need a degree in psychology to know that some change is always welcome. Especially a little, safe, reversible change. When you can enjoy its freshness with a certain degree of security knowing that you can always talk about weather again.

Do you want you party to be a success? By all means, ban all small-talking. But make it a game. With all the rules, penalties and the possibility to stop it if the weather becomes stormy. The article quoted above claims

 everyone was happier. As added proof, two dates came out of the evening. Perhaps meaningful conversation also makes us more attractive?

Perhaps sometimes. And sometimes, perhaps not.

People love playing games. Because they know - at some point it will be safely over.

http://www.wired.co.uk/article/banning-small-talk
Image source: https://www.pinterest.at/pin/369084131936567037/

The space between the bites.

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Let us know what you think about table manners.

We were on the way back from the classical music concert. I was in the middle of trying to explain politely why no applause is expected between the movements. And than she said :" but you are just a snob!" We are still friends though. And she doesn't clap anymore between Largo and Allegretto. At least when I am there. Pretentious? Moi?

I would prefer to see myself as a holistic perceiver. The one that sees the shapes and the spaces in between as a whole. As one piece of art where shapes and emptiness are united in a way which creates the beauty of the whole. Where shapes can not be detached from the emptiness which actually makes them the shapes. The beauty of a shape doesn't exist without some space around it.

The same about food. Space full of conversations, delightful activities. Attentive listening. Productive activities. Or mindless wondering.
If you eat non-stop you just simply lose it. The beauty of eating goes away.
A lovely, much more down-to-earth piece about this. Full of irony too.

Public eating is fraught. If hotdogs at the cinema are OK, why not a bacon bap at a play?

We know what you ate ...

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Let us know what you think about table manners.

Keeping a diary of what you eat is not an easy thing to do.  Answering the stranger's question on what went into your mouth is even more difficult.

Apparently, the majority of people get it wrong when reporting on food consumption of yesterday. Or just don't want to open up. It is, after all, not that easy to admit even to yourself that yes, you did eat that second piece of cake.

The bigger people are, the more modest they seem to be when it comes to the dreading "What did you eat last night?" question.

But you don't have to say a word, not any more.  And you possibly wouldn't.  Doesn't sound like a dinner table topic.

A urine test that can reveal how healthy your meals are has been developed by UK scientists.