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Q: Is there really a problem with making nose while you eat? Or s it just western manners?
Well I've personally created a defense mechanism that blocks out unwanted sounds. It was created when I would give myself headaches trying to understand conversations going on around me but not being able to understand every word or know the subject they were talking about. So now I don't really hear much until some gets my attention. People at work have to call my name before they can speak to me in Chinese anymore. So for me personally, I don't hear all the noises from eating anymore.
Is there any real problem associated with all the slurping and sucking that goes on when eating in China or is it that our manners that were taught to us as children make it seem uncultured or rude? Is not the real purpose of eating for nutrition? Then of course the enjoyment of taste, the physical appearance of the food and the social nature of companionship and conversation make it a wonderful experience at times. So is it not more enjoyable just to let go of our age old dogmas and imerse ourself in the experience. For me it is easy as things that dont hurt me really dont offend me. On the other hand I am respectful of others and while I just do as the locals do in China I would still use my manners back in Australia in a social situation where the same would offend.
Njord:
Hey you want to eat with pigs, knock yourself out... They make all kinds of sounds when they eat... I don;t dig people talking with their mouthful either for obvious reasons, if I want rice thrown at me I'll get married, I don't want it flying out of someones mouth while I'm eating... There are reasons people don't chew with their mouth open or speak with their mouth full, call it manners, I say common sense... Some people likely don't mind burping or farting at the table, where are lines drawn? Shit your pants ok? spit some snot onto the table, I mean if we're going to blur lines between normal, acceptable behavior Where do we stop?
I've always found noisy chewers bother me,, even worse when food comes out of their mouth.There is no reason to chew and make noise, smack lips mabe. a big aawww sure
I chew with my mouth closed and make few noises and when i first came to China, I found their eating habits distracting. That being said, I do not agree with Njord about "common sense". Common sense is only common if it is.... common. Quiet eating is not common in China (and many asian countries too) so it is not considered common sense to eat with mouth closed. Common sense is dictated by local and cultural norms. I do not see why we should force our norms on them. I certainly do not expect them to change,. I watch Chinese people eating together and they seem very happy. Eating is a truly happy experience for the them and that is all that matters in my opinion.
Njord:
Is there something called "common cultural sense"? Like why most people don't jump the cue, pick their noses (in plain view at least), let our children shit on the sidewalk, and chew with our mouths closed and not talking with your mouth full...
woody:
We still pick our noses we just do it when no ones looking or when we are in a car and we think we are invisible. I am with you with the shit on the side walk because there are health and ordor issues that are very much common sense but I have seen very little of that, it's more of a piss on the sidewalk (and usually in the gutter or away from the main part) thing. Jumping the queue is I think also something that should have evolved as a fairness. I think though that this is slowly improving and things such as bus stops are being set up and signposted with places in which to queue. Again though this seems to fall down once it becomes obvious that all in the line cant fit on the bus then it's every man for themselves.
xinyuren:
Deficating in the street is NOT common in China. It happens, but most parents do not allow this behavior. You may have seen it often, but if most Chinese did this, China would literally swimming in Sh*t.
My story: When I first came to China to work, I met a man and his friends. I was invited to his place for dinner. So I went, and he was cooking the food, beer and smokes as usual all around. The man was about my age and a good type of bloke, but spoke no english, his daughter could.
All of a sudden I heard him garfing and spitting, blowing his nose with his finger pressed on one, whilst he is cooking in the kitchen. I thought of my grandmother at the time and how she would react to this behaviour. Then we started to eat at the table, beautiful food well prepared and plenty of it. Beer, smokes and good humour. Next minute he just coughed, blew and snorted, man I just sat there and thought what the.. spittle on the floor and snot. What actually amazed me more was that his wife and no one else paid any attention at all. We kept drinking, he kept snorting and blowing, but we all had a good time. Welcome to China, I said to my Grandmother, under my breath! 
I only eat in empty restaurants and many times I have left a restaurant due to the noises that sicken me. I refuse invitations to eat with Chinese people. I'm not likely to change nor do I force the Chinese to change. Njord may have used the words 'common sense' but if you read what he says and keep it in context it's true. xinyuren is talking about the interpretation of the words rather than actually understanding the context.
Next time I eat with Chinese people I will stand all through the meal and refuse them everytime they tell me to sit. Is this OK?
Can you fix up your spelling mistake please? Noise instead of nose!
Njord:
I was going to let it slide... But since you mentioned it...
In Korea it's rude not to. If you aren't eating loud they think you aren't enjoying it.
xinyuren:
In Japan, belching at the table is a compliment to the Chef. To each his own, I say.
Njord:
We must have been in different parts of Japan... Burping not so much (heard it) but it was frowned upon with the people I knew, slurping soup on the other hand was ok... And the only time they got a bit "noisy" when they ate... Mind you burping is at the "end" anyway do it's not "while we eat"...
Spitting and blowing snot is unclean. But the question was about noise! Should we make noise while making love? What about in the bathroom? Making noise is not a health or cleanliness issue. It is just noise. It disgusts some people but for some cultures it is part of the merrymaking. Asians like to make noise while eating. What of it? (Asian girls also make a lot of noise in bed and I like that part, so don't knock it!)
GoldenBoy:
Not all Asians. In the Philippines they are quite 'civilized' when eating.
