Etiquette is such a funny thing. I know I sometimes notice people who aren't following protocol, usually out of ignorance of the rules, and it can really bug me. Why should it matter to me if someone is holding their fork in a fist, rather than between two fingers? But it seems ugly to me. Obviously it is the vey definition of uncouth, but it surprises me that it seems ugly. As if all of us following the rules do something pretty by doing so.
I generally go out of my way to not follow "proper" etiquette while dining, but this is because I think that "etiquette" is a piss-poor reason for me to be uncomfortable while dining as a left-handed individual.
Screw old english ladies' definitions of proper, I am going to rearrange my utensils and plates.
In my personal etiquette system, things should go both ways; individuals may have certain behaviors they should engage in, but the group is not off the hook. Failing to flip the service for an off-handed person is just as much a faux pas as anything else.
Etiquette often has its reasons, so I'm actually not annoyed at etiquette per se anymore, but I'm still annoyed when the rules trump the spirit. I'm very much a "spirit of the law" sort of person when it comes down to it.
I've always felt lucky for being left handed when it comes to utensil etiquette. I'd be almost incapable of using a fork in my right hand so I've always felt some sympathy for all those right handers who have to use their cutlery the wrong way round for etiquette reasons :).
I like to do it just to piss off the poor sods who care so much about trivialities like that. My attitude towards arbitrary procedure-for-it's-own-sake can pretty much be summed up as "fuck it." <shrug />
Dining etiquette is goofy. But there are other places where it is useful. Like how to walk on a sidewalk or which goes first through a door. These are like traffic rules, and when followed it can improve everyone's efficiency.
