Is it bad manners to drink soup straight out of the bowl?

[stratigos vasilios]

I would imagine it'd depend on the company. Infront of family I would say no but in a restaurant I would say yes.

[phonicsmonkey]

In western society it is always bad manners to drink soup directly from the bowl. Having said that, it is often permissible to be bad-mannered in the company of close friends and family.

[Arjos]

Also even if you were with friends, family or strangers and you scooped it, making that wonderful noise XD, I'd ask you to drink it from the bowl :P
But strictly speaking it is bad manner, for all I care about etiquettes...

[Cute Wolf]

if you're east asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean), that was permitted

[GamezRule]

It depend's on where you are, really.

[Centurion1]

practicality does not equal good manners.

if they did equal i would never use a fork or knife....... i try not to whenever i can anyway.

[Tuuvi]

Well it looks my mom was right XP

if you're east asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean), that was permitted

That's kind of ironic, considering Japan is more strict than the US when it comes to etiquette.

And now I'm starting to wonder, why is it bad manners to drink your soup out of your bowl?

[Cute Wolf]

That's kind of ironic, considering Japan is more strict than the US when it comes to etiquette.

And now I'm starting to wonder, why is it bad manners to drink your soup out of your bowl?

actually, to finish your food from bowl (especially rice and soup), at least in Chinese tradition (well), you are supposed to hold your mouth close to the bowl and drag the content with chopsticks

[Beefy187]

if you're east asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean), that was permitted

Not in Korea I believe.
IIRC its bad manners to drink straight from the bowl in Korea.

In Japan they say scooping from the bowl tends to make you lean forward. And that looks like dog eating out of their dish thus ugly.
Personally I just do what everyone does in that culture.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I would imagine it'd depend on the company. Infront of family I would say no but in a restaurant I would say yes.

Does your family deserve less of your manners and respect than strangers?

[Proletariat]

I did this once at the dinner table as a child and was sent to bed hungry. My father explained the next day that I could've tilted my bowl slightly to pool the liquid on the near side to make it a little easier to scoop up with a spoon and I got it. If you're asking whether this is bad manners I just don't think there is any question, but I guess I tested the boundaries once but I was maybe 7. Maybe you meant 'is it a big deal?'

If I was queen of America physical education class would be replaced with Emily Post reading time. Harumph!

[Sasaki Kojiro]

No, it isn't bad manners. Some people think it is. They also disapprove of holding meat in your hands and ripping bits of it off with your teeth, I imagine

[Louis VI the Fat]

No, it isn't bad manners. Some people think it is. They also disapprove of holding meat in your hands and ripping bits of it off with your teeth, I imagine

Ah, but one is allowed to hold the meat in one's hands and rip off bits with one's teeth when the animal you're eating is still breathing.

[Tuuvi]

You know this thread makes me feel dirty and unrefined now, because I seriously had no idea it was bad until my mom told me and I made this thread

[B-Wing]

I only consume soup at my parents' house, so I've never considered the question. Personally, I'd think that as long as you don't make loud slurping sounds, drinking from the bowl isn't going to disgust or offend anyone. If it does, maybe they ought to just relax.

[phonicsmonkey]

this thread makes me feel dirty and unrefined now

This is the whole point of etiquette! Exclusion and social branding. Tell your mother you won't be won't be oppressed by her petit bourgeois concerns and that you'll drink from the bowl and collectively own the means of production as much as you like!

[stratigos vasilios]

Does your family deserve less of your manners and respect than strangers?

Considering my brother has been known to eat and watch tv in his underwear, yes. My answer is yes.