I know that it's completely irrational nowadays but I assume that it was considered offensive to put your elbows on the table back in the day because people didn't wash up to such a point, and after working in the fields, the wife didn't want a man's dirty elbows on the kitchen table.

You know, people do tend to wash their elbows these days.

my irritation with elbow-diners is just secondhand irritation from my grandparents :laughing:

Sometimes space is a commodity on a table and someone's elbow is unnecessarily is taking up space. Having table manners is about making the other person feel comfortable, and not imposing on them, or being annoying.

Well that clears that right up.

Aw man, and I wanted to argue some more.

Wait, I've got it! What if there's a big table? His argument then falls apart at the seams.

Ah yes, and what if the people you are eating with don't have arms? What say you now, Neapolitan?

What's with guys and not taking the stall next to other guys. Who cares if I look over for a second or two? I'm not hurting anyone.