My Indian muslim housemate

[Telstra]

use his fingers to eat spicy Indian food with rice. I thought it was abit messy but oh well ...

He is an engineering but come on, its 2013 !!!
Spoon is less messy, don't you agree ??
Any Indians here still use fingers ?

[rareboy]

If I could get away with just using my fingers to eat...I'd toss the cutlery altogether.

I love eating this way. It is quieter and more tactile. It teaches you an entirely different approach to food.

When we go to Indian restaurants, we eat with our fingers.

yummmmmmmmmmmmm.

all you have to do at the end is lick them and wipe them off.

[pat grimshaw]

My ex-boyfriend came back from South East Asia and he would cook recipes he learned there. He would serve them and we were to eat it with a fork from the one dish.

[palbert]

Is this the mentally ill roommate you previously wrote of?

[Telstra]

Is this the mentally ill roommate you previously wrote of?

Nope, the one you are talking about is still here.
Mentally ill is abit harsh, i would say he is depressed from troubled childhood/family.

[Telstra]

If I could get away with just using my fingers to eat...I'd toss the cutlery altogether.

I love eating this way. It is quieter and more tactile. It teaches you an entirely different approach to food.

When we go to Indian restaurants, we eat with our fingers.

yummmmmmmmmmmmm.

all you have to do at the end is lick them and wipe them off.

But don't you think it is abit messy? I would rather lick from the spoon.
If juicy bones, i would agree that use fingers is easier to eat but not rice.

[Telstra]

oh and he ONLY eat halal food LOL
I'm going to fun with on going debate about why halal is so good.

[star-warrior]

Been there.

He'll eat with one hand only. The other is reserved for wiping his bottom.

[Beachguyj]

I saw some show once with an Indian wedding and they were rolling rice and something else I guess into a ball and eating it with their hands. It's their custom it's fine with me. We eat burgers and pizza with out hands. Once I knew this woman who grew up in Spain and she said she didn't eat any food with her hands.

[Telstra]

Been there.

He'll eat with one hand only. The other is reserved for wiping his bottom.

Really?
But wrong hand is harder to wipe ass.

[zoltanspawn]

I vastly prefer eating Indian food, including very wet rice dishes, with my fingers. It's not messy. I wash my hands when finished.

It's the year 2013, and we're still learning to enjoy the sophisticated manners of our fellows. I suppose for some "ease" is the ultimate value.

[gsdx]

He'll eat with one hand only. The other is reserved for wiping his bottom.

And toilets aren't common there, either. They squat over a hole in the floor. It's actually much healthier.

(I know this because my landlord is from New Delhi. He goes back to visit his family there every January. He won't go during the summer months. As he says, "It's just too damned hot!")

[Telstra]

Many cultures eat with their hands knowing full well that other cultures mainly use utensils.

If you find it messy, nobody is forcing you to do the same. Keep using utensils and let others be.

I'm not complaining or anything.
Just commenting about the housemate.

[gsdx]

I'm not complaining or anything.
Just commenting about the housemate.

He is an engineering but come on, its 2013 !!!

You make it sound like he's living in the Dark Ages.

Do you expect him to abandon his culture and adopt yours?

[zoltanspawn]

And toilets aren't common there, either. They squat over a hole in the floor. It's actually much healthier.

(I know this because my landlord is from New Delhi. He goes back to visit his family there every January. He won't go during the summer months. As he says, "It's just too damned hot!")

Sit-down toilets are common. Nice squatter style toilets are common. There are also shabby toilets that aren't much more than holes in the floor.

[voyager1994]

It only shows that your housemate is comfortable in your house

[pat grimshaw]

Zoltan, haven't you seen the news—

Half of India's homes have cellphones, but not toilets

…shamefully 50% of the Indian population has to defecate in public…

Only 50% of households in the world's second-most populated country have indoor toilets…

Toilet in India Fund Now on Internet/Web. $10- $20 Can build One Toilet

http://www.google.com.au/search?clie...UMDJLLHBiQf6BQ

[Telstra]

You make it sound like he's living in the Dark Ages.

Do you expect him to abandon his culture and adopt yours?

Nope.
There are many good things about him.
He is very chatty, nice and friendly, don't drink, don't smoke, down to earth ... etc.

Compared to Aussie housemates, not chatty, keep to themselves, very quiet ...

[zoltanspawn]

^^Yes, Pat, there are still lots of very poor people in India.

[Telstra]

Zoltan, haven't you seen the news—

Half of India's homes have cellphones, but not toilets

…shamefully 50% of the Indian population has to defecate in public…

Only 50% of households in the world's second-most populated country have indoor toilets…

Toilet in India Fund Now on Internet/Web. $10- $20 Can build One Toilet

http://www.google.com.au/search?clie...UMDJLLHBiQf6BQ

umm i'm not talking about India.
Why do you always bring negative stuff?

[Telstra]

It only shows that your housemate is comfortable in your house

I told him right away that i'm into men LOL
He is "straight" by the way.

[gsdx]

Sit-down toilets are common. Nice squatter style toilets are common. There are also shabby toilets that aren't much more than holes in the floor.

Just going by what my landlord has told me. He broke both of his ankles a few years ago and has had knee surgery as well. He can't squat anymore and uses a special seat that he places over the hole when he visits his family.

Thanks for the clarification.

[Newmercedes]

I don't see any problems with this. Basically, he just told you guys how his roommate eating. Very simple. Its not a big deal

[pat grimshaw]

…Its not a big deal

Some people enjoy taking offence.

And others enjoy taking offence on behalf of strangers on the other side of the planet.

While others sit in comfortable armchairs and pretend they're in a pulpit.

[ravenstar]

I'd probably be better eating food with my fingers than I am with utensils. I spill enough food when I eat when I'm using a fork. I still can't make chopsticks work properly either. That's always a hit and miss experience.

[gsdx]

I don't see any problems with this. Basically, he just told you guys how his roommate eating. Very simple. Its not a big deal

It's not so much that he just told us how his roommate eats, but he told us that he should get with the times and eat with utensils. After all, it IS 2013.

He mocked and insulted his roommate's culture. It's like mocking East Asians for using chopsticks.

[Ram]

My mom said that eating with your hands helps you the appreciate the food better. It makes the meal more delicious. She always eat with her hands. Sometimes when she is eating with her hands, I will ask her to feed me. Being fed by someone you love with their hands is indescribable. Really take the blues away from a bad day.

I don't really like to eat with my hands because my nails are manicured but when I do, I truly enjoy the meal. Feeling the warmth of the food is adds to the pleasure of eating. There's something magical about it that I like.

Engineering can be defined as finding simple solution without any added expense or waste to a problem. Maybe your roommate is on to something. If you are eating with your hands and you make a mess, you are not doing it right.

[xbuzzerx]

My mom said that eating with your hands helps you the appreciate the food better. It makes the meal more delicious. She always eat with her hands. Sometimes when she is eating with her hands, I will ask her to feed me. Being fed by someone you love with their hands is indescribable. Really take the blues away from a bad day.

I don't really like to eat with my hands because my nails are manicured but when I do, I truly enjoy the meal. Feeling the warmth of the food is adds to the pleasure of eating. There's something magical about it that I like.

Engineering can be defined as finding simple solution without any added expense or waste to a problem. Maybe your roommate is on to something. If you are eating with your hands and you make a mess, you are not doing it right.

I was going to say something similar to your last sentence. I hear people complain about chopsticks are too hard to eat certain things with. That's lack of skill doing it the right way, not that chopsticks are bad to eat with. Everything solid, including non sticky rice, is possible to eat with someone who knows how to use chopsticks correctly.

[Telstra]

My mom said that eating with your hands helps you the appreciate the food better. It makes the meal more delicious. She always eat with her hands. Sometimes when she is eating with her hands, I will ask her to feed me. Being fed by someone you love with their hands is indescribable. Really take the blues away from a bad day.

I don't really like to eat with my hands because my nails are manicured but when I do, I truly enjoy the meal. Feeling the warmth of the food is adds to the pleasure of eating. There's something magical about it that I like.

Engineering can be defined as finding simple solution without any added expense or waste to a problem. Maybe your roommate is on to something. If you are eating with your hands and you make a mess, you are not doing it right.

mmmm i know how to eat using hands
because you know where i was born LOL. Using spoon is just easier and quicker.

[pat grimshaw]

^ how many years have you been practicing?

[Newmercedes]

It's not so much that he just told us how his roommate eats, but he told us that he should get with the times and eat with utensils. After all, it IS 2013.

He mocked and insulted his roommate's culture. It's like mocking East Asians for using chopsticks.

Dude. I don't see anything wrong using Chopticks, just like spoon, knife... etc.I think you have a problem.

[Telstra]

It's not so much that he just told us how his roommate eats, but he told us that he should get with the times and eat with utensils. After all, it IS 2013.

He mocked and insulted his roommate's culture. It's like mocking East Asians for using chopsticks.

If this is mocking, there would not be any writings on the internet what so ever.
You will see blank screens everywhere.

[Newmercedes]

Wow I can do whatever I want at home and keep my culture but when I go to work I try NOT to eat seafood, shrimps, fish and fish sauce. My Company can NOT tell me what and how to eat, either my Friends but to respect them I just DON"T do it.

[Newmercedes]

Im Asian but I use Spoons or Chopsticks when I eat Rice and use my Fingers when I eat meat with bones. I try not to use my fingers too much while eating and make sure I wash my hands really well before and after eating. Depends what I eat and I will use the right one.

[Telstra]

My mom said that eating with your hands helps you the appreciate the food better. It makes the meal more delicious. She always eat with her hands. Sometimes when she is eating with her hands, I will ask her to feed me. Being fed by someone you love with their hands is indescribable. Really take the blues away from a bad day.

I don't really like to eat with my hands because my nails are manicured but when I do, I truly enjoy the meal. Feeling the warmth of the food is adds to the pleasure of eating. There's something magical about it that I like.

Engineering can be defined as finding simple solution without any added expense or waste to a problem. Maybe your roommate is on to something. If you are eating with your hands and you make a mess, you are not doing it right.

No he didn't make a mess. He use a big plate.
The fingers looks messy with rice and spices stuck on the fingers. I'm not complaining, just commenting.
He is a very nice guy, much nicer than some of the people on here.

[Telstra]

oh by the way,
he believe everything is coming from the perfect book Quaran LOL
I don't have much details on his opinions about religion yet.

[freefall]

No offense, Telly, but you have tolerance issues...if he opts to eat with his hands, so what? It's not like he smears the oil or everything on his hands onto your clothes/furniture afterward. If he believes in eating kosher food, so what? He's not forcing it on you.

In Asian countries, it's actually pretty common to eat using hands instead of utensils, even for curry, salad, and other gravy cuisines, even the wealthy and educated ones (doctors, scientists, managers). But I don't know about the Koran saying something about eating with hands...most of my most devoted Muslim friends use spoons and forks.

I prefer using utensils, because here, toilets are often broken, dirty, or located far away, and tissue paper is often not available.

[Telstra]

No offense, Telly, but you have tolerance issues...if he opts to eat with his hands, so what? It's not like he smears the oil or everything on his hands onto your clothes/furniture afterward. If he believes in eating kosher food, so what? He's not forcing it on you.

In Asian countries, it's actually pretty common to eat using hands instead of utensils, even for curry, salad, and other gravy cuisines, even the wealthy and educated ones (doctors, scientists, managers). But I don't know about the Koran saying something about eating with hands...most of my most devoted Muslim friends use spoons and forks.

I prefer using utensils, because here, toilets are often broken, dirty, or located far away, and tissue paper is often not available.

Since when did i complain about him eating with his hands ???
Please point me to that post.

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

awsum is da ways civlized world keep da ways

thankyou

now ta go eat ma nose

[Nishin]

I saw some show once with an Indian wedding and they were rolling rice and something else I guess into a ball and eating it with their hands. It's their custom it's fine with me. We eat burgers and pizza with out hands. Once I knew this woman who grew up in Spain and she said she didn't eat any food with her hands.

Any comment on this from Telstra?

[BreakTheIce]

Indians having a saying which goes something like "eating rice with a utensil is like having sex with an interpreter". For some reason they feel as if the rice tastes way better eating it with your hand.

[zoltanspawn]

Engineering can be defined as finding simple solution without any added expense or waste to a problem. Maybe your roommate is on to something. If you are eating with your hands and you make a mess, you are not doing it right.

I made a spaghetti dish once for a friend in Bangalore. She pointedly ate the entire plate with her fingers.

Some are easier to use than others, I find. If you use them a lot, you eventually get the practice you need to handle a variety of foods with different sizes or textures. I always have some chopsticks among my utensils just so I can practice using them occasionally until it becomes second-nature to me.

We have a thread devoted to chopsticks around here somewhere.

Since when did i complain about him eating with his hands ???
Please point me to that post.

C'mon Telly, you've called it messy and suggested it's backwards and difficult. You don't find it remarkable because it's a sophisticated manner. You find it remarkable for its awkwardness.

[palbert]

.... We have a thread devoted to chopsticks around here somewhere. ....

As requested:

http://www.justusboys.com/forum/thre...=1#post7540600

[bankside]

I think there is no reason to believe calling something "a cultural thing" should insulate it from comparison or criticism.

At the same time, the Queen herself at a state dinner in the Waterloo Room at Windsor Castle will eat asparagus with her fingers and they will be no worse for wear than someone eating rice with his fingers. It looks awkward to me, and I'd prefer utensils, but this really does seem to be a case of local custom and etiquette being more similar from one place to another than meets the eye.

[Ganoderma]

Many cultures eat with their hands knowing full well that other cultures mainly use utensils.

^^^^^^ This.

I would like to advise you get some experiences in eating food with your hands. Why not ask him that he will prepare his type of food together for you and him, and that he will teach you how to eat it with hands. Likely, he will be happy to do this and to show you abit more about his culture / background.

[palbert]

.... At the same time, the Queen herself at a state dinner in the Waterloo Room at Windsor Castle will eat asparagus with her fingers ....

My, so do I.

As for rice we need to differentiate "asian" rice -- more gummy and handled easier -- from western rice where pride is taken in getting individual grains that fall apart easily.

[jaysizzles]

"ah, what the hell are you doing?"

"I am eating my dessert. How do you eat it...with your hands?"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxB-H6f3crY


so often things can be related to a Seinfeld episode.

[borg69unimatrix]

I'm curious if Telstra jerks off with his hands, or uses a spoon?

I'd also like to see a thread his roommates make complaining about him.

[zoltanspawn]

I think there is no reason to believe calling something "a cultural thing" should insulate it from comparison or criticism.

Some caution is warranted when comparisons or criticisms of cultural things takes on the character of bigotry.

In this thread, I don't find the idea of messiness, awkwardness or difficulty biased. Let 'er rip.

But the notion of backwardness ("it's the year 2013") is questionable.

[zoltanspawn]

As for rice we need to differentiate "asian" rice -- more gummy and handled easier -- from western rice where pride is taken in getting individual grains that fall apart easily.

There is such a beautiful variety of rice in Asia. This just isn't good enough.