On the reasons spoons are socially shunned

most norms that people enforce are not without reason. human beings require some regulation, and it seems best that these rules will be chosen over time and tradition rather than imposed forcefully as a law of the land. however there are those norms that seem to be totally arbitrary. one example for that is the almost universally frowned upon act of eating certain foods with a spoon. this is cross-cultural, and sneered upon in many social strata.

why is it so?

what is the big thing about spoons that seem to consign their user with the threat of causing embarresment for themselves?!

as usuall, here is the basics. (is? yes! IS!!)

1) you CAN eat anything you want with a spoon. it is at times more or less practical to use spoons than forks. each utensil has its particular benefits and drawbacks.

2) it is considered impolite to eat the main courses, antrees and anything that isn't soup or a dessert with anything other than a fork.

3) the choice of utensils to place upon a table is very much an aspect of culture. east asian culture favors chopsticks, while medival culture placed importance on the usage of a personally owned knife, accompanied with the fingers of the right hand.

4) all cultures have produced spoons and readily make use of them , mainly with the eating of soups, or other foods that can not be hooked through or picked up. in many cases , the use of spoons in other forms of eating is considered as a sign of immaturity, or even barbarity. as if the dextrous manipulation of one kind of utensil is superior, and more indicative of a higher , elevated status than the other.

now , for some possibilities...

it could be argued, that as the main course of western food is served mostly in un-cut units, like a steak, or a fish. the proper separation of the serving into smaller bite sizes needs a knife as the cutting implement, while the fork serving as a steadying tool, staking the meat to the plate, or prying out only what is wanted. again, this is of course an advantage for the usage of forks.

perhaps the choice of cutlery is more symbolic of the sharing of eating, where one is needed to provide, while the other to take.

a royal court would accept this explanation of the superiority of some utensils over others. indeed, it was at times a symbol of high prosperity to be able to own a fork, being something commonly made of a refined and articulated metal, whereas the lowly peasant would be presented with and represented by spoons, being just a step above a smoothed out piece of driftwood.

in cases where transition is required between knife and another utensil, it could be argued that it would then seem impractical or even compromising to alternate frequantly, first taking up a fork then placeing it aside, when eating other things.

of course we can also expand upon the historical aspect of fork usage. the relatively late introduction of forks, and the supression of spoon usage, comes at a time when most of the gentry was being asked to forgo the traditions of the Code Chiville. most countries started banning the carrying of personal weaponry within city limits and certainly when presenting themselves at high society. swords, daggers and firearms were oulawed for personal possession. to prevent a backksurge, or even reactionary trend. hosts provided guests equally with a cutting implement, of exceeding quality. some whishing to outdo even that, offered guests another personal utensil that is pointed and sharp. the spoon, was made more oval as well, bearing a closer resemblance to a sheild. having been armed with such cutlery, a guest may have felt more at ease. knowing of the possibilities they entail vis-a-vis self-defense.

i would be remiss if i leave out the usage of fatty sauces that drench the served meat. a spoon-user would take along with the meat quite a lot of this sauce, turning the carefully planned menu into a dietery quagmire.

this is actually the reason why in asian cuisine, spoons are shunned, as the chopsticks allow the diner much more of a chance to avoid the oilyness and spices of the sauce.

there is a final argument to be made, though i reject it, being a preposterous claim. this argument being, that granulated foods, such as rice, corn and some legumes, are a relatively late arrival, and were prized greatly for their sophistication and novelty. the usage of a fork with these foods is obviously less efficient, than the use of a spoon. it is very possible that this was somwhat of a shibollet for high society. are you urbane enough to balance your appetite against the bitter reality of gravity and the vissectitudes of a narrow, uneven tool? oh the chance at making fun of those who failed...

while the malice that bored men possess is heavy indeed, it is not likely to be the explanation, as that forks are at times made bigger and with a greater surface area than the accompanying spoon. moreover, if the purpose of the usage of forks was to test skill and separated the newbies from the elite, then why not make the tines of the form more spaced out or splayed in different directions. spoons could be made with a hole in the center, to test the dexterity and experience of a cultured diner just the same.