Chopsticks!

[Mozenrath]

Simple enough question: can you use chopsticks?

I learned how to use them around 4 or 5 years ago. I had moved to San Antonio, Texas, and my friend liked going to Chinese restaurants. As it turns out, San Antonio has a significant population of Chinese immigrants dating back to the aftermath of the Mexican American War. Long story, but an interesting one.

Anyway, if you do eat with chopsticks, is it just with East Asian food, or other stuff? I've heard of people using them to eat cheetos, to avoid the powder getting onto their fingers. I've even heard of people who favor them over forks almost entirely.

Some just use ones provided by the restaurants, or spares from take out. Some have their own chopsticks that they keep on hand, made for repeated usage. How about you? I've considered buying some, but don't eat with them often enough quite yet to make the investment, but maybe that will change.

[Fundertaker]

I started using them about 6 months ago and almost quit over how to grab them. Now it's almost as easy as using a fork, but I tend to only use them for East Asian food.

[Long A, Short A]

I can't turn my palms up, so I look weird eating with chopsticks.

[MiLB Fan]

I know how to use them, and you'll never guess where I learned how.

Playboy Magazine. Specifically, Sable's first issue.

No, I'm not joking. I can't remember the rest of the article, but I do recall an illustration that showed you how to hold them and then use them to pick up food. I practiced with pens--not with food, just holding them and the opening and closing.

I'm good with using them for chunks of meat, but I never got the hang of using them to pick up rice. For that, I just use a fork.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

I can use them, but I'm very out of practice, as I discovered trying to eat in a Japanese restaurant in L.A. a couple of months back.

[Citizen Snips]

I'm at the level of a slightly trained orangutan. I like to think of myself as a man open to all sorts of culture but dammit...forks are just so much easier!!!

[The 1Watcher Experience]

I've never tried. I was never a big fan of Chinese food. I had boneless spare ribs a few times but that's about it.

[Deleted]

I can kind of use them, but not very well. I'd like to get it one day, but I rarely eat Asian foods nowadays.

[Ryback on a Pole!]

I can, I live in Taiwan so a lot of the restaurants here only use chopsticks so it was a case of learn or eat using my hands like a barbarian.

I prefer a fork though. So much simpler.

[Nickybojelais]

First time I used them was on my first night in Japan. I was terrified that most of my food would end up on the table and on the floor. In the end it was much easier than I expected and I even had a local compliment me on my chopstick using technique. It was a proud moment!

[LexExpress]

I'm not very coordinated so I struggle. I'm that one who asks for a knife and fork in restaurants

[Malibu Stacy]

I don't eat with them, but I used to take the plain disposable ones they gave us with our take out, paint designs on them with nail polish, then wear them in my hair.

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

Why not both?

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

I can't use them.

Mostly due to the fact I used to have underdeveloped muscles in my hands so I learned how to grip things like pens incorrectly. (Though I say used to thanks to the mighty power of Vidya games... seriously using the NES controller helped build them up )

Because of that though it just doesn't feel natural to hold chopsticks correctly or in a fashion that is at all functional.