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Turns out your mom was trying to protect you from being shanghaied into service.
The story goes that shipboard life in the early days was hard, such that sailors would often disappear while in port. Ships left stranded for want of crew would scour the local taverns with the intent of commandeering men while in a drunken stupor. Once sober, the ship would be out to sea and escape for the captured workforce would be impossible.

Now the savvy subjugator could detect an experienced seaman by looking for a particular habit. Eating with elbows on the table restricted a sailor's plate from sliding away when the ship pitched and rolled. A man with this custom was a pretty good sign of a man with shipboard experience. So through the guise of bad behavior, mothers instructed their children to keep those elbows off the table, and hoped this would keep their boys on dry land.

Assafact

I know what being shanghaied is, but never knew about the second part.

bill herian wrote:I know what being shanghaied is, but never knew about the second part.

same here

DeadEye_Dan wrote:Assafact

I'm calling BS as well.

assateague wrote:

DeadEye_Dan wrote:Assafact

I'm calling BS as well.

I didn't say it was fact, I just re-posted it. It makes sense though.

If I lived two hundred years ago I think it quite possible I would be the type of guy to shanghai a crew

capt1972 wrote:

assateague wrote:

DeadEye_Dan wrote:Assafact

I'm calling BS as well.

I didn't say it was fact, I just re-posted it. It makes sense though.

In monasteries during the Middle Ages, food was served in a slice of bread, known as a "trencher", rather than on a plate. One monk would walk around the table handing out trenchers, and another would come along behind, giving the piece of meat, cheese, or fish which went along with it. The food was set in front of those eating, and was offered to monks as well as tradesmen or visitors to the priory or monastery. However, visitors had to abide by the same rules as the monks, and one of these rules was the rule of silence while eating. The majority of monasteries in Europe (where most of us came from) were Benedictine monasteries, and as such, the only speaking which was allowed during meal times was a monk who read from the Rule of St. Benedict at the head of room. Anyone who violated the rules (not only the silence during eating, but any of them) was forced to pray while all the others ate, and they would be given whatever leftovesr were available. As soon as they were seated, they had to begin offering prayer.

As such, anyone who was in the attitude of prayer (elbows on table, hands at the forehead, head bowed) was given neither a trencher nor the dish which went on top. So having your elbows on the table (i.e. "in prayer") was a good way to get nothing to eat, and meant you hadn't followed the rules. Hence, "Keep your elbows off the table", as in "mind your manners and follow the rules, and you'll get some food", really had nothing whatsoever to do with that moment in time, but rather in the time leading up to mealtime. Screw up? Elbows on the table and get to praying- no soup for you.

assateague wrote:

capt1972 wrote:

assateague wrote:

DeadEye_Dan wrote:Assafact

I'm calling BS as well.

I didn't say it was fact, I just re-posted it. It makes sense though.

In monasteries during the Middle Ages, food was served in a slice of bread, known as a "trencher", rather than on a plate. One monk would walk around the table handing out trenchers, and another would come along behind, giving the piece of meat, cheese, or fish which went along with it. The food was set in front of those eating, and was offered to monks as well as tradesmen or visitors to the priory or monastery. However, visitors had to abide by the same rules as the monks, and one of these rules was the rule of silence while eating. The majority of monasteries in Europe (where most of us came from) were Benedictine monasteries, and as such, the only speaking which was allowed during meal times was a monk who read from the Rule of St. Benedict at the head of room. Anyone who violated the rules (not only the silence during eating, but any of them) was forced to pray while all the others ate, and they would be given whatever leftovesr were available. As soon as they were seated, they had to begin offering prayer.

As such, anyone who was in the attitude of prayer (elbows on table, hands at the forehead, head bowed) was given neither a trencher nor the dish which went on top. So having your elbows on the table (i.e. "in prayer") was a good way to get nothing to eat, and meant you hadn't followed the rules. Hence, "Keep your elbows off the table", as in "mind your manners and follow the rules, and you'll get some food", really had nothing whatsoever to do with that moment in time, but rather in the time leading up to mealtime. Screw up? Elbows on the table and get to praying- no soup for you.

makes sense also

I just made that shit up.

assateague wrote:I just made that shit up.

My mom always said I would wet the be if I had my elbows on the table. Same with playing with fire.
















I went through a lot of sheets

assateague wrote:I just made that shit up.

You have a gift.

My grandmother used to say if you could kiss your own elbow you'd turn into a girl or boy.

Sometimes shit is said just because it sounds good.

That was a very Aunt Bettyesk post

assateague wrote:I just made that shit up.

My grandfather shanghaied some guys before down in Morgan City. Said if they don't work for the first few days they don't eat, past that they get tossed. That shit supposedly went on until the late 70's early 80's.

Whataburger encourages elbows on the table.

Olly wrote:My grandmother used to say if you could kiss your own elbow you'd turn into a girl or boy.

Sometimes shit is said just because it sounds good.

My grandmother used to tell me that I was turning black, when she wasn't looking I'd sneak over to the mirror by her dining table and check.

My grandmother told me many times that if I could put salt on a bird's tail then I could catch them...I'd grab her salt shaker and take off. I been trying to catch birds since I was two. Grandpa finally gave me an air rifle about ten years later and I forgot the salt.

assateague wrote:

capt1972 wrote:

assateague wrote:

DeadEye_Dan wrote:Assafact

I'm calling BS as well.

I didn't say it was fact, I just re-posted it. It makes sense though.

In monasteries during the Middle Ages, food was served in a slice of bread, known as a "trencher", rather than on a plate. One monk would walk around the table handing out trenchers, and another would come along behind, giving the piece of meat, cheese, or fish which went along with it. The food was set in front of those eating, and was offered to monks as well as tradesmen or visitors to the priory or monastery. However, visitors had to abide by the same rules as the monks, and one of these rules was the rule of silence while eating. The majority of monasteries in Europe (where most of us came from) were Benedictine monasteries, and as such, the only speaking which was allowed during meal times was a monk who read from the Rule of St. Benedict at the head of room. Anyone who violated the rules (not only the silence during eating, but any of them) was forced to pray while all the others ate, and they would be given whatever leftovesr were available. As soon as they were seated, they had to begin offering prayer.

As such, anyone who was in the attitude of prayer (elbows on table, hands at the forehead, head bowed) was given neither a trencher nor the dish which went on top. So having your elbows on the table (i.e. "in prayer") was a good way to get nothing to eat, and meant you hadn't followed the rules. Hence, "Keep your elbows off the table", as in "mind your manners and follow the rules, and you'll get some food", really had nothing whatsoever to do with that moment in time, but rather in the time leading up to mealtime. Screw up? Elbows on the table and get to praying- no soup for you.

Olly wrote:That was a very Aunt Bettyesk post

Whatever... The. Legend of AB lives on...

Its about time to put...
"International Celebrity" under my name in my profile.