Thursday, February 18, 2016

Texting at the table, Roman-style

"Guests were evidently at liberty during dinner to occupy themselves in ways which in the modern world would not be thought good-mannered. They could, for instance, write or dictate letters at table." ~~ J.P.V.D. Balsdon, Life and Leisure in Ancient Rome

3 comments:

Queen of Carrots said...

I hope my husband does not find this out. :D

Silvia said...

Huh!, who would have thought. Proves our lack of inventiveness when it comes to bad manners.

Silvia said...

I meant they already did that. But I think now it's bad manners because texting is not poetic as writing and dictating letters. That's more a business lunch, not an obnoxious way of cutting company, or shrinking family life. I think there is a way in which texting at table would not mean bad manners. Excuse this randomness.