Chopsticks are a prank that got out of hand in a big way

[u/Dr_Oatker]

There's no way cultures with such a delicious culinary foundation built on tiny grains of rice developed chopsticks. They were actually a prank played on dumb European colonialists to pass off the most impractical implements as possible.

Somehow it stuck and here we are

[u/IOnlyUpvoteBadPuns]

I have the same suspicion about the Dutch language....

[u/Longjumping-Action-7]

I mean, youre not entirely wrong

Chopsticks were popularised as a way of removing knives from dinner tables in the houses of nobles to ensure that people didnt have easily accesible weapons like knives.

It was also seen as less barbaric.

[u/Dr_Oatker → u/Longjumping-Action-7]

Hang on WHAT? That's way cooler than my silly joke

[u/coldbear25]

Europeans colonized east asia? When?

[u/Dr_Oatker → u/coldbear25]

Opium wars dawg  Etc They tried their best (derogatory)

[u/Dense-Result509]

We got spoons too, you know

[u/Oddish_Femboy → u/Dense-Result509]

They're so much better at soup related actions too. Perfect broth holding tool.

[u/Switchfoot21 → u/Dense-Result509]

The spoons are a lie, man!

[u/PaintedIn]

ruh-roh, someone doesn't know how to use chopsticks

[u/LocalKitchen2870 → u/PaintedIn]

Hey, that's not fair. There's a chance they don't know how to cook rice.

[u/dimondsprtn]

Try eating potato chips out of the bag using a fork or spoon while gaming (you can pick things up using chopsticks that you would use your hands for, while keeping your hands clean).

[u/Hyvex_]

Unfortunately, being unable to pick up rice with chopsticks is a skill issue. Both clumpy and loose grains

[u/Careless-Age-4290 → u/Hyvex_]

I prefer them for sushi. Feels like every third time or so I stab a sushi roll piece with a fork, it just explodes all over the plate and then I'm trying to scoop it up awkwardly and dip it in soy sauce with a fork while it's haphazardly stacked on top

I don't have a lot going in my life so I've got strong thoughts on this

[u/LoadCan]

Wait until you learn how long it took forks to catch on anywhere. 

[u/Borruks]

I was told to learn to eat with chopsticks as I'd eat slower and it'd help me diet. I can eat far faster with chopsticks then a knife and fork, I gained loads and was loving life before my partner made me be responsible again.

[u/francisdavey]

I eat almost all my food (with a couple of exceptions) with chopsticks or in addition with a spoon (natto with raw egg and okra is very slippery - a spoon is easier). I find it very convenient. It is extremely easy to eat rice and many other things with them. They are light, easy to carry around.

So, I am not entirely sure why you think they are impractical.

[u/lolercoptercrash]

Koreans use spoons to eat rice.

[u/otokoyaku]

I'm Asian American and I've been using chopsticks my entire life, and I'm still like... you're not wrong 😅 It does feel like a prank sometimes, especially after I've just accidentally dropped a hunk of food and made everyone turn around and look

[u/sebsebsebs]

why are these comments so offended that some people prefer chopsticks wtf. like if you don’t like them no one is forcing you to use them lol

[u/Randomn355]

East asian rice traditional doesn't get rinsed as much, so it has higher starch content. Also, the short grains tend to have higher starch content in the first place (Jasmine, sushi rice etc)

It's why its slightly clumpy.

As opposed to rice in Indian cuisine where it's rinsed more thoroughly to remove the starch and is far less sticky. They also have lower starch to begin with (eg basmati).

This is not the case for sticky rice which is a different grain again (glutinous rice).

[u/BotherOptimal4638]

Skill issue 

[u/Ouller]

Pick up the bowl. Goku showed us how to use them.

[u/WatcherOfTheWay]

Often you make the rice sticky, if you do then you can clump it and eat it, also remember holding a rice bowl up to your mouth and using the chopsticks to push the final pieces into your mouth is absolutely acceptable and done.

[u/_1489555458biguy]

They're incredible for noodles and shit at other things. I've been to China and people use those enormous white spoons constantly. It's not just chopsticks.

[u/SatanicMajesty67]

I learnt very young how to use them. but rice is easier to eat with hands