4 ms·

> They're really hard to use if you didn't grow up using them and also haven't put in quite a bit of practice. This is true with most tools. If you have never

> They're really hard to use if you didn't grow up using them and also haven't put in quite a bit of practice. This is true with most tools. If you have never used it in your life even a tool as simple as pencil can be challenging.

yamtaddle 3y ago
A pencil's exactly what I was thinking about comparing it to, actually. Spoon, fork, knife... hell, shovel, screwdriver? All easier. Pencils and chopsticks are more precise and require more fine motor control.
- OJFord 3y ago
  I think chopsticks are more than twice as hard as a pencil (even never having used either) simply because you're trying to use two rods together. (Unless we allow just stabbing stuff I suppose, but that only works with certain foods and generally they won't be the whole meal anyway.)
  - yamtaddle 3y ago
    The only methods I've ever managed to make work rely on holding one of the sticks still so only one's moving, but it takes a fair bit of concentration and focus to achieve that. It's way easier than having both in motion, but still really wobbly and tricky.
    - OJFord 3y ago
      That's certainly what I (aim to!) do too, I just think that's still like .. writing with a pencil while trying to hold the paper still on a moving platform, or in mid-air (even with a backing/a notepad), or something.
    - waste_monk 3y ago
      You're on the right track. I was taught the "right hand rule" depicted here [1] - the stationary chopstick is held at the near end between the bases of the thumb and index fingers (to prevent it from slipping around), and the far (towards food) end rests on the middle finger. The other chopstick is held with the thumb and index fingers (near the tips) and moves around as a lever to pinch the food. You may have better luck with other grips - I am hopeless with the "standard grip" but perhaps it will work for you. If you want to get good quickly, there is an exercise you can do - pour a small amount of uncooked rice into a bowl, and using only chopsticks transfer the grains to another bowl. Then repeat going the opposite direction, over and over until you either master the chopsticks or swear them off forever :). [1] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marcosticks-12_common_ways_to_use_chopsticks-cool_guide_style.png https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marcosticks-12_commo...
morsch 3y ago
Sure, and if someone who never held a pencil before asked you what's the right way to hold it, it wouldn't be very helpful to tell them "don't think about it too much" or "there is no right way to hold it".

yamtaddle 3y ago

A pencil's exactly what I was thinking about comparing it to, actually. Spoon, fork, knife... hell, shovel, screwdriver? All easier. Pencils and chopsticks are more precise and require more fine motor control.

OJFord 3y ago
I think chopsticks are more than twice as hard as a pencil (even never having used either) simply because you're trying to use two rods together. (Unless we allow just stabbing stuff I suppose, but that only works with certain foods and generally they won't be the whole meal anyway.)
- yamtaddle 3y ago
  The only methods I've ever managed to make work rely on holding one of the sticks still so only one's moving, but it takes a fair bit of concentration and focus to achieve that. It's way easier than having both in motion, but still really wobbly and tricky.
  - OJFord 3y ago
    That's certainly what I (aim to!) do too, I just think that's still like .. writing with a pencil while trying to hold the paper still on a moving platform, or in mid-air (even with a backing/a notepad), or something.
  - waste_monk 3y ago
    You're on the right track. I was taught the "right hand rule" depicted here [1] - the stationary chopstick is held at the near end between the bases of the thumb and index fingers (to prevent it from slipping around), and the far (towards food) end rests on the middle finger. The other chopstick is held with the thumb and index fingers (near the tips) and moves around as a lever to pinch the food. You may have better luck with other grips - I am hopeless with the "standard grip" but perhaps it will work for you. If you want to get good quickly, there is an exercise you can do - pour a small amount of uncooked rice into a bowl, and using only chopsticks transfer the grains to another bowl. Then repeat going the opposite direction, over and over until you either master the chopsticks or swear them off forever :). [1] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marcosticks-12_common_ways_to_use_chopsticks-cool_guide_style.png https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marcosticks-12_commo...

morsch 3y ago

Sure, and if someone who never held a pencil before asked you what's the right way to hold it, it wouldn't be very helpful to tell them "don't think about it too much" or "there is no right way to hold it".