Yes, we use them all the time when we eat Chinese food. :)

Hmmmmm, why just Chinese food?

I should have continued my post. We also use chopsticks for a variety of Asian foods. Better? LOL

I started using chopsticks in the early 1970's in an attempt to lose weight and got very proficient at using them.
I even impressed by son's in laws with my skill....they are Japanese.
I use cooking chopsticks a lot, too. Learned that trick from my daughter in law.

Close. Why avoid American cusine?

We used to make Automatic Chopsticks for our young children when we visited our favorite Chinese restaurant. Shortly after we started doing this, we were eating an early dinner in the nearly empty restaurant. I noticed the staff had all stood over to one side as I made up the chopsticks for each child to better watch me, apparently out of curiosity and perhaps to help serve other customers with kids.

Here is how you do it. You need a scrap of paper (the straw wrapper will work or the torn corner of the paper place mat) and a rubber band, hopefully not too big. At the tip of the handle end of the chopsticks, place the folded over piece of paper which is folded to a thickness of about 1/4 inch or less and about as wide as the chop sticks. Then wrap the rubber band around the end several times so that it is tight. You now have what is essentially a pair of tongs that can pick up bits of food by pinching them. Keeps the kids busy.

"Why avoid American cuisine?"

I'm not sure "avoid" is a word i would use. Why not enjoy the variety and diversity of different delicious cuisines? Many of the best restaurants in my area aren't of a style I'd describe as American.

As for chopsticks (most frequently encountered in Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese/sushi restaurants), they're very easily mastered.

Snidley, not by me! I am not the least bit dexterous - just can't get the hang of it, even though I've tried. One of my daughters-in-law is Chinese - maybe she can teach me.

I'm fairly proficient with them. However a friend of mine whose significant other is from China, hasn't been able to master them. He's gone with her to visit her family a couple of times in a smaller town in China, and had to bring a fork along with him so he wouldn't starve.

About halfway through one trip the waitstaff at one restaurant cleared the table, including his fork. He didn't realize it until the next morning. They went back to the restaurant the next day at lunchtime to see whether they had found it, and before he said anything one of the waiters marched out of the kitchen holding the fork and grinning.

I've tried many times but I still can't get the hang of them.

I use them fairly often.

I use chopsticks for eating and seldom have any trouble. I also use a chopstick to reach things that are too high or too far back in the cupboards. A single chopstick is a great tool. lol!

The sticks themselves make a difference for eating -- thicker bamboo sticks and much easier to use than the thin lacquered ones!

We use chopsticks all the time for Asian food, and when travelling in Asia I carry my own pair in my handbag for eating at street stalls etc. We don't use them for American/European cuisine because it doesn't really work- you can't cut up larger pieces of food with just chopsticks nor is it appropriate to just pick up a big chunk in the chopsticks and chew off a bite at a time. And mashed potatoes.... :-)
Asian cuisine is designed to be eaten with chopsticks and other cuisines aren't.

"Avoiding American" wasn't eluding to enjoying the variety of other cuisines, but the fact of eating them. Colleen provided the better answer ..... American food is not designed to be eaten with chopsticks. How on earth would you hold a Big Mac in those things?

I don't AVOID American cuisine, but typical "American cuisine" does not lend itself to being eaten with chopsticks, whereas Asian foods are generally comprised of "bite-sized" pieces that are more easily eaten with them. Is this answer enough for you that you won't continue to badger me?

(Should I "report" you for bullying here?)

Absolutely, I know how. I don't use them with all Asian cuisine.

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excerpt: "Filipino. While the rest of the world used spoons, forks, chopsticks, and knives, Filipinos use their hands. This 'eating using your hand' culture has been passed on for generations."

Here is a link that might be useful: Kamayan

I grew up using them, so did my kids. No problems here.

Having spent nine years in Korea helping refugees get a fresh start in life just after the Korean War, and connecting with churches, I pretty well had to learn how.

Why not use 'em in this part of the world?

Western food just too dang big!

ole joyfuelled ... occasionally adding Eastern food, using chopsticks

I'm not particularly good with them, although I have some. I can't remember the last time they were used.

I rarely cook Asian food although I enjoy it very much - when eating out we don't seem to ever be anyplace that standard flatware isn't offered. I eat a little slowly anyway, if I tried to have all I wanted with only chopsticks I'd surely be keeping everyone waiting at meals end.

...And Thailand isn't a chopstick culture, they use a fork and spoon.

No, I have never used chopsticks and probably never will. I am not that fond of Asian food. Once in awhile have some take out fried rice and sweet and sour chicken and that is it for me.

Sue