The Lazy Susan Is Neither Classic nor Chinese (2014)

[dannypgh]

"The pressed duck is right in front of me—and no one's gonna stop me from getting as many pieces as I want"

Can't literally anyone at the table do that, by rotating the table away? Technology like this requires certain societal norms to work effectively, and this attitude seems contrary to the norm.

[temetnosce]

There's a certain dance of courtesy when it comes to eating with a lazy susan that you eventually learn. Children were taught to yield the lazy susan to their elders first, otherwise they would be scolded by their guardian. This means hands off of the fun spinning table for kids. This is unless the guardian knows that the child (more so toddler/baby) is too young to understand table manners, and would otherwise cry from hunger. But in that case, it's the adult guardian that's spinning the table. And then there's the whole thing with who gets the last piece. Lots of small intricacies when it comes with family style meals, and spinning the table just makes it a little bit more interesting.

You don't know table manners/societal norms innately; it's a learned thing.

[dustinmoorenet]

You look around the table and see if anybody is currently serving themselves. If not you rotate a little ways. There is usually someone else who wants it turned. Since most of the meal is spent grazing and serving small amounts, the table really never stops turning.

[wavefunction]

And one might think that if getting as much pressed duck as one desires were so important, one might choose to dine alone to one's heart's content.

[j7ake]

It’s impolite to have more than a few pieces of items in your bowl at any time.

[j7ake]

I understood this as Wu designed a table that looked like the modern lazy Susan, so why is it not chinese ?

[cromwellian]

Because Wu’s table was never used for eating and is not the origin of the Lazy Susan dining table. The idea of using a rotating table to eat off of originated outside China.

[theandrewbailey]

I guess I must be so uncultured (or maybe too cultured?) to have never seen a lazy susan in a restaurant.

[mc32]

Usually the bigger ones which accommodate receptions and such would have them. Smaller ones, holes in the walls, etc, wouldn't nor would ones in modern, clean freeway-off-ramp strip malls, older ones may.

[kochikame]

These round tables are sometimes only in private rooms, with "regular" tables in the main restaurant space. That might explain why you've never seen one.

[war1025]

Same.