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The 8 Rudest Behaviors at Thanksgiving Dinner

Not gonna lie… I’m guilty of a couple of the rudest behaviors at Thanksgiving dinner. I never thought of some of these as rude until I looked back at the…

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 17: A view of the lunch served during the National Geographic Channel celebrates the premiere of the miniseries event Saints & Strangers (airing Nov. 22 & 23) with a Thanksgiving lunch at NoMad Hotel Rooftop on November 17, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for National Geographic Channels)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17: A view of the lunch served during the National Geographic Channel celebrates the premiere of the miniseries event Saints & Strangers (airing Nov. 22 & 23) with a Thanksgiving lunch at NoMad Hotel Rooftop on November 17, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for National Geographic Channels)

Credit: Jemal Countess / Getty Images

Not gonna lie... I'm guilty of a couple of the rudest behaviors at Thanksgiving dinner. I never thought of some of these as rude until I looked back at the times I DID these things. Then I had the "Oh YEAH!" moment of recalling a family member being less than pleased in that moment. Thanksgiving is a time for getting together with friends and family, but it doesn't mean everything in 100% smooth sailing.

This isn't on the list, but this is also definitely a no-no. My co-worker told me his family drove Up North to his uncle's for Thanksgiving dinner the day after, Friday. The uncle had Thanksgiving dinner the day before and gave them all leftovers! Plus, they were there to help him with work in his house! After they finished the work, they ended up going to McDonald's. That uncle is not on the "nice" list for those shenanigans.

A friend of my sister always shows up for gatherings with HER OWN TUPPERWARE. She doesn't like to cook, so she eats and takes some home. I would not personally show up with my own tupperware (even with family) unless I was explicitly told to bring my containers and expect to take home leftovers, but that's just me.

Etiquette experts have weighed in to give us their top answers on what you SHOULDN'T do this Thanksgiving.

The 8 Rudest Behaviors at Thanksgiving Dinner

Bringing Dishes That Require Cooking

GUILTY. In my defense, it was green bean casserole. I use fresh green beans and I like for them to be cooked, but still maintain that bright green color. My sister was hosting Thanksgiving and I brought the casserole uncooked. She never SAID anything to me, but I think she was annoyed. Hindsight being 20/20, I get it. There's only so much room in the oven. Ultimately, I paid the price. My casserole ended up being undercooked and I was disappointed.

casserole dish

Not RSVP-ing

#VALID  If you took the time to get dressed and travel there, the least you can do is TELL THEM YOU'RE COMING.  To be clear, RSVP at least a week ahead of time.  If someone is nice enough to invite you over for Thanksgiving, you should be nice enough to let them know how many people to plan for when shopping and figuring out seating.

groceries

Starting Tense Conversations

Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is REALLY soon after the elections.  Everyone has a right to their opinions, but remember the uncomfortable Thanksgiving of 2016?  Politics can be bad for appetite and family bonding.  So can any other tense subjects within the family.  You're there to share a meal and create good memories.  Leave your baggage at home or make excuses for not being there and do your own thing.  To be clear, the experts didn't say that, I'm just suggesting based off of my own experiences.

http://gty.im/1290577609

Only Talking to People You Know

Crap.  Guilty.  If I don't get introduced to an unfamiliar face, I may be known to bypass them in the moment.  I can't recall a Thanksgiving gathering where I didn't know everyone, but it's never a bad idea to introduce yourself first.  I always try to remember the other side of the coin: if I didn't know people at a Thanksgiving gathering, I'd appreciate it if they introduced themselves.  I should extend that same courtesy.

Dr. Fauci Recommends Americans Should Never Shake Hands Again To Prevent Coronavirus(Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Showing Up Empty-Handed

Homemade,Whole,Meal,Pretzels,With,Sesame,And,SaltPhoto By NoirChocolate/Shutterstock

Listen.  I am not the best cook, so sometimes, I cook nothing.  #GUILTY My sister is a really good cook. It can be intimidating. Also, sometimes my work schedule doesn't allow me time for food prep. I'm usually in charge of pretzels and hummus.

Asserting Yourself in the Kitchen Without Being Asked

Dude.  Do NOT go into your host's kitchen and start taking over the meal.  I have never personally experienced this, but I would be livid if this was done to me.  You have to ask, "Do you need any help?" first.

cookingPhoto by George Rudy/Shutterstock

Assuming You Can Take Leftovers

Chances are, there will be leftovers, but you have NO IDEA what the host's plans are for them.  If you get asked to take home leftovers, SCORE, but never assume.

gray leftovers are for quitters shirt

BTW, I think this T-shirt is HILARIOUS.  You can check it out in our Must Haves section or CLICK HERE.

Hanging Around Too Long After Dinner

Ya ain't gotta to go home, but you can't stay here.  Use common sense to figure out when "GO TIME" should happen.

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Visiting Depot Town is like "going back in time.." (Nice!)

Donielle Flynn has two kids, two cats, two dogs, and a love of all things rock. She’s been in radio decades and held down top-rated day parts at Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC radio stations throughout her tenure. She enjoys writing about rock news, the Detroit community, and she has a series called “The Story Behind” where she researches the history of classic rock songs.