We are all perhaps guilty of at some point having one too many glasses of sauvignion blanc and bringing up a taboo topic or making a statement which, had we been slightly more ‘compos mentis’ would of thought better of mentioning. But the words have left your lips.... this can often result in an almost instant 'killing' of the mood and at times sparks up conflict, heated debates and sour responses.
Whether your entertaining family, friends or work colleagues there are just certain topics nobody wants to talk about over dinner.
We've listed a few subjects to avoid in order to ensure your dinner party is a night to remember for all the right reasons!
Money
Money is often a very touchy subject for people to discuss in any circumstance let alone when alcohol is flowing. The majority of people may feel that they are unhappy in their current occupation and want to earn more money and people who are successful may be wary of 'bragging' So discussing what your currently earning, if your struggling to pay your bills, or that bonus you've just received are all topics which are best to steer clear of to avoid causing any unnecessary embarrassment for your guests.
Sex
This raunchy subject may seem acceptable and innocent at the time when your discussing how your current sex life is back on track since having your child, wild stories from your crazy youth or worse still one of your dinner guests past exploits, but for many this can be a highly uncomfortable topic and can easily offend.
Politics
Regardless of if we have politics views or not voicing your individual opinions, theories and personal beliefs in the company of others whose perspectives often could often differ from your own, is at times asking for trouble and more often than not will result in a clash which could very quickly turn ugly, leaving other guests awkwardly gazing round the room wishing they were anywhere but there.
Hygiene/Illnesses
You may have been suffering from an upset stomach for the last 5 days and lost 3lbs in the process from 'not been able to keep anything down' or think nothing of discussing how the dog had devoured something unsavoury in the garden and then displayed it all over your kitchen floor as harmless chit chat but this is not something your guests want to hear whilst nibbling upon a vo -au -vent!
Off Colour Humour
We all like to have a laugh and a giggle in some form, no dinner party would be the same without some humour but there is a line which shouldn't be crossed. Offensive or very close to the bone jokes which could potentially fall flat, instantly quieten the whole mood of the table or worse still, infuriate a guest who has taken personal offence is not a good scenario to find yourself in.
Bringing up past disasters involving your guests
You may think it funny to take a trip down memory lane and relive the moment the last hostess drank too much, fell over drunk and then proceeded to fall out with her husband in front of the dinner guests mildly amusing a year down the line but unfortunately more often than not this isn't the case. Nobody particularly wants to discuss past awkward and uncomfortable situations, to avoid reliving these previous episodes leave them in the past!
Sometimes it all depends on the company and who you are entertaining to set the tone for a dinner party, a lively, controversial discussion can sometimes be alot of fun and leave your guests leaving on a positive note, other times a more sedate, relaxed environment is apt.
Here at Fashion Wallpaper we want to know your experiences from hosting a dinner party. Have you ever had to step in to stop a conversation before it turned into a mass fight? Have you had a complete dinner party disaster or are you the perfect hostess? What do you think are good topics to discuss and ensure the evening goes smoothly?
Share your views and opnions with us
