DEAR MISS MANNERS: I understand and observe the rule that one should wait for everyone at the table to be served before one starts eating, unless the not-yet-served parties demur and urge others to eat.
Is it also considered necessary to wait until others have photographed their meal and posted it to social media?
This issue arises for me not in restaurants, but at home. My husband and I split cooking duties, so we each cook on different nights. He tends to make elaborate, time-consuming spreads, of which he is justifiably proud. So he shares photos of the plated results on social media, along with a paragraph of explanation about the ingredients and preparation.
Meanwhile, I sit hungrily watching my food grow cold. He considers it impolite if I start eating before he is also ready to pick up his fork or chopsticks.
I believe that once we are both served, it is up to each person to decide how to proceed -- whether to dive into the meal or to conduct a photo shoot.
I have observed that this behavior occurs in restaurants as well, even though those posting are merely consuming the meal and did not produce it. I hungrily await your judgment.
GENTLE READER: It will be in your favor. Miss Manners hereby declares that photographing a meal constitutes consuming it, in the sense of feeding on its aesthetic. You may begin to eat.