The article discusses how my mother instilled proper table manners at the dinner table, particularly in my case, as well as my own, at the expense of others. The article suggests that even basic manners have been discarded, such as no electronics at the table, wait until everyone is seated and no use of the fingers, or ask to be excused before leaving the table. The author suggests that the loss of these manners has led to the disappearance of conversation at the family dinner table.