Fun! I just LOVE fresh sweet corn, grew up on a farm, had the best of the best. It has to be fresh, and not over-cooked (fresh corn is boiled for 3-5 minutes).
And the water must be boiling before you put the corn in.
So we kid about the 'proper' way to eat it. I 'insist' that you not only eat down the length of the rows, but also from left to right (like reading), and, the stalk end (larger diameter) MUST be on the left, so you are eating downhill! Yes, it matters!!!!!
I do all these except I don't think I pay attention to which end is on the left. Can I still come to dinner?
Your teeth just naturally fall in between the rows, it forms a guide. It's the "RIGHT" way to do it, there is no other acceptable way (OK, if your teeth can't handle the chewing, cutting off is just what you need to do, you are excused, but I would need to see a note from your doctor!).
And good, fresh corn, picked at its peak, and not over-cooked, will 'pop' off the cob when you bite into it, just a bit crunchy. If left on the stalk a few days too long, it's a bit more mushy - can still taste good, but usually a bit more starchy, and the lack of that 'snap' takes away from the experience.
It troubles me to see people randomly takes bites out the cob, like patchwork. Kids do this, but I'll excuse them until they are old enough to learn the RIGHT way.
Our dear Daughter-in-law (and her Mom!) have the weirdest way of eating sweet corn I've ever seen. They dig their fork into the cob, just under the kernels, sideways, and then twist it back/forth to release the kernels and then eat from the fork. An abomination! I guess they fear getting the corn stuck in their teeth. Oh well, she's a wonderful person in every other way, I will somehow have to overlook this major character flaw.
Oh, did I get the idea across, that I LOVE sweet corn, and take it very seriously? I have only recently entrusted DW to pick out ears of corn, she has learned how to judge the freshness from how the silk and leaves look, and it should be cool to the touch. The modern varieties of corn hold their sweetness quite well, so they can be a few days from being picked, and still very good, but they need to kept cold/cool. heat destroys that in no time. And I will NEVER buy corn that has been husked - w/o seeing the husk, it's harder to judge it.
Hmmmm, sweet corn! -ERD50