Isn't it quaint how David Cameron can leave his child in a pub...

[Atman]

...and it's only called a humorous mix-up between he and his wife? But if any one of us left a child in a pub -- or even took the child into a freakin' pub, for that matter -- we'd be answering for it in court? I just find that somewhat amusing. In an un-amusing sort of way.

[mainer]

1. Pubs in england are more like family places.

Here, you'd get into trouble just taking your kid into an establishment that serves mainly alcohol.

I think it's amusing that the staff of the pub just took it in stride and watched after the girl.

[Atman]

7. I don't think it's ever "amusing" when you forget your children in a bar.

It's lots of things. The word "amusing" just never came to mind. But maybe it's just me..

[jeff47]

10. Pub in England == "Family Restaurant" in the US.

You shouldn't think of it as a bar. You should think of it as an Applebee's.

[Atman]

11. I've never forgotten my child in an Applebee's, either.

Nor a Chili's, nor Ruby Tuesday, nor 99...what's your point?

.

[jeff47]

14. That it's not a bar.

You seemed to be quite troubled that they brought a child to a bar, as well as forgetting them there.

[Atman]

16. Huh?

Are you serious?

What was my OP? I asked, how many of us would allowed to just laugh off an incident of leaving a child in a bar -- a restaurant -- a carawash -- a 711, as if it freaking matters? -- the way this Cameron story is being covered? Once again, if you're in a dark suit and good at bullshit, you can talk your way out of anything. If you're a regular Joe, probably not so much.

[jeff47]

18. To quote you: "or even took the child into a freakin' pub, for that matter"

That part only makes sense if you think a pub is a bar.

[Atman]

20. As long as you can whittle my post down to that salient point.

Don't forget your kids at the pub tonight.

.

[jeff47]

22. Why are you getting angry at me for reading what you wrote? (nt)

[Atman]

24. Oh. Thank you for informing me that I was angry.

My computer doesn't have that feature. I can only read what people post.

[jeff47]

25. So you're dragging this out because.........

Option 1: Ignore the corrections.
Option 2: "Oh, I didn't realize 'pub' was different in the UK".
Option 3: "RED ALERT!!! Must distance self from earlier comments and deride other posters!! Aooooo-gah! Aoooooo-gah!"

So why'd you choose #3?

[sabrina 1]

29. He neglected his child. There, does that make it easier for you to understand?

And if any of us left a child at McDonalds we would be vilified for it.

But the rich and powerful are different. Either don't vilify an ordinary person, or vilify everyone who forgets their child.

[Atman]

30. I am in no way "distancing" myself from my comments.

Aaaaoooo-gah, yourself. I stand by my op and my subsequent replies. If you think it's fine to leave your children behind in restaurants, by all means, do so. Then post to tell us how "amusing" the authorities found it.

Aaaaaaoooh-gah!

[Fawke Em]

8. I think the difference is that a pub doesn't just mainly

serve alcohol.

Pubs - or Public Houses - are usually neighborhood "halls" that serve local comfort foods and some booze.

I took my then 4-year-old to many pubs when we visited England. It wasn't a big deal.

(Of course, I didn't leave him, but I didn't assume he was other members of my party, either).

[Control-Z]

2. Yup.

To everything you wrote.

[JoePhilly]

3. There is video of the event ...

[belcffub]

4. I've taken my kids to a bar

we rent one out sometime for family events... they even serve alcohol while the kids are present... heck just about all the fire halls here have bars and kids are around them all the time...

[Atman]

5. How often have you forgotten to take them home with you?

Just sayin.'

[belcffub]

9. not yet...

but I really don't frequent bars... and my kids talk to much for me to forget them anywhere... the silence would scare me...

[Enrique]

6. yeah I'm reading all the "we can relate..." stuff

I bet if it was a black woman that left her baby in her neighborhood bar, these same people wouldn't relate as readily.

[ZombieHorde]

12. People often take children to some bars here in Montana.

Some bars here have family nights, and the children are often running around and having a blast.

I don't take my children to bars, but I don't judge those who do.

[Atman]

13. I'm not judging those who do. Perhaps you should read the OP.

David Cameron is/was a big British leader. I, personally, would assume he has "staff" around him, but I could be wrong. Either way, this big leader guys LEFT HIS FUCKING KID IN A BAR. I don't care what you call the place...he went home without his child!

This isn't Montana, and the point isn't taking your kid to a pub. It's about FORGETTING YOUR KID AT THE PUB, and then laughing it off as just an amusing farce. As others in this thread have pointed out, and as I tried to in the OP, who among us would not have been called into the precinct for questioning, and perhaps had DYS pay us a visit, if we'd have left our 8 year old child in a bar???

.

[ZombieHorde]

15. I was not trying to accuse you of being judgemental, but I can see how my wording

would lead readers of my post to that conclusion. I apologize for the misunderstanding. I should have been more clear.

[Nye Bevan]

17. So what do you think an appropriate sentence would be for something like this?

My in-laws once left my niece at a tavern in Williamsburg (VA) for a few minutes, when each thought she was with the other. Should they have gone to prison? Or been sentenced to community service? I think this kind of thing happens more than you think; we only heard about the Cameron incident because he's the Prime Minister.

You're doing a lot of disapproving finger-wagging in this thread, but we are not all perfect.

[mainer]

19. "Home Alone" is based on the concept

that parents are human and can get so frazzled, they make mistakes.

I found this anecdote "amusing" because it has this innocent feel of a small village, people looking out for each other, pub owners and barmaids pitching in to watch a kid. To be pointing fingers and turning this into some sort of screaming morality lesson reminds me that some people have all the charm of Church Lady.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. It IS England... where they are not that fixed

on the same idiotic things we are.

And in England it is more of a family institution, and family friendly.

[Marrah_G]

23. A pub there is like a family restraunt.

[JI7]

26. i can actually see this not being a big issue somewhere like England, Americans tend to get outraged

over things that others wouldn't.

if it was a republican the story would be different.

[sorefeet]

27. I have seen it 3 times in Montana

Each time it was late, the kid was asleep in a booth and the mother was playing a keno or poker machine. They were not drinking. Still don't matter.

How many people leave a child in a locked hot car, sober. I can't even imagine that horror.

[muriel_volestrangler]

28. There have been lots of people giving their stories like this in the media since this

so it's not that unusual - and no-one was made to 'answer' for it in any way.

So, yes, it's pretty much amusing, to us in the UK.

The best story I've heard so far was the parents who forgot to bring their child to its christening.