Is there anyone else who has never had a meal ruined by a screaming child in a restaurant?

[Fumesucker]

Given that the most posts on an OP make it the most important one according to some DUers then screaming children in restaurants is the most important issue in America today.

After thinking about it since yesterday I have to say that I honestly can't recall ever having a restaurant meal ruined by a continuously misbehaving child.

I'm not going to bother making this a poll since I suspect I'm unique in this regard so I'll get no responses.

[geckosfeet]

1. Or a plane trip. Chruch, Movie. Library. Lecture. Grocery store. Car ride. Beach day.

But hey - kids cry. Just like dogs bark.

And some people whine.

Woof.

[Trajan]

10. LMAO

Woof ....

[seabeyond]

34. +1, if you are saying those places fine too. cause have been with me too. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

50. Funny, all my church experiences have been ruined by the religion.

That's why I don't go to church.

[cleanhippie]

102. [phone]

Very nice!

[npk]

131. OK that was hilarious

Very good.

[EFerrari]

2. Not ruined. I remember my mother taking my brother outside

when he was a crying baby and I did the same with one of my boys. That's about it. Nothing very exciting and certainly not as many times as some out of control adult was making a fuss somewhere.

[CTyankee]

3. on a flight back to the US from Europe. One baby really cried a lot.

It was a LONG flight...

[Fumesucker]

4. Well, obviously the parent should have taken the baby outside..

:evilgrin:

[Synicus Maximus]

27. No they should have put it in the baggage hole with the dogs and cats.

[CTyankee]

36. My goodness! You alarm me with the way your mind works....

or is this what your "voices" tell you to do?

[CTyankee]

33. The parents really tried. I don't think I mentioned anything about blaming anybody...

but, of course, you are welcome to think what you want to think...

Have a nice Saturday! :hi:

[seabeyond]

41. my niece recently went on flight with 8 mo and 2 yr old. oh, she was fearful...

dreading the flight. the thought, her kids might not be perfect, had her a mess. i understand. i think just about every parent that steps on the plane with a little one has that fear. then.... when you make it thru adn there was no melt down...

oh that relief is good

i hear you werent blaming.

and i know it is hard to listen to a little one cry.

[HuckleB]

119. Indeed.

We still go through that fear, and the fear may be justified at some point, but, so far, after several dozen flights (including all legs), including three trips from the west coast to NYC, a trip to Paris, a trip to Taiwan, and several shorter trips, our little guy has been given accolades by those around us. Of course, before the flight, it seems like we get plenty of wary eyes looking our way. Sometimes, I wonder of people showing anxiety about being around little ones doesn't make it more likely that they will get upset. They do notice emotions, after all.

[seabeyond]

125. what i do think happens is the expectation of something happening with a kid

it must be reinforced for a person.

so even if it is NOTHING, the person makes it into something to say.... see.

[Fumesucker]

44. It was a joke, son a joke..

-F Leghorn

:hi:

[CTyankee]

65. glad to hear it!

:hi

[immoderate]

106. I saw a kid removed from a plane for throwing a tantrum before takeoff.

Screamingest kid I ever saw. They wouldn't let him fly.

When I fly east, I like to take the red eye. If I can sleep, it saves a whole day. Screaming kids, though rare on a red eye, can really break up the plan.

Occasional out bursts from a kid in a restaurant don't bother me, But extended screaming tantrums from a kid in a restaurant is a sign that he would rather be somewhere else. In this, I support the kid.

--imm

[a la izquierda]

137. oh lordie...

i took an overnight flight from houston to puerto rico. a crying child kicked my seat the for about two hours. my husband slept through it all. i wanted to murder him, too. at one point, i turned around and in a very low, strong whisper (in spanish) to be quiet and go to sleep. his mother gave me the oddest look, the kid looked shocked, and...stopped. i was able to sleep for about an hour and a half.

[devilgrrl]

66. I think the kids on planes have trouble with the pressure. It hurts if you don't pop your ears.

That's my theory on why small children cry on planes. :shrug:

[Fumesucker]

69. The eustachian tubes don't fully develop until late teen years..

Children have a lot more difficulty equalizing the pressure even if they're not clogged up and so many kids keep a runny nose/low grade ear infection damn near constantly at certain stages of their lives.

[Madam Mossfern]

139. My oldest burst an eardrum

when he was about a year old on a plane. After that, even though I was a mom who didn't care to medicate unless absolutely necessary, he would get a good dose of antihistamine whenever we flew.

My husband and I recently had a dinner out ruined by some rowdy little kids at the next table. The parents did nothing about it the entire time they were 'eating', but said "sorry" to us on the way out. What's with that?

[MattBaggins]

95. Many Duers here that would sya that child should be taken out back and shot

How dare their delicate sensibilities be offended by the presence of a child.

[Skittles]

114. that's why you should take ear plugs on airplanes

[npk]

132. Or a nice pair of noise canceling headphones

Like the ones that Bose sells.

[Skittles]

134. CORRECT

I've slept through many a screaming airplane baby; yes INDEED

[PSzymeczek]

140. My daughter was 3 1/2 weeks old

when we came back from Germany. She slept most of the way. She even slept going through Customs at JFK Airport. Up until she was about 13, she slept every time she was aboard any means of transportation.

[demosincebirth]

5. Not a screaming kid, but 7-9 years olds misbehaving.and causing a ruckus.

[Odin2005]

87. LOL, I think watching kids be brats is hilarious!

[xchrom]

6. Children, rude cell phone users, obnoxious drunks,

Loud teens - and more - all have disrupted good
Evenings out.

And restaurants have been too lenient
In all those cases.

'children' - the word just draws the flames.
Although they are sometimes shown consideration
Others are not.

[demosincebirth]

8. +1

[Fumesucker]

12. I have to wonder where you live

And what sort of restaurants you patronize?

Honestly, the worst experiences I've ever had in restaurants were invariably the fault of inattentive or incompetent staff, not other patrons..

ETA: "obnoxious drunk" is an oxymoron anyway.

[seabeyond]

39. inattentive or incompetent staff, not other patrons.... yup.

i have wonder if it is location. but i think, after kids, any happy noise is ok with me. so noise per se doesnt set me off.

maybe some are just so less sensitive, these "interuptions" dont ever register. i go to dinner, enjoy who i am with, and leave...

[woo me with science]

81. How is "obnoxious drunk" an oxymoron?

Did you mean to say it's a redundancy?

...............................

World English Dictionary
oxymoron (ˌɒksɪˈmɔːrɒn)

—n , pl -mora
rhetoric - an epigrammatic effect, by which contradictory terms are used in conjunction: living death; fiend angelical

...............................

Cultural Dictionary
oxymoron <(ok-see-mawr-on)>

A rhetorical device in which two seemingly contradictory words are used together for effect: “She is just a poor little rich girl.”

................................

Random House Dictionary
ox·y·mo·ron
   /ˌɒksɪˈmɔrɒn, -ˈmoʊr-/ Show Spelled Show IPA
–noun,plural-mo·ra  /-ˈmɔrə, -ˈmoʊrə/ Show Spelled<-mawr-uh, -mohr-uh> Show IPA. Rhetoric.
a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”

[Fumesucker]

82. Yeah, I meant redundancy..

Realized what I'd written after the edit time was up..

:crazy:

[cleanhippie]

103. How is it redundant?

There are Happy drunks, Sad drunks, fighting drunks, silent drunks, etc, the list goes on and on and on.

Being drunk =/= obnoxious

[woo me with science]

107. I made no statement about whether it was a fair description or not.

It was merely my best guess as to what the author intended.

The author has confirmed that my guess was correct.

[PassingFair]

110. It's a palindrome.

[Roon]

135. I was always a happy drunk

my roommate even commented that he normally doesn't handle drunks well, but he had no problem when I was drunk.

[PSzymeczek]

141. I've always been a withdrawn drunk.

Introspective.

[customerserviceguy]

14. And what is it with these teens who feel they have to text during a movie?

If they're sitting in the seats in front of me, it's like shining a flashlight in my eyes. Perhaps they were the ones disturbing my meals ten or twelve years ago when their parental units failed to discipline them.

[Odin2005]

88. Because it's far more polite than talking on the cell phone.

Maybe it's because I'm of that generation, but other people texting during a movie doesn't bother me.

And fine, wee'll get off yer lawn! :P :)

[customerserviceguy]

108. Ok, if you're that damned bored with the movie

Then get up, leave, and maybe ask for your money back.

Shining a flashlight in the eyes of the people behind you in a dark theatre is never polite, even if it seems more so than gabbing your face off into a cell phone.

If movie theatres don't feel like stopping texting, then maybe they should stick the texters in the back, and let those of us who don't like it sit somewhat closer. That sort of worked for smokers on airliners a few decades ago.

[blondeatlast]

63. Word. nt

[MattBaggins]

97. Other people breathing around me is the worst affront of all

The owners of the restaurants should personally shoot them for me.

I am sick and tired of life and noise going on around me when I go out in public. Obama should pass a law for me.

[L0oniX]

98. Children are doomed. Let em cry while they can.

[uncommon]

121. Amen.

[dkf]

7. When I hear a screaming child I feel bad for the parent.

The only time a screaming child made me a bit upset is on a redeye flight. The parent got up from their seat with the child and came INTO my section. After the child fell asleep the airline attendants talked the rest of the way til the flight landed at 3am my time. I didn't sleep a wink.

[TorchTheWitch]

100. I only feel bad for the parent when they're trying to stop it and it isn't working

The parents that just blissfully ignore their out of control kids and allow them to continue disrupting everyone else I want to punt like a football across the street.

Kids need discipline, and yes, toddlers are plenty old enough to learn boundries in social behavior. When I was growing up, kids didn't act up in public without being immediately disciplined and removed from disturbing others whether it was a restaurant, supermarket, party, mall, or where ever that was out in public... just as they were disciplined if they acted up at home. In the neighborhood I grew up in, all the adults disciplined all the kids, and that's how it was supposed to be so kids never got the idea that they could act up just because Mom or Dad wasn't around... if Mrs. Neighbor caught you misbehaving when your parents weren't there, she'd step in as the parent and discipline you, and your Mom and Dad would be grateful for it. These days it's just the opposite.

Discipline isn't a dirty word - it's as essential as learning to feed yourself, dress yourself, communicate and everything else that's vital to becoming a fully functional human being within society. Animals are intelligent enough to discipline their children and demand socially acceptable behavior, yet it's the most intelligent animal - humans - that are dropping that ball. Go figure.

[spanone]

9. shoot the little bastids!!!!

[MattBaggins]

99. Hear hear. Can we start with mine?

[PSzymeczek]

142. Mine knows she was fortunate

to live beyond the age of 16.

[Brickbat]

11. I generally don't let other people ruin my experiences. I do remember a couple instances where kids

were unruly and I was all superior on the inside about it. I also remember a couple instances where adults were cruel to each other, or loudly belittled their servers, or whatever, and it made me angry to see it happening.

[Luminous Animal]

13. Nope. Not even in the local burrito joint often frequented by families.

[PassingFair]

15. I have felt sorry for the parents....

but people who have "experiences ruined" by
kids should STAY HOME.

Life happens.

If you want peace and quiet for gawd's sake
don't leave your living rooms.

Outside you could run into storms,
high winds and other people's children.

[customerserviceguy]

20. Why should people who know how to behave in public

be the ones that should stay home?

I wish people who have no abilities or inclination to control their kids find their own kind of places (i.e. McDonalds) to patronize, and stay out of the expensive burger joints. If your kid is going to toss food on the floor, why not make it a cheap burger, rather than a ten dollar one?

Remember those smoking and no-smoking sections in restaurants? How about 'family' and 'adult' sections?

[randr]

16. While screaming children have caused me concern

I did have one occasion with loud children that I fondly remember.
I was at one of my favorite Bistros with a few friends. Most nights the place is packed and while it is in the middle of the Rocky Mountains you would think you were in a large metro area with all the action and noise. You literally have to almost yell to carry on a conversation. Seated at the table closest to me was a family with about 4 children. I overheard the mother ask the kids if they knew why this was her favorite place to take them out to eat. She then stated that it is the only place where they can talk as loud as they want to and not bother her.

[Fumesucker]

18. That's a good story, thanks for sharing..

[SheilaT]

40. Bingo.

When my kids were little we simply frequented restaurants with a high ambient noise level. We did take a noisy or misbehaving child outside more than once.

And the earlier comment about not letting anyone else ruin the experience is also on the spot. I just ignore what would otherwise annoy me. Just like I never use the ignore feature here, but try not to engage in pointless argument at various times.

I've never had the experience of sitting behind someone texting in a theater. I've almost always had the good fortune to attend movies at off times when they just aren't very busy. A while back I lived about a mile from an older multi-plex (the first one every constructed by that chain, I believe) and since the newer theaters all had the stadium seating and larger auditoriums, the business at that particular multi-;lex dropped and dropped until it was eventually close. But for about six years I was able to be in theaters with few other patrons, and more than once I was the only one there. Boy, that was nice. I was so sorry when they closed it, even though I was lucky it stayed open as long as it did.

[randr]

72. Adults that talk out of place annoy me more than children

I was at a Van Morrison concert at Wolf Trap a while back and a very obnoxious and large fellow behind me would not stop talking of other shows he had seen. After the second or so song he had ruined for the people around him I could no longer hold out. I turned around, discovering the LARGE man, and in a loud enough voice told him to shut the fuck up. I turned back expecting to have the shit kicked out of me. At once ushers appeared to see who had yelled and most of the people in the area pointed to the obnoxious one. He was escorted out and we all breathed a sigh of relief and went on to enjoy one of the best concerts I have attended.

[Amaril]

115. I think the same family / guy was seated behind me........

....at a Trans Siberian Orchestra concert last winter. It was bad enough that they were basically screaming at each other at the tops of their voices, but when they started making fun of the ADORABLE elderly lady seated next to me -- she was chair dancing, clapping and looked to be having the time of her life -- to the point that she literally drew in on herself from embarassment, I had had enough. I turned around and said very loudly "It would be REALLY nice to be able to HEAR the concert that I paid $180 (three tickets) to see!" At that point, the fathead directly behind me started chanting "bitch, bitch, bitch" and kicking the back of my seat. This was no kid -- he looked to be at least 50. After about 30 seconds of this, I left to find the manager who came back with me and was originally just going to tell them to knock the shit off, but when they got mouthy with him, he threw the whole lot of them out.......and they exited to cheers & applause from everyone that had been sitting around them.

Fucking drunk redneck trash.

[HelenWheels]

17. Yeah

but only my own kid.

[Trajan]

19. I was on a plane where a kid cried for a solid 90 minutes ...

Screamed .... The father and sister flying with her sat and talked with each other, over the screams, as if nothing was happening ... People all over the plane were incensed ....

Myself ? ... I put on my headphones and blasted NIN Year Zero .... I barely heard a thing ...

After we landed, I took my time getting off, and so did they ....

As I get up to leave, the father quietly asks the stewardess, "Is the wheelchair ready yet ?"

I could only imagine how many of those who cursed under their breath would have ate their own hearts if they knew she was impaired ...

[Fumesucker]

23. Not only that..

Kid's Eustachian tubes are not developed and their ears are far more sensitive to pressure changes, screaming kids on airplanes are often suffering from a bad earache that won't go away.

[pnwmom]

30. Wow. Something for us all to remember.

Parents of children with disabilities need to travel, too.

[kiranon]

31. Thank you. On a flight from SF to Florida, our 14 mo. son cried nonstop

and nothing we did helped at all and believe me we tried everything. He was quiet at home but the airplane trip caused him immeasurable grief. At 19 months he was identified as autistic and then we understood why nothing we did helped him. We have not flown since and his is now in middle school. We felt sorry for our fellow passengers. I believe this same scenario is playing out all over this country with the great increase in the number of autistic children often not diagnosed until they are 3 or older.

[freebrew]

21. Was at the ER one day,

I had gone there for something per my Dr. While waiting, there was a 6 - 7 year old that was clearly the boss of his family.
He was pushing on the entrance door, shaking it, etc. He finally got the door off the track, this was an automatic door, the only entrance to the ER. A nurse had to come over and put the door right. Meanwhile the little sh*t was still throwing his tantrum.

The mother kept trying to reason with him, asking him to 'please' stop.

Pathetic parenting.

[pnwmom]

32. I wouldn't base any judgment on what you saw in an ER one time.

You have no idea what that family might have been going through.

[calimary]

57. Hmmm... sounds like a Dem trying to deal with a Con...

Sorry. :D

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I only eat at restaurants that allow open carry

Go in. Sit down. Lay the gun on the table. Kids shut right up:)

[Fumesucker]

24. Heh.. Wait until one of the little suckers grabs your gun..

You'll be diving for the floor along with everyone else.. :evilgrin:

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Not if it has a trigger lock

:)

[kiranon]

38. Won't eat in restaurants that allow open carry. Problem solved.

[pnwmom]

25. No, not once. Never. And I've gone to the gamut of restaurants,

and seen children almost everywhere.

[johnaries]

I think little kids are cute. It's just too bad that they

grow up to be people.

[pnwmom]

35. LOL. n/t

[Odin2005]

89. Ditto!

my soon-to-be 4yo nephew is a little brat, but he is an ADORABLE little brat! :D

[seabeyond]

28. i really have not either. i will read the kid threads,as if there are all these out of control kids

and i go thru my days never really being bothered by kids. periodically, i will se an upset little one, but fuck, they need a nap.... get teh stuff, get home and get a nap.

but that is the extent

i hear people about walking out the door adn children bombard them with misbehavior.

really sucks to be them

but i can not recall ever having a dinner disrupted by anyone really.

[bluestateguy]

29. I have two or three times

It's not so much the screaming a crying, but when the parents don't do anything about it.

[PufPuf23]

37. Saw a funny (to an observer) once in a restaurant

My younger sister/BIL had come to visit with their first new baby (4 weeks or so) and we went to a mexican restaurant.

Kevin was trundled up in a baby holder sitting on our table and being quiet.

A couple with a 1-2 year old came in and were waiting to be seated. Their child was randomly using Dad's shoulders and head and arms as a jungle gym kind of mindlessly but my sister said "oh a baby" so we were all looking.

The kid was upsidedown on the Dad's back being held by the legs.

Then the kid projectile vomited down Dad's back on onto several tables and bodies and meals of diners.

The couple just looked at each other like oh shit and turned and ran out of the restaurant.

I have been bothered by babies on airlines and felt for the mothers still pretty annoying but life.

[seabeyond]

42. that made me giggle... nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

43. oh wow!

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. OMG! Too funny.

I once saw a kid eating from the serving spoons at a buffet. He didn't like the macaroni and cheese so he spit it back into the serving dish on the buffet.

[Odin2005]

90. OMG!

:wow:

[Bonhomme Richard]

45. No. I have never had a meal ruined by a child.

It's life and if I couldn't roll with that then there is all kind of shit that would bother the hell out of me. Enjoy your meal and be thankful you are not the parents.

[PassingFair]

47. +1

These people who have "experiences ruined"
by external noise....I'm glad I wasn't their KID!

[Karenina]

75. Ich auch nicht.

I'm a kid magnet and if they're running around, my table gets a visit. But I LIKE THEM and talk to them like people. They're totally cute because of/despite their parents and worth a few minutes of my time. Sometimes kids just need a different voice. There's no reason other than self-righteous indignation to get aggressive with them as a stranger. Simply set the boundaries. Clean communication. But if you're annoyed by their very presence and their "clueless" parents, YMMV.

Recently a friend an I were having a deep discussion on the outdoor terrace of a restaurant in the tourist section where we could smoke. A family entered with a 9 month old and after cooing over him we sent them packing to a table further away. (He was getting a little fussy.) Then came 3 year old Jan. It was "witching hour"(7-9pm) and he was on steroids up and down. His mom did her best to trail him; we let her know he was welcome to visit us. As they were wrapping up their meal, Jan was melting down. I heard that point where he was about to escalate and called out across the terrace, "JAAAN! MAUS! Macht die Mama nicht kaputt, BITTE!" Silence.

I don't understand why we're so devoid of Solidarität these days... :cry:

[seabeyond]

79. +1. couldnt agree more.

when a little one, or any age really, make eye contact as many do, i feel an obligation to smile and acknowledge, interact. i have told my kids that it is just wrong for these little ones to learn so early about people ignoring them. they least we can do is welcome them in this world.

because of that attitude, amazingly, i dont run in to "horrible" kids, lol. acceptance

[Odin2005]

92. I love kids, too!

That is funny!

[rucky]

123. +1

[Rabrrrrrr]

46. I've had ruined dining experiences - not many, but a few. But only in shitty places mostly anyway.

The kind of shitty places that people who don't know how (or care) to control their kids would go to.

Never had an issue in higher-end restaurants, and pretty much never had an issue in real low-end cheap-dive (but still good food) kind of places, either.

It's more the Old Country Buffet kinds of places or shitty "family" diners that serve slop that seem to attract the patrons who not only don't give a shit about their bodies or the taste of food, but clearly don't give a shit about their parenting, either. Lots of bad experiences at those kinds of places; rarely ruinous, but that's where pretty much all my experiences of dealing with a non-polite public (children and adult) have taken place.

[bluestateguy]

52. Buffet places tend to be really bad with lots of screaming kids

I'm not going to name names, but buffet places tend to have more of this problem than you find in regular restaurants.

[Rabrrrrrr]

55. Yes, indeed - that's been my experience, too.

Not at the buffets at the Hyatt in Honolulu, mind you, but at many other buffets I've been to. :-)

[MrSlayer]

48. I never have.

I generally don't pay attention to what other people are doing. I'm really good at ignoring things.

[Bill McBlueState]

51. I *may* have,

but if I did, I forgot about it pretty quickly. It's just not a big deal to me.

[d_r]

53. I can't say I ever have

but I am pretty easy going about stuff like that.

[Warpy]

54. I have

The little monster was running around, pulling things off tables and screaming at the top of his leather lungs while his parents ignored him.

A couple of tough looking old ladies on the other side of the restaurant jumped out in front of him and bellowed "KNOCK IT OFF!" The kid burst into tears and crawled into the booth next to mom. The rest of us broke out into applause.

The manager had a wee word with the parents on their way out a few minutes later. I sincerely hope it included "Don't come back."

[Synicus Maximus]

56. It seldom happens any more my favorite restaurant/bar does

not allow anyone under 18. So it isn't a problem.

[Maine-ah]

58. I can't say I have ever had my experience ruined due to someone

elses child. Lol, my own child...but we just leave if she won't behave.

I have had plenty of public (restaurants, shopping etc) experiences ruined by adults. Adults are way bigger assholes. Children/babies....that's what they do, and parents need to take responsibility. I hate these threads that blame the kids.

Usually it's adults unaccompanied by children that are the biggest assholes in restaurants. Trust me, I've worked in restaurants for a very long time.

[Raine]

59. Yes I have and I've also had one ruined by

an adult talking loudly about their finances on a cell phone in a booth in back of me. :mad:

[hobbit709]

60. I've had dining experiences ruined by asshole parents

who let their offspring behave like they are at Chuck E Cheese's running around and screaming, getting underfoot of the waitstaff and not doing anything to corral the little monsters.

Kids upset about something is one thing, letting them act like they are at Happyland is a different story.

[lunatica]

61. Sure, but most kids are well behaved in public places

If the child is a baby or a toddler I give them slack. I do wish the parents would take them out, but if they don't I don't get all bent out of shape over my right to have peace and quiet. Sometimes babies and little children cry and fuss.

[Curmudgeoness]

62. I remember being at a restaurant with screaming and running

kid ruining everyone's meal. The father kept telling him to sit down and be quiet to no avail. Finally the father took the kid outside the door, gave him a spanking on his butt, and when they came back in, almost the whole restaurant stood up and applauded. If you want to know if that kid's behavior was ruining any meals, that should answer it for you.

[devilgrrl]

64. I've had a meal ruined by parents getting physical with their fidgety child once...

but that was 25+ years ago. They were scary and I felt for the child. :-(

[alarimer]

67. Most restaurants are far too noisy these days for me to even notice a few crying kids.

Or even screaming ones.

Is it just me or is everyone louder than they used to be? There is no quiet anywhere; everyone is always talking at the top of their lungs or screeching in laughter. There are no "inside voices" anymore. Not to mention every restaurant has to have one or more TVs blaring or the music up to unacceptably loud levels.

[seabeyond]

80. i read an article saying that restaurants are actively wrenching up the noise level to create

overturn of tables faster. probably read it on du.

dont know if it is true

[blondeatlast]

68. If I have, I don't remember it. Plane flight either. OTOH, adults on the cell phone

have done me in a few times.

[treestar]

70. No, never

children will cry from time to time, I just look over at them and think they are cute. Just can't get upset about 2 year olds. They are 2. That's life at 2. But they make up for it by being adorable.

[Chipper Chat]

71. Yes, but it's the air conditioners cranked to frigid that bother me more.

Especially in Cracker Barrel. They keep it at 65 with fans circulating wildly and you feel as though you are in a wind tunnel. Your food is cold two minutes after it is set on the table. Stupid.

[saltpoint]

73. The trend toward allowing people to carry guns just

about everywhere was welcome news, IMO, in that it affords the opportunity to shoot any child in a restaurant who is making noise or misbehaving.

In my experience, this quells the noise issue quite promptly.

It does help, of course, to be a pretty good shot. Faulty aim does occur, but I'm sure that restaurant can hire some new bus boys.

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[vanlassie]

76. I once attended a gala banquet with 2000 adults and 1000 children, and Demi Moore.

No high chairs were allowed, because they would make it impossible for waiters to circulate. If you haven't guessed, this was a La Leche League International conference. We had huge sessions and meals for five days, but this was the gala finale. On the FIRST night, I recall that the waiters (about two dozen of them) looked like deer in headlights, thinking their next few days at work were going to be hell. By the last night, they were relaxed and clearly enjoying the happy families and well tended children. Oh- I almost forgot. Demi Moore had a small child- she was an invited guest up on the dias. Upon arriving we saw her lean over and ask a waiter for a high chair, and one was promptly delivered, and her child placed into it. But I think then, she got a good look around the room and noticed that babies and small children were on laps and she held her own little one the rest of the time. You certainly can have a lovely meal in a restaurant with children in tow. But it helps if they are tended to and not ignored by their parents.

[Alenne]

77. I eat out multiple times a week

breakfast, lunch and dinner, fast food, inexpensive and expensive. I have never had a meal ruined by a child.

[soleiri]

78. Me

At least it didn't affect me to the point that I remember it years later.

I do know what it's like to have my own child throw a tantrum in the grocery store.
It's not easy, which is why I have sympathy for parents who are at least trying to calm an upset child.


Actually, most of the time it's some cute toddler smiling at me, and then I smile back and then the toddler laughs and then I make a face and she or he laughs more and starts jumping up and down and then I realize that my damn food is cold.

[Number23]

83. I love this thread. Hope this puts alot of things in perspective for some folks here

:thumbsup:

[OhioBlue]

84. no - never.

I've had poor dining experiences b/c of the long wait.... or the food... but never b/c of an upset child. I've been annoyed more in establishments b/c it is too hot/too cold or music was too loud... than from any of my fellow diners - children or adults.

[noamnety]

85. The most memorable annoying restaurant event in my life

was having danny bonaduce walk into a restaurant we were going to. He almost knocked me out of his way in the doorway, sat down and talked at 5 times the decibel level he needed to be at. He is an obnoxious self-absorbed ass.

I would be fine with restaurants banning him. We should have a poll on that.

[Odin2005]

86. I've NEVER had a meal "ruined" by a screaming kid.

I'll be annoyed for a very short time, but that doesn't "ruin" anything, noisy kids are a part of life.

[HuckleB]

91. No, but loud, annoying adults are another story.

[seabeyond]

93. what i find interesting with this thread, and a few others recently, is the annoyance level for some

people with so many things.

it made me think, what bothers me out in the public. what annoys me with peoples behavior. and really.... i go about my day, enjoying the people i come into contact with and then go home and enjoy my peace and quiet.

a person running in the street? i go around. so easy
a little kid tired or cranky, an empathitic smile.
a conversation on the cell phone? i ignore and go about my business
talking in a theater? seems to be a big one and i have never had a problem with that

maybe some people look for things to be annoyed about.

i cannot believe i am so lucky to have ALL ammoying people stay away from me thru out my long life.

[Fumesucker]

94. I have to admit that sometimes other drivers annoy me on the road..

Other than that I mostly go through my life like you, ignoring the minor faux pas that everyone makes from time to time.

[HuckleB]

118. +1

I've wondered if any of this is related to a media culture focused on finding things to whine about, to get up in arms about. So many of us seem so focused on complaining about things that have generally just been a part of daily life, and probably always will be. I may totally off base in regard to the media issue, but your mentality is still the way to go. I need to get better at it myself.

[seabeyond]

128. i wonder about it too. my brother will go into a rant about people in stores, daring, to be in his

way. that he is ALWAYS the one to move. that everyone is so rude.

i go into a store and have a blast with people. i am in hteir way, they are in mine, a smile adn excuse me, or whatever. just inst a big deal.

i listen to all his bitches and wonder

[mmonk]

96. Usually, a cild that becomes too unruly is carried out by a parent.

Others who may feel extra bothered are usually just impatient and have no understanding reference point. Putting the sign up up IMO is juvenile and why I probably wouldn't eat at the establishment.

[Johonny]

101. I was that screaming child and I enjoyed ruining your meal

makes life worthwhile somehow.

[Nikia]

104. Regardless if there are many children at a place

Some restaurants that are busy seem loud regardless. I cannot think of a time that a child screaming annoyed me. I can think of times though that the restaurant seemed loud. Then there was the time (the only time) that we went to Buffalo Wild Wings. In addition to it being loud (I think that it was all adults/teens) and there were televisions with different sports programs on them every three feet. Seated in the middle of this sensory overloaded place, left me stressed out.

[HughBeaumont]

105. Errrrr . . . sorry. Not with thee on this one. I have "The Curse".

Screaming babies/children seem to FIND me. I literally cannot go ANYwhere without being subjected to some howling, wailing (and likely, ignored) screaming child/baby/toddler; minimum 1, sometimes 2 to 3. You name it. Restaurants. Parties. Movies (sometimes R-Rated. Nice parenting). Awards ceremonies. Museums. Malls. Department Stores. Class reunions. Las Vegas (AGAIN, Nice Parenting).

It never freaking ENDS.

I don't think it's an important issue, but I also don't agree with the parents who say you should just let them wail and DEAL with it. It's annoying.

[Iggo]

109. I have not had a meal ruined by a screaming child.

[malaise]

111. Me

Children scream so fugging what. Doesn't bother me in the least.

[Scurrilous]

112. Never.

And I worked in restaurants for over 2 years. Do not remember screaming children as being especially problematic.

[ecstatic]

113. Nope. I tune most sounds out that have nothing to do with me nt

[etherealtruth]

116. Other than the one's I've given birth to?

:scared:

[Tx4obama]

117. YES. Several times. n/t

[dsc]

120. maybe one or two

but what really scortches me in this regard is going to a concert, especially a high school one, and having kids ruin the experience. Being in a chorus I know how much work goes into a choral concert and to bring a kid who clearly isn't old enough to appreciate the concert who thus sits and makes noise ruining the experience for the rest, is down right rude.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

122. I've never had a meal ruined by a screaming child

I would probably ignore it if I heard a child make a random squeal. Babies/toddlers can be expected to do these kind of things. It is not something I would ever find upsetting. There are so many big problems out there that we need to solve. Screaming babies/toddlers isn't one of them, at least to me.

[Old Troop]

124. My own children come to mind immediately. When they were little,

from time to time they would become unreasonable (my term for horrible) and my wife or I would immediately remove them from the restaurant. It certainly caused my pleasure to suffer.

[JerseygirlCT]

127. LOL

Posted before I read yours!

[JerseygirlCT]

126. LOL... only, on occasion, a child with me (my own or a close relative)

Which meant, when they got too fussy, the meal was over and it was time to go!

I usually just feel very sympathetic toward other people's kids and their parents. But I love little kids, and it's a fun challenge to get them to smile.

The only thing that has really ticked me off is parents who think it's fine and dandy to allow their young ones to run around a restaurant unsupervised. Besides being very rude, it's very dangerous, and very unfair to the staff.

[Ilsa]

129. Have I heard them screaming? Yes. Has it ruined my meal? Fuck no. nt

[Common Sense Party]

130. Oh, I have had SEVERAL ruined by screaming kids.

But the kids were usually MINE.

And it was ruined because I had to cart the kid out until he/she no longer felt the need to cry and scream...and by the time I got back my food was cold and everyone else was finished.

But, yes, the dining experience CAN be RUINED if dipwad parents don't have the DECENCY and INTELLIGENCE to get the kid out of there, so the other paying diners can eat and converse in peace.

[proteus_lives]

133. Not really.

I've been eating somewhere where a child was going nuts but I grew-up in a noisy environment. I can shut out background noise.

[The Gunslinger]

136. I never had

Most parents will take the child outside and calm them if there is a problem.

[hyphenate]

138. I have

but sometimes I attribute it to age. When I've said anything to my eating companion, I will frequently add that I'm beginning to sound like my mother or grandmother. It's one of the things which makes you feel old.

[mzteris]

143. It's not the kids -

it's the PARENTS!

Children are children - but parents who don't have a freaking clue how to BE A PARENT are what upsets me. The ones who either

A) ignore the little darling;
B) threaten, harangue, demean, scream, and or otherwise abuse - sometimes physically;
C) treat it as the funniest, cutest thing EVAH;
D) resort to the most blatant inappropriate bribery...

Children act out for a variety of reasons, it's up the parent to recognize the why and learn to defuse it wisely, or remove the child quickly and simply from the premises until they can calm down. Easier said than done, I know, & especially if there's only one parent and more than one child. Still, response is 75% of the battle.