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Was this tacky?
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I know right? That's why I always dine out late, keeps the kids away. That's is horrible that they did that though, if you can't keep your kids under control or can't find a babysitter try something else. Go to a different place or don't go out at all.
I hope you post this to as many forums as you can so that it gets some sort of publicity, then maybe the family will see exactly how tacky they were....
i would have asked the waiter to get them to put it away and if they refused then i would have left....
Disgraceful behaviour.
The word is just becoming a lazy, lazy, lazy place these days!
i would have asked the waiter to get them to put it away and if they refused then i would have left....
Disgraceful behaviour.
The word is just becoming a lazy, lazy, lazy place these days!
My girlfriend had the idea that maybe we should have leaned over and started watching as obviously as possible.
Hilarious
Better yet, pull the chairs up to the table and start sneaking food off the kids' plates Uncle Buck style. They'd have freaked.
Better yet, pull the chairs up to the table and start sneaking food off the kids' plates Uncle Buck style. They'd have freaked.
I believe that might have actually gotten their attention and made them shut it off, as the waiters asking them to turn it down really failed to give them the hint that it was inappropriate.
This never would have flown with my parents, and I never did more than let my son play with his Gameboy or DS while waiting to be seated.
I think it really takes actively teaching children how to act at the dinner table at home in order to get them to know how to behave when out at a restaurant. My son has known how to behave himself at a restaurant since he was much younger than 4, because I have always expected good table manners at home.
Some parents seem to think that their children will just magically have better table manners as they get older, without thinking about where they might get those better manners.
I think the manager should have insisted that they turn off the DVD player.
I like that!
That would have been interesting to see.
To answer the original question, tacky is a good word.
Seems to me that they are missing the point of going out and spending time with the family at dinner.
In my opinion, technology and dinner DO NOT mix. As a teenager, I get p/oed at my friends who text when we're eating. I hate it. And my dad loves showing his iphone off, so he's either playing with some app at the table (even at fancy restaurants), or has his iphone sitting on the edge of the table until someone comes by and he has a chance to show it off. He just doesn't realize how common and unimpressive they've become. Even if people were still fascinated, it's RUDE.
I always want to tell him to put it away and have proper etiquette, but since I'm the kid I'm not allowed to say that. Argh.
I always want to tell him to put it away and have proper etiquette, but since I'm the kid I'm not allowed to say that. Argh.
This results in two things: kids who don't learn how to behave at a nice restaurant and kids who learn that eating is something to get out of the way so you can watch movies. The latter, I think, is a very important factor in why Americans have such a problem with obesity.
I'm a waiter, and if they had this going in the restaurant I work at I'd immediately get the floor manager/bartender to make them turn it off. We have a no cell phone policy, a loud DVD player is absolutely unacceptable. I'm not sure, though, that I'd even have to do that, as my area in Connecticut is a very popular second-home spot for New Yorkers who would probably yell at them before I even noticed.
Get the kids some crayons or something. There's a reason we have disposable kids menus and jars of crayons in the back!
I don't think they're mutually exclusive...even without the DVD player the parents could exercise a little authority and tell the kids to stay in their seats until the meal was over.
I'm a waiter, and if they had this going in the restaurant I work at I'd immediately get the floor manager/bartender to make them turn it off. We have a no cell phone policy, a loud DVD player is absolutely unacceptable. I'm not sure, though, that I'd even have to do that, as my area in Connecticut is a very popular second-home spot for New Yorkers who would probably yell at them before I even noticed.
Get the kids some crayons or something. There's a reason we have disposable kids menus and jars of crayons in the back!
heehee said:
I don't think they're mutually exclusive...even without the DVD player the parents could exercise a little authority and tell the kids to stay in their seats until the meal was over.
Is it really, though? I ask that seriously, just so there's no misunderstanding.
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I have the same type thing happen when I stop to get something to eat. After a day of driving and dealing with rude customers and drivers I just want a quiet meal and to be out of the truck for an hour or so. People bring their family down to the truck stop to eat because "If truckers eat there it must be good!" Really we eat there because they have parking lots made for us, most of us would much rather eat somewhere else.
I don't mind seeing the occasional laptop, most of the people that have them out are other drivers and keep their laptops quiet. What bothers me is the loud kids, sometimes running around. I've actually taken toys from kids who were running around with them. I told the parents they'd get their toy back when either they or I left.
I will ask the parents nicely to quiet their kids down one time, after that I get progressively more rude. If I have to ask more than three times I start using profanity, when they comment that they don't want their kids hearing that language I tell them I'll stop using it when they get their kids to shut up.
I would ask the restaurant staff but I find that they are useless in these matters most of the time.
I don't mind seeing the occasional laptop, most of the people that have them out are other drivers and keep their laptops quiet. What bothers me is the loud kids, sometimes running around. I've actually taken toys from kids who were running around with them. I told the parents they'd get their toy back when either they or I left.
I will ask the parents nicely to quiet their kids down one time, after that I get progressively more rude. If I have to ask more than three times I start using profanity, when they comment that they don't want their kids hearing that language I tell them I'll stop using it when they get their kids to shut up.
I would ask the restaurant staff but I find that they are useless in these matters most of the time.
Good for you man! I applaud your actions. I've never gone that far, but I've never had too. Normally my aggressive talks to the parents take care of the problem, but if it persisted then I think your actions are a fully justified and reasonable next step.
I did something similar at Chevy's a year or so ago.
There was a table with about 10 adults and 3-4 kids, about 5-7 years old. The kids were running around the tables, throwing balloons and screaming but the parents were too busy enjoying themselves to watch their children. I was having dinner with an old HS friend that I hadn't seen in years so nothing too serious but we were annoyed.
Well, the kids threw their balloons and one landed on our table. I handed it to the little girl and said "Careful" very polite. A few minutes later, it bounced on the table again and I gave it back saying "Next time its mine". Each previous time, I'd look at the table and the adults hadn't even noticed. A few minutes later, I'm eating a balloon taco so I got my knife and popped it. OOOOHHHHHHH don't you know that got the adults attention.
The father, in his early 30s, comes over to calm his daughter:
Him: Why couldn't you just us if the kids were bothering you?
Me: I can't eat my meal in peace? So its MY responsibility to watch your kids and let you know when they are out of line?
Him: She's just a little girl.
Me: She is old enough to know she shouldn't disturb other people.
Him: You had no right popping that balloon.
Me: Heres $1, buy another one but if it comes here I'm popping it again.
Whew... I would have popped it probably the second time. That would have irritated the living **** out of me.
