Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants

Collarspace Discussion Forums

Home Login Search

Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Polls and Other Random Stupidity >> Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants

Page: [1] 2 3 4 next > >>

[Poll]

Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants

Should restaurants be allowed to specify no chilren?

21% (12)

Should restaurants have set hours for no children?

3% (2)

Should restaurants have child free "zones"?

25% (14)

Should parents accept their responsibility of well behaved children?

50% (28)

Total Votes : 56

(last vote on : 5/13/2006 9:48:32 AM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

Login

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/10/2005 5:51:49 AM

MHOO314

Posts: 3628
Joined: 9/26/2004
Status: offline

Living here in NC, I am amazed at the things this state can think of that's in the realm of the rediculous---the latest issue in My area deals with children in restaurants--it seems they want to pass a law that allows restaurants to offer a few options that would prevent or limit the amount of time children can be in a restaurant--of course I have My own humble opinions on this ( having raised a child that was welcome in any restaurant I selected from the time she was 7 months old--)--but I would like to hear from the rest of you---this poll does not address the 21 only restaurants or bars--

_____________________________

SLUTS: Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress...

Mistress Hathor

Post #: 1

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/10/2005 6:19:25 AM

girl4you2

Posts: 1622
Joined: 8/4/2005
Status: offline

i never had problems with my munchkins in restaurants, and still don't (they are older now but still minors). if they are well behaved, what's the fuss? i suppose it's all in how you parent them and how you treat disruptions. segregation again...

_____________________________

maireann croí éadrom i bhfad. is maith an scáthán súil charad. is leor nod don eolach.
got shoes?

(in reply to MHOO314)

Post #: 2

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/10/2005 6:36:46 AM

MHOO314

Posts: 3628
Joined: 9/26/2004
Status: offline

yes, I agree that s word starts creeping in again, next it will be a section for single women, or men or...

_____________________________

SLUTS: Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress...

Mistress Hathor

(in reply to girl4you2)

Post #: 3

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/10/2005 5:19:40 PM

siamsa24

Posts: 2426
Joined: 2/2/2004
Status: offline

I had to vote for child-free zones, similar to non-smoking areas.

I know it seems harsh, but I just had a lovely dinner ruined by screaming kids the other night and am feeling rather biased.
I think that well-behaved children are fine, but there is a problem with most of the kids right now.

(in reply to MHOO314)

Post #: 4

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/10/2005 6:38:03 PM

champagnewishes

Posts: 1310
Joined: 10/31/2005
From: Orange County
Status: offline

Interesting topic....I will be glad to hear other's opinions on this.

Having raised my own two children, I know there were times when as infants, they were fussy. Should I not go to restaurants and public functions for fear that there was a possibility that they could become fussy and disrupt someone? The difference I feel is I had enough common sense and empathy for those around me to take my children outside at these moments. (The same can be said about my smoking habit. I am very careful to walk a considerable distance away from where anyone is before I light up.) If everyone felt this way, I doubt there would be an issue. But I too have had many meals ruined due to some child screaming while the parents seem oblivious to it or are trying to “teach them a lesson by ignoring their outbursts” (at the expense of MY meal).

Another contribution to situations such as this is we are becoming a very diversified multicultural country. For all I know, it could be acceptable for children to scream in restaurants in other cultures and the parents therefore do not think twice about the possibilities of disturbing others, as this is an excepted practice.

_____________________________

Nirvana cannot be described, it is only understood truly by a person who has experienced it.

(in reply to MHOO314)

Post #: 5

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/10/2005 6:59:13 PM

siamsa24

Posts: 2426
Joined: 2/2/2004
Status: offline

quote:

The difference I feel is I had enough common sense and empathy for those around me to take my children outside at these moments.

Many (dare I say most?) parents do not have this common sense and empathy.
Taking it out of restaurants for a moment, I work retail. There is nothing worse then having a screaming child (notice I said child, old enough to know better) and the parents just continue to shop for HALF AN HOUR. Other people are trying to shop and people are trying to work. I don't have the option of leaving (which is what I will do most of the time) and have to try to work around some spoiled kid screaming because they can't have some stupid toy or something.

(in reply to champagnewishes)

Post #: 6

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/10/2005 8:11:22 PM

FelinePersuasion

Posts: 4792
Joined: 11/20/2004
Status: offline

I think parents need to actually DO a job of parenting.

I have had been in a pizza place an in walks a family and imediatly their 3 or 4 year old starts hooting and shouting and making all kinds of ungodly noises which his family happily did not mind while I did.

It's not the restarants place or buisness to parent or police about kids. It's the parents job. If the little one is in there hooting and shouting and being loud it's the moms or dads job to say stop or we will go and follow through.

(in reply to siamsa24)

Post #: 7

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/10/2005 10:30:49 PM

quietkitten

Posts: 1082
Joined: 2/5/2005
From: Alberta, Canada
Status: offline

I have no problem with kids in family restaurants, however, if I am spending a great deal of money for a good meal in a nice restaurant.. I feel differently. Nothing is more annoying than having small screaming children racing around when you are trying to have a romantic meal. It is also very unfair to the people who work there. I have seen servers lose entire trays of food after being tripped by unruly kids.
As long as the children are old enough to understand proper behaviour and the parents take responsibility for their kids, there shouldn't be a problem. However, far too often the kids are allowed to do whatever they like. One small boy (probably four years old) wiped his snotty nose on my skirt... and his mother laughed and said " that is so cute!" You can probably guess that I didn't agree with her.

_____________________________

The number 1 cause of stress is reality.

I miss my old Avatar :(

<< I am a depressed procrastinator with Alzheimers -- I am going to end it all.... tomorrow... or the next day.

Now what was I talking about again?

(in reply to MHOO314)

Post #: 8

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/11/2005 12:09:51 AM

FelinePersuasion

Posts: 4792
Joined: 11/20/2004
Status: offline

Ewww I hope you told her it wasn't cute

(in reply to quietkitten)

Post #: 9

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/11/2005 7:03:22 AM

Manawyddan

Posts: 701
Joined: 1/2/2005
From: Petaluma (Northern California)
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: quietkitten
One small boy (probably four years old) wiped his snotty nose on my skirt... and his mother laughed and said " that is so cute!" You can probably guess that I didn't agree with her.

I hope you got in her face and yelled at her until she agreed to have the skirt professionally cleaned.

_____________________________

_______________________________________________
"She always had a terrific sense of humor"
(Valerie Solonas, as described by her mother)
_______________________________________________

(in reply to quietkitten)

Post #: 10

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/11/2005 10:38:32 AM

clover

Posts: 68
Joined: 7/5/2005
Status: offline

I had to vote for child-free zones, too. Of course, the ideal would be for parents to be mindful of others and to take their children out when they act up or get too loud - but, unfortunately, that's never going to be true for all parents.
I don't think ALL restaurants need child-free zones. A pizza place or a family-type restaurant is a different matter. But when you're paying for wine and a nice, quiet romantic dinner, two children crying and whining at the next table over can really screw it up.
Same goes for movie theatres, which I rarely go to anymore. You'd expect children in a PG movie or something geared toward families - but 3-year-olds running up and down the aisels at a 10:00 showing of Star Wars or War of the Worlds?! They should be at home in bed, not ruining a PG13 or NC-17 movie for adults.
And forget trying to "sshh" them yourself. Last time I did that, the parents patted the kids on the head and looked at me like I was evil. *sigh*

(in reply to Manawyddan)

Post #: 11

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/11/2005 11:35:27 AM

MsSonnetMarwood

Posts: 1898
Joined: 2/10/2005
From: Eastern Shore, Maryland
Status: offline

I have had quite a few years of experience working in restaurants. Aside from the usual food-all-over-the-floor and screaming/noise issues, the following incidents stand out:

- a child threw up on a table and the parent decided it was the buser's job to clean it up, even complaining to the manager afterwards because the buser clearly did not want to do it.

- two children literally getting into a food fight, throwing fries and chips at each other, and the parents sat there doing nothing to stop them

- multiple cases of waitstaff tripping over children who are allowed to run around a busy restaurant instead of sitting in their seats. One incident in particular, a child was under the table; the child (who was about 10) came out from under the table directly in front of a waitress; the waitress tripped hard over the child, dropped a heavy tray of food, fell hard against the wall then the floor and broke her wrist.

Frankly I blame the parents for not teaching their children table manners, and I honestly think that's the only solution. I also think that if taking kids out to eat, that parents should take them to more "kid friendly" restaurants rather than fine dining, unless the kids are prepared to be that well behaved.

_____________________________

~Ms. Sonnet Marwood~

Deja Moo: The feeling you've heard this bull somewhere before.

(in reply to clover)

Post #: 12

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/15/2005 4:41:35 PM

SirKenin

Posts: 2994
Joined: 10/31/2004
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Status: offline

I can not stand screaming or loud and obnoxious brats when I eat. It seems that the parent is oblivious to the fact that they are disturbing everyone in the restaurant. Their rights end where Mine begin, and I have the right to a quiet, peaceful, enjoyable dinner.

_____________________________

Hi. I don't care. Thanks.

Wicca: Pretending to be an ancient religion since 1956

Catholic Church: Serving up guilt since 107 AD.

(in reply to MsSonnetMarwood)

Post #: 13

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/15/2005 6:03:39 PM

liltxsubby

Posts: 328
Joined: 11/18/2004
From: TX
Status: offline

I voted for child-free zones. Not in family restaurants, but at a nicer restaurant it would be extremely nice. Unfortunately too many parents today won't make their children behave or take them out for a moment if they're screaming.

I always felt somewhat guilty before when I wished a family with a passel of unruly, bratty loud childred would be asked to leave. What kind of selfish wench am I? Maybe from now on I will just keep glaring at the parents until I have bored holes in the back of their heads.

_____________________________

I'm Japan and Godzilla has taken over.

Laugh with them, or let them laugh at you.

(in reply to MHOO314)

Post #: 14

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/15/2005 7:35:43 PM

Taik

Posts: 307
Joined: 8/5/2005
Status: offline

Ultimatly parents need to take responability for their misbehaving child. It's a nice idea, but I doubt it would be very effective. Like the old smoking section with the smoke that drifts over, misbehaving kids will still be heard through the resturant and unless they are belted to the seat they are still going to get up and run around. So I dont see much reason for the law, only way to fix it is to grow better parents.

_____________________________

Celf proklaimd speln profesikinal.

(in reply to liltxsubby)

Post #: 15

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/18/2005 6:20:33 AM

MsSonnetMarwood

Posts: 1898
Joined: 2/10/2005
From: Eastern Shore, Maryland
Status: offline

quote:

I always felt somewhat guilty before when I wished a family with a passel of unruly, bratty loud childred would be asked to leave. What kind of selfish wench am I?

Unfortunately the restaurant really can't ask them to leave, although it would be nice. I *have* asked parents to not let their kids run around the restaurant, citing that when it's busy the servers will run into them, but that's always met with glares from the parents LOL

_____________________________

~Ms. Sonnet Marwood~

Deja Moo: The feeling you've heard this bull somewhere before.

(in reply to liltxsubby)

Post #: 16

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/18/2005 6:24:30 AM

michaelGA

Posts: 1194
Status: offline

i think that, if parents can't control their kids, they shouldn't go out in the first place...the parents, that is. it's due to the lack of parental teachings and control that the kids run rampant in public.

(in reply to MsSonnetMarwood)

Post #: 17

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/18/2005 6:46:16 PM

MissA

Posts: 192
Joined: 6/19/2004
Status: offline

My vote would be kid-free for specific instances and times.

I wish I knew where I saw this but I once saw a very smart reply to an argument from a mom complaining that the public should be more considerate of her and her loud children seeing as how she deserves a night out, can't afford a babysitter, it's nice having someone else clean up after them (ie: the waitstaff) and kids will be kids and so on. The retort actually came from another mother and went something along the lines of "Picture this - I'm a mother of 4 who rarely gets out. I've saved up money for a month and a half to afford a babysitter so my husband and I can go out and have a quiet dinner and a movie only to be greeted at both places by the familiar sounds of home (ie: rowdy children). I can relate to the stresses of parenting and the need for some reprieve but I also am entitled to my kid-free time" (it was written much better but that was the gist of it).

My husband and I always have the very worst luck, I love kids, I dislike the parents who allow them to grow up without understanding in the slightest sense the meaning of respect.

It never fails when we go to even an R rated movie in comes someone with several children who talk out loud, kick the chair, throw popcorn and numerous other things until I'm ready to get up and leave. I don't understand how with 10 empty rows all over the theater they have to park directly behind or in front of us! The other day a mom and 3 kids sat in the row right behind us (in a fairly empty theater no less) for an R rated movie and all I heard for the first 10 minutes of the movie was the mom asking out loud to the child in the chair behind me if she could see alright. I thought "No she can't see! You sat her behind two tall people!" Did she expect me to move? Oh and shushing? I got shushed back by one insolent brat the last time I tried that and the father just laughed when he did it.

Grr...climbing off the soap box now.

~Ms. A~

_____________________________

Life is not measured in the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away ~Author Unknown~
My Domain

(in reply to michaelGA)

Post #: 18

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/18/2005 9:15:18 PM

Wildfleurs

Posts: 1650
Joined: 9/24/2004
From: Connecticut
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: MHOO314

Living here in NC, I am amazed at the things this state can think of that's in the realm of the rediculous---the latest issue in My area deals with children in restaurants--it seems they want to pass a law that allows restaurants to offer a few options that would prevent or limit the amount of time children can be in a restaurant--of course I have My own humble opinions on this ( having raised a child that was welcome in any restaurant I selected from the time she was 7 months old--)--but I would like to hear from the rest of you---this poll does not address the 21 only restaurants or bars--

I find that when I want to go out and enjoy dinner, I don't want to have to deal with children. I have choosen not to have them, so why do I need to hear them screaming through the dinner I'm paying for?

If the parents can't seem to control their children then I don't see anything wrong with a restaurant having a policy of not allowing children, just like some decided to be smoke free before the wave of laws. Or a simple comprimise would be to only allow children between fixed hours.

C~

_____________________________

"Just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid." -despair.com

~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The heart of it all - http://www.wildfleurs.com
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(in reply to MHOO314)

Post #: 19

RE: Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants - 12/18/2005 9:20:58 PM

michaelGA

Posts: 1194
Status: offline

i love children, but the way parents are today, some shouldn't have any. i also don't think that punishing children by banning them from restaurants. my usualy occupation is a server in restaurants and i enjoy families that drop by. it would be a shame to illiminate shildren from public view. it's not right.

(in reply to Wildfleurs)

Post #: 20

Page: [1] 2 3 4 next > >>

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Polls and Other Random Stupidity >> Children Free Restaurants or Areas in restaurants

Page: [1] 2 3 4 next > >>

Jump to:

New Messages	No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages	Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages	Locked w/o New Messages

Post New Thread

Reply to Message

Post New Poll

Submit Vote

Delete My Own Post

Delete My Own Thread

Rate Posts

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.094