Young Turks: Ban On Screaming Kids at Restaurants, Movies??

Run time: 03:31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjDuWRh2kw0   Posted on YouTube: September 22, 2010 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 7103   Posted on DU: September 23, 2010 By DU Member: CherylK Views on DU: 773

 
http://consumerist.com/2010/09/restaurant-bans-screaming-kids.html

:thumbsup:

why kids-in-restaurants is such an issue -- I just don't understand.

at any given time, including scream. Family friendly restaurants are places people should understand this about infants and toddlers.

Kids over 3 are learning about the world outside themselves and are more amenable to discipline. If a preschool or school age kid is raising hell while the parents are utterly oblivious, then a "KNOCK IT OFF!" from a stranger is indicated.

Getting barked at by a stranger usually packs a wallop, too.

such a major issue in people's lives. Not when we have so many REAL problems to worry about.

I eat out at a variety of places and other people's kids don't bother me. And in stores, other people's kids don't bother me. And in airplanes, I just feel sorry for babies and their ears.

My own young kids DID cause me stress out in the world, because it is WORK to help them stay calm and behaved. But those other kids -- the ones I'm not responsible for -- I hardly notice. I can't even remember the last time I was annoyed by someone else's child.

One thing though -- when you see a child over 3 that isn't "behaving." You never know the whole story. The child might have ADHD or a form of autism or might have a terrible stress going on at home. Your particular method of handling the situation might actually be the very worst thing for that particular child. Unless they are physically intruding into your space, I'd just leave them alone. Then count you're blessings that you're returning to a quiet home.

a tremendous amount of slack. I save the "KNOCK IT OFF!" for the ones who are running around and screaming and pulling stuff off tables, that sort of thing.

After all, I don't have to go home with the leather lunged little monsters.

I'm a little amazed by people who think they have a constitutional right to go through life never being offended. Those are the people who are making a big deal out of babies with sore ears yelling on planes and little kids using their "outside voice" in a family restaurant.

Meh.

I don't get why this has been talked about so much lately.

It's a three and a half minute clip (from the social commentary hour which typically has lighter stories) from a 3 hour show. And predictably this video is getting a lot more attention on YouTube than the video about Larry Summers leaving the White House.

Also, there are ALWAYS 'more important things' going on. I understand the sentiment but if taken to its logical conclusion we can never discuss anything other than life or death issues 100% of the time. That's a surefire recipe for incredible stress and eventual burnout. Sometimes it's nice to lighten things up, and besides, it's not celebrity gossip or something along those lines.

Not kids.

It depends on the restaurant obviously, in some restaurants it's expected and makes sense. If you watch the clip Cenk talks about his experience being a new dad and how he handles things.

And in movie theaters (again, as it says in the clip) it makes no sense.

than I ever actually see any annoying kids. And it's not like I'm hiding in my house all day. Where are these terrible kids? How come I'm not running into them?

Or maybe this has mostly to do with the sensitivities of those annoyed . . . .

I'm child-free and happy so I'm at one extreme (admittedly). Of course in this case it's probably not a good idea to generalize based on personal experiences, for either of us.

and in a negative way.

Annoying people come in all shapes, sizes, ages, etc.

Because of their age they're more likely to be crying in public, I think that's a fair point. People don't like loud, obnoxious cell phone talk in restaurants or movie theaters either, and they (rightfully) complain about it all the time.

But the parents of adults can't control this behavior, obviously. In the case of kids the parents have some control (Cenk's example of his baby at the Greek restaurant for example).

in our society. Forget about the child's situation. If you know your kid has some behavioral faults, prone to screaming, or unfortunately even has autism, etc. Then just don't take your kid to a restaurant where you know you'll bother people. It's common sense, isn't it? Why would you want to sit there with your child screaming in the first place? My first feeling would be embarrassment and awkwardness. How are you as a parent supposed to enjoy a nice family evening out when your kids aren't under control or can't be controlled? If for some reason you know your kid is louder or more hyper than the average child then go to a kid friendly place so all customers know what they are getting into when they walk through the door. Plus kids can let out their energy in a more accepting environment. Win, win. I don't fault the restaurant for wanting their customers to enjoy their meal without screaming, wild kids, especially if that's not the sort of ambiance they want for their restaurant.

seem to think bringing loud kids to quiet restaurants is a Constitutional right.

I have no problem with well behaved kids in restaurants, but if parents can't control kids, they should go the McDonalds or somewhere better suited for loud uncontrollable kids..