"Brat Ban" coming to a theatre near you?

[The Straight Story]

"Brat Ban" coming to a theatre near you?

"No shirt, no shoes" may warrant a business to refuse service, but lately, they seem more concerned about what you're bringing in rather than what you're forgetting. Restaurants, movie theatres and even airlines are putting their foot down when it comes to their most unwanted customers: children under the age of 6.

Complaints about screaming kids prompted businesses like Malaysia Airlines, McDain's in Pittsburgh and grocery stores like Whole Foods to enact child bans, telling parents to leave them at home or not come at all.

"Brat bans could well be the next frontier in destination and leisure-product marketing," wrote a columnist in AdWeek.

McDain's quickly became the poster child of the no-kids-zone movement when the owner told parents their "little angels" weren't welcome in his restaurant earlier this month. Despite national media attention and backlash, a local poll revealed more than half of residents favored the ban

http://www.toledoonthemove.com/neighborhood/story.aspx?id=645329

[SoCalDem]

1. My friend and I used to shop together and would often comment

about how we usually ended up in every store on "Screaming Baby Day":rofl:

I had 3 boys under 5, so I shopped very carefully when they were small.. often not even going if someone was particularly grouchy that day.

They were a primary reason that I started my own babysitting co=op, so I could still "do lunch" & shop unencumbered. My husband & I did not "go out" much, so I was always ready to trade nighttime sitting (@ time & a half) to bank time for my "lady"-lunches & afternoon bridge club..and it did not cost me money..

Our children were always well behaved at restaurants, and if someone misbehaved, one of us would remove the offender from the dining room and sit with them outside while they calmed down.

We mostly ate at home though, since the places we lived in were notoriously short on restaurants.. (we're taking pre-chain restaurants)

[damntexdem]

7. Nevertheless, businesses that ban children, not just unruly ones, ...

should be boycotted until they go out of business.

[DrDan]

11. +++++++

[MineralMan]

12. Oddly enough, the restaurant that banned small children is

doing gangbuster business. It seems the people who want a peaceful dining experience are doing a reverse boycott, doesn't it?

The thing is that most restaurants aren't banning kids, so there are plenty of choices, it seems.

[SoCalDem]

17. and if enough people do, they will

BUT if more people do not, they will flourish..

supply-demand:)

[SoCalNative]

19. Um, no

they would get ALL of my business.

[madinmaryland]

34. Why?

[GillesDeleuze]

47. ILL SUPPORT ANY BUSINESS THAT CATERS TO THOSE ACTUALLY SPENDING MONEY

NOT THOSE DISRUPTING EXPERIENCES.

[Thegonagle]

91. Not by me! There will be other businesses where you can bring screaming babies.

[cherokeeprogressive]

94. I'm down with that. n/t

[adigal]

99. I like the idea of some restaurants banning kids

It is nice to know when you go out and spend a small fortune on an excellent dinner, it won't be ruined by the screaming of the little darling at the table near you. I would definitely go to that restaurant for special occasions!!!

[Blue_Tires]

2. Regardless of age, I'd rather have movie theaters promote a

"Shut the FUCK up and flush your smart phone down the goddamned toilet if you're too mentally crippled to turn it off!" -rule...

[Rainbowreflect]

51. I agree.

It seems like many people think if they are not talking they are fine. I guess they do not realize a flashlight in a dark theater is a bit distracting. I want a new law that allows you to take and stomp on any cell phone used in a theater or if you talk loudly about your last doctors appt or sexual encounter in public.

[tammywammy]

112. There's at least one in Texas that'll kick you out.

:)

http://cf.drafthouse.com/she_texted_we_kicked_her_out2.html

[CBGLuthier]

3. Nothing wrong with child free as a concept but the snotty attitude about it sucks

"brat"
"little angels"

How about just stating that they do not accept children under a certain age and keep the unprofessional editorializing to themselves.

[Maine-ah]

41. thank you.

not every parent with a child under age six is a complete idiot. I know kids over the age of six that behave worse than my four year old. I'm a restaurant worker, it's not the kids...it's the parents not controlling them. I'm not saying my peanut is an angel all the time, but she does behave when were out. If she doesn't, we leave.

[WinkyDink]

4. I don't think there should be brats in a theatre. Think of the mustard! What? .......Never mind.

[BanzaiBonnie]

23. Did they mean brats or brats?

My first thought when I read the OP.

[seabeyond]

5. why is du so comfortable labeling a whole group of our people in an insulting tone

why would we be comfortable projecting all children as brats.

says a hell of a lot more about adults that allow and accept this denigration than the supposed brats. my kids in no way would ever feel the need to diss anyone, individual or as a group, in this manner.

guess they are more mature than the adults. and better behaved.

[The Straight Story]

10. I didn't see anyone call them brats (nt)

[seabeyond]

13. "Brat Ban" coming to a theatre near you?... i see brat ban in three places in your OP

and two referencing to brats on this very small thread so far, not to mention an already long thread that many use brats and worse for children.

[The Straight Story]

16. Um, I did not write the article or the headline. No one on DU did either I think :) (nt)

[seabeyond]

20. i will repeat. yes people on du are referring to kids as brat and worse.

i am not going to call them out but you could see.

further

i hold to my original comment. why are we, as progressive, and oh so awesome, allowing a group of our people being referred to in a denigrating manner. why arent we up in arms. why arent we calling out the article referring to children as brats.

my kids would never be so rude, insensitive, ugly. they would speak up for the group being denigrated.

so i guess i have to assume, that my kids are better behaved and more rational than the adults.

[Dappleganger]

64. I disagree with your broad-based judgement of du'ers.

Once again, that is the title of the article in the link the OP cited.

You said that people here were calling kids "brat and worse". I haven't seen it, they are describing behaviors. As a parent to four I understand this frustration with other PARENTS who refuse to train their children or leave when they are being obviously disruptive to other people.

[seabeyond]

67. this is the second thread based on this article. and the point being, when we read an article

that speaks about a group of people in a degrading or offensive manner, as progressives, we speak up. i would think the first thing a duer would address is that it is insulting to refer to children as "brats" as a whole.

[Dappleganger]

69. Ah, ok...

You don't want to call out du'ers but yet you are still doing so, by not citing any one example.

[uppityperson]

46. I am in agreement with you. Label the behavior, don't insult an group based on the actions of a few

[Dappleganger]

63. That is the title of the article linked in the OP.

[uppityperson]

66. Since this isn't LBN, article title doesn't need to be used.

[Dappleganger]

70. Not every person switches away from that requirement on DU...

nor is it required.

[uppityperson]

79. And some like pushing buttons. eom

[Dappleganger]

81. Do you think the OP was purposefully pushing buttons by using the title of this article

in the headline?

[ProfessorGAC]

50. Actually, That's The Problem, Isn't It?

It is perfectly fine by me to ban brats. But, what if the kid is a well-behaved, attentive one who will sit through the movie without fuss and without being a distraction.

Now, the policy punishes the kids who know how to act and their parents who are most responsible for making them so well-behaved.

If it really were a "brat" ban, i think it would be 100% successful. But, it's not. It's a ban of kids, not merely the bratyy ones.
GAC

[seabeyond]

53. yup. well said. nt

[Dappleganger]

62. That is the title of the article.

Why you are translating that to "DU comfortable labeling a whole group of our people into an insulting tone" is beyond me.

:shrug:

[seabeyond]

68. again, another thread on same article ran last night and into this morning

it is a continuing conversation. there is plenty of anger at children in that thread, that i was addressing in this thread. a jump on it.

[Dappleganger]

80. No, there is anger and frustration with parents who refuse to do their job and be parents.

But of course, those of us who refuse to put up with poor behavior (aside from extenuating circumstances such as autism, aspies, etc.) are the WORST, aren't we?

[seabeyond]

83. i realy cant answer cause i am not sure what you are saying. it isnt a tough one. most all kids

are not a problem in the public. there are some kids that are and parent does not do their job.

there are adults that misbehave in public too

some people are pissed all the time at people all the time and the issue is HUGE to them. some of us are reasoned understanding living in a huge ass world, we will have to address all kinds of issues, life.

to label all kids as brats is bullshit.

[A Simple Game]

108. I don't think the implication is that all kids are "brats".

I certainly don't think of "brats" as terribly derogatory for the kids, more so for the parents of the "brats".

Some kids have good days, and then the next day have a "bad" day, you must know how it is.

Hard to ban a few, easier to ban all. They own the restaurant, theater, what ever, it's their choice.

You do know there are places that cater mainly to children?

[seabeyond]

109. you dont think brats is deragatory? my kids would beg to differ

respectfully, of course.

[A Simple Game]

116. Not exactly what I said. Please reread the post.

I implied that the term says more about the parents than the children.

That said, I don't think it is the end of the world to call a kid a brat. I have heard and used the term with affection.

[NightWatcher]

6. people still go to the movie theaters?

tickets are, what, $15. There's always a few people on their phones. Other people smack on popcorn like they havent eaten in months.

I'll wait till I can get the movies home so that I can control every aspect of the experience.

[JustAmused]

26. Try a drive-in

I work at a drive-in in central kentucky. admission is $5 for two movies, and the kids can run themselves before the movie starts. It is a great experience.

[William769]

35. It's a great experience but a dying one.

I don't think there are any drive-ins left in my State.

[tavalon]

45. Yeah, children don't bother me as much as bright smartphones with really stupid people

[newportdadde]

8. We already have a thread on this just below yours.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1591440

Use the search.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Here's a Recording of an ACTUAL BRAT in a Theater in Austin Called the "Alamo Drafthouse"... NSFW

She's got a problem with the theater for kicking her out.

She sounds pretty young.

Her language is potty. NSFW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs

:P

[sharp_stick]

14. Funny how

some people seem to think that kids shouldn't be allowed in public. Especially grocery stores, shit you can't always shop without bringing the kids.

Same with travel, sometimes kids have to go on an airplane and personally I'd rather have 10 screaming kids than one drunk asshole around me.

Grouping all kids together with the bad ones, where it's _always_ the fault of the parent anyway, is not only bad business it's plain stupid.

[seabeyond]

21. my kids know how so many feel about them. i have let them see these threads on du.

i have watched the kids at the store throw themselves up against the shelves to "not be in the way" of some unobservant adult. so the adult wont say.... why dont parents control their kids. i have watched adults repeatedly cut in line in front of kids, without thought or care, until i am there to call the adults out. kids quietly accept it.

learning

from these adults

that would be the first to rant about kids

[madmom]

37. I have seen my elderly mother about knocked on her ass because kids racing through the stores ..

because they are bored and mom or dad are to zoned out to even bother with them. I have seen my husband about knocked on his ass because kids see a bigger human and they duck underneath to get through ( my husband has a bad knee and cannot move very quickly). I see parents letting their kids push the "kiddie carts" in the grocery store and block the whole aisle, because they each have to have their own plus mom's. See anecdotes work both ways.
I'm not saying all kids are bad/out of control, but for you to imply that all kids are good is less than truthful.

[seabeyond]

43. i havent said all kids are good. so i guess the less than truthful can be thrown back. nt

[hedgehog]

52. The kids are just fine - it's the parents who are out of control!

[madmom]

73. and how are the kids supposed to learn if not from their parents? I agree kids are

not really the problem, the parents are, but I also cannot see a problem with a restaurant banning kids under 6. There are plenty of other places that welcome them with open arms, why can't adults have a place to get away from the for awhile?:shrug:

[peace13]

15. Our culture is becoming completely intolerant of children.

Children and fat people. Please leave them out of planes and theaters. Really, a grocery store needs to ban children because the shopping experience will be marred if they are in the building? I hope these people never have kids because when they do they will want the stores to change the rules for their little darlings. People need to get a life. Most of the time it is the parent who needs to be banned. It they were better parents their kids would be less of a distraction to others. If a kid is being a nuisance you remove it from the restaurant, theater, chapel, or store. That is how it works. To ban the kids is the beginning of a very weird society!

[SoCalDem]

18. I think the problem here is that too many parents do NOT remove the screaming kid

and feel that their kids "rights" are being infringed upon (and theirs as parents) if they are asked to control the kid or leave..

We ARE less tolerant than we used to be.. Decades of "Me-me-me-me" has convinced a lot of people that the universe revolves around them and their immediate family, and that others' rights have no importance.

[seabeyond]

24. i am out in the real world socaldem, and i do not see all these unruly kids

on these threads i really wonder about the poster that attracts every. single. one. of the unruly kids. cause i dont come into contact with them, and my experiences in rl is not marred by these out of control kids.

i always think these threads are bullshit, a bunch of adults whining about nothing.

OMG... a kid, see see, i see a kid. make it stop. kinda thing

[SoCalDem]

29. Kids will be kids.. and when they are tired & cranky they will act up

Most parents I have come into contact with, do handle it, but some just ignore the kid and that only makes it worse..

I only remember a few times when mine had a full-blown meltdown, but then I did not go out with all of them that often:)

Our (then) 5 yr old had a tantrum at Sizzler once when I told him he could not have salad bar because it was $4 extra & I knew it was not worth the money.. The waitress who brought us our drinks saw the commotion & surreptitiously handed him a plate :)..she got a great tip:)

[seabeyond]

31. most parent handle it. which is my point.

and the few that dont is part of life. we also have to deal with teenagers in groups making noise, or the person talking on cell phone, or the obnoxious didnt get his way adult, or the angry complainer, or the old folks that want children OFF THEIR LAWN.

it is life

but most parents deal with it.

[SoCalDem]

32. don't get me started on cell phones

:rofl:

[Skidmore]

27. Exactly. I frankly consider those who rail about children to be immature

themselves. Children sometimes have overload and meltdowns. Not always is a young child just throwing a tantrum. Sometimes a parent needs to take a child with them. Frankly, I will not do business with any establishment that does not admit families.

[GillesDeleuze]

49. I consider parents who think their kids have the right to invade personal space ill-fit

im for parenting licensing.

[SammyWinstonJack]

28. +1

:thumbsup:

[peace13]

39. Have to tell you that when my son was little I used to say to him...

'You aren't the center of the universe'. After about a year and a half of that he looked up at me with those sweet eyes and asked,'Mommy, what is the center of the universe?'. I had to shake my head at myself. We got a big chuckle out of it though. This was the same kid that at three had asked his dad for something and daddy said in true daddy form, 'It's OK with me but go ask mommy.' Well what ever he was asking for was crazy and of course I said no way so the poor little guy threw himself on the floor and cried out.'Why do the women's have all of the power?' Poor kid was wise way beyond his years. In some way I think he has always held that against me. : )

[GillesDeleuze]

48. Kids will be allowed back in when PARENTS learn how to parent.

Its not that the kids are being banned. its that bad parents are banned from being their kids in.

[seabeyond]

54. how are we going to punish the stupid? 1000 well behaved kids ignored. one bad kid = brat ban

that is stupid.

what do we do about the stupid.

[A Simple Game]

110. "one bad kid = brat ban that is stupid." Yes it is.

Do you really think a business would eliminate a significant part of it's business for a single incident? I'm sure they must have had multiple complaints.

[krabigirl]

58. Yes, but at the same time, us adults are treated like children.

[Lasher]

22. This is not a new concept.

In the 1950s, movie theaters had a "no babes in arms" rule. It seemed sensible.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

38. Some had glassed-off "crying rooms" also.

If the kid made a racket, the parent left the main seating area and retreated to the crying room so the rest of the audience could enjoy the movie.

[Lasher]

40. I didn't know that.

Our church has one of those rooms but I never knew what to call it. Now I do.

[geardaddy]

105. You could call it the "Cone of Silence"

;)

[SoCalDem]

42. Most Catholic churches we went to had "cry rooms"

glassed in rooms so they could participate but not bother the others..

we always called it "the zoo"..

[supernova]

25. We don't have a brat ban BUT

No brat ban that I'm aware of, but one of the mall multiplexes has midday showings just for kids, about once a week, I think. Kid friendly movie, reduced price concessions, etc. You can even by a ticket pass book. That leaves the evening hours for the older kids and grown ups.

Sadly no cure for the mobile abusers though. :P

And some theatres aren't kid friendly at all. I'm thinking of the small art house theatre near me. Dark. somewhat outre and rundown looking. But it serves beer and wine and top flight indie and international films. I like it. While I go to the multiplex for blockbusters I like (Iron Man), this little place is my movie "home."

[Burma Jones]

30. Time and time again, the biggest problem I've had with people talking at the movies

has involved Adults talking to each other as though we were all in their living room. This has happened with folks from their teens up to their 70's, maybe 80's. When I go to an Art House Movie Theatre for a 9:00 showing of an R rated movie, I expect quiet, I rarely get it.



However, as the father of 3 kids, 13, 11 and 4, I get Brat Bans, I really really do. We've been careful to follow a few rules.


One, if the kid gets noisy, out he or she goes with one of us until quiet reigns.

Two, Go to Dinner early, 5:00ish usually, because you beat the crowds and feed the kids before they get cranky.

Three, Kids go to Kid Movies at Kid Times, if you expect to have a nice hushed and respectful showing of Cars 2 at 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon, you're nuts.



Now, if we could only recognize that rude inconsiderate Brats come in all ages

[seabeyond]

33. Now, if we could only recognize that rude inconsiderate Brats come in all ages

point.

god forbid we have to deal with all kinds of people, in all kinds of circunstance, shapes and sizes.

[driver8]

36. Going to dinner early with kids is the key!!

I have a 9 year old daughter and a 7 year old son. If we go out to dinner, we are usually seated at the restaurant by 5pm; 5:30 at the latest!

[Dappleganger]

74. Quite true.

All great suggestions. Most kids I see who are acting up are over-tired, over-hungry and over-stimulated and parents are either too tired or indulging to be proactive. And if something is said to the parents or they are given disapproving looks, then one quickly sees just who is the biggest 'brat' in the family.

[tabbycat31]

44. for me children at a movie depends on the time and the movie

For example if there's a matinee of the latest Disney movie, I expect kids to be there. The movie is geared towards families as is the time.

However if it's a 10:00 PM showing of the latest shoot em up movie, I do not expect kids to be in there. In fact they should not be there and if parents want to see that movie, get a babysitter.

[Dappleganger]

55. This parent of four has no problem whatsoever with this.

[Gormy Cuss]

56. The writer should fact check.

No Whole Foods store has banned children but she's doing a nice job of spreading the rumor.
Malaysia Airlines banned children from first class and McDain's restaurant banned them outright.

[cbdo2007]

57. Sounds good to me. If they are interferring with everyone else's

movie experience then they shouldn't be there.

[Twinguard]

59. I've got 4yo twin boys.

I'll be the first to admit that they can be a handful at times, but they are always on their best behavior when we go to a store/bank/restaurant/cinema/etc... I try to do the grocery shopping and stuff on the weekends when Wifey is able to stay home with them (or take them to the Y or whatever), but sometimes we need to go at less convenient times. When that is the case, I try to include a trip to the park so they have something fun for them to look forward to. It seems to work.

We have only taken them to one movie at the cinema, Cars 2, and they did very well. They did need a potty break right at the climax of the movie, but that's only a minor inconvenience as I'm sure we will buy a copy of it and watch it a few hundred times during the winter months. I've been to enough movies that are intended for grown-ups (I don't want to say "adult-oriented" because that brings up connotations of porno :eyes:) where kids in the audience cry during the loud or scary parts. I don't want to be that parent. I'm only taking my kids to age-appropriate movies until they are old enough to enjoy the movie quietly. It's one of those "learn from other people's mistakes" things.

We don't often go to restaurants, but when we do, we try to pick restaurants that are already noisy and/or explicitly "kid friendly." Just like with the cinema, we've been to quiet restaurants where kids are bouncing off the walls and crying about the yucky food and lack of chicken nuggets or whatever. It is annoying for other customers, and (I'm guessing) a pain in the arse for the parents. Plus it's cheaper to eat at home.

All of that being said, it burns me that some businesses "ban brats" knowing that some kids (not just mine... there are lots of well behaved kids out there) are actually really good kids. I think parents (like myself) should shoulder some of the responsibility for keeping their kids behaved-- or should be considerate enough to not take their kids to someplace that they know their kids would lose it. Let's try being parents, people.

Now... who has seen Cars 2? What happens between the moment that Mater realizes he has the bomb and their happy return to Radiator Springs?

[Patriot 76]

60. Restaurant or movie theater, the biggest, loudest assholes have always been adults.

Or young adults or teenagers.

The kid haters on DU are the worst.

They're worse than the Seniors who vote against school budgets.

[Dappleganger]

61. Who here hates kids?

It seems to me they are hating on parents who aren't being parents. You're making a lot of sweeping, broad-based judgments.

[seabeyond]

71. here is just one.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1591440&mesg_id=1593567

can't argue that.

[Dappleganger]

75. That user says he/she hates kids but did not call them a brat or any other name.

If they hate kids that is a choice, there is no requirement in life for non parentals to love other people's children.

[seabeyond]

85. who here hates kids... i gave it to you. only one. now you want me to post

the ones that call brats...

find em. they are there.

or pretend that there is not an anti kid metality on these threads.

dont care

[Dappleganger]

88. What?

You're not even speaking in complete sentences. You seem to live in an area of the country where more kids are civil when in public. Many of us do not. I am not discounting your reality but you shouldn't discount OURS. You are very lucky to have it so good. It is a parental problem, period.

I'm done, as usual you get stuck and refuse to give and decide that people are just making things up.:shrug:

[seabeyond]

93. ya. i have noticed. i am lucky like that. i smile, i get smiles back.

i simply dont run into the loud, obnoxious, out of control, rude people of any age, all over the place.

i dont like people. i hide out and stay isolated much of my life. but i do have to go out on errands and such, and sometimes even a restaurant. and i enjoy the people i run into. will get a life story in minutes. they like me, i like them. we are polite to each other. i dont see the horrors of the world so many see.

just lucky i guess.

i will take it.

[HappyMe]

65. Nobody is hating on the kids.

It's the parents that are responsible for the kid's bad behavior.


We were having breakfast at a small diner here in town. One booth had 3 kids (under 8) and their parents they were chatting and laughing and enjoying one another's company.
At another booth was one little boy (about 6) and his parents. The boy yelled and kept flinging the silverware. His parents just kept picking up silverware. I couldn't tell if they said anything to him. In the end, the pancakes ended up on the floor, milk dumped, boy kept crying & hollering. While this was going on, 3 people came in and sat at the counter. After a couple of minutes of listening to the boy's one kid riot, the got up & left.

It isn't the hollering kid's fault. It's his parents fault. Unfortunately everyone in the diner (including the staff) had to put up with the lack of parenting. It cost the diner and the waitress dollars.

[Shagbark Hickory]

72. Borderline discriminatory.

Not that I'm any fan of screaming brats but I do have a problem with unreasonable banishment of children from most establishments.

Whole Foods?! Really?

Is anyone here old enough to remember going to the supermarket and having your mom let you ride the merry-go-round in front of the store?

[jberryhill]

76. "what you're bringing in" - not "who" - children are things, not people /nt

[PeaceNikki]

77. I read this as "brat bun"

Ya know, like Wisconsin soul food:

[WinkyDink]

78. I always liked him in "Law and Order," pre-Julia Roberts. What?.....Never mind.

[LaurenG]

82. Its too bad that there has to be rule like this. Its was my experience as

a child that if I misbehaved in a restaurant or anywhere else in public I had to wait in the car while the rest of the family finished what they were doing. I also had to leave a nice restaurant when my daughter was almost two because she wouldn't stop fussing and I was mortified of her ruining the experience of the other diners there. I had my expensive dish packed to go and ate at home.

It used to be a courtesy that was expected of parents, back in the olden days anyway.

[seabeyond]

86. and it is still happening today. honesty, how often are you disturbed by kids behaving badly.

i cannot think of one. i can think of one time in a grocery store. that is a lot of years seeing aprents do their job.

who says their has to be the rule, but an intolerant society....

[LaurenG]

98. I don't get out much during times when there are kids out. Reading about

certain situations is as far as I get. I like to shop very early in the morning and I eat at places most kids hate going to so you're right I don't see it.

I really think society was much more intolerant in the olden days though, our friends parents would whack us if we acted up and then tell our parents who would whack us again. (Schools could use corporal punishment too) Things were different then.

[seabeyond]

103. sigh... my kids behave and they do it without me whacking them, lol.

now, in my day, we were whacked. even had the belt taken to us. meh... i know that is another flame thread, but i got why parents did it and didnt make me hate them. merely made me see, being an older parent, there was other ways to parent.

i have decided, with the other posters, i am just one lucky gal, not running into all the ugly of the world. i dont do people, but when i am out, i interact and enjoy people. not an issue with me. but, we are going on a trip and that means a lot of restaurants. i am going to actually pay attention and see how many kids simply enjoying a meal, and how many are truly causing problems. i dont buy it.

[Evoman]

84. I don't particularly like kids, and they bother me on so many levels.

But the amount of teeth gnashing on this issue is ridiculous.

None of us have the right not to be annoyed in public. Part of living in society is putting up with other people. We need to learn patience and understanding.

Even well-behaved children lose it sometimes. And even if we find them irritating for the 20 minutes it takes us to choke down our shitty pretzels or the shitty hour and half spent watching our shitty summer blockbuster flick, imagine what the parents feel. They have to put up with that shit 24/7, because even good kids are irritating as fuck.

Give them a break. I'm not even a parent and I give them a break.

Raising kids is tough, and raising them in a society of curmudgeons and impatient humour-less fuck tards makes it even tougher.

Edited to add: If kids are misbehaving or annoying you, you also have the freedom to ask the kids to stop. In fact, I've done it a couple of times, and there is nothing like a stranger asking them calmly to behave to get their butts in their seats. Even if it pisses off the parents, it's a two way street....parent's don't have the right not to be annoyed by verbal disciplining by strangers.

[seabeyond]

89. damn... family reunions i always sit with the kids. get along with them; they are more interesting

than my snobby, snooty in laws. is the joke in that amily that i always go to the kids.

i find kids incredibly easy.

adults? not so much

[Evoman]

95. I find kids okay, but only in short bursts.

Unless there are video games, trampolines, or water gun fights. Then I'm all about the kids.In a lot of ways, I'm a kid myself.

I like adult conversations if they are interesting, but most conversations with people who are not my friends drive me nuts. Conversations about work, dropping names, gossip, etc...drive me fucking nuts. I hate pretension.

At the same time, I find most of what kids say uninteresting and useless. They are fun to play with, on ocassion, but I could do without the conversation about juice or school.

But I tolerate them. I am patient with them. Because interactions with adults are important, especially strangers.

[seabeyond]

97. you are a good guy evoman.

said it from day one and every since.

always good to hear your perspective.

i like making kids think. i will throw something out and they have to think. i get all kinds of stuff with that. kinda fun. playing with their young brains.

[Evoman]

104. No, I just pretend to be a good guy to get chicks.

For the most part, I hate kids because they always want my toys and I hate sharing. They also always drop cereal. CEREAL!!!

[seabeyond]

106. your mama didnt teach you about sharin....

for shame.

[Donnachaidh]

87. I have more problems with the adult BRATS with their cell phones and loud talking

Than I do with little kids.

The people advocating this need to grow up themselves. :eyes:

[Forkboy]

90. I like kids a lot, usually more than the parents, but I don't have a problem with this.

It's the business owner's decision. People can decide if they support it by going there or not support it by going elsewhere.

[joeglow3]

92. Yeah. And keep out those blacks too.

Our family was at a restaurant last week and were seated next to 2 tables with 4 black people at each. They were extremely loud, rude and were even cursing (my 2, 5 & 8 year olds were better behaved). We don't like that kind of behavior and should ban all black people from restaurants.

Seriously, how is this any different? Sure, you should deal with each situation as it arises, but to advocate a policy that bans an entire segment of the population because of the behavior of a few is about as far from progressive as you can get.

[Forkboy]

96. Well I was expecting that response.

Tell you what, owners should be allowed to keep out anyone they feel is obnoxious. White, black, old, young, Atheist, Christian. When I was 16-17 my friends and I were so obnoxious that Denny's didn't just boot us out, they called the State Police (who were right across the street) as soon as we walked in the door (this happened at least a dozen times...we kept trying lol). And you know what, they were probably right to do so, because we were highly obnoxious. We were loud, crude, went out of our way to offend other customers...we were dicks. I have no problem with a business deciding they don't want people like that in their establishment.

The trouble with this policy is that it's a blanket policy which will affect good kids too. In that sense I'm not crazy about it, but the overall idea of keeping idiots of any age or race out your establishment doesn't really bother me. People can decide if they feel said establishment is worth going to or not. If enough people hate the idea the owner will be forced to adapt or close.

[CBGLuthier]

100. Racial Discrimination Does not bother You???!!???

So a restaurant can ban people based upon their race and it is OK with you because you hope society will shame them?

You do know that such banning is illegal anymore. Glad to hear it doesn't bother you.

I would hope it bothers damn near everyone else here but bravo for you. i guess.

[Forkboy]

102. Oy vey.

Not based on race, based on obnoxiousness. That obnoxiousness may include different races and beliefs. What part of "white, black, young, old, Atheist, Christian" was hard to follow? Do you believe that obnoxious behavior is confined to only one group? It's not based on race, it's based on behavior. I made that extremely clear, and only someone reading what they want to read could take that the way you did.

If you wish to talk about what I said, fine. If you wish to continue to hold conversations with yourself, have a good day.

[lynne]

101. I sure hope so! Not that I can afford to go to the movies these days -

- but I had a situation a while back where I was out late at the movies and someone had a CRYING INFANT there. Oh, PLEASE! I stayed home when my babies were infants instead of bringing their late-night screaming to the movies. That situation I blame on the parents.

There are G rated movies for children and they should be playing during the day and early evening so they can attend. Anything other than that, they shouldn't be there at all.

[thelordofhell]

107. Yay!! No republicans!!

[bluestateguy]

111. Let the business decide

But any rule must be applied evenly and fairly.

[Gormy Cuss]

113. I've never been to a theater where brats were served but I'm all for banning them.

You never know what mystery meat is in them.

[tammywammy]

114. Many years ago when Scarface was first coming out on DVD, they had a showing in theaters

I was really excited. Anyone that's seen Scarface knows that it's a highly inappropriate movie for children.

My movie experience was ruined. There were a couple of families there with children. One with an infant and a toddler and another with just a toddler. The movie is loud, lots of guns a blazing, and every time the action ratcheted up one of the kids started crying. Normal reaction for the children. What made it awful is that the parents wouldn't fucking take the crying/screaming kids outside.

I fully support banning children in theaters showing ADULT movies.

[flvegan]

115. All these theatres really need, is

an usher who stands off to the side, holding one of those big, battery powered megaphones. When some little shit starts sniveling or whining, he (or she) marches straight over to the perpetrator and (turned up to 11 of course) screams through it, "shut up you little asshole!" at the kid until he (or she) wises up.

A second offense? 3 words: parking lot trebuchet.

[Le Taz Hot]

117. The new sign in my studio reads:

"Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free kitten." (Stolen from another DUer.)

Most people don't have a problem with a youngin' who is just acting up and the parents are doing what they can to calm him/her. The REAL problem are the parents/guardians who let the kid scream and scream or let them run up and down the aisles yet continue to shop or eat, completely oblivious to the needs of the child or other customers. When customers or management object those same parents are always the loudest, accusing everyone of "hating children." :eyes: