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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!regard
From: regard@ttidcc.UUCP (Adrienne Regard)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: screaming kids in public
Message-ID: <334@ttidcc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 10-Apr-85 16:30:36 EST
Article-I.D.: ttidcc.334
Posted: Wed Apr 10 16:30:36 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 12-Apr-85 06:00:29 EST
Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA.
Lines: 30


I know what you mean about screaming kids in a restaurant.  And
screaming kids in a movie theatre.  And screaming kids in just about
any situation.  And I'm a parent.

Parents do take their children to restaurants so that the kids can learn
to behave -- but it's a good idea to work up to it slowly, like from
MacDonalds to Denny's to Victoria Station to Ma Maison.  Rather than one
bold leap.

Screaming kids are a little like inconsiderate smokers.  You can ask the
smoker to stop, but s/he may refuse.

You _can_ ask the parent to remove a truly offensive child, and they may
well be embarrassed enough to do so.  It always seems to me that people
in public are a little too reticent to speak their minds.  If you asked
"little Courtney's" mom to take charge of her responsibility and quit
ruining dinner for everyone (or asked the manager of the restaurant to
be a little more responsible himself) you might have accomplished something.

I've listened to more than my share of rude comments when I've stuck up for
myself, (drunk rabble rousers by the condominium pool, kids on their own
at Places in the Heart, etc), but I've also been quietly applauded by the
less assertive people there, and have accomplished the goal in both cases.

There are a number of folk who simply assume that if no one tells them
"little Courtney" is an irritant that (1) they don't mind or (2) sound
doesn't carry well.

SPEAK UP!!  GO FOR IT!!!  BRAVO!!