The "no kids allowed" movement

[Slater]

Looks like many people can't fathom the concept of parenting, or this whole thing wouldn't have gotten started. To be fair, I'm sure that every generation says that about the next one.:


http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/paren...ading-2516110/

[SteyrAUG]

There was a time parents took unruly children outside until they stopped acting up. OR they got a babysitter. Nobody on their "night out" wants to put up with somebody else's kid.

Take them to McDonalds or someplace more appropriate. Don't even get me started on kids in movie theaters.

[variablebinary]

A: Rise of the homosexual

B: Bad parenting with screaming kids, and it's "okay".

C: Increase of "adult children" where people are in their 30's but not married, with no kids, so they don't want real children around

D: Cranky ass retired baby boomers that can't a child that isn't drugged up on Ritalin.


This is something I really like about Utah. Since pregnancy is the norm (even for white people), this is a very child friendly state.

[Littlelebowski]

The people that can't handle children certainly don't need our earnings going towards their SS nor our children's earnings either.

[montanadave]

First things first, I don't have kids. Never wanted them. Nothing against 'em, really, just not for me.

That said, I resent the notion that expressing my aversion to having other people's children detract from my enjoyment of certain activities, events, or locations makes me a hateful prick. A lot of parents seem to think everyone should be awed into silent admiration of the wonder that is their child and feel privileged to be in the company of their spawn, regardless of how noisy, ill-behaved, unruly, etc., said child may be.

I see nothing wrong with setting some boundaries between adult-appropriate venues and child-appropriate venues. When I walk into a fast-food joint or a chain-restaurant, I expect to see families with kids (although I still can't fathom parents that let their children misbehave in public). If I'm paying to have a good dinner in an upscale restaurant, I don't think I should have to put up with a crying baby at the next table. If the management can ask an obnoxious adult to leave, why not "86" the kid?

Children are not "little adults." They're kids and adults should have the opportunity to get away from them now and again.

And get off my lawn, goddamit!

[Zhurdan]

The whole concept of "age appropriate" should have nothing to do with the business/location/event. That should be squarely on the parents.

Unfortunately nowadays, many people who are parents were barely more than children when they had them. If I acted up when I was a child, I got a stern look from my father, and that was the end of it. Why? Because if I continued, it was to the bathroom we went and a belt across my ass it was. Now days, if that happened, the police would be called and the child taken away to family services.

This "ban on children" is a result of the pussification of our country, in my opinion. Yes, I'm a DINK, but I don't mind well behaved children. My nieces and nephew, we could take them to a high dollar steak house and they'd never even be noticed. That's simply because they were taught by their parents that there is an appropriate time and place for everything. They are 7, 9, 11 and 15 and they have figured it out. Probably has something to do with their parents giving a shit.

ETA - So, LittleLebowski, being that turnabout is fair play... why should my earnings go towards people with families SS? I don't use the local schools, I don't use day care. Never have, never will, but my tax dollars still help to pay for those services.

[SteyrAUG]

Originally Posted by Littlelebowski

The people that can't handle children certainly don't need our earnings going towards their SS nor our children's earnings either.

Time and place.

If you take your wife out for a nice dinner and a relaxing evening out and some old woman parks at the table next to you with doused in 10 gallons of old lady perfume, does it kind of fuck up your evening?

It's the same sort of thing, and it all comes back to consideration for others.

If I am at the "Kids eat Free on Wed Night" buffet, I sorta know what to expect. If I'm at a McDonalds with a play area during peak soccer mom hours there is a similar expectation.

But if I take my wife out for a relaxing night out and a nice meal the last thing I want to do is spend that kind of money and listen to somebodies brat screaming the entire time.

Again, simple solutions.

1. Hire a babysitter
2. Have well mannered children (your best effort is better than no effort)
3. Remove them from the area when they become so unruly they are disturbing others.

Failing that grab your Happy Meals at the drive thru and enjoy the company of your little ones.

[QuietShootr]

Holy free-flowing high pressure shit. I agree with montanadave.

This is living proof that a million monkeys at a million typewriters for a million years will eventually produce Shakespeare.




(I doubt if we agree for the same reasons, but whatever - that's not really important right now. I think it's the duty of every civilized American to have a kid and beat back the tide of the barbarians...)

[SteyrAUG]

Originally Posted by Zhurdan

The whole concept of "age appropriate" should have nothing to do with the business/location/event. That should be squarely on the parents.

Unfortunately nowadays, many people who are parents were barely more than children when they had them. If I acted up when I was a child, I got a stern look from my father, and that was the end of it. Why? Because if I continued, it was to the bathroom we went and a belt across my ass it was. Now days, if that happened, the police would be called and the child taken away to family services.

This "ban on children" is a result of the pussification of our country, in my opinion. Yes, I'm a DINK, but I don't mind well behaved children. My nieces and nephew, we could take them to a high dollar steak house and they'd never even be noticed. That's simply because they were taught by their parents that there is an appropriate time and place for everything. They are 7, 9, 11 and 15 and they have figured it out. Probably has something to do with their parents giving a shit.

Agreed. They don't have the balls to single out bad parents and tell them their child is unacceptable. So they ban every single kid. Sucks too cause I know quite a few 4-6 year olds who know how to shut the hell up and enjoy a good meal when it is required. I have some fond memories of spending time with my parents at that age and unlike my brother, I never had to be "taken out to the car."

The worst thing that happened was some fancy places had to find something close to a hamburger or hot dog for me, but they really didn't seem too bothered by it and we all had a good time.

They really should just ask parents of unruly children to leave. This will tell parents "this isn't acceptable" and it won't punish the parents who happen to have children who can mind their manners.

[montanadave]

Originally Posted by QuietShootr

Holy free-flowing high pressure shit. I agree with montanadave.

This is living proof that a million monkeys at a million typewriters for a million years will eventually produce Shakespeare.




(I doubt if we agree for the same reasons, but whatever - that's not really important right now. I think it's the duty of every civilized American to have a kid and beat back the tide of the barbarians...)

Shall we seize the moment and resolve the debt-ceiling stalemate?

[SteyrAUG]

Originally Posted by QuietShootr

Holy free-flowing high pressure shit. I agree with montanadave.

It happens sometimes.

[Littlelebowski]

I prefer the "pull the parents aside and chat with them" school of thought. I am a father and if my child is not behaving, I will fix it one way or the other. She's too young to understand corrections for the most part and I'm not dumb enough to take her to a theater (not that I go to theaters anyway).

[Doc Glockster]

Originally Posted by SteyrAUG

Don't even get me started on kids in movie theaters.

This is my main one. Not that I go to an actual movie theater that often but I think every time I have over the last 5 years some little screaming brat has ruined it.

[glocktogo]

Originally Posted by Littlelebowski

I prefer the "pull the parents aside and chat with them" school of thought. I am a father and if my child is not behaving, I will fix it one way or the other. She's too young to understand corrections for the most part and I'm not dumb enough to take her to a theater (not that I go to theaters anyway).

You appear to be in the minority among parents these days.

I'm all for kids and letting them feel their oats in appropriate settings. But a store or nice restaraunt or theater is not appropriate. For all those parents who refuse to discipline their unruly little brats, I have every intention of embarassing you by asking if you've always sucked at parenting.

[Irish]

Every business owner should be entitled to run their business how they see fit to maximize their profits. Simple free market solution is if you like being sans kiddos go to places that enforce that rule. If you're a parent or not and don't like the idea don't utilize their services. The success or decline of their business will be influenced by their decisions. I think the same thing should apply to smoking VS non-smoking and all other similar issues.

I've got an 8 month old who is too young for corrections as well. He's typically very well behaved and we've taken him to family restaurants several times and only on one occasion did I scoop him up and take him out to get some fresh air, he was about 5 months at the time and he wanted to be fed. As a reminder, babies only way of communicating is crying, what their parents do about it is another thing.

One of the biggest problems I believe is lack of parenting and lack of respect for the people around you. I would not let my child ruin someone else's evening out, period.

[rob_s]

No kids allowed is a result of parents taking kids places they shouldn't be taking them to begin with.

I don't know what changed in the last 35 years but I distinctly remember my mother NOT going places because she had us in tow, which today seems to be the furthest thing from anyone's mind and the prevailing attitude seems to be that everyone else in the world should just accommodate the screaming brats.

[J-Dub]

Originally Posted by rob_s

No kids allowed is a result of parents taking kids places they shouldn't be taking them to begin with.

I don't know what changed in the last 35 years but I distinctly remember my mother NOT going places because she had us in tow, which today seems to be the furthest thing from anyone's mind and the prevailing attitude seems to be that everyone else in the world should just accommodate the screaming brats.

I'm with rob, i cant remember going to a "sit down and eat" resturant...hell i can only think of a hand full of time we ate out when i was a kid.

My parents were OLD SCHOOL, my mother was mid 30's my father early 40's when i was born. Mom didnt work, Dad did. She took care of us at home, he took care of us finacially (also in the discipline side)

I thank my lucky stars i had the upbringing i did.

[militarymoron]

our son is 3-1/2 and is reasonably well behaved. he's restless, but not noisy, nor does he run around in restaurants. however, he's had his moments, and if he does, one of us will immediately remove him from wherever we are, take him outside, and return only when he's stopped and quiet. we do it consistently enough for him to know that if he acts up, he's going outside.
one thing i've learned being a parent is that you can't always be in control of your toddler's actions. there comes a point where nothing will stop them from crying - threats, warnings, a calming voice etc. sometimes the severity of the threat or punishment makes them even more upset, rather than stopping them from crying. but usually, you ARE in control of where it happens.

the only thing to do is remove them from the area and let them cry it out where they don't disturb anyone.
the main reason we haven't taken him on a plane yet is out of concern for other passengers, and there's no 'outside' where we can take him if a meltdown occurs.
becoming a parent has made me more understanding of other parents, but also more aware of the people around us. before i had a child, i used to think 'why don't you shut your child up?'. now, i realize that you can't always do that, so i think 'why don't you take your child outside?'

[Watrdawg]

Originally Posted by Littlelebowski

I prefer the "pull the parents aside and chat with them" school of thought. I am a father and if my child is not behaving, I will fix it one way or the other. She's too young to understand corrections for the most part and I'm not dumb enough to take her to a theater (not that I go to theaters anyway).

I agree with you 100%. It's the sorry parents fault not the yard apes with them. Thankfully I can take my kids about anywhere and not have to worry about them being unruly. It's been that way since they were very young. We've never had a problem and have been complimented many times on their good behavior. So I have very little patience with those that let their kids run wild or become very loud. If mine were ever to act out I wouldn't be upset if a manager of some type pulled me aside and told me I was disturbing others. I'd probably thank him and then go beat the tar out of my kids

Militarymoron also has a very good point and means for when a situation is hopeless. Sometimes there is nothing you can do but go outside and wait your child out until he/she is done.

[rob_s]

Originally Posted by militarymoron

before i had a child, i used to think 'why don't you shut your child up?'. now, i realize that you can't always do that, so i think 'why don't you take your child outside?'

or, oftentimes "why the hell did you bring a child here?"