Coffee

Question: Should small children be banned from coffee shops, nice restaurants, theaters ect?

(Posted by: Anabelle Leigh on 2010-03-10 21:23:40)

Should small children be banned from coffee shops, nicer restaurants and movie theaters? I mean the kind that babble, and squeal, and are just plain LOUD? As well as their parents who can't or don't have any control over their child? For instance, I was at the coffee shop last night, and these people had their children there who squealed, and laughed and babbled the whole time. Most of the people in there are there to study. So, should children just be banned? Parents can take them to Chucky Cheese or McDonalds or some place like that, but keep them out of places where the rest of us need peace and quiet. I know I'll get slammed from mothers who think they are entitled to take their kids anywhere (movies, airplanes ect) to torture the rest of us, but I think we should segregate them. OR have a separate section for US, people who want peace and quiet.

Posted by: jessica r on 2010-03-11, 00:13:17

Im with you to a certain point!! I mean i am a mother of two kids but i have raised them to be mannered and poilte but unfortunatly we do have some parents that are not really good with their parenting skills and i have come accross with situations like that. But There was a time that i went to the movies and my baby wasnt loud she just cried once which i took action and i was heading outside so i wouldnt interrupt or ruin the movie for other ppl & i got into it with a stupid hoe for bitching at me not considering the damn fact that i was gonna take care of the problem, sum ppl just have a big mouth and dont understand until they have kids and see how it is... Kids are just kids but its also up to us to raise them better so they can be considerate of ppl as well...

Posted by: Deridovely on 2010-03-10, 21:26:52

Coffee shops, no. It's just a place to buys drinks, If you want to study, go to a library. Theaters no, they can watch the movie too. but if they get too loud, they should get kicked out. Nice restaurants, yes. The atmosphere is very important there, you practically pay for the peace and quiet. Those are places for dinner dates to make polite conversation, not to bring your yelling kids who are too young to even appreciate the place they're in.

Posted by: eatlovemotivatesleep on 2010-03-10, 21:40:49

No, america is a free country!

Posted by: Hank on 2010-03-10, 22:29:28

No, you are not entitled to a quiet atmosphere in a coffee shop just because that is where many college students study. However they are most likely not being respectful of 'standard coffee shop behavior' or whatever if they are truly making as much noise as you say. My advice is to grow some back bone and ask them to keep the noise level down. But there is the off chance they will tell you to go to the library or home to study. Everything doesn't always go the way you would like it. But banning children is not the answer. Confronting parents about poor parenting is part of the solution.

Posted by: Catherine on 2010-03-10, 22:39:16

I don't think you study enough.

Posted by: Erin on 2010-03-10, 22:57:57

I dont have kids but i don't think they should be banned. I think parents are just so busy and kids hyperactive that there is no way around it. Earpluggs?

Posted by: tabby on 2010-03-11, 03:54:46

In UK many restaurants have separate sections. A children's section may include lego table, smaller tables, garden area etc. Quieter sections are maybe upstairs and have sofa areas. Some do not exactly say which areas are which but it makes sense to choose a place with different areas that are likely to be more peaceful. I know there are some cafes which I just don't consider an option, even if I am just meeting a friend, because the children are noisy and it is not an environment for meeting someone. So it is a case of finding a suitable cafe/ restaurant. You could try an internet cafe, which is more geared to students? Or how about studying in the reference library and having coffee at a different venue? At least if it does get noisy in an adult library, you are entitled to ask for quiet!

Posted by: Mima on 2010-03-11, 04:45:23

I don't think you should banned the children. Children are naturally like that. If you have children you have to train them how to be in a theater restaurant or anywhere else.

Posted by: VeggieTart -- Praise Seitan! on 2010-03-11, 05:51:00

Can't you study at home? Even with roommates, it's easier to ask your roomies to give you quiet study time (or have an arrangement that you all have quiet study time on the same night or something) than to study in a coffee shop. And those of you studying at coffee shops or cafes are taking precious table space from actual paying customers. I really hate going into my favorite cafe and seeing a sea of laptops. If studying at home isn't an option, go to the library. Still, I think for the peace of other patrons--those who are actually paying for food and intend to leave within 15 minutes or so of finishing their food--people with children should make every effort to keep their kids near their tables and remind them to use their "inside voices ". I agree children should not be taken to nicer restaurants. People go there for a nice meal and a nice experience. They don't want it ruined with some child squealing or having a temper tantrum. If parents want to go out to a nice restaurant, they should get a babysitter or work out an arrangement with other parents to watch each other's kids. In movie theatres, parents should be required to keep their children quiet and not take them to R-rated horror movies. If a child acts up, the parents should remove it.

Posted by: bugtatu on 2010-03-11, 06:33:49

WOW you are that rediculious! YOU were once a child Who babble, squeled, cried and peed your pants. What gives you the right to even think you are any better or more deserving of taking up space in a PUBLIC place. Get a life.

Posted by: charles D. on 2010-03-11, 08:53:00

How is a small child going to learn how to behave, if you DON'T take them into such places and TEACH them. Ummm, and....I think people who don't know how to abbreviate etcetera should be banned from nice restaurants, etc.