Restaurant bans children...

uberalles · 21-01-2013 10:45AM

Im surprised people are so anti parent & child on this thread.

I wonder are restaurants more accommodating abroad?

MrCreosote · 21-01-2013 10:58AM

Feathers wrote: »

I know. But the point that I made, which you quoted, wasn't about the legality of it.

The point you made was that most parents agree that restaurants can make their own decision on this. Restaurants can make their own decision on this- there's no law against it at present. This doesn't mean that parents like or are happy with the decision- they just have to put up with it unfortunately.

Allyall wrote: »

Parents with Children are an Already oppressed group?

You seem to think that people wanting to go to a restaurant and not have to listen to kids running around, and not have an obstacle course to the toilet, is a personal attack on you and yours.

Oppressed might be a slightly too-strong word. "Barely tolerated" is probably a better way of putting it

What I think is that a restaurant saying I cannot eat there because there's a child with me is an attack and slur on me and my child. You know why I think that- because it IS an attack and slur on me. People who agree with their attitude are just supporting their prejudice

uberalles wrote: »

I wonder are restaurants more accommodating abroad?

Well you know what- societies that are less child-hating than Ireland (i.e. everywhere else in the world) seem to manage it just fine. And even more, the kids respond to this and behave well.

Allyall · 21-01-2013 11:04AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

What I think is that a restaurant saying I cannot eat there because there's a child with me is an attack and slur on me and my child. You know why I think that- because it IS an attack and slur on me. People who agree with their attitude are just supporting their prejudice

'Tisn't. Some kids are hyper, some kids aren't, some kids are good at sports, some are good at chess.

Most kids seem to enjoy going to a restaurant and running around. If you get refused because you have a child with you, it's NOT a slur on you. It is simply because the restaurant has had enough of kids misbehaving in general. They may deem it more cost effective to not deal with children at certain times of the day. It's not that hard to understand why they may do it without taking offence.

uberalles · 21-01-2013 11:11AM

Funny restaurant sign - unattended chillderen will be given a free double shot of coffee and a puppy.

In saying that I've seen other places that have a little blackboard and chalk etc and make an effort to keep the kids entertained.

City people particularly seem to have a low tolerance of kids in restaurants.

21-01-2013 11:13AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

Well you know what- societies that are less child-hating than Ireland (i.e. everywhere else in the world) seem to manage it just fine. And even more, the kids respond to this and behave well.

Even if your claim was true that Ireland is child hating and everywhere else isn't, it's unlikely to be because kids behave better when a stranger sitting three tables away is more tolerant of them, and more likely to be that the person sitting three tables away is the one responding to having experiences of better behaved children, which could only be a result of better parenting.

I'm not saying that's true, just that if Ireland is, as you're saying, some extraordinarily anti-child society, there's only one possible reason for it. And that reason is not cultural attitudes towards children, it's cultural attitudes towards parenting.

MrCreosote · 21-01-2013 11:17AM

Allyall wrote: »

Most kids seem to enjoy going to a restaurant and running around. If you get refused because you have a child with you, it's NOT a slur on you. It is simply because the restaurant has had enough of kids misbehaving in general. They may deem it more cost effective to not deal with children at certain times of the day. It's not that hard to understand why they may do it without taking offence.

This is rubbish. Most kids eat quietly in restaurants, are polite and well-behaved. The ones that cause problems are a tiny percentage.

How is it not a slur on me- basically the restaurant is saying that I can't control my child in public. How is that not offensive? Being turned away from somewhere because of that is deeply embarrassing.

It'd be like saying- "There was a drunk obnoxious woman in here yesterday, therefore all women are banned".

Allyall · 21-01-2013 11:22AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

This is rubbish. Most kids eat quietly in restaurants, are polite and well-behaved. The ones that cause problems are a tiny percentage.

How is it not a slur on me- basically the restaurant is saying that I can't control my child in public. How is that not offensive? Being turned away from somewhere because of that is deeply embarrassing.

It'd be like saying- "There was a drunk obnoxious woman in here yesterday, therefore all women are banned".

I wouldn't say the ones that cause problems are 'tiny' percentage. I'd be more likely to go with the exact opposite of that. But it may not be that high.

If you don't want to get turned away, ring first, no big deal, a lot of people do it nowadays when booking/checking menu/facilities/times etc..

No, it would be more like saying, "we have decided to refuse drunks at the door, please don't embarrass us or yourself by arriving drunk, thank you."

21-01-2013 11:22AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

It'd be like saying- "There was a drunk obnoxious woman in here yesterday, therefore all women are banned".

No. It'd be like saying "About half the hen parties we've allowed in here have upset customers so we've decided to stop allowing them".

TwoShedsJackson · 21-01-2013 11:28AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

You're not being greedy, you're just being completely unrealistic if you expect to have perfect peace and quiet in a public place. If you want that- stay at home.

Is it being unrealistic to expect that parents at least attempt to control their children when they are in public?

MrCreosote · 21-01-2013 11:29AM

Allyall wrote: »

If you don't want to get turned away, ring first, no big deal, a lot of people do it nowadays when booking/checking menu/facilities/times etc..

So if I ring up and book, and then turn up with a child what do you think they're going to do? They'll kick me out of course. I shouldn't have to go around asking about the "policy" every single place has on children- they should be accepted like anyone else. If they're causing a problem in the restaurant, then get them to leave, just like anyone else. It's the assumption that they're going to be a problem that is most annoying.

Allyall wrote: »

No, it would be more like saying, "we have decided to refuse drunks at the door, please don't embarrass us or yourself by arriving drunk, thank you."

It's nothing like this. They're taking a rare example of bad behaviour and assuming everyone else is going to be acting like that. Fairly good assumption with pisshead adults, not so with children.

MrCreosote · 21-01-2013 11:30AM

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Is it being unrealistic to expect that parents at least attempt to control their children when they are in public?

This isn't unrealistic at all. What the restaurant is doing is assuming ALL parents are incapable of this without giving them a chance.

mr kr0nik · 21-01-2013 11:33AM

Have they said how they define a child. Is it anyone under 18?

Allyall · 21-01-2013 11:33AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

It's nothing like this. They're taking a rare example of bad behaviour and assuming everyone else is going to be acting like that. Fairly good assumption with pisshead adults, not so with children.

No. I wouldn't say it's a Rare example.

gingernut125 · 21-01-2013 11:34AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

So if I ring up and book, and then turn up with a child what do you think they're going to do? They'll kick me out of course. I shouldn't have to go around asking about the "policy" every single place has on children- they should be accepted like anyone else. If they're causing a problem in the restaurant, then get them to leave, just like anyone else. It's the assumption that they're going to be a problem that is most annoying.

It's nothing like this. They're taking a rare example of bad behaviour and assuming everyone else is going to be acting like that. Fairly good assumption with pisshead adults, not so with children.

Would you not enquire if they have a childs menu/appropriate seating for children before you make a booking?

MrCreosote · 21-01-2013 11:36AM

gingernut125 wrote: »

Would you not enquire if they have a childs menu/appropriate seating for children before you make a booking?

No. A child over 2 is going to sit on a seat and can eat the same food as an adult. Why do they need some crappy junk food menu?

gingernut125 · 21-01-2013 11:40AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

No. A child over 2 is going to sit on a seat and can eat the same food as an adult. Why do they need some crappy junk food menu?

Well they only can if the restaurant let's children in.

21-01-2013 11:40AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

No. A child over 2 is going to sit on a seat and can eat the same food as an adult. Why do they need some crappy junk food menu?

Because if you feed a child adult portions they'll either end up with a very sore tummy, a wasted half meal, or if it's happening all the time, an obesity problem.

MrCreosote · 21-01-2013 11:43AM

true-or-false wrote: »

Because if you feed a child adult portions they'll either end up with a very sore tummy, a wasted half meal, or if it's happening all the time, an obesity problem.

Or here's a crazy thought- get them a starter, get a little less for yourself and finish their plate.

I know! Mad isn't it!

gingernut125 · 21-01-2013 11:50AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

Or here's a crazy thought- get them a starter, get a little less for yourself and finish their plate.

I know! Mad isn't it!

If a restaurant let's you do this, good for them

Your child doesn't have a right to eat in whatever place you feel like.

TwoShedsJackson · 21-01-2013 11:51AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

This isn't unrealistic at all. What the restaurant is doing is assuming ALL parents are incapable of this without giving them a chance.

And they are perfectly within their rights to do so. It's a private business, they may exclude whoever's custom they do not desire, and anyone so refused will have to seek service elsewhere.

21-01-2013 11:55AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

Or here's a crazy thought- get them a starter, get a little less for yourself and finish their plate.

I know! Mad isn't it!

So you refuse to go to MacDonalds because it serves junk food, and demand access to all restaurants for parents with children because they need good quality food, and after all that you're happy to just give them starters? Not exactly a well balanced meal usually.

Allyall · 21-01-2013 11:58AM

..And take up a four person table, when you could only be taking up two. So your child can have a starter while they wait for you to have your meal, meanwhile the restaurant is refusing adults that would be paying for a three course meal and wine because they don't have the seats...

MrCreosote · 21-01-2013 12:00PM

gingernut125 wrote: »

If a restaurant let's you do this, good for them

Your child doesn't have a right to eat in whatever place you feel like.

When I last checked it wasn't illegal to eat off someone else's plate.

Or that you'll get chucked out if you say "Well I WAS going to have extra potatoes au gratin with my main course, but do you know what I might just do without them today"

MrCreosote · 21-01-2013 12:03PM

Allyall wrote: »

..And take up a four person table, when you could only be taking up two. So your child can have a starter while they wait for you to have your meal, meanwhile the restaurant is refusing adults that would be paying for a three course meal and wine because they don't have the seats...

Dude- there's a reason so many restaurants are closing in Ireland. And they aren't exactly struggling with queues out the door

oldyouth · 21-01-2013 12:03PM

MrCreosote wrote: »

What I think is that a restaurant saying I cannot eat there because there's a child with me is an attack and slur on me and my child. You know why I think that- because it IS an attack and slur on me.

It isn't a slur on you, don't be so precious. It is the restaurant saying "we've had a problem with children in here in the past, I don't know your child or how you control it in public, I'm not prepared to take the chance".

Now if that turns out to be a bad commercial decision for the restaurant owner, it will be his loss. However, it could easily increase his turnover.

gingernut125 · 21-01-2013 12:09PM

MrCreosote wrote: »

When I last checked it wasn't illegal to eat off someone else's plate.

Or that you'll get chucked out if you say "Well I WAS going to have extra potatoes au gratin with my main course, but do you know what I might just do without them today"

Not illegal no.

Just as it's not illegal to refuse you with your child

This is just going round in circles. I think the restaurant in question is actually gaining good publicity from this the longer you keep harping on. Good for them!!!

Sofiztikated · 21-01-2013 12:16PM

Right, I'm back.

if a restaurant refused to take bookings from hen or stag parties, because of the actions of previous ones, would you understand? Is it fair to the group that will be behaved? No. But is it understandable?

Allyall · 21-01-2013 12:17PM

MrCreosote wrote: »

Dude- there's a reason so many restaurants are closing in Ireland. And they aren't exactly struggling with queues out the door

Go back to the OP and tell the lady that was refused that. I'm just giving another example of why they may refuse you.

hooradiation · 21-01-2013 12:27PM

I didn't think that we'd have so many precious little flowers for whom the existence of children is simply intolerable.

How awful life must be for them.

Allyall · 21-01-2013 12:32PM

hooradiation wrote: »

I didn't think that we'd have so many precious little flowers for whom the existence of children is simply intolerable.

How awful life must be for them.

Or easy going, scream free, tidy... :pac:

Restaurant bans children...

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