Comments on: No Kidding

By: Jerry Steinberg

Jerry Steinberg — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 00:18:40 +0000

By “a good restaurant” I mean a restaurant with table service, a restaurant with a wine list, a restaurant with tablecloths, a smoke-free restaurant (after all, you wouldn’t want to put someone off a $100 meal, would you?), a restaurant in which the level of the din still allows one to hear a salad fork fall on the carpeted floor.

The few remaining child-burdened friends that I still have agree. They don’t want their evening ruined any more than childfree folks do; in fact, since they have kids, they dine out (at “good restaurants”) less frequently than childfree people do, so it’s more of a rare treat for them. Noisy, disruptive children should be removed from the venue IMMEDIATELY. That includes restaurants, cinemas, museums, art galleries, libraries, etc. — any public place in which people expect peaceful quiet in which they can communicate with one another without having to resort to yelling.

And children should never be taken into smoky bars. Second-Hand Indoor Tobacco Smoke (appropriate acronym there) is a major cause of asthma and ear infections in children. If the bar is smoke-free, then it will not pose the same health hazard to children.

And I agree that ANYONE who misbehaves in a public place and disturbs others should be removed IMMEDIATELY — child or adult.

Jerry Steinberg
Founding Non-Father of NO KIDDING!
The international social club for childless and childfree couples and singles
http://www.nokidding.net; info@nokidding.net

By: Furious Angel » Blog » Hello World

Furious Angel » Blog » Hello World — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 16:42:36 +0000

[...] probably give a few laughs :)
A lot has happened lately that I haven’t posted about.
No Luck.
The holiday to Rome with Sarah was incredible. We had an amazing time and it [...]

By: Transom Flyer

Transom Flyer — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:15:57 +0000

To: Jerry Steinberg…

How about adding this to your rule about restaurant attendance: “Adults should not be brought to good restaurants unless they are quiet and obedient.”

I don’t think adult-focused establishments should not be turned into playgrounds. In my experience, however, I’ve been more bothered by misbehaving adults than by misbehaving children. I don’t know that we need special rules for children, but rather, better rules (and compliance) by all restaurant guests.

By: Eric Meyer

Eric Meyer — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:33:43 +0000

Define “good restaurants”, Jerry. As you no doubt inferred from my post, 219 West was basically a restaurant/bar, and any child (had it been allowed in) could have held the world’s worst temper tantrum and not been heard five feet away. In fact, from what little glancing around I was able to do, many kids would have been better behaved than half the adults there.

So do you just have such a large axe to grind that you did it even where it didn’t really make sense to do so? Personally, I largely agree with the points you made, but the manner in which you push your agenda definitely needs some work.

By: jasonspage.net > Section J » Blog Archive » SXSW 2006 Wrap-up.

jasonspage.net > Section J » Blog Archive » SXSW 2006 Wrap-up. — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 04:14:27 +0000

[...] it was for like a second and he didn’t seem like talking. Maybe he was pissed about his kid situation. Maybe he just didn’t want to talk. Kind of a letdown too becaus [...]

By: Jerry Steinberg

Jerry Steinberg — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 01:08:46 +0000

Children should not be brought to good restaurants unless they are quiet and obedient. People — including those who have children — go to restaurants (with the exception of McDonald’s, Chuck E. Cheese, and others of that ilk) to have a peaceful, relaxing meal and conversation.

If a child misbehaves in a restaurant (such as by making loud noises, throwing food, crying, banging on the table, etc.), the child must be removed immediately. Removing the child promptly reduces the impact of the child’s misbehavior on innocent bystanders, teaches said child that such behavior is not appropriate and results in the instantaneous termination of an enjoyable activity.

Jerry Steinberg
Founding Non-Father of NO KIDDING!
The international social club for childless and childfree couples and singles
http://www.nokidding.net; info@nokidding.net

By: Bart Declercq

Bart Declercq — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 09:34:56 +0000

Hi Eric,

Just goes to show how different cultures can be, in Belgium bringing the kids to a restaurant or even a pub isn’t considered not-done at all, in fact it’s pretty rare (at least around 7 or 8 pm) for a busy restaurant not to contain some families with kids eating out – even the fancier restaurants.

Not all that many “21-and-over” (more likely “18-and-over” here) establishments where you’d want to take your kids (or even your wife, if you catch my drift ;) ) here…

Bart

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 11:49:22 +0000

My Small Person is of school age (hence my not being able to come to SXSW as someone needs to do the school run) however here in the UK people tend to look at you like you are crazy if you actually want to take your children out with you. Pubs in the evening are a definite no-no and restaurant staff look at you in horror …

Despite this we take the Small Person to anywhere unless it is actually against the law, the end result being she is very well behaved when with a group of adults and most of our local eateries know her well now and don’t look quite so alarmed :)

By: Chris Kavinsky

Chris Kavinsky — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 02:58:28 +0000

Definitely a downer if you have kids with you. Gives me something to remember in the future if/when my wife comes with me. BTW, it was a pleasure getting a chance to meet you in person.

By: SwoofWare » SXSW: So close, yet so far

SwoofWare » SXSW: So close, yet so far — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 23:01:19 +0000

[...] or the next 5 days. Payback on that would not be fun. Of course, it sounds like there are several people having a hard time getting out and about with their little ones. That giv [...]

By: Matt Smith

Matt Smith — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 22:46:13 +0000

I hear your pain. I live in Austin and have 3 kiddos. I’d love to be there trying to meet everyone I read on a regular basis, but I’m pretty sure my wife wouldn’t be too thrilled with me checking out of the family for 5 days to attend the day and night festivities while she hangs out with the kids on spring break.

Hmmm… seeing that there are several people in the same boat. What if I hosted a cookout? We’ve got a trampoline, playscape, enough toys to start a Toys-R-Us, and a bunch of frozen margeritas from a party my wife hosted last night.

Somebody touch base with me and lets give it some thought.