Scene: a pleasant cafe/restaurant, early evening, tables occupied by family groups, friends, couples.
At the table next to us, a couple with a child (aged about six or seven?). They came prepared. Wow. They unfolded a small portable DVD player, about the size of a paperback book, and placed this in front of the child. Who paid it some attention, but not a lot. No, they didn't have an earplug for it.
We had to have our meal disturbed by the penetrating noise - the babble and soundtrack music (different to the general buzz of conversation, harder to ignore) of cartoon adventures.
Why not just order take-away, and eat it at home, and plonk your kiddie in front of the teev? Why not (gosh!) teach said kid how to eat out, why not talk with him???
I don't get it, I really don't. This is a public restaurant, not your home cinema - that's one issue (if for some reason it's essential, then don't make it an audio intrusion, use earplugs). But why does this kid need this much entertaining? Can't you leave the DVD at home and make eating out a different experience?
I know there are restaurants with televisions. We didn't choose to eat in one of those.
Ye gods.
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4 comments:
Isn't it sad that today so many feel the need for "electronic babysitters" as we call them? What happened to the good old days where we involve our children during mealtime and have conversations and just so down to earth family time during our meals. What a turn off to have a dvd player running in a restaurant. I feel sorry for that child, truly I do!
Hear, Hear! How can a kid learn manners, the art of polite conversation, any social skills in fact, unless taught by the parents?
Good. Grief. Now I can die happy having heard it all.
AArrrgh! Not fair to other customers. Almost as bad as lound phone conversations on mobiles.
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