Poll: No-kids-allowed movement. Yay or nay?

[Apollo45]

Kids are kids, have always been kids, and will always be kids. You were a kid once (hopefully), which means you were the one crying in annoying areas. You will likely have kids in the future, which means they will likely end up crying in annoying areas. That's how children work.

In light of that, I don't see any reason for a ban on children. I do, however, see issues with a parent who won't do anything about the crying child. It's their kid, and their responsibility to take care of it. I can understand a child crying in a supermarket and being unable to completely control it; it's a pretty public place that's loud anyway and shouldn't be too much of an issue. However, a restaurant or a movie theater is a completely different story. I don't mind if they've brought their kid, or if the kid has started to cry. But if they don't take the kid outside or somewhere away from people and try to calm it down before returning then we have an issue.

Now, on an airplane things are pretty cramped. In that case, I can see where the ban would make some sense. But it's always an option to take the kid in to a bathroom and try to calm it down there, right? I think the real issue still lies in the hands of the parents, not the airline. However, because of that, I voted for option 3.

 

[Chelsizzle]

This isn't really fair to the kids who are well behaved/parents who actually discipline their children. For planes, I can see why you'd want this kind of thing. But for a restaurant/movie, just make them step outside until the parent can get their child calmed down.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Hell yes! Let me make it simple: if your kid is acting up in public, you are a shitty parent. Leave society, for we shun you and your wretched spawn.

That said, I do find it unfair to the small minority of well behaved children. Here's what I propose: give other customers greater rights. If I complain in a restaurant over a screaming child, said child and their family will be asked to leave, while still having to pay for their meal. If said child also destroys my meal, somehow, the child's family would have to pay for it. When it comes to flying, I have a different idea. Instead of banning children, parents would be required to pay a 50% "downpayment" on any ticket for children. If there are no complaints about these children during the flight, it will be completely refunded. When it comes to movie theaters, just enforce the bloody age guidelines. Children shouldn't be in R rated movies in the first place. It should go without say that the parents and the child will be asked to leave if there are any complaints. Similar measures apply for shopping and hotels, of course.

 

[Slick Samurai]

I used to think children were the most annoying thing I could encounter in public. But you know what I hate more? Other people. Especially teenagers. Children are adorable, and they don't know any better.

Teenagers only seek to prove themselves to their peers and by doing so they try talk and act as "cool" as they think they can be. This usually leads to things a lot more nerve grating that crying.

At one point in my life, I would have pushed for this movement. But now that I've come to understand and have sympathy for the parents, I think the children should go where ever their parents want to take them.

 

[axeman157]

Oh god yes! I hate it when some kid ruins my birthday dinner!

 

[DEAD34345]

Personally, I'm for a different sort of legislation. If someone brings a loud kid in, boot 'em. So long as the kid behaves, they're welcome in my book... but too many people don't raise their kids anymore, they just give their kids whatever they want in early development, teaching the kid that tantrums get them their desired results.
I say boot failed parents and their squalling brats to the curb, let 'em take their noise pollution on home... but banning all kids isn't the answer.

This is exactly how I feel about it. Banning all kids because some annoying child bothered you is ridiculous, banning kids that are obnoxious and annoy people is perfectly reasonable. If a kid starts banging on his table or doing anything else that would get an adult kicked out, then they should be kicked out (along with whoever brought them). No need to punish every perfectly well-behaved kid out there, that makes about as much sense as banning adults from your restaurant because some left without paying the bill, or banning females from the cinema because some left their phone on.

 

[kidd25]

NO, kids are restricted enough and if they act mean, tell the parents! should we ban the parents as well of course not.

 

[Rad Party God]

YES please!

I hate those little buggers when they're misbehaving, especially if the parents won't do anything about it.

 

[SD-Fiend]

God yes. Especially on airplanes.

I don't give a jolly shit if you paid full price to go to Malibu for the weekend, take a fucking train or boat there and stop making me more jet-lagged and bad-tempered than I normally am when I airtravel.

excuse me but why don't you try to take a train or something if they're such a problem on planes?

 

[JezebelinHell]

Personally I think they should ban teenagers from going out of the house. They are loud and obnoxious and let's face it, they are old enough to know better, unlike a baby or a toddler that has a clean slate to learn the rules of society by interacting with said society. A teenager has already had that chance and blew it. Let's move on to kids that may get a clue.

Seriously... Establishments should deal with problem customers on a case by case basis. They are failing because money is more important and once you are seated they generally have your money no matter what happens. If you were to mention to your service staff that the obnoxious teenagers (in my case) are ruining your enjoyment and that you will leave and take your money with you maybe you would get someone to intervene on your behalf. I think any of you that believe children should not be allowed in nice restaurants do not realize that children learn from society and if restaurant staff are involved the parents can also have a learning experience just like the teenagers I get booted out of one of my favorite places to dine.

TLR? Make the restaurant staff do their job of making your dining experience enjoyable or tell them you will take your money elsewhere. The only way you can possibly educate the problem parents.

Edit:

I used to think children were the most annoying thing I could encounter in public. But you know what I hate more? Other people. Especially teenagers. Children are adorable, and they don't know any better.

Hahaha! I got disgusted with the replies before I got off of page one.

 

[drisky]

Any business should be allowed to deny any age until 18, concerts already do this. I don't however think it should go out of control. You mentioned the olive garden, and they have nothing to gain by making them selves less family friendly, other places will benefit from having a guarantied quiet meal. Everyone gets options, everyone can do whats best for their business. But like I said there is a limit and not all children are hell spawns.

 

[SD-Fiend]

Kids are kids, have always been kids, and will always be kids. You were a kid once (hopefully), which means you were the one crying in annoying areas. You will likely have kids in the future, which means they will likely end up crying in annoying areas. That's how children work.

for some reason this reminded me of kids next door.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Wow, this is just plain silly. So kids don't have constitutional rights now....

 

[aussiebee]

Personally, I'm for a different sort of legislation. If someone brings a loud kid in, boot 'em. So long as the kid behaves, they're welcome in my book... but too many people don't raise their kids anymore, they just give their kids whatever they want in early development, teaching the kid that tantrums get them their desired results.
I say boot failed parents and their squalling brats to the curb, let 'em take their noise pollution on home... but banning all kids isn't the answer.

My sentiments precisely.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Wow, this is just plain silly. So kids don't have constitutional rights now....

Uhm, no constitutional rights are being violated. At all.

 

[SeriousIssues]

Hey, dude!

I love going out to dinner with my family, and we have a nice, semi-quiet meal every weekend. You're really overrreacting waaaay too much. Business owners should really regulate these things though, but come on? Banning kids?

 

[SeriousIssues]

Wow, this is just plain silly. So kids don't have constitutional rights now....

Uhm, no constitutional rights are being violated. At all.

I don't know, 14th? 9th probably.

 

[KoalaKid]

Its funny that i agree with this but have the name kid.

 

[bpm195]

If I'm paying for a nice experience I don't want it wrecked because some parents don't bother controlling their kids. I strongly support more businesses outright banning children. I don't like having to dodge kids running around a coffee shop and I'll be damned if I'll watch my language because some parent decided to bring their kid to a pub. This isn't to say it should be ubiquitous, as family restaurants and the sort shouldn't adopt such a policy, but the places where 95% of their customers are adults need to do this sort of thing.

However, making a rule banning "annoying" children is far too arbitrary, and unreasonable to enforce. If I'm in a restaurant and some kid is everybody pissing off everybody(including myself), then I'll probably be siding with the parents and calling the rule ludicrous and will gladly walk off with the parents leave an upside glass of soda as a tip.