Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site grkermi.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!genrad!grkermi!andrew From: andrew@grkermi.UUCP (Andrew W. Rogers) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: I hate to bring this up again but,.... Message-ID: <499@grkermi.UUCP> Date: Wed, 3-Jul-85 17:27:55 EDT Article-I.D.: grkermi.499 Posted: Wed Jul 3 17:27:55 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 06:20:28 EDT References: <220@cuuxa.UUCP> Reply-To: andrew@grkermi.UUCP (Andrew W. Rogers) Distribution: net Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass. Lines: 44 Summary: In article <220@cuuxa.UUCP> frye@cuuxa.UUCP (frye) writes: > I got off work one night last week and went to my favorite > restaurant... This couple came in with their grand- > daughter ( about 6 or 7 years old ). She sat eating quietly > with Gramma and Grampa. After a little while she got up and > started running up and down the aisle between the tables and > yelling at the top of her lungs. After about fifteen minutes > of this I started to get a headache. I turned around and > said "Hey Goddammit, that's enough! That isn't what these > places are for!"... Hmmm... this sounds familiar. Around '78 or so I was eating at Alice's (yes, *that* Alice's - or more accurately, a descendant thereof) in Lenox, MA when an obviously well-to-do couple (probably up from NYC to visit Tanglewood) and their daughter (also around 6-7) were seated at the table next to mine. Almost immediately, the daughter - an typical obnoxiously precocious affluent urban brat - started showing off the results of her presumably ultra-expensive toe-dancing lessons in the aisles. I tolerated it for a few nanoseconds, then politely suggested to her parents that they show some rudimentary courtesy toward the other patrons and make her sit down... after all, there was already entertainment in the lounge for those who wanted it. Their response: "WE don't believe in REPRESSING her CREATIVITY!" I shot back with "First of all, I don't believe in letting spoiled brats repress my appetite; second of all, I suggest that you re-read _Summerhill_ until you understand the distinction between freedom and license!" They didn't say a word, but did repress her creativity long enough for me to finish my meal in peace. > Grandma took the offending screamer out to the car, but not before I > mentioned the fact that if the kid got hurt they'd probably sue the > restaurant. Wish I had thought of that line! I'll definitely keep it in mind! Andrew W. Rogers (P.S.: I certainly hope that forcing her to behave in a public place didn't cause any long-term damage to her delicate psyche... oh, well, her parents could probably afford the analyst's bills anyway... :-) )