...Situational awareness is my top priority when in public.
...If I dont like the line...I go somewhere else.
...If I dont like the noise...I go somewhere else.
...If I dont feel like dealing with kids...I go somewhere else.
...If I dont like smoke...I go somewhere else.
...If I dont like whats on the menue...I go somewhere else.
...If I dont like the traffic...I go somewhere else.
...If I dont like rude behavior...I go somewhere else.

...If I had been the parents of those kids, I would have forced the kids to mind their manners and then I'd have a deep meaningful chat with you about minding YOUR manners.

IMHO...Seems to me that YOU were the one out of line.

 

Duksrule,

I'm sure if you contacted Outback by phone they'd likely offer to treat you as a way to make nice.

btw with your dimensions I'd grab the nearsest available "weapon" if you were coming at me. No offense but it's easy to talk as you do at your size.

dhermesc,

I liked your story and didn't mind the wrench. If someone was abusing my child I'd a done the same thing. Stories like your's would make a great thread.

 

I agree, Sinjin. If and when I finally have the joy of chilrden in my life, I'll take any and all means available to protect them. Whether it be from a cruel mouth or a threat of violence.

And Amen, Wabiker,, there is always an easier course of action. A response instead of a reaction.

 

Don't mess with a man's family is all I can say about that. Some parents are fiercely protective of their kids, and the potential is always there for a fight. I'm not saying I would have handled that particular situation the same way, but I would have been right up in the guy's face had he done that to MY son! Also, having been a bouncer at a few bars in my day- I'm not small, either, but don't like to fight- I have discovered a few simple things that can equalize a substantial size difference. For instance, a simple thumb jab to the throat will slow any size man down enough to either escort him out or hogtie him. 'course I always preferred the talking method, which usually worked- lol

 

In the past I dealt with two "Whining brats." Now one is an Honors student in her first year in college. The other "kid" is my right-hand man. All it took was "The Look" from Daddy and they were perfect angels.

 

probably not the best approach to the parents.....while parents do have the obligation to control their kids in a public setting, hearing from somebody else on how to take care of their kids usually starts the whole situation in the wrong direction.



I don't think a restaurant would ever choose a child over 4 paying adults....I think they are outright crazy if they don't take into consideration families. I'm betting that it wasn't you against the kids, but they also have to consider the other paying adults (the parents). Families now days are a big part of the restraunt business because they are on the go so much. If they start turning away families, they hurt thier image as well as their business.


pretty childish...but to each his own. If it will make you feel better and help you to feel as though you have made a difference go ahead....just don't drive by during the business hours because I'm sure you'll be disappointed.

 

Lets see,

Guy goes to a " Family" resturaunt, can't handle the loud children, (part of the family)
Ends up in the smoking section where people don't want to wait
to have dinner with the family.
Smoking section is by choice, not for quiet adults.
It's loud, some children are very loud in Family resturants.
(Could have been a birthday party, family get together, End of Soccer season party..who knows)
Some loud mouth moron (Wow 240 lbs 6" plus tall, 9% body fat)yells and tells the parents to shut the kids up.

Oh man...your one lucky fella.
I've seen guys 160 take down lumuxes like yourself.
Don't kid yourself into getting hurt there big guy.

And shave that mullet while your at it boway.

 

This is true and knowing it I do not try to intentionally intimidate people in those types of situations. Now imagine if I would have went over and towered over some 5-6 guy who would have been sitting down and told him to shut his kid up. That would not have been well received I am sure.

Let me state for the record that my intention when I left the house was not to go beat people up at outback. Nor were we looking for a church. I can tolerate noise and yes even noise from children. But there is no reason to allow your child to scream at the top of his lungs because he is not getting his way. Shut it up or take it outside. If I were with friends that were being overly loud I would be the first one to tell them that they needed to bring the noise level down. It is a courtesy to others. Also if we had a better steak joint then I would go there. Now I will be going to lone star. I don't think that the price of the food should dictate a child's behavior though. It would be different if I would have went to Chucky Cheese and asked for a child to be quiet.

 

"Well I am 6-2 240 pounds and have a 9% body fat and the other guy at the table is a Semi-Pro Hockey player. While yes there is a chance that some huge giant was on the other side of the wall chances are you was a little punk like your dad and would have had to get out a wrench or a bat or some form of weapon to even try to start something. A man that will pull a weapon in an altercation is no different than the gangbangers in LA. If someone jumps you and you have to use a weapon to defend yourself then fine. But if you are such a wussy that you need to use a wrench to start a fight, maybe you should just go home and beat your meat because that is probably more than you can handle to start with."

If my infant was crying in a restaurant (to young yet to talk) and someone told me to "shut that kid up". There would have been no need for a wrench. They would have gotten what was coming to Them. Any "hockey player" friend would have gotten it too if he intervened. I wouldn't have needed any weapons, and the only meat that would have gotten beat would have been the guys head who said it. Because no matter how big or tough you think you are there is always someone bigger or tougher out there so mind your manners and stop insulting other people!

 

Ok, now for my .02 cents -

True, you could've (or the manager could've) approached this differently, but, like others said, we're all human.
I've never got into a fight, but if I do, the other person has a good chance to loose. (I have a black belt in martial arts, along with several first place trophies in competitions). The best way to fight, is NOT. Avoid fighting at all costs. But if it comes down to a fight, you better call 2 ambulances, cause' we're both going to the hospital I'm not a small guy, at 6'2'' and 230 Lbs, I really don't look for fights, I have better things to do.
One time I was at the McDonnell's parking lot in my truck along with my mom, and dad. My mom went in to order our food. We dropped her off in the front, and we (my dad and I still in the cab) circled the parking lot to find a space. Well, there was this guy (older, about 65 maybe) sitting in a Toyota Corolla parked ILLEGALLY in an outer parking space, blocking my tuck from making the turn. (In that situation, I could not back up either) So, I get out of my truck, and asked the guy to kindly move is vehicle. The guy said "come on, you can fit by, if not I'll move it for you." Now, I'm getting pissed, and I said, "Your parked illegally" He just ignored me. I went back to the truck, and to ld my dad what happened. He went nuts. He went up to car, literally pulling him out, and next thing you know they almost "went at it" until I stepped out and stopped them. A few cuss words were exchanged, but in the end, he did move is car. (to top this off, we were all in Tuxedos, on our way to my cousins wedding in Greenwich, so he though we were from the Mafia lol)

 

don't these two statements kinda contradict each other?

I don't know you, or much about you, but in this whole thread, you seem to be proud of your size and your right to tell others how to act in public places. That being the case, I think you probably brought more of this on yourself than you care to admit.

 

What I am saying is
1 Just because it is a cheap place doesn't mean that kids should act up. If it was McDonalds I would still have expected the parent to control the child.

2 If I were at Chucky Cheese, a children's place, then it would have been out of line on my part to expect well behaved kids.

 

A good percent of parents today do not control their kids in pubilc places. I work in a grocery store, and far too often I see kids wandering off by themselves (way to young I may add to do this) screaming, crying, etc. But, lets not forget, they are KIDS, and that's what kids do, they cry, scream, kick, etc.
I'm not a big fan of kids, but you have to remember they do, and will get "out of control" and thats when the parents should step in. (In this case, they did not)

 

duksrule,
You are pathetic. To start off with liking smoking more than kids. You need to get a life if you go to those extremes over a child being a little loud. I would have kicked you out to. Talking to someone that way. Also size means nothing cause a good lawyer would put you away in no time.

 

Put me away for what? There is no law against telling people to control their kids. I would never take the first swing in a fight with the parent so it would be defending myself if I had to. As for the manager if I would have fallen on the way out and just happened to take him down with me, would that be against the law?