starousse
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2011
- Messages
- 2,157
There is no difference in my mind between a dad and a couple of kids sitting at a table without food, watching other people struggle with their trays and a single person on a cell phone watching people struggle with their trays. Having kids doesn't mean you get to throw common courtesy out the window. And that often times seems to be the cry on the Dis "But I have kids! That means I'm the important one!" Not said in that direct of a way, but it is a huge under-current to many threads.
Again, this is only even an issue when seating is at a premium. If there are plenty of empty tables, I doubt many people would care. But if you (in general) see someone with a tray and no place to sit while your rear is planted at a table, the considerate thing to do would be to at least ask that person to join you.
The difference is, the dad sitting with his kids are getting ready to eat. The person on the cell phone hanging out either finished eating or is just hanging out. They need to get up to give someone their seat, not the family that is getting ready to eat. As another poster mentioned, most people will not order food for a family of 4 or more if they don't have a place to sit.