What is wrong with people?

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Today, went to the planetarium with my dd (8) and my dh. We have just wrapped up a solar system unit (we are hsing our dd) and thought this was a great way to have her visualize all the info she has learned...

So, we chose two shows (there are an assortment to choose from - some for older kids - grades 3/4 and up, others for younger kids which are more cartoony). We chose those geared to older kids and adults and bought $35 worth of tickets.

Sure enough - the first show we go to - this extended family (read - more than two adults) comes in with an infant in a carrier and a little one about 3 years old. The 3 year old wouldn't shut up. Not for a second - even when he was thinking of what he was going to say he go, "um, um, um..."

It was difficult to hear the show. Many audience members "shhed" the kid. One older gentleman said, "Enough already!" Did any of the 5 adults in the group get the kid out of there? nope. Then, of course, the baby started to get fussy.

What would possess adults to think a young child would get anything out of a show like this? Who do they think they are to ruin everyone else's experience?

Anyway - again, I am sick of bratty, annoying kids and their selfish, moronic adults (they're not parents - they're morons) that think they're so cute and precious and belong anywhere and everywhere. Snotleigh and Bratleigh would have been much happier watching the cartoon show - but, no - the adults wanted what they wanted - the rest of us be damned.

Luckily, they didn't attend the second show. Again, there were some young ones in the audience, and they were fussy - all it took was the lightning, thunder and rain effects to drive them to hysterics and their responsible adults took them out of the planetarium.

Okay - vent over. Enjoying my Barefoot Merlot - which I've never had before - it's quite good!

 

[Nanu57v]

Was there another showing? I would've asked to sit through it again. I actually did this at WDW on Star Tours. DH and I rode it and there were these unaccompanied kids (maybe 9 or 10) who literally screamed through the whole thing. Not a scared thing, just being malicious. They screamed when we were sitting still and after the ride was done until the CM walked in. I had waited for 30 minutes to ride the ride and was upset that it was ruined. I told him what happened and asked to ride again, and I was aloud to bypass and ride again.

 

[cardaway]

That's why many similar places don't allow anybody under 10yo or so. Awesome rule!

 

[Liberty Belle]

We just took our 4 year old to two planetarium shows (one was on Galileo and the other was on constellations). He enjoyed it and only whispered to me appropriately a couple of times.

The other family should have taken the kids out after a couple of warnings. I don't blame them for trying it to see if the 3 year old would like it, but they should have removed him after he wouldn't quiet down.

 

[ShesAPirate]

I don't blame the kids, necessarily. Kids are kids, and they're gonna get cranky (or obnoxious!) sometimes. The parents who don't remove them from the planetarium/movie theater/restaurant (ESPECIALLY restaurant!) when they're disturbing everyone else in the place are the ones who drive me insane. It's really sad how many people lack common courtesy.

 

[kidzmom3]

Anyway - again, I am sick of bratty, annoying kids and their selfish, moronic adults (they're not parents - they're morons) that think they're so cute and precious and belong anywhere and everywhere. Snotleigh and Bratleigh would have been much happier watching the cartoon show - but, no - the adults wanted what they wanted - the rest of us be damned.

I think you are perfectly justified in your complaints about your ruined experience. You should have spoken with the management of the planetarium. You could also have excused one adult from the show and went to speak with them. I hope that they would have either removed the offending family or offered you another show.

What bothered me about your post was the name calling of the children. A 3 year old and a baby should not be referred to by derogatory names. This was an issue with the parents, not the children.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I think you are perfectly justified in your complaints about your ruined experience. You should have spoken with the management of the planetarium. You could also have excused one adult from the show and went to speak with them. I hope that they would have either removed the offending family or offered you another show.

What bothered me about your post was the name calling of the children. A 3 year old and a baby should not be referred to by derogatory names. This was an issue with the parents, not the children.

Ah, I was cranky - and you know what? I don't care. When adults act like their kids are more important than everyone else in the world - this is exactly what the kids become - brats. Brats are brats. Adults shouldn't subject others to their children's rude behavior. If they do - then of course their children are going to be considered brats, hellions, etc.

And, please - we were going to leave the show to speak to management? Each show was 40 minutes long - and ran once a day. We drove an hour to get there and paid $35 to see them. Why should either my dh or myself have to get up, disrupt our daughter further because of some idiot? Plus, if I or my dh got up to go complain to management - we would have further disrupted the people sitting near us, the entire auditorium when we opened the door, etc. It's not exactly like being in a movie theater.

I love it when the person who's already been inconvenienced then is supposed to be inconvenienced further - these people were rude, they're raising two self-centered, "the world should revolve around me" brats and that's that.

In any event - I am sick and tired of idiotic parents and their boorish children. There are no excuses to be had for this - I've had it up to my eyeballs - it's like a large majority of this generation of parents think their kids are mini-adults and should be able to do whatever they want wherever they want. They're in a public place, not in their living room. If their child can't conduct themselves appropriately, get the hell out. It's as simple as that.

We did speak to management and told them they need to do something about asking disruptive people (of all ages - our experience was with this kid) to leave - I think they're hard up for money and are afraid to ruffle any feathers or get into a scene. We'll just take our dollars elsewhere.

I know, I would have died a thousand deaths of embarassment if an auditorium full of people were sh-ing my child - multiple times. People have no shame.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

We just took our 4 year old to two planetarium shows (one was on Galileo and the other was on constellations). He enjoyed it and only whispered to me appropriately a couple of times.

The other family should have taken the kids out after a couple of warnings. I don't blame them for trying it to see if the 3 year old would like it, but they should have removed him after he wouldn't quiet down.

See, I disagree - they should have taken their child out after one warning. "Johnny, you will not make another sound or we are going to leave."

Then, do it.

I've only had to do that with each of my children once, and they knew I meant it. Once in a grocery store with my oldest son, once at a Disney ride (my middle son was being highly annoying, I said - "one more time and we're going back to the room" - and we did), and once with my daughter in a deli. I put money on the counter and never took the food - just scooped her whiny butt up and left. She was so stunned - she couldn't speak.

Never happened again. The minute I say, "Stop," they stop.

It's past the point of annoying after it happens once. Seems to me that most parents these days couldn't be bothered. A shame, really, for their kids and the rest of society.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

That's why many similar places don't allow anybody under 10yo or so. Awesome rule!

Yeah, but that would leave my dd out and she is more of an adult than many adults I meet these days.

I think the management of these places need to lay down the law and let visitors know when certain shows are not appropriate for very young children, what behavior will not be tolerated, etc.

I was just so stunned that an auditorium full of people were telling this kid to shush up and the parents didn't hear the clue phone ringing.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Was there another showing? I would've asked to sit through it again. I actually did this at WDW on Star Tours. DH and I rode it and there were these unaccompanied kids (maybe 9 or 10) who literally screamed through the whole thing. Not a scared thing, just being malicious. They screamed when we were sitting still and after the ride was done until the CM walked in. I had waited for 30 minutes to ride the ride and was upset that it was ruined. I told him what happened and asked to ride again, and I was aloud to bypass and ride again.

We would have except that was the only showing of that particular show today. I didn't want my money back - it's a non-profit and they really need the money. I just wanted to enjoy the show.

Glad you got to ride SW again - betcha those kids were related to the family I had to deal with today.

 

[Disney Doll]

See, I disagree - they should have taken their child out after one warning. "Johnny, you will not make another sound or we are going to leave."

Then, do it.

I've only had to do that with each of my children once, and they knew I meant it. Once in a grocery store with my oldest son, once at a Disney ride (my middle son was being highly annoying, I said - "one more time and we're going back to the room" - and we did), and once with my daughter in a deli. I put money on the counter and never took the food - just scooped her whiny butt up and left. She was so stunned - she couldn't speak.

Never happened again. The minute I say, "Stop," they stop.

It's past the point of annoying after it happens once. Seems to me that most parents these days couldn't be bothered. A shame, really, for their kids and the rest of society.

Are you my mother? My mother once took me out of a restaurant because I was being bratty and left my father and brother in there to finish their dinner and get dessert. I sat in the car with her and waited. It was a LONG half hour.

It also drove home the point that mother meant what she said.

 

[meandtheguys2]

That's why many similar places don't allow anybody under 10yo or so. Awesome rule!

We wouldn't want children to learn about our universe, now would we?This isn't about an age limit, it is about inconsiderate parents.

 

[CEDmom]

Couldn't you have gone and gotten an employee to ask the adults to take the child out ?
You didn't like the situation but did not want to do anything about it. The 3yo didn't sound like a brat but rather a typical 3yo full of questions and wonder.

 

[MushyMushy]

That's why many similar places don't allow anybody under 10yo or so. Awesome rule!

But there are plenty of kids who can sit quietly and enjoy experiences like that, and also plenty of parents willing to enforce it.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Couldn't you have gone and gotten an employee to ask the adults to take the child out ?
You didn't like the situation but did not want to do anything about it. The 3yo didn't sound like a brat but rather a typical 3yo full of questions and wonder.

Answered previously -

Planetarium is set up for total darkness. Seats are set up in a circular pattern. We were in the middle of a row, quite far from any exit door. For one of us to get up would have meant a further disturbance to us and to those around us. Never mind - we weren't the ones who should have gotten up.

A 3 - 4 year old who does not listen to many attempts to shush up is a brat. An adult that lets their child do what they want at the expense of others is trash. An adult who attempts to bring a much too young child should strategically sit close to an exit and leave at the first sign of restlessness.

Again - blame the victim not the offender. I posted here to vent about ignorant morons and their spawn - not get a lecture on what we should have done when we did nothing wrong. We spoke to management on our way out. That was the most appropriate thing to do in this situation.

I think my saying of the week is: Brats are brats.

 

[CEDmom]

Answered previously -

Planetarium is set up for total darkness. Seats are set up in a circular pattern. We were in the middle of a row, quite far from any exit door. For one of us to get up would have meant a further disturbance to us and to those around us. Never mind - we weren't the ones who should have gotten up.

A 3 - 4 year old who does not listen to many attempts to shush up is a brat. An adult that lets their child do what they want at the expense of others is trash. An adult who attempts to bring a much too young child should strategically sit close to an exit and leave at the first sign of restlessness.

Again - blame the victim not the offender. I posted here to vent about ignorant morons and their spawn - not get a lecture on what we should have done when we did nothing wrong. We spoke to management on our way out. That was the most appropriate thing to do in this situation.

I think my saying of the week is: Brats are brats.

I've been to a Planetarium many times so I'm familiar with the setup. I'm not blaming anyone. However, if something bothers me to the point that I need to vent I'm going to try to do what I can to resolve it.

For what it's worth a 3yo asking questions or just babbling isn't a brat. A brat is a child that runs around, yells, talks back etc.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Are you my mother? My mother once took me out of a restaurant because I was being bratty and left my father and brother in there to finish their dinner and get dessert. I sat in the car with her and waited. It was a LONG half hour.

It also drove home the point that mother meant what she said.

Well, I am pretty sure I am not your mother. But, yes. My kids have always known that we mean what we say. No empty threats. They're older now, so I don't really have to do this anymore, but before we went anywhere, we would tell them where we were going, why we were going and how we expected them to behave.

We never made empty threats - even on vacation. If I or my dh said, "Cut it out or we will leave." My kids absolutely knew we would leave - no matter where we were, how much it cost, or how badly we wanted to be there.

This new form of parenting where the child gets to do whatever they want and the parents do nothing is ridiculous.

I am an employer who is just now starting to see the effects of this type of parenting. I hire quite a few high school and college kids at my business. It's a great first job, I try to teach them about the business, responsibility, etc. When I ask them to do something I certain way, I explain it to them and explain the impact it has on my business. I want them to have fond memories of their first job.

When I first opened my business - I would say 9 out of 10 teenage applicants had the potential to be hired by me (responsible, mature, filled out job app correctly, etc.). Now - the numbers are down to maybe 1-2 out of 10. I am sick of mommies coming in asking for the applications for their kids. I am tired of mommies telling me when their teenager can and can't work. I am tired of mommies calling me - ten minutes before their teenager is supposed to work and saying, "She can't come in today - she got invited to so and so's house in the Hamptons." Etc.

The kids are incapable of doing anything themselves. And, once the schedule is set - doesn't matter - if something fun comes up, mom (it's never the dads for some reason) lets them choose that over a previous commitment. It is horrifying.

When I was a teen - and I'm sure for many of you when you were teens - I went, got my first job, organized my schedule, told my boss when my family was going on vacation, etc. If I was invited, at the last moment to something fun, I'd call my co-workers directly and see if someone could do my shift - if not - I went to work.

Anyway - too many people are popping out kids and not giving a single thought to the quality of person they'd like them to be. This "me, me, me" mentality is so damaging to their child and to society. We are only now seeing the results of raising children like this.

 

[wendy46001]

The 3yo didn't sound like a brat but rather a typical 3yo full of questions and wonder.

Sorry but this statement bothers me....there is a time and a place for everything ...its a parents responsibility to teach the child that a theater is not the place to ask questions but to sit quietly and watch....

For what it's worth a 3yo asking questions or just babbling isn't a brat. A brat is a child that runs around, yells, talks back etc.

but a child disrupting a room full of people is a brat....
weather babbling, talking, humming, singing or whatever...it was a movie

when is the child going to learn if everyone is making excuses for him/her?

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I've been to a Planetarium many times so I'm familiar with the setup. I'm not blaming anyone. However, if something bothers me to the point that I need to vent I'm going to try to do what I can to resolve it.

For what it's worth a 3yo asking questions or just babbling isn't a brat. A brat is a child that runs around, yells, talks back etc.

My definition of a brat is any child who is not controlled by their parents and has a negative impact on someone else's experience. That can be excessive talking, shouting, crying, whining, babbling, etc. including running around.

The experience determines the brat. Had this child been in a museum or at a street fair and was talking constantly - it would have been fine. In an environment like a planetarium, theatre, etc. it's not. Had we been in a movie theater, a broadway show, etc. it also wouldn't have been acceptable. It's up to the parents to parent.

So, again, IMHO a brat is a brat.

For what it's worth, the dictionary defines a brat as follows:

brat /bræt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[brat] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun a child, esp. an annoying, spoiled, or impolite child (usually used in contempt or irritation).

Yup - impolite and annoying he was - and I used the term in irritation. Shoe fits.

 

[CEDmom]

Sorry but this statement bothers me....there is a time and a place for everything ...its a parents responsibility to teach the child that a theater is not the place to ask questions but to sit quietly and watch....



but a child disrupting a room full of people is a brat....
weather babbling, talking, humming, singing or whatever...it was a movie

when is the child going to learn if everyone is making excuses for him/her?

I'm not saying you shouldn't quiet a 3yo in a theater. I know I would have been doing that with mine and would have taken her out if she couldn't quiet down. But to call a 3yo that's just asking questions a brat is way over the top .