What would you do? Inappropraite discussion in a restaurant

[canwegosoon]

Ok first of all this was at a Friendly's(a family restaurant-a step or two above fast food), but it is a sitdown place...and you are going to be there for a little while.

I am eating breakfast with my 2 8yo boys, and in the booth behind me is a mother and 3 older children(high school-college age). We are enjoying our breakfast(and playing tic tac toe and hangman) when they start loudly discussing a local murder case where the son is accused of killing his father and his mother was also nearly killed too. My boys all of a sudden get quiet...I think they were listening to the discussion. I told them not to listen, and to eat up(and tried to distract them with a game). I quickly started praying that these people could find someing else to talk about....and eventually they did. I never said anything to them or even looked at them(since as I said they were behind me).

But what would you have done? Would you have said something to them or moved? I couldn't find our waitress to move(that is what I wanted to do).

 

[tiggersmom2]

I would just have ignored them and eaten my meal....I can't imagine anyone confronting them over that.

 

[CathrynRose]

I guess if you were really concerned about it - you could'a moved.

But I cant see myself moving. And certainly not asking them to stop.

Honestly - the way I am with my kids, I would have said "Quit listening to other people's conversations!!!"

 

[holycow]

Probably exactly what you did. Sing songs, play games etc...something distracting them from the conversation....poor thing!



Holycow

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I just would have moved if I didn't want my kids to listen, or whatever. I don't think that I would have confronted them about that.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I would just have ignored them and eaten my meal....I can't imagine anyone confronting them over that.

I agree with this. They really weren't doing anything wrong. Now if they were being perverted or dropping F-bombs every 10 seconds, that would be another story.

 

[Froggyswife]

I probably would have been too into a conversation with my kids to even notice the table behind me or what their topic of conversation was.

 

[Gaspode]

Not very nice for you and your children I agree. But, unfortunately, not much you could do except what you did - distracting your children with games etc

Sometimes you have to wonder tho'.... once, on holiday in London, enjoying breakfast and at the next table was a woman with her young DD (I reckon she was about 6). They were reading the daily paper together (DD sat next to mother and helping turn the pages) and mother was explaining all the stories to the DD - mostly the murders and tragic accidents etc giving her all the details and reasons why people did these things... imho, too graphic for a 6yr old but, what can you do?

anyway, sorry to go a little OT. hope your children were ok

Gaspodé

 

[Pigeon]

Hey there canwegosoon, we are practically neighbors. The Porco case is unpleasant, but I don't think the other people were out of line. I don't think you had any call to say anything to them. I would have just made sure my kids were involved in a different conversation. If I were really that worried, I would have asked the waitress for a different table.

 

[lulugirl]

It doesn't sound like they were having an "inappropiate" conversation.

 

[N.Bailey]

This will probably offend you, but I'd have probably turned around and asked if they were talking about the Porco case.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you could otherwise distract your children so that you really couldn't pay attention--then I would do that first.

It if it was too difficult to ignore, I would politely request that they change the subject or to speak more quietly.

 

[kimmikayb]

I would have ignored them, continued to enjoy my meal and play with my kids.

 

[Micca]

I'm afraid I don't see a problem with it either.

 

[pearlieq]

They weren't doing anything wrong.

Unless they're cursing a lot or graphically describing sexual acts, I don't think any conversation is really "inappropriate" or demanding that action be taken.

Whether or not the conversation is in poor taste is a matter of personal judgment, but if you had complained to me as the manager or one of the participants of the conversation I would have told you to MYOB!

 

[Daxx]

Wow -- I thought you were going to say these people were talking about something perverted or were swearing like there's no tomorrow!

As for the local murder case, I'm sure it's the talk of the town esp. if people know the folks involved. Of course, everyone's comparing notes and what they heard or know. While I can understand how you felt having your kids hear the discussion, I'm sure the older ones are hearing about it from their friends.

I think you def. did the right thing to distract them w/games and whatnot.

If the conversation were especially gruesome or they were using inappropriate language or were talking about something perverted, then I'd ask to be moved. If it were especially bad, I'd ask the manager to step in and say something. However, sounds like it was tame compared to what they *could have* been talking about!

If the 8 yos ask about the overheard conversation, just tell them in terms that they can understand and don't be overly graphic.

 

[paigevz]

I try to shield my kids from those things too. I would've done what you did..........just distract them so they wouldn't listen.

 

[Nana Annie]

.....

 

[aprilgail2]

I wouldn't have a problem with that conversation and my daughter being with me..I thought you were going to say they were talking about something to do with sex or really foul language. I would not have confronted them about that conversation they were having.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Hey there canwegosoon, we are practically neighbors. The Porco case is unpleasant, but I don't think the other people were out of line. I don't think you had any call to say anything to them. I would have just made sure my kids were involved in a different conversation. If I were really that worried, I would have asked the waitress for a different table.

yeah, I'm from the area too. And considering how the case is such a huge deal, you can't really be surprised that people are talking about it, can you?