I took may daughter, son in law and granddaughter to a nice Italian place for her BD last Sat. Been going there for 50 years. We sat at a table for 4. Across the aisle from us was a booth with 2 older gray haired folks eating. Had my back to them so did not see them but heard this one loud mouth complaining about everything. I finally turned around when the talk got louder and saw it was a woman. Hell, I thought it was a man. Heard about her 3 marriages, operations, wealth, money, etc. I had to take my hearing aids out, it was that loud. My daughter burst into laughter when I did that' Even my Shrimp Scampi came alive and was agitated. This gal had vocal cords down to her toe nails. Also found out she was looking for another husband that had money. WOW, what a meal.

That’s hilarious (the hearing aides). I can tolerate less than perfect service or food. But when ignorant self centered people ruin my evening it’s more than I can stand. You’re a better man than me. I’d have probably said something and made the whole situation worse.

So, dinner and a show? Nice, a twofer!

__________________
The best I can with what I got

People eating in a restaurant and having a phone conversation ON SPEAKER ...

Sometimes I’m so pleased my hearing is literally shot and can not hear much of what any woman or other females say. Granddaughter has to be very close and speak slowly.

I hate the parents that let their children act like they are at Chucky Cheese or dogs at a dog park everywhere they go... kids learn proper manners by watching and parents insisting the kids act accordingly... i.e. be a parent...

If one chooses to enter the arena with the great unwashed expect crowd noise.

__________________
Music/Sports/Beer fan

Sitting at the bar tonight, having some drinks and food, I know everything about the guy next to me and how much money he has. And I never asked him a thing.

I have a LOAD friend. He does not have an indoor voice and can't take a hint to pipe down. One particularly annoying morning I asked when where he learned to whisper. I told him I figured in was in a helicopter filled with crying babies and running chainsaws.

Welcome back Rusty-see you didn't miss a beat!!!

__________________
Forum consigliere

Sunday night dinner out, Thank God we were done and waiting for our check when a lady and 2 young kids sit down at the table next to us. The kids both had their tablets, watching videos with the volume up!

I remember when the real nice restaurants had dress codes. Couple years ago we went to what was once one of those places. Ten feet away from us was seated a drunk guy in shorts, flip flops, wife beater (Sorry I don't like seeing guys arm pits while im trying to enjoy my prime rib) anyway the guy was drunk off his *** and dropping the F bomb left and right. I asked the waitress if she could talk to the manager and she said she already did and there was nothing he could do.

My wife's niece and her husband are that way . They tend to eat out at the same restaurant and have gotten way too comfortable there if you get my drift . It's gotten to the point that I turn down invitations to go with them because I know how it will be . And , I told them why . They laugh about it . I guess that's a good thing .

I worked with a guy with 12 kids, from toddlers to teens.
He and his wife would eat out often and take the entire tribe with them.
Most restaurants would see them come in and open up the back room for them.
However, they were the best behaved kids you ever want to meet because they learned that if they misbehaved, dad would get up, pay the server, and then they would all go home without eating. No meal at home either.
This was his way, starting them out early and being very consistent.

"What you are when you grow old is merely a continuation of what you were all along."
In my youth I met plenty of old people with no manners, now, at 74 I still run into them. At a nearby diner I held the door open for a rather decrepit looking elderly couple, not only did I not get a word of thanks I didn't even get a look of thanks.

People anywhere in public with their phone on Speaker...

Back in the early 80s I was eating at a Howard Johnson's. I was in my early 20s. As I was eating, a young mother came in with her two sons. Both early grade school age. They were out of control. The mother was attempting to handle them but was failing. She looked like she was about to cry. At the time, I had a bank card from Winter's National Bank. It was white with green snowflakes. I got up from my table and went over their table and showed the boys my card and told them that I worked for Santa Claus, and he had gotten some bad reports on them. I said he had sent me to see if the reports were true. They looked at me with big eyes and said nothing. I told them that from what I was seeing, they could expect socks and underwear for Christmas at best. I then told them that I would staying in the area for the next few months to see if their behavior improved. I then got up and went back to my table. Those boys were like angels after that. I looked at the mother and she silently mouthed thank you to me. I smiled and nodded to her.

__________________
That's gonna leave a mark.

When I go to one of my favorite restaurants, I notice everyone seems to be done eating and talking and leave.

When I leave, a lot of the staff can be heard cheering.

I appreciate their attention and well wishes.

__________________
Ubi Est Mea

Reminds me of one of my favorite signs - Everyone who comes here makes us happy. Some when they enter, and some when they leave.

__________________
protocalldesign.com

Lol, thats my mother in law.

She can't NOT answer the phone, regardless of where she is.

When that happens, I pick up everything and change tables. I also announce that I will not sit within earshot of a LOUDMOUTH. When a business allows Garbage In they allow me Out. Stick up for your rights. No one else will.

__________________
"Don't Give Up the Ship"

I like the one that reads: "Don't talk about yourself here. we'll do that after you leave."

__________________
"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Do you do it loudly and with fanfare?

__________________
Ubi Est Mea

NO. Just respectfully.

__________________
"Don't Give Up the Ship"

My wife started training our 4 children to behave at the dinner table when they started eating solid food. She had them say "UM" when that wanted another bite. Many untrained kids just give a nerve-racking squeal! Our daughter "one upped" her mom. She taught her triplets to use the ASL sign for "food" (grouped fingers of both hands bumping into each other) to let her know they were ready for the net bite.

Training kids at home, has great benefits when in public.

Years ago (the oldest turns 45 this fall) someone at church gave us kids night coupons at Frishes' Big Boy. The wife made a big deal on manners and behavior. The kids did wonderful. About 5 years later we were in a restaurant with a salad bar. The oldest had forgotten crackers and was going back to get some when an older couple offered him their surplus packs of crackers. He came to a complete stop, turned and thanked the couple but nicely refused. I was on my way and saw the whole thing. The gentleman said that I trained my kids to "Not talk to Strangers" and was approving. I said, "I taught my kids to talk to anyone they wished, but they weren't allowed to receive anything from strangers. How can I expect them to share the Gospel and minister to strangers, when they were taught to never speak to them?" the man was the Superintendent of my kids Christian School.

In public the kids were always very well behaved! At home they were a troop of wild monkeys!

Maybe my wife can come up with a training program for adult manners.

Ivan

In the university town near me is a small lunch/light dinner establishment
known for its Buffalo Wings. (As an aside, years ago this place was bought by the Menendez brothers as the basis for their Buffalo Wing empire.) It is currently owned by a young Korean couple. 5 young Orientals came in, 2 girls, 3 boys, probably Koreans, ordered, I looked over when they received their food and-lo and behold, one of the girls was leading them in Grace !

As a life long Buffalonian I can tell you that any establishment calling their wings Buffalo Wings is going to be a disappointment. Just call’m wings. Hot medium or mild. Always blue cheese on the side. If your getting ranch your doing it wrong.

these are why some guys get passports to date "east"

__________________
it just needs more voltage

"Manners" in public is mostly an untaught and lost art these days.

__________________
Live long and prosper

Loudly offer the parent useage of your belt for the kids rear end, that usually causes the problem to stop instantly.

I'm sorry I'm kinda "weird", but when I encounter people speaking in a loud volume, or on their phone in public in a line I always join in the conversation. My wife cringes when I do this, but I get right into their conversation and make annoying comments.

__________________
Dave Ramsey Cultist

Happens all the time. After 32 years of marriage, i can tune voices out, but my wife cannot. I do not hear the restaurant conversation while eating, but I get the replay on the way home.

A buddy of mine solved the talking on the cell phone at dinner problem. He regularly picks up the dinner tab, "Granpa has this." kind of thing most of us probably do. What he did just once was announce that "Grandpa will pick up the entire tab for dinner tonight, however...the first person that picks up their cell phone or in any way answers their cell phone also picks up the tab." He has noticed no phone usage, more than the usual number of trips to the bathroom but no phones at the table.