# I'm going to slap these parents **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 4, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734 "2016-08-04T12:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/21 "2016-08-04T18:28:43Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Your local McDonald’s lets people bring puppies inside? It’s Taiwan, at least they don’t eat the puppies. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/22 "2016-08-04T18:32:55Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I try like hell to do shit with my kid. Bought him a motorcycle, bikes, baseball equipment, football, try to get him to play games with me, built him a killer “treehouse” blah blah blah. > > All he wants to do is sit in front of the fucking computer all day. What other interests does he have- then can you join him? Even if he loves first person shooters, would he enjoy paintball or laser tag? Kids do pick up when their parents think their interests are worthless. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/23 "2016-08-04T19:01:26Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The other day at work a woman with six kids, all roughly the same age (6-8), turned and slapped one of the boys across the face. Right in front of me as I was talking to her. > > I [del]possibly[/del] probably overreacted (told her to get the fuck out and not return) but it was a brutal slap. Did she really think what she did was acceptable public behavior? Was it? “You got mommy it trouble, you little shit! Just wait til I get you home.” ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/24 "2016-08-04T19:26:01Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > You sure it was a case of parents with a kid as opposed to some young Aunt and her husband having to end up babysitting or an older cousin and his girlfriend? > > Cause, as I reach into my thirties, I have found myself being volunteered for babysitting/childminding and damn it can be boring. Really? I’ve always liked kids so I can’t relate. I used to love going out with my nephew and niece when they were at that age. I was the cool uncle that had “uncle rules.” I don’t have telepathy, so I can’t read minds, but I also teach that age of kids and it’s the same reaction. Even if it were so, it’s pretty damn rude to the kid to take him to Mac, sit on your phone and force him to sit there with nothing to do. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/25 "2016-08-04T23:06:17Z")
This child will grow up to be a perfectly normal adult, most other children are being raised, at best, pretty much the same, and that uniformity (as is the case now and in the past) will be held to be the benchmark of normalcy among his peers. He will be perfectly placed to compete among those reared just like him. Stop worrying about him, at least, he appears to have learned to accept things the way they are. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/26 "2016-08-04T23:43:23Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > It’s Taiwan, at least they don’t eat the puppies. German restaurants don’t like people bringing kids in. Dogs are fine, however. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/27 "2016-08-05T00:28:47Z")
I’ve been on my phone while having my kids at a restaurant, probably even McDonald’s(Mac, I guess we’re calling it). Still, my kids get my attention. However, if I had had a really long day, non-stop talking kids and so forth, I can see telling them I need a few minutes and they can play/eat while I do stuff. At home, I have the kids take breaks/rests and use it to chill out. However, they are getting ample attention from me and my wife. I doubt either kid would describe us as absent-while-present parents. > [@TokyoBayer](#): > > It’s Taiwan, at least they don’t eat the puppies. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/28 "2016-08-05T00:59:56Z")
> [@](#): > > This child will grow up to be a perfectly normal adult, most other children are being raised, at best, pretty much the same, Probably better than most. He’s obviously been trained how to behave in a restaurant, which most children these days never seem to learn. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/29 "2016-08-05T02:57:25Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > My first thought. What the heck is a puppy doing in a McDonalds? possibly acquired so the boy had something to love and interact with. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/30 "2016-08-05T03:32:17Z")
My guess is that the parents were so involved with their phones that they misunderstood their child’s request for a hot dog. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/31 "2016-08-05T12:50:08Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > He’s obviously been trained how to behave in a restaurant, which most children these days never seem to learn. A major cause of children misbehaving in restaurants is because their parents stay way too long after the meal is over, gabbing or being engrossed in their cellphones and ignoring the kids. End result - the kids are bored and act out or run around the restaurant while Mommy and Daddy are staring at the little screen. “How come you don’t like children?” ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/32 "2016-08-05T17:09:42Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > This child will grow up to be a perfectly normal adult, most other children are being raised, at best, pretty much the same, and that uniformity (as is the case now and in the past) will be held to be the benchmark of normalcy among his peers. He will be perfectly placed to compete among those reared just like him. No. This was different, hence the OP. Were it normal behavior I wouldn’t have written this. > [@](#): > > Stop worrying about him, at least, he appears to have learned to accept things the way they are. Giving up looking for affection is so underrated these days. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’ve been on my phone while having my kids at a restaurant, probably even McDonald’s(Mac, I guess we’re calling it). Still, my kids get my attention. > > However, if I had had a really long day, non-stop talking kids and so forth, I can see telling them I need a few minutes and they can play/eat while I do stuff. > > At home, I have the kids take breaks/rests and use it to chill out. However, they are getting ample attention from me and my wife. I doubt either kid would describe us as absent-while-present parents. We all take breaks away from out kids. But I wouldn’t have my child sit there for 30 minutes staring at the back of my phone with nothing to do. Bring along a book or something. Usually there are the two of them so they can keep either other entertained, but if it were the two of us, with just one of them, then we would have one person engage the child while the other takes a break. > [@](#): > > :dubious: They reportedly do in some other Asian countries, so I wanted to make that clear. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/33 "2016-08-05T18:25:00Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > German restaurants don’t like people bringing kids in. Dogs are fine, however. That’s what I thought. When we were in Germany and Italy people brought their dogs into restaurants - dog would curl up under the table with a bowl of water - it was awesome. I wonder if it’s like that in Taiwan too. (Meanwhile, here in Canada a few years ago my beagle and I got kicked out of a sketchy bar’s outdoor patio.) ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/34 "2016-08-06T14:17:00Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > That’s what I thought. When we were in Germany and Italy people brought their dogs into restaurants - dog would curl up under the table with a bowl of water - it was awesome. I wonder if it’s like that in Taiwan too. Not usually. First time to see a god in McDonald’s here. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/35 "2016-08-06T15:08:10Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Not usually. First time to see a god in McDonald’s here. God usually eats at Steak ‘n’ Shake. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/36 "2016-08-06T18:05:48Z")
This is why you should always remind your kids not to forget their phone when you go out. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/37 "2016-08-06T18:29:18Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > God usually eats at Steak ‘n’ Shake. Ha! It’s YHWH so when the service is bad, watch out! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/38 "2016-08-06T21:59:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The other day at work a woman with six kids, all roughly the same age (6-8), turned and slapped one of the boys across the face. Right in front of me as I was talking to her. > > I [del]possibly[/del] probably overreacted (told her to get the fuck out and not return) but it was a brutal slap. Did she really think what she did was acceptable public behavior? Was it? Saw a woman take her shoe off to beat her kid with it once. Also, at work, saw a woman grab her kid by the arm and scream “SHUT UP YOU LITTLE MOTHERFUCKER” at him. That’ll bring you up short. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/39 "2016-08-07T02:35:26Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Saw a woman take her shoe off to beat her kid with it once. Well, if she only beat him once . . . 😛 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734/40 "2016-08-07T03:24:29Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Saw a woman take her shoe off to beat her kid with it once. > > Also, at work, saw a woman grab her kid by the arm and scream “SHUT UP YOU LITTLE MOTHERFUCKER” at him. That’ll bring you up short. When I was in college, I got into a screaming match at the laundromat with a woman who had two young children with her, and looked like the then-recently arrested Aileen Wuornos, only uglier. She constantly told the kids how stupid they were, that she hated them, that she wished she had aborted them, etc. and I said, “Wow, if you talk that way to your kids in public, what do you say to them at home?” There are numerous memes on Facebook that basically advocate torturing children into submission (“They must be beaten regularly to make them respectful to adults!”, that kind of thing) and an elderly woman at my church unfriended and blocked me after about the 10th time I commented on it. The coup de grace was when I said, “Do you also think husbands should do this to wives?” (Incredibly, some women do.) I used to work at a hospital that had a pediatric psych unit, and it was sickening the way some of those parents talked to their kids - in front of the nurses! :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-slap-these-parents/761734.md?page=3)