when you go to eat at a restaurant,
a regular, family-friendly type of restaurant, you'd expect to have other diners as neighbors and you'd expect to be able to dine in a congenial, comfortable atmosphere, otherwise you wouldn't frequent this particular restaurant in the first place. unfortunately, the clientele in this restaurant can range from raucous loud-mouths to more considerate patrons.
i just had what i might consider one of my worst dining experiences at this place i go regularly. the scene next to us was 2 banquet tables consisting of grown adults and their mostly teen-aged children of a certain ethnicity. their voices bellowed in the dining room. their movements took the whole space between their tables and others. their regard for other patrons' enjoyment of their dining experience was non-existent. to them, their lunch was the only lunch happening in the whole place and their pleasure was the only concern on their minds.
i sat wondering when one of the very large teens was going to bump into me or our table while they were practicing dance steps. i was wondering how loudly or how many times they'd shout obscenities to each other, within audible distance of children. i waited to see if any adult in their group was going to ask the teens to lower their voices or curb their movements. i wondered if any of the waitstaff or hosts would issue a reminder that there were other diners in the vicinity who perhaps wished for less boisterousness. although the waitstaff looked concerned, none of these things occurred.
fortunately for us, the large party was concluding their get together. however, their preparation to leave only increased their excitement and their voices. my companion finally did speak up to tell them to, if they would please, lower their voices. and wouldn't you know it...not one or two adult members objected and told us 'we had no right' to "scream" at them and that 'nobody else was complaining'. we highly-educated and peace-loving, adult chinese aren't often ones to raise a stink...that could be considered one of our faults. alas, we did have our say and we had support from those around us. now, get yo asses outta here!
there was one teen who had to be almost dragged out of the restaurant lest he should be sorry he even got involved. you'd think we told him to go to hell or someting worse. i'm appalled at the disregard for others these kids have been accustomed to living. and to have their parents be such a bad example by behaving the same way is just too, too f*cked up. they sad.
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