[...] on People: Self-Promoter or Average Working Mom? Why I Bribe My Daughter and Why I Think It Works Why NC Restaurant Olde Salty’s No Screaming Children Policy is a Total Joke Worst Idea Ever: Virtual Speed Bump “Pavement Patty” Is a Driver Safety FAIL [...]

[...] on People: Self-Promoter or Average Working Mom? Why I Bribe My Daughter and Why I Think It Works Why NC Restaurant Olde Salty’s No Screaming Children Policy is a Total Joke Worst Idea Ever: Virtual Speed Bump “Pavement Patty” Is a Driver Safety FAIL [...]

People vote with their dollars. If Olde Salty loses revenue, they’ll be singing family friendly praises. Personally, if I lived in NC, I’d boycott the place.

Well, it kind of reminds me of all the signs at pharmacies and medical offices telling you to turn off your phone while talking to the medical care professionals. Some people are so dense, humor and courtesy never stand a chance. So spelling it out is the final options left.
You’re right though TJ- people SHOULD vote with their dollars- I’d go in Olde Salty’s for lunch and enjoy the lack of screaming! And yes, I’m a parent of 4.

I’m reading your post, Carolyn, and I know you used words and everything, but all I hear is BAAAAWWW DEY WON’T LET MY ICKLE PWESHUS BEHAVE LIKE AN ANIMAL! Suck it up and discipline your brat already. So sick of entitled breeders and their nasty little spawn in public.

Not only shall I applaud the owners I will show my appreciation by patroning their restaurant. I just saw a story about this on CNN Headline News I must have missed it on the local news. I am not some old salty pirate, but a youthful 32 year old with no children. It proves there is a market out there for the plethora of people who choose not to procreate en masse and enjoy the beauty of life otherwise.

To ED…the guy who just referred to children who cry as “brats” at least twice- Are you ignorant or WHAT? Children cry. Get over it. If you don’t like it eat at home and not in a “family” restaurant. It’s like going to a bar and complaining that they serve alcohol. Jackass. And the issue with Olde Salty’s is actually because the owner was discriminating against children with Autism. I know, because this is in my hometown and I also know personally the family which was targeted. So if you don’t know anything just please keep your mouth shut.

Just curious, but do any one of you who’ve commented have children??!!

Get a freaking clue and realize that children are EVERYWHERE. Yes, parents sometimes lack respect for their fellow diners and aren’t quick enough to respond to their childs’ needs, BUT there are also the cases that your kid just freaks, completely out of knowhere, and screams their stinkin head off. Because guess what, children are also human beings, who act on their OWN instincts. Who also act their age. Who at one point in time, we all were. Let us not forget that at not that long ago, WE were those children screaming.

Let us also not forget

“Childless asses”? “Childfree assholes” Are you serious? Just because some of us choose not to breed and overpopulate our already burdened planet, your response is name-calling? Nice. What great parents some of you must make. No wonder this generation of entitled little bastards fucking sucks.

I find your post a bit offensive, especially the part where you say “I’m surprised the sign wasn’t misspelled”, as if to say “the owner must have been retarded to think of doing this”? I believe as a private establishment’s owner, she can do whatever she pleases. And if she doesn’t like crying babies, well she can darn well put up a sign saying so. If it offends people, so be it. People are easily offended anyway. There’s plenty other restaurants where they can eat. And if it attracts people, than kudos to her for doing something she believed in.

I applaud this move. It is unfortunate but the “…free coffee and puppies” sign DOES NOT WORK anymore! People are just plain rude nowadays (especially parents) and you have to fight fire with fire.

Just yesterday, I was in Taco Bell and a kid was allowed to roll around on the floor in everyone’s way talking loudly – not screaming but annoying just the same. The entire time the “parents” cooed about how cute she was!

I have a child. And, when we started taking him to restaurants we went at 4:00PM before the evening crowd where it was easier to coach him on proper behavior.

- NC Dad in High Point

I’m a mom and I have two kids. This means nothing as far as restaurant etiquette. If your kids can’t behave in a restaurant, don’t take them there. If they misbehave, leave. Period. Why is this even an issue? It’s a short time that they’re small and you won’t be able to take them to eat out, but while you’re there it’s incredibly rude to subject the world to your mayhem. Get takeout.

I’d be OK with the sign only if they put one next to it that says “Loud talkers WILL NOT be tolerated!” and “People on cell phones WILL NOT be tolerated!”, “People with lazy eyes WILL NOT be tolerated!”, and especially “People with dogs WILL NOT be tolerated!”

If you seen the interview with the owner, then you know why the writer said, “I am surprised the sign was not spelled wrong.” She wasn’t wearing a bra and did not look nor act professional. The sign could have been written in a more professional way that was more informative verses demanding.

If the owner is reading this- if you want an atmosphere that is classy, upscale, and with dinners that worth your time- present yourself that way. When you have an interview, wear nice clothing, fix your hair, and speak in a manner that is respectful without using negative body language. You simply did not carry yourself as a business person who cared about the general public, making profits, or public relations.

My kids do not misbehave but I am still not annoyed by children crying because guess what? Children cry.
Ed, I am glad you went thru that experience, could not happen to a better person, HA.
Also, Carolyn, can you post a sign at the bottom of your article please that reads “Whinny adults will not be tolerated on this blog”
Seriously, they cannot stand screammig kids but we have to put up with their sad and pitiful stories about how they were martirs at a restaurant where kids were screaming, boo hooo and grow up.

Rosana, the owner also has a sign that says, “whiners will pay $5″. I’ve heard that they actually charged people $5 before.
Consider this- how will you train a waiter/waitress on determining if a kid is too loud vs. an adult that is too loud? That is easy, its common sense; right? So whats to say that their “common sense” would not turn into dictatorship or discrimination just simply because they do not like you? Maybe they do not like the color of my hair or I have too many tattoos.. Just a thought.

Angela you have been given a story. Your facts are wrong! Ms. Armes does not discriminate against anyone with dissabilities. This was made up by someone who did not like the sign because it offended her. How unfortunate this family does not speak the truth.

I have had many meals at Olde Salty with my 3 young children. The owner is always very welcoming to my family. Children are welcome at Olde Salty!!!

WHY should the rest of the world have to put up with your spoiled brat? How would you like it if I screamed obnoxiously, jumped up and down & threw food while you were trying to eat? Bet I’d get booted from the restaurant! I’ll bet parents on here getting their feathers ruffled are the very ones who let their kids run wild with no respect for paying customers. I wish more restaurants would adopt this policy.

Wow! I can’t believe the tone of some of these comments. Have people lost their manners and minds all at once? I think the sign is lame, definitely rude, but incredibly vague. Where does the problem lie? Is that one small happy shriek from a two-year-old who just got peekaboo’d? Or lengthy crying? If my kid is saying something loudly and having fun and another patron can hear it, whether I it bothers them or not ? Or if they whine a little because the food is slow getting to the table? There aren’t and can’t be written rules on these things, and parents can’t anticipate (nor should they)or be responsible for every little irritation someone else experiences. The sign is just bad business and poor taste. An establishment that is rude to paying customers will have a problem on its hands. Even without my kiddo, I’d be unlikely to eat there if I’d experienced unreasonable expectations.

The boundaries of behaviour in public places do not consist of some finite code to be applied consistently to everyone. It varies by age, gender, social position, and culture, as well as the style of restaurant. There’s no particular environment or experience that you’re entitled to when you step into a restaurant, whether you’re childless or have 8 kids with you. Clearly, children undergoing total meltdowns are unacceptable, but there’s a pretty vast area in between. And the wait staff is expected to serve each client with courtesy and respect, but each client will have different needs and expectations that the waiters will try to intuit. All I can say to parents is be consistent in your expectations of your children’s behaviour, share the good experiences, warn about the bad ones, and tip good waiters well! And when fellow patrons are rude to you let them politely know it.

My first instinct, as the father of a 8 month old and a 6 year old, is to applaud the owner. We take our children out with us to nice places and the infant is taken outside or the child is disciplined if they interfere with other diner’s ability to enjoy the meal for which they paid. My policy is that you ignore the first 30 seconds to a minute of an interruption and either they calm the kid down or take them out.
Having said that, I do wonder if the owner might not have benefited from a Dale Carnegie class or two in learning how to convey a legitimate rule in a more professional fashion.
However and bottom line, she can do want she wants and I welcome the end of absentee parenting even if it results in somewhat hostile signs like this one.

Wow Donker, want a leash or a cigarrette?

Yep, what manjari said. I have many friends who have chosen not to have children. They don’t, however, call themselves “childfree,” and they don’t spend the time they’re not parenting going onto parenting blogs to whine about how hard life is because children aren’t confined to crates in basements. They live their lives. They pursue their interests (which don’t include labeling entire segments of the population with derrogatory names). Most of the “childfree” on the other hand, are obsessed with children, troll blogs and websites about children, spend all of their lives feeling persecuted by children. It must be exhausting. It’s incredibly tedious to me. As near as I can tell, the attitude of the typical childfree person is kind of like the KKK but with burning high chairs in family’s yards. Someone’s an entitled whiny brat here, but it’s not my child (who is removed from restaurants if he cannot behave in a “gentlemanly” way).

I am the mother of five and grandmother of four who have all been taught to behave in a restaurant. Since we spent most of our money raising kids, my husband and I favor establishments like Olde Salty’s when we manage to slip away for a few hours. It is quite depressing when, on one of our rare evenings out, we can’t have a pleasant conversation because of the screaming kid hanging over the back of the booth, smearing mac and cheese in our hair. Sorry, but I never felt that I was entitled to ruin someone else’s experience just because I exercised my right to have a large family. I don’t think you are either.

ChurchHillDrew@ I am a parent but did not “breed” so does that include me into overpopulating the burdened planet? Just wondering exactly how your logic worked. Magenta@ Although she is a private business owner she actually can not “do whatever she pleases”. It would actually be Illegal for her to ban children or even ask them them to leave.(Relevant statues include N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 131A-8 (2001); 143-422.2 (2001); 41A-4 (2001).) I love when people (like you) who clearly know nothing about the law or being a business owner make uninformed comments. Its very amusing to see how ignorant and uneducated so many people are and how they flaunt it proudly on blogs and forums.

Carolyn considers “The Olive Garden” fine-dining? She says “Sure, there are places you don’t want to bring your screaming kids: Nobu, Le Cirque, even The Olive Garden. But Olde Salty? Funny, I think a great way to do that would be to create a fine-dining atmosphere in your restaurant”
Carolyn, If you don’t have the common courtesy to remove your tantrum throwing children out of ANY restaurant then please STAY HOME!

Yeah Old Saltys! If you have a screaming brat, take them to McDonalds Playland where they belong. No one wants to hear them or see them!

Oh calm down mommies. How about just not going to that restaurant?? The world is not made for children only. Adults deserve their peace and quiet (especially while dining out) and rowdy children do not belong in a restaurant! And I don’t blame the children, the parents need to control their kids and wow, here’s an idea, teach them how to behave in public. Sure, all children even the best ones have their bad moments. But seriously, screaming kids shouldn’t be tolerated in ANY restaurant!! I applaud this restaurant for posting what every restaurant should. Kids don’t rule the world people. They may inherit it one day, all the more reason to teach them to behave appropriately. BE GOOD PARENTS!!

I am a mother and applaud this restaurant and its sign. It is my JOB as a parent to teach my child to behave in public and not disrupt others. If my child is disruptive we are immediately out of there. Sad so many parents think their child is entitled to be rude and rowdy rather than the parents take the effort to teach the kid proper behavior. The one who suffers the most in the end is the child who does not learn manners.

This is great. I will happily spend my money in stores, restaurants, theaters etc. that have a no-screaming kids policy. And not just screaming, how about running around, kicking people, and parents not doing anything about it.

The sign doesn’t bother me in itself. I have a 3 year old and I remove him from places if he acts out. But I’d be worried to even enter this restaurant – what do THEY consider bad behavior? Will I get evil looks for just bringing a child in? So I’d skip them …

Wow. What a bunch of dickheads. Where was this linked, the bitter older brother of 4chan? And to the indignant poster in re: namecalling- reacting in kind here. I’m not even going to bother addressing the actual post.

yes, could the child free people please provde the link back to your message board. I’d like to go back there and post about sore, leaking nipples and my child’s bowel movements. TIA!

This all started because the restaurant owner told a woman her autistic kid wouldn’t be welcome in the restaurant.

“My kids do not misbehave but I am still not annoyed by children crying because guess what? Children cry.”

Translation – my uncontrollable brats behave like howler monkeys on crack.

Get used to it, entitlement breeders – more and more places will be doing this.

Have you heard what the owner of Olde Salty’s really thinks?!? This is straight from Rachel Coleman (of Signing Time): “Talked to the manager who straight out said our children with disabilities are not welcome in her restaurant and she was surprised that even we take them out of the house… Really?” You can check out the whole conversation here firsthand from Rachel herself: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=4998082&id=121888342226&ref=fbx_album

First let me say that I have a child on the autism spectrum who has trouble controlling his behavior. But let me tell you how aware I am of how his misbehavior affects other people. I see no problem with them putting this sign up. I do have a problem with parents of exceptional children such as the one that I have who think that it should be all about their child and them. I am sorry but even if a child who doesn’t have any “issues” misbehaves, you would take them outside to calm them down so not to disturb the other patrens at the restaurant. I am tired of the “moinorty” groups pushing and pushing to make people bend or break rules for them. I would hope that another family with an exceptional child would have the same courtesy for me.

BRAVO Mom of Two. The point many are missing is that it’s not anti kid to not want to put up with screaming children. You dont have to be a parent to know that kids act up, its what YOU the PARENT does that is at issue. Stop making excuses on your kid’s behalf. It’s the parent who is being held responsible here. Raise your kids right and maybe you can enjoy dining out. If YOU were raised right then you would do the right thing when your kid acts out and LEAVE.

Oh and if you have kids you aren’t automatically a breeder (I have three). Definition of a breeder:
1: slang term used by some childfree people for one who has a child and/or has many after that, refuses to discipline the child/ren, thinks the sun rises and sets for their child/ren, look down upon people who do not have children, and are in general very selfish and greedy when it comes to their whims and those of their child/ren, especially if they can use their parenthood status or their children as an excuse to get their way.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=breeder :)

This is the best sign I have seen at a restaurant in years! The owners have the right to refuse service to anyone who does not dress correctly or act correctly!
The same is true in a LIBRARY, at a THEATER, in a COURT ROOM, and so on.

So, there is a mental problem! Deal with it, and have some respect and consideration for others! For those of you who think that the WHOLE world should be tolerant and accept continuous loud disruptive behavior, your WRONG.

THe parents are to blame because your child is autistic is not the complaint. It’s the parents who let kids run wild make messes the parents probably snuck beer in with them. I’ve seen beer cans under tables before. Nice restaurants with nice food. some people are made for Mc D’s the rest of society should be able to enjoy a good meal.

I admit, I have had a few meals ruined by unruly children in the past, but I have also had a few meals ruined by obnoxious annoying big mouth adults. I have two small toddlers and we only frequent loud family friendly restaurants because it takes the stress off the parents and you can avoid the glares if your two year old throws a meatball or your 4 year old spills her juice. Are we back in the 1960′s segregation era with that sign she posted? So I’m guessing that it’s ok for a drunken loud obnoxious adults to sit and chat on their cell phones while eating or for elderly people that haven’t bathed in a few days while wearing no deodorant to eat there-I personally find THAT to be annoying in a restaurant. How about old men that wear dress shoes with no socks in the summer time with their stinky feet sitting a table over or maybe we should ban people that wear cheap perfume-that’s a meal killer. The list is endless. This old Salty chic needs to look in the mirror. Her unsightly mug alone is enough to make anyone hurl. The restaurant looks like a dump. She wouldn’t stand a chance with that lame excuse for a restaurant in South Florida. Perhaps someone needs to open a Chuckee Cheese next door. The Hawaiian pizza is awesome.

oh please. Why should we suffer and have my meals ruined because some one else chose to have children? “Hostility toward families”. Really? The screaming, out of control kids are a hostility to my dining experience that I’m paying for! There are plenty of kid friendly restaurants – McDonalds, Red Robin, Applebees…GO THERE. If someone can afford a restaurant meal, they can afford a sitter. If they can’t find a sitter, STAY HOME. The next inconsiderate, selfish parent that brings a screaming child in where it doesn’t belong and disrupts people, I’m going to bill them for the meal or movie that they ruined.

If I’m ever in North Carolina I’m going to make it a point to eat at Olde Salty’s and thank them for their consideration.

I am all for free speech as long as it doesn’t promote hatred towards a group-in this case the group is children. As I said in my previous post, we choose to only go to family friendly restaurants. It’s presumptuous to assume that every parent has unruly kids. My kids never make a peep-they might accidentally spill something or drop food (which I clean up) but to lump all children into that category is rediculous. It’s her choice to put up a biased rude hostile sign in her window. I can’t speak for all parents, just like Salty shouldn’t be stereotyping ALL children as loud and obnoxious. But to assume that parents feel entitled to disrupt you is laughable. The vast majority of my friends with children cringe at the thought of a meltdown out in public-they certainly don’t brush it off and keep eating as if nothing is happening. I agree that it is every parents responsibility to teach manners and for young children to remove them from the situation if they are crying or not listening. I used to be on the other side of the fence prior to having kids so I understand it from both sides. It’s a matter of respect for everyone involved. I have several friends who’s children never made a peep in a restaurant but for some reason had an outburst or became tired and grumpy. They took the food to go and one parent took the child outside. That’s just what a responsible parent should do. If Salty doesn’t want the business that so be it. Personally if that is considered “fine dining” than NC needs to up their standards..lol. The Salty hag can keep her less than savory “restaurant” for the old fart low standards crowd.

With respect to the comment referencing the lady with the autistic child-no one should throw stones unless you ever walked in her shoes. Do you even have children of your own? I’m guessing no based on your negative and less than forgiving attitude. What kind of world are we living in? I keep noticing a trend of less and less tolerance for other’s misfortunes. Pretty sad.

I live in North CArolina, and I see nothing wrong with the sign, or the words on it. NOW HEAR THIS !! Notice to all parents who think your little darlings acting like brats are cute, well it isn’t. I raised 3 children, and I am a widow. If mine acted up, they got taken out of the restaurant , store , church , whatever. When my children were babies, I cooked and didn’t go to restaurants. Sorry folks, when you have kiddie poos, your life is put on hold for a while. Just because you want to go somewhere, that doesn’t mean you should take little Lu Lu. It wears kids out to be on the run all the time, therefore they are going to act up. When they get up older, take them out. They act like brats, you leave the establishment. Plain and simple. Just because you think little sissy is cute screaming at the top or her lungs, doesn’t mean the rest of us do. When I was a kid, you didn’t get to go out to eat. You went to family dinners after church and you had to behave then. YOu acted up, you got the look , then came the being jerked up by the arm enough to know what was coming next. Them came the belt. I was almost 13 years old before we got to go to restaurants. But when we did, we were quiet.
I am getting tired of trying to go to a restaurant and having to sit there while the Rodriguez family is eating and Juan, Carlos and Chaquita are running around screaming and mama and papa are just sitting there chowing down, not noticing. People make your kids behave! This article is a joke. There is nothing wrong with the restaurant putting up the sign. I don’t care what kind of sign it is, make sure you put it in Spanish also. Like I said, I live in North Carolina, and when I go to Carolina Beach I will definitely be visiting the restaurant. HURRAY for someone finally standing up to idiot parents. I wish the same thing would be done in libraries, and Wal-mart , and churches , etc. TAke the brat outside ! They should cut people’s welfare checks for not disciplining the monsters.

As a person who lives in CAROLINA BEACH a few blocks from the Old Salty, I can tell you that it is a BAR, not really a restaurant, and I would not bring my kids there to begin with because there are generally a bunch of 40 year old drunks at the bar. Great food, fantastic crablegs, but a dive. Take the kids to McDonalds to scream, not an odvious adult hangout.