Men who do not understand shopping etiquette

soshesaid · Dec 14th, 2007, 07:12 PM

I was grocery shopping last night, and the store was somewhat busy since it was about 6 pm. I normally try to avoid going to the store at this time of night. So I got to the line to purchase my items, and I was behind a dad who was shopping with his 2 children, a boy and a girl. The girl was very well behaved and quiet, but the boy was hanging off the back of the conveyor belt, kicking behind him and screaming. Maybe it's my community, but I don't frequently see children behave this way if they are with their mom. A mom will say, "honey, please get down from there so the woman behind us can put her groceries there". There were about 5 people behind me, so I stepped in and said to this man: "In respect of those in the store with you, please ask your son to get down from the conveyor belt, so we can purchase our items as well". He looked like I had just slapped him in the face. The people behind me seemed relieved. I am a quiet looking blonde girl and I am sure this man didn't expect me to say something, but I am so sick of people without manners.

Charles · Dec 14th, 2007, 07:24 PM

Don't worry, I've seen plenty of moms let their kids run wild.

soshesaid · Dec 14th, 2007, 07:29 PM

I wrote in my post that this is about my community. You could read it as a generalization of gender, but I recognized that men are socialized differently depending on their community.

Liberté · Dec 14th, 2007, 07:46 PM

THere are always parents who cannot look after their kids properly/haven't got social sensibility/lack lack manners. I've not observed such a difference in genders here at all, actually I've seen more "less than careful" moms. This is probably because I usually see moms with their kids and not fathers or both though. I even once had a mom trying to bribe me to get in front of the line in front of her kids. Classy.

Zophie · Dec 14th, 2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles

Don't worry, I've seen plenty of moms let their kids run wild.

Me too, and much worse than that, unfortunately.

devoted · Dec 14th, 2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soshesaid

I was grocery shopping last night, and the store was somewhat busy since it was about 6 pm. I normally try to avoid going to the store at this time of night. So I got to the line to purchase my items, and I was behind a dad who was shopping with his 2 children, a boy and a girl. The girl was very well behaved and quiet, but the boy was hanging off the back of the conveyor belt, kicking behind him and screaming. Maybe it's my community, but I don't frequently see children behave this way if they are with their mom. A mom will say, "honey, please get down from there so the woman behind us can put her groceries there". There were about 5 people behind me, so I stepped in and said to this man: "In respect of those in the store with you, please ask your son to get down from the conveyor belt, so we can purchase our items as well". He looked like I had just slapped him in the face. The people behind me seemed relieved. I am a quiet looking blonde girl and I am sure this man didn't expect me to say something, but I am so sick of people without manners.

Awful!
Something similiar happened to me, I just started placing the groceries on the belt even though the kid was jumping around and blocking the aisle path. Eventually the mom called him over because I was bumping into her little brat.

candace117 · Dec 14th, 2007, 08:20 PM

Yuck!

I didn't read it as a generalization of gender at all (and I've been welllllll-trained to find things like that), I know what you were getting at...

One time I was really little and screaming about stupid crap in the store, whining about what I wanted, and my mom took me home without buying anything! Then I realized that I had to be a good kid at the store if I wanted to stay and maybe even end up with the cereal I wanted (example, not like I actually remember what I was looking at).
Thing is she taught me an important lesson and I'm always embarrassed when kids act out really bad in public...like I've seen kids run up to a stranger and stomp on their feet, and their parents just kind of laughed it off like 'aw look at junior isn't he cute'. Hmm...not cute if the person's toe got broken!!!!!

Having manners doesn't mean giving up a piece of your unique personality, it means you have self-control...which is something rare in this society!!

Glad you spoke up for yourself and the people around you!

QueenOfDa702 · Dec 14th, 2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles

Don't worry, I've seen plenty of moms let their kids run wild.

I actually see Mom's letting their kids run amok more often than Dads.
The Dads are usually the sturdy ones.

caxe · Dec 14th, 2007, 09:51 PM

I can't stand when kids act up in public! I'm from the old school. LOL. My parents--mom and/OR dad--would not have let me get away with acting the fool like that. Sometimes when I see kids act like that I want to take off my OWN belt and swat them! I was out shopping last week, and this little boy was running around the store (his mother was present) and taking stuff off the shelves and just putting it in random people's baskets. His mom thought he was cute. I took the grits he tossed in my cart and put them in his mom's cart. She looked at me like "WTF?" LOL. But it felt good to do that at the time.

But a lot of parents these days just have no sense of control with their kids. It's just so impolite, they way they allow them to act!

Speedy · Dec 14th, 2007, 11:37 PM

I agree many parents are just totally clueless to how their children look to others in public. I do disagree that men are worse than women when it comes to controlling their children, although I've seen men who are like "He's MY kid, don't tell me how to raise him!" type of thing.

There was an incident here at the complex I live in about 15 years ago. Our manager had a son who obviously had rage issues. He was also built like a miniature linebacker, and he terrorized the kids on the playgorund. His mother would sit with the rest of the moms and just watch Junior hit/kick/spit on/push the other kids. She didn't do anything. Then he hit my son. I went to him, picked him up bodily, deposited him next to his mother and told her to keep him under control or I'd call the owner of the building. She told me she'd get me evicted. I said go ahead. Needless to say, I am still here.

I was always on my kids about misbehaving in public. Problem is, kids nowadays KNOW Daddy and Mommy can't disapline them harshly in public, someone will always mis-interprete a spanking as child abuse and call the cops. We've become a nation of parents afraid of their children, because the law can and WILL step in.

Pursegrrl · Dec 15th, 2007, 12:08 AM

Honestly, I've witnessed unruly child behavior in grocery stores whether it's the Mom or the Dad (or both), letting them get away with bullsh*t.

soshesaid · Dec 15th, 2007, 01:23 AM

My BF used to be a volleyball coach, and he is absolutely great with kids. He was raised well and expected his kids to behave. So I just wanted to reiterate that I don't think this is only men. But I have noticed this trend where I live, thanks for letting me vent.

QueenOfDa702 · Dec 15th, 2007, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caxe

I can't stand when kids act up in public! I'm from the old school. LOL. My parents--mom and/OR dad--would not have let me get away with acting the fool like that. Sometimes when I see kids act like that I want to take off my OWN belt and swat them! I was out shopping last week, and this little boy was running around the store (his mother was present) and taking stuff off the shelves and just putting it in random people's baskets. His mom thought he was cute. I took the grits he tossed in my cart and put them in his mom's cart. She looked at me like "WTF?" LOL. But it felt good to do that at the time.

But a lot of parents these days just have no sense of control with their kids. It's just so impolite, they way they allow them to act!

LMFAO @ the Grits, thats totally something I would have done. But yea, my Mom was the Queen of "Do I have to take you into the bathroom?" lol! I knew I better act right or I was gonna get my ass whooped in the bathroom lmao!

SPOILEDkiwi · Dec 15th, 2007, 02:17 AM

Oh man I remember when I was little if I got out of line in a public place, my mom would say "don't make me take off my belt!". It always scared me into walking quietly next to her. I hate when kids are badly behaved, but I do think that it's usually the parent's fault.

Zophie · Dec 15th, 2007, 03:00 AM

I just remembered one time my dad took me and my brother to the mall. I don't remember what I did exactly, but I know I was acting up. What I DO remember is being on the escalator and my dad setting me straight. I don't even remember exactly what he did, but I just remember thinking, "oh, sh*! I better be good now!"

My parents never let us get out of line. If we couldn't behave we didn't go out.

Dec 14th, 2007, 07:12 PM	#1
soshesaid Member Location: Los Angeles, CA	Men who do not understand shopping etiquette I was grocery shopping last night, and the store was somewhat busy since it was about 6 pm. I normally try to avoid going to the store at this time of night. So I got to the line to purchase my items, and I was behind a dad who was shopping with his 2 children, a boy and a girl. The girl was very well behaved and quiet, but the boy was hanging off the back of the conveyor belt, kicking behind him and screaming. Maybe it's my community, but I don't frequently see children behave this way if they are with their mom. A mom will say, "honey, please get down from there so the woman behind us can put her groceries there". There were about 5 people behind me, so I stepped in and said to this man: "In respect of those in the store with you, please ask your son to get down from the conveyor belt, so we can purchase our items as well". He looked like I had just slapped him in the face. The people behind me seemed relieved. I am a quiet looking blonde girl and I am sure this man didn't expect me to say something, but I am so sick of people without manners. __________________ As long as you know men are like children, you know everything. - Coco Chanel

Dec 14th, 2007, 07:24 PM	#2
Charles Sucks at budgeting Location: Jacksonville, Fl	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette Don't worry, I've seen plenty of moms let their kids run wild.

Dec 14th, 2007, 07:29 PM	#3
soshesaid Member Location: Los Angeles, CA	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette I wrote in my post that this is about my community. You could read it as a generalization of gender, but I recognized that men are socialized differently depending on their community. __________________ As long as you know men are like children, you know everything. - Coco Chanel Last edited by soshesaid; Dec 14th, 2007 at 07:36 PM.

Dec 14th, 2007, 07:46 PM	#4
Liberté hAppy JUMPER Location: everywhere nowhere	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette THere are always parents who cannot look after their kids properly/haven't got social sensibility/lack lack manners. I've not observed such a difference in genders here at all, actually I've seen more "less than careful" moms. This is probably because I usually see moms with their kids and not fathers or both though. I even once had a mom trying to bribe me to get in front of the line in front of her kids. Classy. __________________ disco BUMPER

Dec 14th, 2007, 08:20 PM	#7
candace117 Pirate Trash Location: Hardcorvallis	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette Yuck! I didn't read it as a generalization of gender at all (and I've been welllllll-trained to find things like that), I know what you were getting at... One time I was really little and screaming about stupid crap in the store, whining about what I wanted, and my mom took me home without buying anything! Then I realized that I had to be a good kid at the store if I wanted to stay and maybe even end up with the cereal I wanted (example, not like I actually remember what I was looking at). Thing is she taught me an important lesson and I'm always embarrassed when kids act out really bad in public...like I've seen kids run up to a stranger and stomp on their feet, and their parents just kind of laughed it off like 'aw look at junior isn't he cute'. Hmm...not cute if the person's toe got broken!!!!! Having manners doesn't mean giving up a piece of your unique personality, it means you have self-control...which is something rare in this society!! Glad you spoke up for yourself and the people around you! __________________ "With so much drama in the L-B-C, it's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O-double G."

Dec 14th, 2007, 09:51 PM	#9
caxe I has ur gif. Location: The Southeast, US	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette I can't stand when kids act up in public! I'm from the old school. LOL. My parents--mom and/OR dad--would not have let me get away with acting the fool like that. Sometimes when I see kids act like that I want to take off my OWN belt and swat them! I was out shopping last week, and this little boy was running around the store (his mother was present) and taking stuff off the shelves and just putting it in random people's baskets. His mom thought he was cute. I took the grits he tossed in my cart and put them in his mom's cart. She looked at me like "WTF?" LOL. But it felt good to do that at the time. But a lot of parents these days just have no sense of control with their kids. It's just so impolite, they way they allow them to act! __________________ Christmas without fruitcake is like St. Sigmund's Day without the headless boy.

Dec 14th, 2007, 11:37 PM	#10
Speedy Sofa King Banned Location: N. California	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette I agree many parents are just totally clueless to how their children look to others in public. I do disagree that men are worse than women when it comes to controlling their children, although I've seen men who are like "He's MY kid, don't tell me how to raise him!" type of thing. There was an incident here at the complex I live in about 15 years ago. Our manager had a son who obviously had rage issues. He was also built like a miniature linebacker, and he terrorized the kids on the playgorund. His mother would sit with the rest of the moms and just watch Junior hit/kick/spit on/push the other kids. She didn't do anything. Then he hit my son. I went to him, picked him up bodily, deposited him next to his mother and told her to keep him under control or I'd call the owner of the building. She told me she'd get me evicted. I said go ahead. Needless to say, I am still here. I was always on my kids about misbehaving in public. Problem is, kids nowadays KNOW Daddy and Mommy can't disapline them harshly in public, someone will always mis-interprete a spanking as child abuse and call the cops. We've become a nation of parents afraid of their children, because the law can and WILL step in.

Dec 15th, 2007, 12:08 AM	#11
Pursegrrl Oh! That Joe! Location: Seattle	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette Honestly, I've witnessed unruly child behavior in grocery stores whether it's the Mom or the Dad (or both), letting them get away with bullsh*t. __________________

Dec 15th, 2007, 01:23 AM	#12
soshesaid Member Location: Los Angeles, CA	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette My BF used to be a volleyball coach, and he is absolutely great with kids. He was raised well and expected his kids to behave. So I just wanted to reiterate that I don't think this is only men. But I have noticed this trend where I live, thanks for letting me vent. __________________ As long as you know men are like children, you know everything. - Coco Chanel

Dec 15th, 2007, 02:17 AM	#14
SPOILEDkiwi not a kiwi! Location: NYC/Long Island	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette Oh man I remember when I was little if I got out of line in a public place, my mom would say "don't make me take off my belt!". It always scared me into walking quietly next to her. I hate when kids are badly behaved, but I do think that it's usually the parent's fault. __________________ “It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure.” --Coco Chanel

Dec 15th, 2007, 03:00 AM	#15
Zophie I <3 my Maltese! Location: New Orleans, LA	Re: Men who do not understand shopping etiquette I just remembered one time my dad took me and my brother to the mall. I don't remember what I did exactly, but I know I was acting up. What I DO remember is being on the escalator and my dad setting me straight. I don't even remember exactly what he did, but I just remember thinking, "oh, sh*! I better be good now!" My parents never let us get out of line. If we couldn't behave we didn't go out. __________________