Is a harmonica 'restaurant-friendly'?

It's interesting that some think that you are at fault for not confronting the situation. That attitude seems to be gaining more and more ground. "If you don't say something, it's your fault because how was I to know that I was annoying?" People walk around assuming that they have the right to do anything they want unless someone else reprimands them for it. It is not my responsibility to help them "correct their faux pas". Taking that way of thinking to the next step means that if you run a red light and run into me, it's my fault because you were in a hurry and I should have looked before proceeding. (Someone actually did this to me.)

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Egads, a harmonica! I have to say I see so many full-grown people playing the roles of adults and sometimes parents. I wouldn't have addressed them either; I would have kept looking over there in hopes that someone would get the hint. But frankly any nimrod who'd bring a harmonica and let their child play it in a eating est. and I don't care if it's McDonalds, is clearly clueless!

I can take a modicum of whines and cries from children, but I too have my limits. I wouldn't have minded the noise of children talking but playing musical instruments is just kooky.

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I just. can't. believe. anyone. ANYONE! is the defending the concept of a child playing a harmonica in a restaurant.

Clearly, we have lost out collective mind.

The day that that type of "parenting" becomes acceptable and commonplace is the day I stop leaving my house forever.

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I for one applaud Zach's zeal for what may possibly be an unknown musical prodigy. I myself have applauded loudly at a screaming demon running joyously throughout the eatery and through waiters because I was sure I was witnessing the birth of the next Carrot Top. My only hope is that there were Music Company CEO's at a nearby table to witness the creativity of a child "gettin it on" with his musical mojo. Yee Haw.

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Sorry to be totally off topic, but...

Jill, are you saying that you'd actually cheer for the birth of another Carrot Top? Isn't the first, and thankfully only, Carrot Top already more than what the world needs?

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I completely agree with FlippyO. Here in good old Kidderminster, politely asking anybody ANYTHING is an invitation to get your face smashed in, let alone insinuating that their 'darling' child (who could be punching someone repeatedly or vandalizing property in front of their very eyes) could be in any way doing anything to wrong or annoying anyone. Hell, make EYE contact as you walk down the street and you're asking for a fight.

So, yes, 'Zach': if a child was playing a harmonica in a restaurant I was eating at and it was annoying the hell out of me, I would be "cowardly" and say nothing. Why should I get someone's fist, or worse, in my face because of their misbehaving child?

But, hey, if you want, Zach, you could come to Kidderminster and show me how it's done?
Really!
By all means, come on down, go to a restaurant and try asking parents of the child doing something irritating or inappropriate 'nicely' if they can make him/her stop it. See how far you get.

Oh, and by the way, Liz; I think Jill was joking.

...Or at least I hope to God she was.

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Noise pollution is just as offensive as other types of pollution IMO. I agree a harmonica is probably too loud for most public venues. Like others have mentioned before, I too find myself a bit overcritical and err on the side of caution. General guideline I try to follow is thinking about normal conversational tone as white noise...If you can hear the harmonica above that - it's too loud. If my daughter banged her utensils on the table and you could hear it across the room, you can bet I'd take them away from her.

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Confrontation would not necessarily be welcome as many have noted.

What you might consider next time is asking the wait staff (or manager) to intervene and ask the family to tone it down. That's part of their job.

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It's obviously the parents' fault, isn't it?
Or is it?
I think the Catholic Church has some blame to share on this. The parents must have been put through those ennui-inducing folk masses when they were kids. Somehow, in a convoluted logic only explainable by the Cardinal of Boston, they've decided to inflict that aural pain back.
So, it's harmonicas they are brandishing as weapons. You should be happy. What if they had chosen tubas? Then, you truly would not have been able to eat.
Let their kids blow to their lungs' content. Not that I'll be there to critique the harp-playing.

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Without our red headed friend, how would we know how to dial collect?

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What about talking with the manager of the restaurant? It's his/her job to be sure the establisment is acceptable.

I did this once -- because a a 6-7 y.o. kid came to my table, leaned over my plate, cupped his hand around his mouth, blew into my salad, and took off running. No joke. I got the manager over, described the kid, and next thing I know, he and his mother were being escorted out of the restaurant. Of course, this constitutes more of a health violation, but still.... the person with the responsibility of being sure the restaurant is an enjoyable place to be is the manager. Ask him/her to help!

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Yup. Never confront some stranger. Murphy's law says they will stand up and plug you. C'mon, I agree with Rachel. That's what management is there for. And to be perfectly honest, no one has the right to dictate to anyone else in a private restaurant. Perhaps the harmonica blower is the restaurant owner's kid...who knows. Either way, its the manager's job to stop the insanity.

And Zach? Dude....get some aggression therapy. I have a son named Zach - but even that little bit of "familiarity" didn't help me like your post any better. You sound like you tear the wings off flies...

*raised eyebrow*

--- Mom of two "over 21" year old sons.

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Where did Zach go?? Quiet all of a sudden...

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A harmonica in a restaurant is hardly tolerable. But maybe it is the only thing that keeps their child from screaming at the top of thier lungs. On the other hand, a screaming child and an ill-played harmonica are just as grating a noise. I would have been a bit put off that they didn't have the common courtesy to give thier child a QUIET toy to play with as to not disturb the other guests...child friendly restuarant or not.

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I guess the harmonica bothering me would depend on if I were at a diner or Chuckie Cheese...lol And it probably wouldn't bother me either way because there is noise all the time at home cause of the kids, and noise while we're out with the kids. If I were expecting a quiet night, I'd have left the kids with a sitter and went to a nicer, quieter place with the hubby. Kids are noisy.

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