I think this incident is really just symptomatic of a much larger issue which is parents failing to actually be the advisors, mentors and disciplinarians of their kids. So many parents I see will stand idly by as their kids do all sorts of shit that is either disrespectful of others around them and THEIR rights, allow them to talk back to them as well as others, throw public temper tantrums and all sorts of other behavior that's unacceptable.

Far too many parents look to the schools, their churches, social organizations, etc. to teach their kids what's appropriate and what's expected of them instead of understanding it's THEIR FUCKING JOB as the parents to do so! These same parents are also the same ones who typically will wonder in disbelief what happened to their little darlings when they turn out as sociopathic monsters when they reach adulthood (if not before then!).

I personally don't and can't condone a stranger physically disciplining someone elses kids without consent of the parents as this is stepping waaaay over the rights one has in such things. But, how many times have one of us been in a restaurant or a store and had to deal with little heathens runnin up and down the aisles, talking loudly if not screaming at other kids, their parents or other customers? I can truly only comment on my own experiences but there have been far too many instances of this I have personally observed and it really pisses me off!

I go out to dinner once or twice a week to enjoy someone else doin the cookin and cleanin, NOT to be verbally and visually assaulted by little Johnnie and Janies antics that would be fine on a playground, but NEVER in a restaurant where others are PAYING for their right to be there. I feel I should have some expectation that parents whould mind their kids behavior instead of just allowing this kinda crap. The underlying message such behavior by parents sends to the kids by not correcting such aberrant behavior is that by allowing this behavior in public it sanctions/justifies them acting this way and teaches them disregard for others rights is A-Ok in Mommy and Daddys eyes!

I raised 2 kids myself and can relate unequivocally that I never allowed my kids to disregard others rights while in public. I also hafta say I agree that the parent of this kid would have been the proper one to have approached about the kids behavior as they are the one responsible for their actions. The kid was just bein a kid and behaving as the parent was allowing them to