To find Telegraph Poll: 'Should London Cafes Become Child Free Venues' offensive and discriminatory?

[greengoose]

AIBU to think that this poll, where currently 43% think children should be banned from cafes, is discriminatory and would never be allowed to be written about any other section of our society?
The article and poll can be found here: TELEGRAPH POLL
In the comments bellow there is an 'anti child' rant suggesting children should be unwelcome everywhere from small shops (which should have a no buggy policy) to cafes and galleries).
This has made me spitting bullets TBH, I cant believe the 'anti child' culture in this country sometimes (and especially in the capitol IME), I do understand people should keep their kids under control in cafes, but to turn that discussion into a 'ban kids' poll is downright awful....... the telegraph, which I dont support anyway, should be utterly ashamed.

[greengoose]

Sorry about typos, the spat bullets got in the way of typing obviously!

[wahwahwah]

What a pile of crap. I assume that this means some people with children actually voted for this? Are we supposed to tie them up outside with dogs?

[Emsmaman]

well the cafes must be doing brilliantly during the recession to be able to cut out such a huge section of their customer base! I understand when people take kids into inappropriate places and at inappropriate times of day but I spend a lot of my maternity allowance on coffees and lunches with friends!

[squeakyfreakytoy]

Surely the entire point of a poll is to gauge what the public really think. If 43% think it is a good idea, then it does say there are quite a lot of people who do not think it is discriminatory.

Some people do not want to spend every waking minute surrounded by children, even those who have them themselves.

If I am out with a friend, and we have no children, we would opt for the child free cafe rather than one that is full of them, and I suspect so would a lot of others.

[Onemorning]

It's a silly poll on a silly website. It's not going to put into law any time soon, so I really wouldn't worry about it.

[rabbitfeet]

Why is the poll discriminatory? It isn't saying children should be banned, just asking for people's opinions.

Not many people think children should be allowed to run around screaming - even the results of the poll say most people think children should be allowed but their parents should control their behaviour. What's wrong with that?

[Andrewofgg]

I agree with the original cafe owner who said that some parents treat cafes as creches with a cafe attached.

I also have no problem with a restaurateur or hotelier who wants to offer customers an adult ambience - provided the advertising makes it clear.

[SnapesMistress]

Yes Galaxy but that does not mean we should ban all children.

[toboldlygo]

I would make use of child-free cafes if they were available. My favourite pub bans children after 6pm but allows dogs at all times; bliss!

[worraliberty]

I think some child free cafes would be a brilliant idea.

[slavetofilofax]

Yabu.

Young children and buggies in cafes are a pain in the arse.

Actually, young children aren't too bad, it's the Mums that are the problem. Especially the Mums that decide they don't want to have their ante natal class reunions at their own homes, so they take over an entire Costa, and stay there all morning. They hog the sofas and every spare bit of floor space for their buggies. And they make too much noise. Then you can't even use the tables for half an hour after they have left because they have made so much mess.

It spoils the coffee in an over sized cup experience for those of us that just want to catch up with a friend, or sit at a table and work.

There should be child friendly cafes, and children not welcome cafes. Then everyone's happy.

Cafe's are businesses that operate for profit, they do not exist soley for Mothers to have somewhere other than home to make messy.

How can a poll like that be offensive anyway? It's just asking people what they would prefer when it comes to cafes.

[EdithWeston]

I agree with GalaxyWeaver.

And it's a reminder that there are many people who do not want to be around small children (which may well include any of us, either now for a child free treat, or when the DCs are bigger and other peoples' toddlers hold no appeal).

A tolerant society would manage to accommodate both.

[greengoose]

The point is the discussion in the newspaper went from one about behaviour to one about children in general being banned...... Clearly their should be an expectation on children to behave in a way suited to their environment, as their should for adults, or dogs, or staff..... it is not the idea that children should behave that I am complaining about. It is the discrimination that has allowed that to translate to a poll suggesting 'the banning of children' as a social group. This kind of generalization of attitudes to stereotype a whole section of society was really popular in nazi germany too.......

[rycooler]

Brilliant idea. I can't stand other people's kids.

[worraliberty]

I've just voted Yes.

It's quite easy by the way and you don't need to give any details...just click your answer.

[slavetofilofax]

Hahaha!

You are comapring private businesses on private property giving their customers what they want to Nazi Germany!



You need to get a grip.

[startail]

The pub that tried to go all child free bistro in my local town went broke

[squeakyfreakytoy]

This kind of generalization of attitudes to stereotype a whole section of society was really popular in nazi germany too.......

Slight bit of an exaggeration there, wouldnt you say. People would just like a cup of coffee in an adult environment, they are not asking if children should be gassed.

[Onemorning]

Oh YABU goose, you've Godwinned your own thread. Congratulations.

Have a and a sense of perspective.

[Ephiny]

The cafe owner actually said this:

"children must be supervised and not be allowed to run around the café, jump on furniture, lay on or crawl around the table? We would also ask that the expectations of other customers who wish to enjoy their food and drink and read in peace are respected."

which sounds reasonable to me. Nothing about banning children. Isn't it just common sense that children shouldn't run around or crawl on the flooor in a small space where people are carrying hot drinks, and just basic manners that you don't let them climb on the furniture etc?

I don't think children should be banned, and I do think people have to accept that little ones will not always sit quietly and behave perfectly (neither do some adults for that matter!). But clearly there has been some unreasonable behaviour on the part of parents, which has led to this reaction.