Boisterous Diners Broadcast Personal Business

November 30, 2014

in Diner Stories

My family had an experience at an Atlanta pizzeria the other night that you’re going to find unbelievable. The food was good, and the service was great, but the four people sitting in the booth across from us were another story! This happened on 11/23/14 from approximately 6:25-7:30. Their server was a blond woman and ours was an older man. Not ONE employee did anything about their obnoxious behavior!

All four people – older man, older woman, their son and daughter-in-law – talked LOUDLY the entire time. We could hear every word they said, so I’m outing the fact that they are expecting a BABY in July but do not want it known until January. DIL is 22 DAYS! They took three pregnancy tests! Twins run in the family, and they’re finding out the gender. The young couple are newlyweds as evidenced by the fact they gave his parents a CD with wedding pics as well a card to tell them they were pregnant.

DIL was 32, blond, wore a skirt, brown knee-high boots and black tights, and wore her hair up. Young man had brown hair. Older man wore khakis and a red plaid shirt and was part bald. Older woman was bleach blond with bags under her eyes.

More details – young couple have a dog, there is already one grandchild, young woman got mom a necklace as a gift, talked about her wedding ring, couple went to Funky Monkey place. Also, older man ordered pizza, older woman didn’t like tons of garlic, young woman got a salad, other three got pasta, and they got a lemon cake to go.

The young couple had been here before. They got up first, but they were standing around at the front talking, so they left at the same time we did and continued acting rowdy in the parking lot. Also, they saw me glance over at them fairly early, but they still continued to act obnoxious, totally oblivious to the fact that we could hear them!

– Kat

{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }

Belle December 2, 2014 at 3:16 pm

Have you ever worked as a server, OP? Serious question. Most servers get minimum wage at most, many get less than that & have to make up the balance in tips. They have little to no authority over misbehaving guests, so what did you expect them to do?

More importantly, did you tell your server that you'd like to speak with the manager & then complain to said manager about these guests, or did you not say anything at all & instead post about it here?

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Serenity December 3, 2014 at 12:19 pm

Some people are loud. I've always been of the opinion that if you want to control how loud/what others are talking about,etc., and want to have a "nice, quiet dinner", then you should stay the hell home. . If you're going out in public, there's going to be people. Deal with it, and be glad they were talking about nice, normal things….I've heard much worse public convos in my life!

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Serenity December 3, 2014 at 12:21 pm

Also, the way you labeled this place as a pizzeria, does not lead me to believe that this was normally a nice, quiet place to begin with.

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Kat December 4, 2014 at 2:50 am

I'm the OP. I should have been more specific: this was a more upscale pizzeria that also had salads and pasta dishes and a bar. It is not appropriate to talk so loud that I am able to hear EVERY word being spoken. They are very lucky they weren't in another country where their antics would not be tolerated. Also, they and everyone else should keep in mind that I could have easily whipped out the phone and taken pictures or recorded them and uploaded it to YouTube. (FYI: this happened on a flight where the 2nd place guy on the Bachelor last season was talking loudly on his phone and the woman behind him happened to be a fan of the show, realized what he was talking about, and kept on filming. She had just wanted to film to show friends how loud he was.)

We should have just spoken with the manager, but I thought looking over at them would do the trick. There are just some personal things that you shouldn't discuss in public because you never know who could be listening!

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anonmousebites December 11, 2014 at 11:53 am

Yes loud talkers are annoying, but you are in a public place so suck it up buttercup. Do you think maybe they were excited about their baby news? I worked as a server and I wouldn't think of telling someone to keep their voice down – different matter if they were loudly arguing or swearing.

They weren't acting rowdy. And they weren't in a library

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dreadz686 January 1, 2015 at 5:25 pm

This is actually quite hilarious!!! What countries in particular wouldn't tolerate their "normal family antics"?? Also 'you could have taken a video and uploaded onto youtube'! hahaha who would actually care?? what do you do with your life? Thanks for the laugh!

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Amber May 9, 2016 at 1:59 pm

So pregnancy and weddings are taboo topics now. When did that happen. They were not going into detail about the birthing process, they simply informed the grandparents of the impending grandchild. Nothing in the conversation was inappropriate for a public place, you do not want to hear about their lives then don not listen so intently. You obviously disliked something else about them, perhaps how they were dressed, otherwise I do not understand why their attire was at all important information to your non-story.

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Serenity December 5, 2014 at 2:26 pm

You sound like a serious drama queen. Being excited about a pregnancy is not an inappropriate public discussion, neither is talking about food likes and dislikes, presents, etc. It also does not fall into the category of "antics". The only thing "whipping out your phone and recording them" would have accomplished is making you look like an idiot. There are people out there that have never mastered "indoor voice", and you will run into them when you go out. I get that it can be annoying, but unless you're in a movie theater, etc., where there is an expectation of quiet, it's on you to either move, or tune it out. In life we have the choice to let every little thing bother us, and make us unhappy, or control what we can, let the rest go, and live a happier, less stressful life. I guarantee the only thing they thought when you "looked" at them, was " why does that person look so miserable? too bad they don't have happiness in their life like we do right now!"

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Kat December 5, 2014 at 3:26 pm

First of all, this is a sit-down restaurant where you don't have the option to just move like you do at McDs. Also, not mastering the indoor voice by the time you're an adult and other antics are the reason other countries do not like us. There is a time and a place for being loud, i.e., sporting events. I have to wonder what else people appropriate behavior in public. We don't need anymore Honey Boo Boo antics!

Also, take note that truly successful, smart, and educated people do not act like this. Can you imagine the Kennedys, the Obamas, etc., acting rowdy? I certainly cannot.

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Belle December 6, 2014 at 1:20 am

If you cannot imagine some of the Kennedy family (and that family has many branches) acting inappropriately in public then you must have spent most of your life as a hermit living in a cave

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Serenity December 6, 2014 at 1:32 pm

lol. you're ridiculous. First of all, some of the loudest people I have ever encountered in public are from other countries, it is not an "American thing". Second of all, it is possible to ASK to be moved in a sit down restaurant if you are uncomfortable for any reason. Thirdly, you keep saying "antics", as though they were jumping on the table , throwing things, etc. etc. They were not. They weren't even discussing inappropriate or controversial things. They were being excited over not seeing each other for a while, and celebrating good news. And yes, I can picture the above people acting rowdy, and actually being quite a bit of fun to hang out with. I Imagine JFK and Marilyn got pretty rowdy a few times, lol. I repeat…stay home, drama queen.

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Michelle December 9, 2014 at 10:53 am

I get where you are coming from, Kat. Being excited, sharing news and having fun do not always have to equal loud and obnoxious. Personally, after about 20 minutes of this, I would have gone over and congratulated her on her pregnancy. If they had gotten rude or made a snarky comment about eavesdropping, I would that as loud as they are being, there is no need to eavesdrop as the people across the street could hear them and good luck on keeping the pregnancy a secret since apparently they had to shriek all during dinner.

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Kat December 12, 2014 at 5:13 am

I agree. If they had wrapped it up after five minutes, it wouldn't have been an issue. Also, if you ask anyone alive 30-40 years ago whether they ever encountered obnoxious adults or kids in restaurants, I'm betting the answer is no. I first started noticing rowdy kids around the late-1990s.

For what it's worth, I heard a woman on a radio show sharing her and a friend's experience of being treated badly by a bartender at a popular bar. Well, the bartender in question heard about it through a coworker, called the station, and they did a follow-up show. He apologized, but said if they had an issue, then they definitely should have spoken with the manager. So, that seems to be the agreement.

No, I can't imagine that Jackie or JFK Jr. acted rowdy while dining out. I'm sure they were wild behind closed doors. There is no way to really know about the older members because those things were not discussed back in the day.

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Sawtooth March 10, 2015 at 12:06 am

Reading down this far, I have to say, "Kat, you are an entitled asshole." These people sound like any fun, loving family. The fact that you fixated on their conversation and let it ruin your experience is laughable and disgusting at the same time. Talk about "antics". You are an idiot.

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Kat March 20, 2015 at 3:17 pm

Sawtooth, I had no choice but to hear their conversation! As I said, we could hear EVERY WORD they said! If these people were family, I would be very concerned about them acting this way at other inappropriate times such as a wake or wedding! These people do not understand that there is a time and place for acting loud and they don't understand appropriate behavior for different social situations. I'm all about having fun, but it has to be appropriate for the environment. Could you have a conversation with family if FOUR people were talking LOUDLY in the booth right across from you? How could you not be distracted by that? We have become way too tolerant of people who act inappropriately, have no boundaries, and don't understand different social situations! This is why some people shouldn't breed.Robert Graham had a point!
Something else to point out: if someone does take video of rowdy diners with their phone and uploads it to fb and ytube, it's there forever. The damage has been done. Teachers and similar professions have lost jobs over things like this. So, that's something to think about before you act that way or let your kids act up. I'm very surprised more people aren't motivated to control their behavior or their kids knowing another customer could whip out their phone and make an example of them! By the way, the user who uploads it didn't necessarily take their video–they can always ask friends to post so they can be anonymous. Also, it is a nightmare dealing with Silicon Valley, so don't think you'll be able to sue or get any sympathy. (I know someone who lost a teen to suicide and couldn't get her fb password and had difficulty with Yahoo, so don't think they will be nice about anyone acting rowdy if they can't be nice to people who lost loved ones.) It sounds harsh, but most people are very naïve and need to hear it.

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Serenity March 29, 2015 at 8:13 pm

You. Are. Crazy. Trying to compare wakes and weddings to a night at a family restaurant?? Losing your job over loud talking? get a grip. You're wrong, no one agrees with you. Move along now.

Eileen May 20, 2015 at 11:36 am

Woman. Take some responsibility for something here, you act like you were Helen Keller in a straight-jacket.

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lnelson1218 December 11, 2014 at 11:12 am

I probably would have, especially after a glass of wine or two, went over to the table and added my 2 cents on whatever topic they were screaming about, as clearly the rest of the pizzeria was already part of the conversatoin.

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mbster December 23, 2014 at 7:21 pm

how would you feel if you found out one of the people in the group was hearing impaired?
like a jackass,,,,right? stay home insufferable drama queen

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James December 26, 2014 at 11:44 pm

If one of them was hearing impaired, that person should have a hearing aide. If they have a hearing aide, then the others do not need to yell. If the person does not have a hearing aide, and is hard of hearing, then that person is the cause of the problem — and to use yoru terminology — the jackass.

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Kat January 1, 2015 at 4:26 am

One of my parents' friends has hearing loss. He has never had to yell while dining out, but I'll tell what he did have an issue with once: being seated close to a table with someone who was being loud, which made it a challenge to hear my parents across the table. It's one thing if you want to take out your hearing aides at home and blast the tv volume, but they should be kept in out in public.

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mary December 26, 2014 at 2:05 am

if it really bothered you, put a wet tissue in each ear, push firmly and eat your meal,

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James December 26, 2014 at 11:45 pm

Yes — because the original poster should not enjoy a quiet conversation with hos or her family — the other family across the way yelling takes precedence.

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Karen January 19, 2015 at 11:17 am

Kat really needs to my her own business, get the stick out of your butt and get a life. I hate people like this who want everyone around them to be as miserable as they are. She is probably one of those people always putting her nose in her neighbors business trying to start trouble.

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Kat March 20, 2015 at 3:26 pm

No, actually, I haven't spoken a word to my neighbors in a long time! I don't get involved unless it's affecting my ability to function and have a conversation without hearing EVERY WORD people across from me are saying! I live my life the way I want to and do not care what the rest of America thinks! I don't start trouble, but we are going to encounter conflict out in public sometimes and being nice isn't always the priority! Sometimes you have to be mean and aggressive to make things happen! I'm not a doormat! I'm going to say what I think and stick up for myself! By the way, most smart and successful aren't people not the nicest people and they're not doormats!

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steph November 2, 2015 at 1:13 pm

hahahaha I love how "unbelievable" this story was!!! tell me this was a joke!!! that's the whole story?? you could hear them talking? wow

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Iloveflying February 14, 2016 at 7:51 am

It was yelling! Like not inside voice but outside voice probably times 4.

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Amber May 9, 2016 at 2:06 pm

Actually no where is it said they were yelling, just talking loudly. Huge difference, yelling and screaming would be beyond rude and obnoxious, but talking loudly in public is just something everyone has to learn to ignore.

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Kat April 5, 2015 at 3:55 am

Unfortunately, if you're in a profession involving trust and confidentiality, you could lose your job. Parents could be concerned that if Ms.Smith is acting loud once, she's likely doing it far more often and talking about students and parents she hates. Therapists could lose patients who no longer trust them. In this day and age, it's not crazy to lose a job over simple things, i.e., loud talking or posting photos drinking due to people recording it on their phones and social media. I even heard of a hairstylist in NYC who will not discuss personal issues with clients due to liability.

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Kat April 5, 2015 at 4:07 am

Honestly, I think this is one of those situations where you really had to be present to understand just how annoying it was to hear every word. I will say, it's funny how some people have never experienced anyone or their kids acting rowdy while others have witnessed it more than once. This may help: try watching "What Would You Do?" on ABC where they set up situations with hidden cameras and take note of how the other diners react.

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Kat April 10, 2015 at 4:19 am

Also, I have some family members who have jobs that require trust and confidentiality (therapist), so I do have experience. I also know of an assistant principal who lost his job due to dressing up in drag at a charity event because it was posted online.

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Pat July 22, 2015 at 9:41 pm

Good grief woman. You shouldn't go out in public if you are that sensitive.

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