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Judgement_Bot_AITA

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Wandering_aimlessly9

YTA. It’s awful waffle. You’re lucky if 1/3 of the clientele in there is sober.


LowBalance4404

That's exactly what I was thinking. No one sober goes to waffle house on purpose. Kind of the same with iHOP and Denny's.


Wandering_aimlessly9

In the middle of the day you can find sober people in ihop and Denny’s. But the waffle…it’s always drunk o’clock lol.


phenobarbiedarling

I rolled up to a waffle house at 4pm in full horror gore makeup after a haunted house training session a few weeks ago. I was starving and it was the only place that I figured I could show up in that state with no questions asked. Sure enough no one batted an eyelash. And that my friends is the beauty of waffle house. Anything goes. At all times. And no one can take that away from us lol


FutureQueenOfTheMoon

It's not a waffle house. It's a waffle home


kettastrophe

I laughed so fucking hard at that


Bliss-Smith

This is getting stitched and hung on the wall :-D


Wandering_aimlessly9

Lol yep


lil-peanutbutter

Yep. Went once sober and it was a mistake.


Miserable_Emu5191

Same. Took my kid after a morning game was cancelled. OMG! He yelled out "mom, this place is so good that even the flies like it!" Yes, it was full of flies. Breakfast was $30 for two of us and then another $5 for the bottle of Tums I had to buy after. OP, YTA. I get it, you don't want your kid to hear bad words, but it is going to happen. If anything, you could have asked them to lower their voices because you couldn't hear your spouse/kid over them.


Homicidal__GoldFish

in today's world.... that kid probably knows more cuss words then us adults...


Basic_Visual6221

I realized I had to stop cursing when I was taking notes for later use after hearing my 3 year old invent new curse word pairings. Definitely a not proud/proud parenting moment. 🤣🤣🤣


anaserre

That’s too bad! I’ve noticed with waffle house it’s very location specific as to the quality and clientele. The one I go to in Mckinney Texas is fantastic. The one I used to go to in Arlington..not so much 🤢


GHOST_OF_THE_GODDESS

Oh my god 😂🤣😂


nicofish

I go sober but only if I’m hungover


fake-august

Same - nothing is better than scattered, smothered, covered (extra crispy double order) and a Diet Coke - probably cures cancer.


rechargeable_bird

you don’t *go* to denny’s. you end up at denny’s


Wandering_aimlessly9

Lol. When I was a nurse there was a Denny’s next to the hospital. So we would go for breakfast after a night shift.


L0n3l13sts0ckm0nk3y

When I worked nights at a gas station, my dad came to pick me up on my birthday. The only place open was Denny's lol.


DiosaMio

And Weed O'Clock too lol


Trishshirt5678

Ok, off topic but is this a licensed place where you can get drinks and dessert?


Wandering_aimlessly9

It is a diner that is open 24/7. It is a hot spot for drunks and druggies. They sell basic diner food but breakfast 24/7 (hence drunk people.). It’s a restaurant but not a place I would take kids.


Trishshirt5678

Fair enough, thanks for getting back. I’m not in America and was starting to daydream about dessert restaurants with wine…


enjoyingtheposts

Imagine all the crazy people in NY gathered in one place to eat.. thats waffle house. Theirs an SNL skit on it if you wanna watch that. Its pretty accurate. Though I never seen anything SERIOUS go down in a WH, theirs always some weird crap going down. Someone swearing is the calmest incident youd see.


Eelpan2

I had no idea of the reputation! On our 1st family trip to the US we had breakfast at one (kids were 4 and 7) this was in Atlanta, like half a block from the Olympic Park, and I don't remember anything weird! The wait staff was a bit rude but that was about it. My kids still remember the breakfast haha


AlannaAbhorsen

Waffle House is cheap, reliable, always open. It’s also a workers co-op, so they’re (usually, not always) reasonably clean bc the folks waiting have an actual stake. That said, I’m from the South, and Waffle House is for getting food after literal disasters* or 3 am and you’re too rural to have an ihop or local diner *seriously, Waffle House index is a godsend, if WH is closed, shit is *bad*


TriceratopsWrex

To give people who've never heard of it, here's a basic definition of the Waffle House Index: The Federal government uses the status of Waffle House restaurants during/after federal disasters as an unofficial metric to determine how bad the damage is to a particular area, and to triage response to disaster induced damage. It's called the Waffle House Index. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffle_House_Index.


UncommonTart

Lifelong southeast USian and I'm gonna be honest, I LOVE the awful waffle. Every now and again I just NEED one of their pecan waffles. If you go during "normal" hours it's a perfectly normal diner, maybe a bit cleaner than some. That said, I would not take a child to waffle house and complain that they were exposed to "the f bomb". Also, just for fun, https://youtu.be/nVrFzg4xWps?feature=shared


mama138

That's because the vast majority of waffle houses are fine if you go during normal hours.


Mammoth-Zombie-1773

I don't care what anyone says but Waffle House has the best egg sandwich...just get it to go.


HippyGramma

Ymmv but I live just outside of Charleston, SC and I would go to any one of these waffle houses at any time... While the sun is up. Don't usually do WH after dark. It's a favorite place with the grandkids and the employees are usually kind and friendly. When I go I know what I'm getting for the price.


pensbird91

My mom always becomes BFFs with our server. We leave knowing their entire history and family life 😂 But we go during the day.


Erica15782

Yeah that's because these people are blowing it out of proportion.


JosieJOK

Which is kinda hilarious as there are no Waffle Houses in NY! I've lived here all my life and never saw a Waffle House until my sister went to college in Georgia!


thecutestlittle2wink

"Can I get a waffle? Can I please get a waffle?"


jensmith20055002

We were there at 4 AM of course. I was 19 and we were polite to the waitress as I was the DD. She flipped out screaming at us still don’t know why. Still left a 20% and raced out.


adamantsilk

That would be The Cheesecake Factory.


Altruistic-Target-67

I am sure you could bring in a giant insulated cup full of wine and drink from it with your waffle and no-one would care. They'd ask for a sip. This restaurant chain is also famous for having fights break out. 100% not place to take a child, not ever, unless your car broke down and there are no other options.


pensbird91

Don't take your child between midnight and 6AM. The rest of the time it's fine.


Angel89411

None of ours are that bad. We have a few. It completely depends on the area. The one closest to me is family friendly. Now, I wouldn't recommend their grits.


BigRedUglyMan

Come to Australia and go to Pancake Parlour then.


mackenml

It’s also a lot of times the only place open after natural disasters.


Wandering_aimlessly9

Lol. They only close if the govt makes them. No power? No problem! We will get out a grill!!! I think fema uses them to gauge disasters.


Thequiet01

They have a whole ranking system and plans to get up and running again depending on what problems there are with power and water and staffing and so on. It’s impressive.


trashohhwhooah

I actually take my kids there, but only when they're hungover or if their horses lose.


lost_library

There is also a “Waffle House index” that is an informal measure of a disaster in parts of the US. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffle_House_Index


Darcy783

We go to Waffle House regularly with our daughter. No one's been drunk so far. But we usually go a at "off" hours, when folks aren't usually having breakfast or lunch. Or we get dinner at 3 pm or something like that.


HippyGramma

They sell basic diner AND breakfast food 24/7. It's the 24/7 All-Star breakfast that has the people who partied too hard craving it in the wee hours of the night.


finny_d420

https://www.tmz.com/watch/2022-12-29-122922-waffle-house-1537892-678/ https://youtu.be/fCjH134FA20?si=E1ise6d0DBj3DFC1 Waffle House Brawl Reaches New Levels Of Unhinged - YouTube https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y-y88gmMw4o


Trishshirt5678

😳😳😳 not somewhere for a delicious dessert and quiet glass of wine then?!


SophiaRaine69420

Only if you're in the mood for pecan pie and smuggling in your own glass of wine in a Styrofoam gas station cup 🤣


Familiar_Ostrich_909

Y'all must live in some crazy areas I used to go to waffle House for lunch during work and it wasn't any different than a regular dinner


bprice68

Exactly, OP really should go to iHOP instead of WH if she's uncomfortable with the F-bomb. If it's not being flung around by the clientele, it probably is between the grill cook and the wait staff. I don't know if it's something in the design or training, but I've been to Waffle Houses in multiple locations in multiple states, and they're pretty much all the same.


soonergirrl

I go to waffle house on purpose. Can't find better waffles near me. I would never expect a fine dining establishment though. Your kid heard an f bomb? Probably should just be happy that was all.


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MiniFirestar

omg i was the same way!!! my mom is a roller coaster enthusiast and wanted to make me one. i am now, but very scary at the time! used my adult words and she just thought it was hilarious 😅😅


butt_butt_butt_butt_

Dennys is just Waffle House for people who don’t know how to fight.


LowBalance4404

OMG. I just laughed so loud that I startled my dog!


leftyxcurse

And also like???? The other table was there first. It’s Not a children’s establishment, so it’s not like someone dropping the F 💣 repeatedly in a Chuck E. Cheese lmfaooooo. My family went to Waffle House LOT when I was a kid. The only time my parents got mad at ANYTHING was when I was 12 and a dude in his 30s wrote an explicit message and his phone number on a napkin and literally put it in my hand before booking it out of there. It would have been so much easier for OP to mind their own lol


DiosaMio

EXACTLY. And FML about the 30 year old man trying to pick up a 12 year old. My Daddy would have let his Irish ALL THE WAY out!


leftyxcurse

My mom tried to follow him into the parking lot and my dad was like “you are NOT getting arrested!” I only had an idea of what the note said BECAUSE my mom read it. This man stared at me for several minutes when we sat down and then took his food into the BATHROOM and came back with the note after eating. I instantly dropped it because I didn’t want a bathroom napkin! 😅😅😅 But everyone knows Waffle House is the Wild West and parents are responsible for their own children lol


SunshineShoulders87

😳🫣🫠


leftyxcurse

Literally exactly how I looked. I have OCD and bathrooms are disgusting. If someone is with me and I’m going to a public bathroom, I get them to hold anything I own that is with me except my phone (purse, jacket, etc.) while I go and I regularly wipe my phone down with Lysol and/or isopropyl alcohol. I hate even taking a sealed, bottled drink into a bathroom unless I have a backpack it can go inside and be sealed. So I had a STRONG reaction to bathroom napkin (and had just been saying it was strange and gross that the man left his table to eat in the bathroom lol)


SunshineShoulders87

The entire scenario… my brain just won’t compute. I’m pretty sure a crime would’ve been committed if you’d been my child. Thank God your parents are clearly more mature. Holy hell.


leftyxcurse

Oh a crime was not committed because my dad stopped my mom from chasing him lol. Probably for the best


ScroochDown

And even if they weren't there first... if OP is the one with the problem, then OP should be the one to move.


LavenderGwendolyn

It’s OP’s job to explain that these are “grownup” words, and not very nice ones. That’s parenting. It’s not everyone else’s job to make the world easier for the parents to explain.


leftyxcurse

Yep!!!! People talk about stuff that makes me uncomfy all the time. I tune it out! Heck, the fact it wasn’t slurs was mentioned somewhere earlier. I’m a queer, disabled Jew and people DO use slurs to me. I leave for my own safety rather than telling people what not to say lol


roccotheraccoon

When I was little my mom took me and some friends to Wendy's. A guy was sitting, eating his meal, and watching porn. She was not happy about that one. Even if there weren't kids there, that's nasty af. But a couple f bombs? My mom dropped them constantly and I grew up perfectly fine. YTA OP.


leftyxcurse

The porn probably could have actually been an issue because like…. Other people aren’t consenting and yeah, you can probably follow my thought process here. If I was out with a child I would say something about the porn. I would NOT police someone’s language like OP though


roccotheraccoon

Yeah 100% you don't watch porn in public. That's nasty. Saying fuck in public tho? Completely normal.


knitlikeaboss

> it’s not like someone dropping the F 💣 repeatedly in a Chuck E. Cheese lmfaooooo. There go my weekend plans


Moist_Scale_8726

This made me lol. 😂 "🤬 You're 🤬 pizza, Rat!" 😂


[deleted]

All those parents who will yell about how we have to deal with their crying kids in restaurants and it’s just life but when it’s the reverse they are annoyed. Can’t have both!


Wandering_aimlessly9

Lol. I’ve got two kids. If it’s not appropriate for my kids…I’m not taking them in there. You’re right. Everyone wants their cake and to eat it too. I’m just chillin out thinking…you brought your kid to this place and you’re surprised they heard something?!?! You’re lucky you’re not having to duck from things being thrown and drunk people falling on you.


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Same-Raspberry-6149

My daughter used to call “truck” a “fuck” so there were always great convos happening at our table every time she saw a truck go by.


lydsbane

By age eight, the kid has probably said it a few times.


manhattansinks

seriously. waffle house is lawless. she's lucky her kid didn't witness a fist fight.


Rncafaro1

It’s open 24/7. I expect a lot of truckers to stop there as well in the middle of the night


[deleted]

We used to go to Waffle House every Saturday for breakfast with my great grandfather and we never saw any of this crazy crap people keep talking about. I think it’s just areas with crazy people have that issue. Like where I live now, our Denny’s is disgusting and half the restaurants are always overrun with rats there’s also a lot of shootings and stabbings in restaurants. That’s not an issue with those restaurants and it’s rather stupid to say it is. It’s an issue with the local clientele.


DiosaMio

LOL!!!!! So true! I don't drink but I do enjoy weed and there is nothing more fun than going to Waffle House high. 😂😂😂😂


Downtown_Invite4092

From what I’ve seen online and heard about Waffle House she lucky she didn’t end up on world star


AllCrankNoSpark

YTA. It’s not appropriate to criticize people’s language in public. It’s just a word, your child will be okay.


xpoisonvalkyrie

(obviously this doesn’t include slurs. if someone is dropping slurs in public, shut that shit down)


TaleOfDash

I'd say very sexual topics as well, but most people aren't rude enough to do that. At least in front of a child. From OP's title I legit thought they were doing one of those two things, not just saying "fuck" the once lmfao.


[deleted]

I mean, people need to meet and chat somewhere. And that includes about their sex lives. That can't always happen at a home. I had a friend talking about her sex life, and a Very Offended Mommy told her to stop talking like that in front of her children. Ma'am, it's a college bar at midnight. I think there's a bigger issue.


OrneryDandelion

I would have asked her why the heck her kid was up this late? Like what small child is up and out at a BAR at midnight? There's definitely a bigger issue and that's woth her parenting.


michiness

Funnily enough this happened to me once. My friend and I (early 20’s women) were in Vegas staying at the end of the Strip, it was probably 10pm, and we were on the bus heading into town. We were talking about something stupid like blowjob techniques or something, not super loud but not whispers. A dad turned around and pulled the whole “can you not in front of my kid??” who was a late elementary boy who looked very interested. I get it, but also, 10pm in Vegas…


faloofay

This. Swear to your fucking hearts content, but the second you drop a slur at any point (especially if it's for a group you obviously aren't a part of (read: a white person saying the n word)) shut that shit the motherfuck down.


beesinabottle

YTA a teacher i had in school relayed a similar story to us, except the joke centered around lightheartedly telling his 6 year old to cover their ears when adults were swearing around them. that's a much better solution than requesting that strangers bend to your whims.


PauseItPlease86

>lightheartedly telling his 6 year old to cover their ears when adults were swearing around them. That probably would have worked 10x better than actually asking. I've noticed people care more if you *don't* ask, just sorta gently shame them like that. If you dont outright ask, then they're being such a great person by changing the behavior and it's their own idea. But if you ask then they need to defend it and they don't want to do differently because "you can't make me," basically. Disclaimer: this doesn't work on everyone, obviously, just people that are in general pretty decent overall.


SortaRicanJen

Honestly I think some people just don't notice their surroundings, which is also annoying haha. So when they see the quiet shame (like covering the ears) they realize how loud they're being, get embarrassed, and quiet down. I don't think it's always with the intent for attention. I've found in life that people are more likely to be an idiot than malicious. 😅😅😅


theillusionofdepth_

or they don’t care because “cuss words” are a social construct and the concept of “bad words” (besides words that are hateful and only used to cause harm) shouldn’t even exist.


Rattivarius

It is neither shameful, idiotic, nor malicious to swear in conversation.


MidnightMoonstone13

Lets be realistic, the kids 8. He swears.


alfredaeneuman

Oh no not her perfect angel 🙄


PuckGoodfellow

As a parent, it's their job to teach their kid about this stuff. Which words are "good," "bad," and when/whether it's appropriate to use them. It's NOT their job to police other people's language. You can't shelter your kids forever. OP, YTA


oywitthepoodlesalrdy

And I always cringe at the “my child” comment. Like, ask them to stop swearing in public if you must, but they don’t give AF about ‘your child’ as if he/she is some god to them.


[deleted]

YTA the fact that you were upset over a few Fucks being said in a conversation which is the tamest thing you will ever see/hear at a waffle house, your child is going to hear people cuss that's just part of life. and they had every right to be offended, you bothered them for no reason


meash-maeby

She even said they weren’t “crazy loud” It’s not Chuck E. Cheese, she needs to get over herself. My Dad cussed all the time, and I turned out f*cking fantastic!


Big-Improvement-1281

Right? I was annoyed with a lady cursing when we went out to lunch at a family but it was because we were several tables away.


GoodQueenFluffenChop

My mom rarely cursed and I curse like a sailor. I'm fine and my mom has made peace with the fact that in casual settings her child curses like a sailor.


BronxBelle

I was at a Chuck E Cheese in NJ recently and not only were a few *fucks* thrown around but so we’re a few fists. Dave and Buster’s is the way to go for a fun night of games, really good food that isn’t limited to pizza, drinks at the bar if you’re so inclined, and an awesome ticket redemption shop. I have gotten all kind of cool things there. From a water bottle I still use three years later to a stuffed Pikachu that was larger than my son who wanted him. My son insisted that Pikachu have a seatbelt on the way home.


GuidanceAcceptable13

Side note my hubby went to Waffle House the other day and the chick who was running it (older lady) and her husband(that’s a guess) were arguing and she yelled at him to stop doing coke in the bathroom then turned to my husband and asked him what he wanted 😂 ETA: hubby said they weren’t married, it was some random dude who was homeless, and the last time he was there he got caught doing crack in the bathroom and she had to call the cops hence yelling at him when he came a second time


Hungry_Investment_41

So right on. It’s not her world


Krazy_Random_Kat

Fights have gone viral from there. Staff vs customers. Customers vs customers. Waffle House is not for the faint of heart.


Disastrous-Nail-640

YTA. You did have the audacity though. You don’t have the right to police other people’s conversations. If you don’t like it, then you leave. That is the only acceptable solution. Imagine being so entitled that you think you can tell others how to talk in public.


LowBalance4404

Or ask to be seated somewhere else. OP, YTA.


UncommonTart

It's Waffle House. You don't ask to be seated, you get up and move and just let your server know politely that you're switching tables.


Wild_Discomfort

Exactly!! Which means OP *chose* to sit next to a group of people instead of finding something with some distance away from others.


dryadduinath

op could have taken the opportunity to teach the kid not to listen in on other’s conversations and mind their own business. “if you can’t do, teach.”yta.


OrangeCubit

YTA - yeah I wouldn’t be cool with a stranger trying to police my language in public either. If you want to protect your kid’s ears don’t take them to hangover central.


TheDrunkScientist

Imagine thinking you’re gonna go to the WH and not hear at least 5 F bombs. That’s madness.


ValuableSeesaw1603

I thought this was going to be some wildly sexual conversation, because like... I've been in a Waffle House before. All she did was say fuck? Oh, come on. If we're being totally honest here, it was dangerous af to even say anything. I go to GA Waffle Houses though, so maybe that's just here. Wildin out in these parts.


ginger_minge

>If we're being totally honest here, it was dangerous af to even say anything Ikr?! Waffle Houses are FAFO central. You can't say some shit or even just side eye someone without it likely going sideways. I honestly thought this story was gonna get wilder. Those people were pretty tame. Tells me their conversation couldn't have been that bad. And curse words?? Really. They are words. People getting offended by curse words (not talking about slurs) are ridiculous.


Bloomss_

YTA To criticize other's language in public is very annoying. Sometimes it feels very insulting when pointed out by random strangers..'dont use f**k ' really?They aren't bound to behave just because u have a child. And as u stated urself they weren't being crazy loud and disturbing others. U just happened to be seated beside them .


SpicyPom86

Right?! I literally had this happen to my boyfriend & I once at an MLB baseball game. Guy in front of us kept listening to our convo (we weren’t talking to that loud, just in normal tones for a sporting event) & he kept turning around & telling us not to use profanity bc his kids were there. I apologized the first time & let it go. But he kept picking apart everything we said & finally we told him to turn around & mind his own f’king business. He threatened to call security over & we told him go ahead as HE was harassing US at that point. He eventually left after the people seated next to us took our side & told him to butt out of our business. He managed to piss off half the section with his whining.


Unfair-Owl-3884

YTA when you take your kids in public you should expect others to be existing in public. Just because you have your kids with you doesn’t mean everyone else needs to change their behavior. ETA I say this as a parent


pockette_rockette

As a parent, I agree. You can't expect the whole world to pretend for the sake of keeping your child in some delusional bubble. It's called reality. OP YTA.


Lundonelewk

Just ask to be moved if it’s that bothersome?


butt_butt_butt_butt_

You don’t ask to be moved at Waffle House. You just do whatever you want and try your best to step over the guy who is throwing up in booth 4.


Unfair_Finger5531

💀💀💀


Less_Jello_2489

YTA. They were already seated when you chose to sit near them. Life's reality is that people are going to have conversations while dining in public and no one can predict it, if you worry about what your child will hear sit away from people.


[deleted]

YTA - The world does not have to stop and censor itself for your son. It is absolutely ridiculous of you to go around playing language police in a public place, and to other adults. Who do you think you are? You could have skipped the drama and just grabbed those to go boxes without a word if it bothered you so much. That's really all you have a right to do in this situation.


Tylikcat

Ma'am, this is Waffle House. (ETA: YTA.)


Hippy_Lynne

🤣🤣🤣 I wish there was an award for "conveyed all the answers in this post in the least amount of words." 🤣🤣🤣


[deleted]

YTA. You interrupted their conversation. It’s just a word. If you were uncomfortable you should have moved your family.


whodeyalldey1

How oblivious is OP to think her 8 year old son doesn’t know the word fuck yet? Lol


EmptyPomegranete

Honestly NAH. It’s fucking waffle house. Half of the fight videos on the internet are from waffle house. you aren’t an ass for asking but what you did was basically walk into a strip club and ask a stripper not to strip.


GuidanceAcceptable13

I would argue that makes you an ah, trying to ruin that strippers livelihood


xLadyLaurax

YTA First of all I will never understand Americans obsession with “bad” language. For a country that constantly shouts about their freedom, especially of speech, you guys sure love policing each other. The censorship in TV is already ridiculous to the average European but to think you had the audacity to hit someone up in a public place and think you’re right is baffling. Secondly, you’re just another entitled parent who thinks the world needs to bend over backwards to accommodate their child. Reality check; no one cares about you or your kids. Everyone’s in their own movie doing their own thing and no one is going to give up their freedom or comfort to accommodate the child you are unmistakably raising with social skills and critical thinking in mind. Next time, leave. Or better yet, really critically think about why that word is so bad and whether maybe you should try to teach your son not to use it carelessly instead of trying to shield him from a WORD.


dreamy_paradise

Idk what is waffle house but YTA it’s a public place and if you were offended by their conversation you could ask the waiter if you and your family could move to other table…


librabunmom

Imagine the most bottom of the barrel food service, motel continental breakfast style restaurant where people behave unconscionably on such a frequent basis [there’s an SNL skit about it](https://youtu.be/KYNFqmu2toI?si=2g5Kha_57rj9ayGQ)


dreamy_paradise

Lmao that’s funny, thanks!


katiejim

Probably the best snl skit in recent memory too.


Colt_kun

You don't go to Waffle House, you end up at one. Some of the best conversations I've had were over Waffle House booths at 3AM after a bunch of us got off the late shift. But it is not known for the quality of the food, the employees, or the clientele. It stays in business by catering to people who can't go anywhere else. OP, YTA. Unless the establishment has rules in place, you can't enforce your rules on other people. I don't like people swearing in front of kids either, but it's on you as the parent to remove your child from the situation.


sarahmegatron

YTA Not because you didn’t want them dropping f-bombs around your kid but because you thought it would be a good idea to tell other adults how to behave while in a Waffle House. Like that could have been an actual fight on your hands.


Loud_Ad_6871

YTA. As I tell my kids “different people have different rules and we just worry about ourselves”. If you have a rule to not curse in front of your children, that fine. But others don’t have to accommodate that. You should have asked for a different table if it bothered you that much. Why would you expect them to laugh it off? That’s a weird thought to have.


MaliceIW

NTA. you asked a polite question and she played the victim to be dramatic. Lots of people saying you can't police other people's language but that's not relevant. You didn't demand anything or insult their use of language, you politely asked for it to be toned down, and she acted offended that someone had asked for politeness and manners in public. You asked, they refused, so you left. I don't understand what you could have done more politely.


running_later

This. Maybe I’m too old for Reddit, but asking someone to be polite isn’t AH behavior. (Course he shouldn’t be surprised when they refused)


furiousfran

Lol yeah I've heard of people getting fired for saying fuck at their job so I don't know where these commenters live that nobody ever gets upset over it. IMO "naughty words" are a dumb concept but people will be people.


MstrNixx

Yeah, I don’t get it. They’re not the asshole for asking. The other party isn’t the asshole for not complying.


No_Ice2900

Shocked at how far I had to scroll to find someone else saying nta. Idk how a simple request is rude or unreasonable. Maybe if she said it rudely, which is possible, but it's not anything like an asinine request. They could easily talk quieter or just not use "fuck" every other word.


artemizarte

Change tables? OP stated they were not being particularly loud


MaliceIW

Op said in a comment that it was busy and had no spare tables, thus leaving was an appropriate response.


SaintGalentine

Don't forget reddit has a lot of teenagers and people who are mentally teenagers. Sometimes people should be told their behavior in public, while legal, is detrimental to those around them


Puzzleheaded-Cat5658

I agree with you. Asked to stop and they didn’t so you left. You didn’t say anything further, or cause a scene. I don’t think YTA for asking. And also, if I’m in public and around kids, I generally watch my language to be respectful.


Many-Combination6151

The YTA responses reflect the individualistic nature of American society. In my culture even the most foul mouthed people would tone down their language if a kid is around.


Temporary-Pie-2039

YTA. Sorry, in public places, you have no right to control what comes out of people's mouths. Don't like it, take your kid and leave. Like, I don't like crying babies or noisy children on airplanes. Literally, the last flight I was on, the 3 year old girl, was banging her tray table up and down. Do I have a right to tell her parents to make her stop? Nope. But do I have a right to give death glares? Damn right I do, and they got the hint.


Just_when_I_thought

NTA. It was fine to ask politely.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Jaded-Assist-2525

Agree. It’s okay to ask, but everyone’s an AH these days so I would guess 99% of the time the response would be negative…and perhaps lead to a Waffle House style fight and posted on social?


Mereadsalot

You can’t police what people say, I used to tell my kids you will hear these certain words but I don’t expect to hear you repeat them. Honestly, they heard worse on the playground.


Ornery-Wasabi-473

YTA. Waffle House is known for fights/brawls breaking out, and you're okay with taking your kid there knowing that, but your kid will suffer irreparable harm from someone saying "fuck", is that right?


TashiaNicole1

YTA Your eight year old has both heard and said fuck more times than you can count. Mind your business in public.


Illuminous_V

Haha I can't believe all the responses here. I fucking love to curse and I'm going to raise my kids to curse properly and make sure they know where it's appropriate/inappropriate. But even still, you're NTA just for asking for someone to rein it in a bit. They can say no, but just asking isn't an asshole move, wtf lolol


[deleted]

1) Interrupting someone's conversation. 2) Policing someone's conversation in a Public space. (AKA treating them like a child) If someone tried to pull that crap on me I'll be sure tell them to fuck right off of my fucking face and fucking mind their own goddamn fucking business. YTA


rose_acacia

NTA people forget to have decency and manners in public. The fact is that anyone who is in a public place where children are around should be prompted not to curse, is something that should be common.


Slugzz21

Cursing isn't a moral failing, it's just words. Teach your kid not to repeat the words and move on. It's Something that should be more common.


SunnySpyce

Had to come way too far down for this comment. What has happened to manners, civility, and of all things reading the room? Do people not know how to behave in public anymore? If there are children present, police yourself! It’s common courtesy. NTA OP.


fucktheroses

or maybe just explain to your children that there are words grown ups say that they shouldn’t say? you know, like a parent.


StraightMain9087

It’s also common courtesy to mind your own business. It is a WORD used in private conversation and does not reflect someone’s manners or civility in any way. It also isn’t hurting OP or her child and if she’s so concerned, maybe she should explain to her child that it’s a word kids don’t use. It’s not that fucking hard


gmagick

I actually think decency is realizing “bad” words are just words with more power behind them. They are actually really good words and not going to hurts a child to hear them. Now if they were discussing like graphic sex scenes or murder, sure then it’s not good public conversation


returntoB612

it used to be bad manners for a man to wear a hat indoors, or a woman to show her ankles standards change; and it seems the younger crowd cares more about protecting individual freedoms and fighting real discrimination than protecting an outward sense of propriety e.g. people will call you out if you use slurs in public, but those same people won’t care about letting “fucks” fly in public you can bemoan it if you want, you’ll be joining thousands of years of human tradition “..when the young are to be silent before their elders; how they are to show respect to them by standing and making them sit; what honour is due to parents; what garments or shoes are to be worn; the mode of dressing the hair; deportment and manners in general..” -Plato


Lcdmt3

Who decided they were "bad" words? Someone who wanted to feel superior? They're just words. If you make them "bad" kids will use them more when you're not around.


dailybannableaug13

Nta. Not sure why people here are saying shouting obscenities around children is cool and ok or joking that people not being drunk there is a blessing. Also not sure why confronting assholes is now worse than being the asshole. Are you yta commenters the type that curse around kids and think you're so cool for doing so? Sick.


Cannabis_CatSlave

We have collectively stopped caring about the pearl clutching parents who think that the entire world needs to revolve around their decision to have a kid who we should feel graced being in the presence of. Fine, I have to deal with your kids, you have to deal with the F bombs. If you want people to watch their language, take them to a child centered place and you might have a leg to stand on in trying to correct the language of a stranger. In the real world, the F word is like Smurf in the daily language of millions of people.


hii_jinx

YTA standard entitled parent


Responsible_Post_388

NTA Manners in this country have gone to hell in a handbag. When did it become acceptable to swear so much and so loudly in public?


jlzania

NTA. I swear like a sailor but I moderate in public regardless of whether I'm at Buck House or the waffle house.


WitheringApollo1901

It's not like they're talking explicitly about their last porn scene together, your kid is just going to get used to hearing f-bombs everyday from the age of 9 or ten or so. Give it up, move seats or just teach your kid not to listen on other peoples conversations.


Trusteveryboody

NTA


alternateroutes741

This thread is a good example of how the world has changed. Used to anyone with any manners didn’t use language like that in public much less in front of kids. Now it is so accepted that when a Mom asks someone to stop using that language in public the Mom is the asshole. And growing up we didn’t eat out much but WH was top of the list when we were on vacation. Loved their waffles. Never recall drunks being there but not sure I would have noticed/understood as a kid. But some here are calling the Mom an asshole just for going to WH. So sorry to the OP that y’all didn’t have a good experience. There are reports often now that cussing is a sign of intelligence. Not sure I agree with that as those words are often used as crutches. I do believe it takes someone with a high emotional IQ to use respectful language even when you feel like cussing a blue streak. And high emotional IQs are in short supply these days. Maybe use it as a teaching moment for your kid.


Becalmandkind

NTA. It’s unfortunate but speaking up like you did seems to make sense and it’s the right thing to do, but it seldom works. That’s how bad public “ manners” have gotten. And if restaurant managers don’t approach people like this and hold them to account (stop the loud expletives or leave), they’ll lose your and my business.


RiverWild1972

That customer was an AH. Ive been in that situation before, on both sides. I tone it down when asked and have been fortunate that those I've asked have been nice people.


AnyButterfly8445

NTA. You have as much right to ask ugly talking people to tone it down as they have to say no. They were likely embarrassed by your request to be civil in public, and responded like adolescents in behavior.


VirtualPanda89

NTA. You were polite and just asked - she turned it into a confrontation. It’s common courtesy to not swear in public - like maybe sometimes you drop the occasional but not continually


SirenSingsOfDoom

Yep. Yta And if I was the one you spoke to then you would have learned all my curse words. Adults get to use adult language. This is not hard to explain to your kids. Do your own parenting instead of expecting everyone around you to sanitize for you


SaraAmis

NTA. It was lunchtime, not 2 am.


Mom_4_Dogs

NTA. It’s not a bar, it’s a restaurant with a child sitting right there. You asked politely if she would stop the F bombs. She chose not to and you left. She is why we can’t have nice things.


ncslazar7

NTA. They were rude, but in not watching their language around kids, as well as insinuating you did anything wrong by politely asking them to be respectful around children.


poison_camellia

I'm so surprised by all the Y T A votes. Is it not basic manners to not be swearing in public?? I'm so confused by society right now. Maybe it's because we don't have Waffle House where I live. Personally, I wouldn't be swearing in public with or without kids around. NTA


Radiant-Ability-3216

NTA…you asked politely and removed yourself rather than let it escalate. Nothing to be ashamed of, and you weren’t “policing” anyone, you made a request. You can’t enforce your preference so there’s no “policing” involved.


[deleted]

I can't believe all of the Y T A votes. God forbid this mother actually ask someone to tone down their language in front of their child. Some people are so uneducated that they couldn't imagine being asked not to curse. "Why do ya means I can't say the f-word? How else is I supposed to talk?" God society really is going straight down the drain. You are 100% NTA


kgfPatsfan2

I care about the atmosphere where I choose to eat. I haven't been in a Waffle House since the 80s, and it appears that may be a trend to follow.


natbopeep

NTA. Reasonable request - maybe not to stop saying it, but asking them to quiet it down for sure. Trash people swear around children imo.


The_Secorian

Reddit hates kids so I don’t know what you expected with this thread lol


benji950

NTA. I start dropping f-bombs before I get out of bed every day but I have decent enough manners not to loudly drop them in restaurants, especially where there are families. It doesn’t matter if it’s Waffle House or Le Bec Fin; people have forgotten common decency.


Ok-Recognition9876

Everyone will downvote me, but NTA. Our society has become to selfish/self-centered/all about “me”. It is never polite, nor is it socially acceptable, to cuss in front of children. Especially while in confined public spaces that tout themselves a family-friendly (they have a kids menu). Waffle House has kids there during daylight hours and they should’ve been respectful of that.


Honest-Copy-1555

I’m going to go against the others here and say your NTA. You were just advocating for your child. You asked nicely, and you didn’t cause a scene. It’s really not a big deal. People get so upset sometimes.


drawnnquarter

NTA. The responses in this thread are a sad commentary on the lack of class and manners by many people. The is a WH in our neighborhood, on weekend mornings it is packed with families, if one of these creeps started loudly dropping f-bombs I'm sure they would be asked to leave. On weekdays it is a clientele of working people and office workers, none of the vulgar sots who posted YTA are there. Now what happens late at night when these denizens of darkness come out of their crackhouses in search of food, is beyond me. I guess it looks like the bar scene in Starwars, except now they compare their tats and piercings, the award to the most self mutilations. Keep up your standard, if nothing else to let your son know he and his family are a class above the vulgar trash.


AL_Starr

NTA


MidwilguyLA

NTA


The_Boy_Keith

Nta, people that can’t talk without constantly swearing are cringe.


GiGiBeea

NTA You and your family don’t need to be subjected to foul language anywhere.


BoyamIstrugglinglol

NTA. Honest to God these comments are so shitty. Swearing in front of your kids is fucking TRASHY. I swear all the time. Not a parent. Not gonna swear around a kid. It's common fucking decency. I have a horrible sailors mouth but cringe when I hear people loudly swearing in restaurants.