What would your mother think?

Tonight, we went to a local Chinese restaurant buffet for supper. I was craving sushi. ;-)

After we were seated and the waitress took our drink orders, I started to over-hear the table near us. Three men and a young lady. Their conversation involved pornography and sexual deviasions. And just to add insult to injury, their conversation was generously sprinkled with vulgar cursing.

As distasteful as I found their language and topics of conversation, I could have left well enough alone except that we could clearly hear every single word they were saying. I didn't care to have my rights infringed upon, nor did I want my children to hear this filth.

After 10-15 minutes or so, my husband got up and went over and politely asked them to please lower their voices as we were trying to enjoy a night out as a family. As my husband walked away and went up for his second plate, they were discussing their rights to speak as they wish, how they wish.

I then spoke up and explained that their rights ended where it infringed upon mine, and that what they were saying was no way to speak in front of a lady (the one seated with them). I added, "If you feel that kind of talk is acceptable, then you must not have been brought up right".

At that, one of the "gentlemen" took great offense to that statement and explained that if his mother was there, she would slap me. If that is indeed the case, then I can clearly see where he gets his socially unacceptable behavior from.

They chose to leave the establishment, and to leave the other people in peace. It still left a sick feeling in my stomach that this kind of behavior would seem totally acceptable to someone let alone in a public place.

Whose fault is it? Society.....parents.....peers?

Personally, I feel it is my responsibility to instill in my children what is acceptable behavior AND words. Whether at home or in public. And yes, when children (even grown) act such as these four did, I place some blame with their parents.

We can't control our children's each and every move, but you can't tell me that people that act as these four were acting had parents that instilled in them that this kind of behavior is never acceptable. At least the people in my circle of friends would never find this acceptable. Ever.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.