In recent days, the story of a cafe in Da Nang displaying a sign refusing service to customers under 12 years old has caused a stir online. Tens of thousands of people have accessed, followed, and commented on the information, and the number continues to increase. Public opinion is divided into two camps: one side supports the decision to refuse service to children under 12, considering it a cultured way of behaving and building a civilized and modern cafe environment. The other side argues that this is an uncivilized, inhumane act that disrespects customers, discriminates against children, and is even more extreme, with many comments attacking and condemning the cafe for violating children's rights. Many people, mostly parents of children under 12, have been even more vehement, declaring they will boycott the cafe.
In response to the public's reaction and comments, the cafe owner frankly stated his position to the press: "When we introduced this rule, we knew it would displease many customers, but we only wanted to create a civilized and polite cafe space, true to its original purpose of relaxing, working, reading, and chatting together."
Around the same time, a story emerged about a young woman whose laptop was damaged when a child spilled a glass of water on it while playing at a cafe. The laptop was severely damaged, requiring a motherboard replacement costing nearly 10 million VND. What's even more concerning is that the parents of the boy who spilled the water on the girl's laptop denied responsibility, saying, "If you don't know how to take care of your computer, you have to bear the consequences yourself." The girl shared this story on social media, and many expressed outrage at the irresponsibility and thoughtlessness of the parents.
Two stories, but ultimately, they address the same issue: the responsibility of adults for children's behavior! One Facebook user bluntly stated their personal opinion: "Bringing children to restaurants: Only bring them if you're sure you can manage them; respect others! Children are innocent, no one denies that, but letting them become irresponsible in the future is the parents' fault." What do you think? On a beautiful Sunday morning, you're sitting with your loved one in a romantic café on a street corner, enjoying coffee, savoring the quiet and peace, when suddenly a child runs up, bumps into the table, spills coffee, and splashes it all over your clothes...? What do you think when you're inviting a business partner for coffee, discussing business, negotiating the terms of a contract, and children are playing around, throwing tissues and sunflower seed shells, causing noise and disruption? What do you think when you go into a restaurant and children freely bang their chopsticks on the table, rattle their spoons against the bowls; put their hands in ice buckets, turn the taps on water tanks until water spills everywhere, then run around and play excessively, startling many diners?
Parents believe that children have the right to play; they think, "they're just children and those around them should be tolerant, not strict or unpleasant." But do they ever consider that the customers who come to the establishment have paid for the service, and they have the right to privacy and relaxation, not to be disturbed? No one forbids children from going to public places. But the problem is that the adults accompanying the children must manage and control them, preventing them from causing trouble or disturbing others. To achieve this, parents must instill in their children a sense of respect for others, responsibility for their actions, and maintaining order in public places. And parents should always be aware that not every place is a playground for children, and when children cause any incidents, the accompanying adults must bear full responsibility.
Article by: Tue Anh
Illustrative image: Archival material
