For those who think Ebay NEVER finds in the Seller's Favor....

[Frank Petronio]

Good for you Jim!

Not long ago there was a debate about if children should be allowed to have their mobile phones on during class.. Yes, parents and politicians actually debated if they should allow ringtones etc to disrupt.

Best example I've heard in long time.

[cosmicexplosion]

You sure it wasn't a p&s with a crack through the middle?

[jack_hui]

Oh Jim, you did send that lens to Hong Kong?

[Michael Graves]

For example...
I was in the Library today, there was a mother telling her 9 year old son, "C'mon, its time to leave".
The kid put up a big fit started to cry, etc.

I feel your pain. I was in a grocery store the other day and there was a woman with a kid about three years old, screaming its head off. I decided to put distance between them and me and went to the opposite side of the store. But you could actually hear the Doppler effect as she followed me over, screaming kid in tow. When she pushed her cart up next to mine in the frozen foods aisle, I looked at the kid, looked at her and asked, "Can I shoot it? Put it out of my misery?" I didn't see her the rest of the time I was in the store, but no matter where I went, I could hear that #$%$&&# kid! I raised two kids and never had that problem with either one. Maybe I was just lucky. Or maybe it was because they knew the consequences.

[lenser]

I was fortunate to raise two wonderful and respectful daughters, even when they were small. The technique I used with their exceedingly rare store tantrums, was one I remember well from when my dad used it with me. If I got out of line and refused to listen to his warning, I got one good swat with a cupped hand for maximum noise. That was accompanied by the statement, "That was one. If you don't behave, there will be ten more when we get home." I never got the other ten and neither did my girls. Often, the old ways are by far the best ways.

[dap]

I feel your pain. I was in a grocery store the other day and there was a woman with a kid about three years old, screaming its head off. I decided to put distance between them and me and went to the opposite side of the store. But you could actually hear the Doppler effect as she followed me over, screaming kid in tow. When she pushed her cart up next to mine in the frozen foods aisle, I looked at the kid, looked at her and asked, "Can I shoot it? Put it out of my misery?" I didn't see her the rest of the time I was in the store, but no matter where I went, I could hear that #$%$&&# kid! I raised two kids and never had that problem with either one. Maybe I was just lucky. Or maybe it was because they knew the consequences.

sheesh...I don't know what's worse, a kid screaming their head off non-stop or a grown man offering to shoot said kid.

[DennisD]

Congratulations, Jim -
And nice job on the photography (not to mention the very clear description) !

Dennis

[Brian Ellis]

sheesh...I don't know what's worse, a kid screaming their head off non-stop or a grown man offering to shoot said kid.

I agree. A fast whack with a closed fist to the side of the kid's head would have been more appropriate than a gun shot in a crowded store.

[RichardSperry]

Weird derail, for sure.
You guys must all be real old.
If you do that today(or the last 20 years), you would end up in jail. At least in my country.

And even if that didn't happen, with all the security cameras these day; you would end up on YouTube, and eventual social pariah. Weird derail.

[Daniel Stone]

and that's whats so f***ed up with our "modern" society.

NO DISCIPLINE

Children(and they'll remain that way, often WAY longer than they should) aren't taught to be respectful, rather, if they throw a fit, they eventually get what they want.
I was in the store the other day myself, and a woman a few people ahead of me in line waiting to pay had a 2-3y.o. who was throwing a bloody fit. He wanted some stupid candy or something, the mom said no. Multiple times. Well by the time she got to the cashier, she had enough. As follows:

1. Says "excuse me a sec" to cashier
2. Proceeds to wheel shopping cart into open area by kid bagging her groceries.
3. Yanks howling kid out of shopping cart, sets him on his feet.
4. Pulls pants down(yes, bare ass, not frontal bits, IMO a nice touch of decency)
5. Gives him (1) cupped hand swat to the rump.
6. Tells him(in a firm, but kind way) the same thing as Lenser(above) stated, almost word for word....Kid looks her in the eye and instantly shuts up. Still tear-eyed, but goes silent...
7. Mom pulls his pants up, and puts him back in kid seat in cart.
8. Comes back to cashier(who's a wide-eyed 20something, who's somewhat in shock at what she's just witnessed ) and proceeds to pay for her groceries.
9. Cashier looks at her and says "you smack your kid?"
10. Mom responds "yes, but only when its called for"
11. Mom & son walk calmly out of store.

All of the discipline stuff took around 20s total. But it seemed to work well.

I'm glad my parents gave me a swat(or two, sometimes 3 ), I know it helped to keep me in line.

-Dan