I wonder why a single incident raises the question if this is a cultural thing - if this happened a lot the question may be valid, but else? Even stranger if you consider that the man may have been an ABC.
The reason I asked that was because in the Philippines I have seen an adult tell a child off in front of the child's parents and when the child answered back get a clip round the ear from the parent for talking that way to an elder. So it may be acceptable there. I am aware from personal experience that the way children are brought up is very cultural so I just wondered if this was just another part of that. Appears not.
I would have just moved on --- life is short.
No time to waste on such trivial matters
...i'd have embarrassed the guy in front of his wife and your daughter ..." listen to the stupid man, princess...do you want daddy to kick his ass..?"
Perhaps the man was just having a bad day, had been waiting too long for his food, hadn't taken his medicine, thought his meal was going to be ruined by children charging around the place causing havoc (although I have seen this more often with local kids), etc.
I admit I have castigated a child who hit my legs several times with a supermarket trolley, and continued after receiving a stern glare. I felt it was necessary to berate the child myself as the female parental unit with it thought the child's behaviour was very amusing.
Not a reason if he thought that this will happen, and certainly I wouldn't accept taking shit from him for things that I have nothing to do with - if his food was late it's his problem and he can take it up with the restaurant, but don't make it mine.
Different situation, though I would have taken it out on the woman; kids usually don't know better and it's for the parents to educate & control them, so they should take the blame. She wouldn't be amused after that anymore.I admit I have castigated a child who hit my legs several times with a supermarket trolley, and continued after receiving a stern glare. I felt it was necessary to berate the child myself as the female parental unit with it thought the child's behaviour was very amusing.
(Just for the record: I would not use any violence, just tell her off in front of everyone.)
I am quite surprised that a Chinese would act the way he did even tho he might be a ABC. Chinese are usually timid and in most cases, if he was annoyed, he would rather move his family to another table before he would start yelling in public. Like other members guessed, he must have forgotten his medication that day. That kind of behavior was obviously very out of character for someone who had a little sanity left in him.
A similar situation happened to me in an American restaurant in the US. I just ignored the guy and wouldn't give him the time of day.