Unescorted Minors - I expect the desk to take the lead.....but..........

[Greenday]

But bowlers truly do seem to hate kids. Keep in mind, the childs experience at the lanes is very important. If you run them off, the game has no future. Try to let them enjoy themselves. You are the adult, control yourself. A stern "no," might not be the best response.

Oh, God forbid we tell kids no! How horrible! Maybe we should just let natural selection have its way and let these kids run around unsupervised and possibly get smacked in the face by a 15lbs. ball. I'm sure the brain damage wouldn't be too severe. Same things with kids playing in the street. Let's just let them run around in the street ignoring traffic. The adults driving cars should just know to stop for them, even if one of them runs in front of their car not giving them enough time to stop. Silly adults wanting other people to teach their kids how to behave properly.

[GoodGravy]

I love kids...have a ton of them...

Parents who don't keep their children under control need to have a an 'ol fashioned whoopin themselves.

Was bowling a few weeks ago and this 2-3 year old actually ran in front of me DOWN MY LANE. Fortunatly I was able to abort by approach and nobody was worse for wear....the 'parent' ( I would eat my hat if she was 20 years old) just smiled and said sorry. I spoke to the child and mom and let them both know that it was very dangerous to just run around and they needed to be careful,no response by mom and the kid just ran the other way.....

What can you do other than hope the bowling center has thier liability insurance paid up...

[The German Shepherd]

I don't hate kids. I love kids. Wanna know how much? I will tell you. I took my two youngest kids bowling today. I needed the practice and they wanted to go and have some fun. I figured a couple things out and in my last game started out with the FIRST 11! On my 12th and final ball, a teenage girl ran up on me (on the lane to my immediate left) and literally bounced her ball off the TOP OF THE RIGHT BUMPER. The ball bounced off the top of her right bumper, let me say it again, the ball bounced off the top of her right bumper, and the ball bounced onto my lane. ONTO MY LANE. Long story short, when was the last time you saw a 293??? Unh huh. I love kids...

Jay

[75lockwood]

I don't hate kids. I love kids. Wanna know how much? I will tell you. I took my two youngest kids bowling today. I needed the practice and they wanted to go and have some fun. I figured a couple things out and in my last game started out with the FIRST 11! On my 12th and final ball, a teenage girl ran up on me (on the lane to my immediate left) and literally bounced her ball off the TOP OF THE RIGHT BUMPER. The ball bounced off the top of her right bumper, let me say it again, the ball bounced off the top of her right bumper, and the ball bounced onto my lane. ONTO MY LANE. Long story short, when was the last time you saw a 293??? Unh huh. I love kids...

Jay

Sorry Jay, but that's really funny LOL

I think the whole point here is it's not the age or that makes annoys bowlers, it's uncourteous people who don't know enough about the sport/game we all love. in a perfect world everyone who enters a bowling ally would have at least a basic understanding of safety rules and lane courtesy. but we don't live in that world, so we deal with it the best we can.

to be quite honest i don't get annoyed as much at people who don't know there doing something wrong I'd sooner teach them then get mad, but people who know better and choose to do things wrong on the other hand....

Solution?: if you see a kid is doing something potentially dangerous explain to the parent (don't be rude) and if they choose to ignore you, have a word with the manager about the liability. apart from that not much you can do other than trying not to hit a 4 year old in the face on the back swing

[billf]

people who know better and choose to do things wrong on the other hand.

That's exactly the point!

[Greenday]

but people who know better and choose to do things wrong on the other hand....

Like letting your kid run around unsupervised and not caring when they run in front of someone swinging their bowling ball right at them. Who do you think the parent will be mad at: the kid or me? Odds are it won't be their precious snowflake.

[ArtVandelay]

Oh, God forbid we tell kids no! How horrible! Maybe we should just let natural selection have its way and let these kids run around unsupervised and possibly get smacked in the face by a 15lbs. ball. I'm sure the brain damage wouldn't be too severe. Same things with kids playing in the street. Let's just let them run around in the street ignoring traffic. The adults driving cars should just know to stop for them, even if one of them runs in front of their car not giving them enough time to stop. Silly adults wanting other people to teach their kids how to behave properly.

Hahahaha. Hence the Carlin video. By the way... I forgot to mention, there is a slight language warning on Mr. Conductors video. I love Carlin, may he rest in peace.

Playing in the street was no big deal. I did it all the time as a kid. When you see the car, grab the goal (and/or home plate) and get the helloutta the way.

Im not going to win this argument because Im on a bowling forum, but a lot of the people here really need to lighten up on the little ones. Once again: its just a GAME. Not a livelihood (for most of us, at least). Its just a hobby, just a game. Run off too many of the youth and the game will go away for future generations, because those kids ARE the future generations.

[ecub]

Like most people who bowl during open bowling, the parents probably don't know the dangers of bowling as well as bowling etiquette. They probably think we are throwing around 8 lbs bowling balls, like their kids. They also don't realize that fingers can get pinched between the bowling balls in the ball return. Nor do they know there is oil in the lanes. They probably also don't know that food/drinks are NOT allowed on the approach, which could pose a danger for the bowlers following their party, if any was spilled.

If there were children around me, that would venture towards my lane, I would ask the front counter to be moved. If I'm not able, I would try to tolerate them. If I saw children playing around in the ball return, I would warn the children, and tell the parents as well. I don't want to be thought that I am scolding their children.

[2fingerroller]

The staff at my local lanes as I suspect others don't go over the rules with the parents or the kids before they start. Most parents that don't bowl regularly view a party at the lanes as Chuck E Cheese but without the staff provided baby sitting. The only good thing is that the staff know me and know not to let me bowl knowing full well a party will be within two lanes of where I'll be bowling.

[75lockwood]

Hahahaha. Hence the Carlin video. By the way... I forgot to mention, there is a slight language warning on Mr. Conductors video. I love Carlin, may he rest in peace.

Playing in the street was no big deal. I did it all the time as a kid. When you see the car, grab the goal (and/or home plate) and get the helloutta the way.

Im not going to win this argument because Im on a bowling forum, but a lot of the people here really need to lighten up on the little ones. Once again: its just a GAME. Not a livelihood (for most of us, at least). Its just a hobby, just a game. Run off too many of the youth and the game will go away for future generations, because those kids ARE the future generations.

Lol Carlin is amazing, its so scary because i still remember watching him as Mr Conductor.... the first time i saw his standup i was speechless, then i started laughing my *** off