Teens being harassed for being teens
Bruce Christensen
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 11/01) - Teens these days are sometimes treated badly at eating establishments.
In some cases teens get a little obnoxious or hostile to staff or managers of the establishments so businesses have a right not to put up with it and kick the people out or give them a warning that they will have to leave.
In some cases it isn't the teens' fault that some managers and staff of restaurants are just plain idiots.
In a recent letter sent to South of 20 from a teen named Nancy MacNeill she was pretty upset about the way a restaurant treated her.
"Although there are many kind, customer-friendly individuals working there, the owner who has taken over in the past few months has become known for treating customers, especially youth, with disrespect and rudeness," said MacNeill in her letter to South of 20.
In the letter she also said, "I am certain that many people know what I am talking about. Several may have experienced this first hand.
"Today (March 28, 2001) I went to the restaurant with my sister, and we both purchased food. As soon as we had finished, the owner took our tray, and rudely told me that I 'hang out there too much.' I responded by saying that I always purchase food. Then I was told that 'it doesn't matter' and that we should go elsewhere if we want to hang out. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred," said MacNeill.
"I believe people who are willing to pay to sit down and enjoy a meal should be treated with the same decency with which we are willing to treat the owner of this restaurant," MacNeill added as a final comment.
Back at you
I, as a teen activist, feel that these people who treat teens with disrespect because they are teens and think they are just hanging out when they are paying for the food are unfair.
Most restaurants hire teens as their employees and shouldn't be putting down teens when they are working for you, making you money and when they buy food from your establishments they are still making you money. So, what are you losing when some teens sit down for a while after they eat their food?
You aren't losing money and I am pretty sure you wouldn't kick some adults out if they were sitting down after a meal they paid for.
So, whoever is doing this you should really lighten up. Think before you do something to a teen or try to kick them out of your establishment after they are done eating their food, because it will eventually come back at you in the long run.
