Strange encounter at diner PART II

[American1776]

Many chimed in regarding my encounter several weeks ago at a diner with my family. http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=323173

Well, it happened again. My wife, young daughter and my parents out to breakfast at the same diner. The same man comes in and sits in the same seat as last time. I watch him. (This time, i'm in the gunfighter seat). Today I open carried the Beretta 92 Inox with 20 round magazine.

Man watches my daughter frequently. Then he stands up and heads over to our table. I stand up this time, and 'intercept' him before he gets to my daughter. He goes on again about how well behaved she is, and then he takes his little bag, and out comes a bucket of lollipops. We pick one, I tell my daughter I'll hold it for her, he sits back down. My daughter than asks me, 'do we know that man'?---indicating that she remembers my discussions I had with her about interacting with people she doesn't know (strangers).

When we finish eating, I discretely ask our waitress to speak with a manager, making it clear it's not about the service but instead a customer. Manager comes out, I tell him that the gentleman in the table (discretely indicated) has now on two occasions offered candy to my daughter. Manager tells me he's a frequent guest and that he's got a good heart and he's not a bad guy, and that he offers candy to other families. I say that's fine, I understand, and I'm not telling you to do anything about it. He asks if he'd like to mention to him something, I said that maybe mention that not all customers feel comfortable with having candy offered to their children. He shook my hand and said that's certainly fine.

My take is this old guy is just a lonely, socially awkward man who may or may not be a creep toward children. Probably harmless---but it is a bit 'off'.

[raxar]

Yeah, and the manager has no idea whether or not the old guy goes home and beats off to child porn. This kind of shit needs to be watched closely.

[Statkowski]

[mountaineer1673]

perhaps you shouldnt take the candy...

you have a problem with a stranger giving your daughter candy, and for the record i do to; however, i would have told him to politely fuck off. by you taking the candy (twice), you are accepting his behavior.

just a thought

[abner13]

Ever think he's just a kindly old grandfather type? Old folks in my neighborhood while I was growing up were always giving us kids candy , cookies. Many had no kids of their own , or they lived far away. Teach them to say thank you , but beware of bad people. It's a sad shame what this world is becoming.

[Walleye Hunter]

Ever think he's just a kindly old grandfather type? Old folks in my neighborhood while I was growing up were always giving us kids candy , cookies. Many had no kids of their own , or they lived far away. Teach them to say thank you , but beware of bad people. It's a sad shame what this world is becoming.

^^^^^^ This is what I'm thinking but...equally question the old guy's motive, it does sound unusual. It is a shame that what could just be a man's nice gesture has to be questioned, it says a lot about our society today.

[bogey1]

Holy cow man, 20 rounds? Going to war or somthin

[American1776]

Holy cow man, 20 rounds? Going to war or somthin

Hahaha, carry extra double stack mags is a pain.

[MARINE DIVISION TWO]

Being a grandfather I recognize the fact that if I were to comment/offer candy or such to any stranger especially a young lady I would be looked upon with disgust no matter how honorable my intentions.I save the niceties for my grandchildren who are family and keep even nice comments to myself.I am with my wife probably 99 % of the time and we do make comments to each other like oh how nice a family there is enjoying themselves on vacation or whatever. I O/Ced today at our local diner with the wife of course and was stared at for our entire meal because my Glock 19 was visable.They actually went to the proprietor and said there a man with a gun eating here,The owner knowing the laws and me commented I would bet he is enjoying his meal too ! they were a little shocked but went back to their table to eat and that was all,lol !

[bamboomaster]

Being a grandfather I recognize the fact that if I were to comment/offer candy or such to any stranger especially a young lady I would be looked upon with disgust no matter how honorable my intentions.I save the niceties for my grandchildren who are family and keep even nice comments to myself.I am with my wife probably 99 % of the time and we do make comments to each other like oh how nice a family there is enjoying themselves on vacation or whatever. I O/Ced today at our local diner with the wife of course and was stared at for our entire meal because my Glock 19 was visable.They actually went to the proprietor and said there a man with a gun eating here,The owner knowing the laws and me commented I would bet he is enjoying his meal too ! they were a little shocked but went back to their table to eat and that was all,lol !

OP, your reaction (and mine) would have been different if the gentleman dropped off a can of "PLAYDOUGH" to a crying/figditing/out-of-control kid. In the old days, Playdough was safe to eat and you didn't need to pay up for a fidgitspinner...

I had to re-think my generosity of yesterday too - while we can't grow pumpkins worth a damn, for some reason, we have the cucumbers from hell. When I saw the neighbors across the street (mom & young kids), I walked over and gave her a freshly-picked cuke - about 9" in length. Because of the possible pejorative connotations raised by the OP, maybe I should have waited until her spouse was visible, maybe I should have given her two - but it wasn't a restaurant and I was just being neighborly. Whenever they come back from a fishing trip, they always ring the doorbell and drop off some of their "catch".

Next time I'm gonna just leave a basket of these at the door...at least they'll know they're organic....

When did being neighborly get to be so difficult? Possibly when a stranger rewards a kid with candy - for the second time????