Dear Amy: During a recent dinner at a neighborhood restaurant/pub, four people at one table near us were having a very lively conversation. They were loud enough that nearby diners heard their conversation, whether we cared to or not.
As this continued for more than 20 minutes, I became frustrated that their conversation had become an intrusion on the conversation at our own table.
When I asked my dining companions if I should gently ask the primary speaker to please lower his volume and suggest that he lighten up on the profanity, their reply was, “Absolutely not — it’s not your place.”
Was I out of line to be frustrated by the primary speaker’s language?
If he was being inconsiderate of his fellow diners, what would have been the proper course to attempt to rectify the situation?
— Distracted Diner
Dear Distracted: Of course you were frustrated by these other diners! Restaurants overall seem to have become very loud environments, but sometimes one person’s voice and language cuts through the din.
In this situation, you could speak to your wait staff and/or the manager. They would also not likely intervene directly (unless the disruption had become dangerous), but they might offer to change your table and/or comp your drinks or dessert.
