Paul Blankfeld, 36, was arrested in Boynton Beach, Florida, and accused of allegedly punching a father at an Olive Garden because an autistic baby was crying too much and interrupting his “dining experience.” [UPDATE: Blankfeld is the subject of an order last month expunging all record of the arrest and finding that he had not been adjudicated as guilty of any charges in the case.]
The case of restaurant-rage allegedly began with Blankfeld complaining about the noise of children at the nearby table. He was accused of punching the man in the neck. However, according to the recent order, he was never found guilty of such a charge.
Source: KTVL
Just one more example why Florida is fast becoming an older version of Texas! That creep should be put away for awhile and see how he cries uncontrollably. A child can’t always control his/her emotions, unlike non-floridian adults. And an autistic child has less control of their symptoms, especially a baby! What a creep.
Mike A
I’ve lived in Fl several years and have never understood how they can legally exclude any person for not being old enough.
I seem to recall a state representive who sponsered a law saying anyone over 80 had to retake a driving test every four years. AARP made sure he did not win reelection.
I don’t enjoy hearing children cry, but whinny adults should know better.
Mr. Blankfeld justs sounds like a bully.
W=c,
I second Gyges “good on you”.
Nothing makes one appreciate the “Scale of True Happiness” than spending some time with autistic kids. They are often great examples of how not to indulge in self-pity. Plus there is something else I like about them, something we “normals” should take a lesson on. For many with autism, it’s practically impossible to lie. They simply aren’t equipped to operate that way. Although that may be part of the social awkwardness associated with that spectrum of disorders (in addition to not being able to read facial and situational cues the rest of us do), from what I’ve seen, it’s mostly awkwardness on the part of “the normals” who have become so cushioned by the tapestry of “socially acceptable lying” and the white lies of politeness that their heads spin when someone says the simple unadorned truth. The autistic speaker is rarely uncomfortable. They are indeed often puzzled why people get upset for them telling the truth.
And while some “normals” find that disturbing? I find it refreshing.
Woosty,
May I just say, good on you.
jenbrooke, if you’re not in one of them already, you will fit right in with the crowd at one of the numerous over-55 communities here in Florida, where you can spend your ample free time by nosing around to make certain your neighbors aren’t secretly housing grandchildren and by complaining about paying property taxes to support public schools.
“Seriously – since when is it okay to bring kids that can’t control their emotions and outbursts, be they typical 2 year olds or older kids with mental limitations, to a restaurant? Same goes for movies. If they can’t handle being quiet, LEAVE THEM HOME! If you can’t get a sitter, you get to stay home too.”
Don’t go to the matinees. Don’t go to stampede style restaurants. I used to take busloads of developmentally disabled kids bowling and out to eat. The most fun was watching the absolute discomfort of some of the ‘normal’ people….:)
(really though, most people loved to see the ‘gang’ having a great day out)
Jen,
Yeah! Autistic children shouldn’t live anything close to normal lives, it might inconvenience the rest of us. I mean, it’s not like the Olive Garden advertises itself as being a place for families to come. Heck, their slogan is as anti-family as you can get.
Buddha, Blouise, et al,
La Rossa from Birra Moretti is one of my favorite beers.
http://www.birramoretti.com/beers_la-rossa.htm
Their Light Lager is a huge let down.
As much as punching the kid was totally inappropriate, I often internally feel the same way (not particularly at Olive Garden) about other diner’s kids.
Seriously – since when is it okay to bring kids that can’t control their emotions and outbursts, be they typical 2 year olds or older kids with mental limitations, to a restaurant? Same goes for movies. If they can’t handle being quiet, LEAVE THEM HOME! If you can’t get a sitter, you get to stay home too.
“I’m not even Italian but the last time I ate at the Olive Garden I wanted to punch myself in the face.”
LOL! so true.
Mr. Blankfeld appears to have missed very few dining experiences in his lifetime.
vlf2112
1, August 11, 2010 at 10:27 am
Raised in a home by an Italian mother and Italian grandmother, I would hardly call Olive Garden a “dining experience.” The creators of its menu know as much about authentic Italian food as the Wasilly Hillbilly knows about the Constitution, ie: nothing.
At any rate, justice would be tying this knuckle-dragging Neanderthal to a chair and letting the autistic kid slap the sh*t out of him.
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Having been raised with next-door neighbors who were Italian and having enjoyed many dinners with them that lasted for hours, I agree with vlf. (I still use Mrs. D’s bread recipe and her sauce recipe which I spent hours and hours learning to create … and then there were the soups and the pastas and the chicken and the desserts … and the wine!) Thank you vlf, for jump starting some very pleasant memories) When one has experienced the real thing, places like the Olive Garden are pure torture.
What vlf2112 said. I’m not even Italian but the last time I ate at the Olive Garden I wanted to punch myself in the face. They took care of me feeling like I had been punched in the stomach quite well.
Raised in a home by an Italian mother and Italian grandmother, I would hardly call Olive Garden a “dining experience.” The creators of its menu know as much about authentic Italian food as the Wasilly Hillbilly knows about the Constitution, ie: nothing.
At any rate, justice would be tying this knuckle-dragging Neanderthal to a chair and letting the autistic kid slap the sh*t out of him.
not so funny, this is the new norm in South Florida….it’s a lousy menu, blech or drecht
Did someone say Hawaiian Punch……..
Olive Garden – the food is good, the prices reasonable, and free punch for the kids.
er, the date is wrong tho.
Sounds like a normal Thanksgiving dinner to me.
Jerk
I suppose he has never heard “Live and Let Live” or “Living Life on Life’s Terms” oh if there is reincarnation….he gonna have hell to pay…