Last night I went out to dinner with friends and we got seated next to a husband and wife who were clearly having an argument. They ate in silence and then halfway through their meal, she burst into tears. Though I know it's impolite to stare, we just couldn't help ourselves!

When you take your personal drama out in the public, one has to assume that people will not only eavesdrop, but feel slightly uncomfortable, too — an awkward situation for all! Sure, sometimes our emotions get the best of us, but is getting emotional in public — no matter what the circumstances — a do or a don't?









Aftershock
Haburi
Jimmy Choo
I think the best thing to do is save it for later... ESPECIALLY if you are with another couple/group of people. I have been out with another couple who got in a heated argument in the middle of dinner. My boyfriend and I just sat there in silence while they duked it out in front of us - it was SO uncomfortable. If I was her, I would have said, "We'll talk about it when we get home, let's enjoy dinner," or something along those lines. Save the melodrama for home!
1aw! poor lady! i've gotten emotional in public... luckily, it was daytime and i had my handy-dandy oversized sunglasses with me!
2Again love conquers all, if you love someone you have lots of patience with them. If you are lukewarm, you will find yourself being very impatient and tick off at everything he does. If it is the latter, won't hold it in till you get home. If I truly loves someone, anything is possible.
3No matter what? Of course not, who lives their lives by absolute rules like that? I think as long as you aren't taking out your anger on unsuspecting strangers, be who you are no matter where you are. Whatever.
4Ive had boyfriends who tried to get me riled up in public...I think the only time it actually worked was if we had been drinking. But for the most part I like to keep private matters private. Im a really private person and I find it incredibly embarassing when the person Im with is causing a scene. I usually will just walk away.
5I have a mental block about crying or even getting angry in public. I never want to cause a scene or draw more attention to myself. But it usually starts to set in on the way home. But even though I can't cry in public, sometimes I want to.
6So if I could, I would and I see nothing wrong with it.
I try not to get emotional in front of anyone except my husband and I don't do it often. When we have a big fight we lay in bed in the dark and duke it out (so there will be no screaming or throwing). When we are done talking and taking up the dark sets a good mood for make up sex . . . LOL.
7i have excused myself and gone to the bathroom but, sadly, i have gotten emotional in public. i cant help it...once it starts its hard to hold it back. my hubby and i, however, try to not fight in public
8I don't think people generally want to create a scene in public... and because of that, I don't think it's fair to judge when situations happen. I highly doubt that the woman at the table arguing with her husband and then crying WANTED that situation to happen at dinner, but she was probably unable to hold it in until she got home. Sometimes, you CAN'T hold it in. If you're able to be completely in control of your emotions 100% of the time, then good for you... but not everyone is that perfect.
9i don't think anyone wants to break down in public, but it happens. Its happened to me once or twice. Its embarrassing, but hey, if you gotta get it out, well...you just gotta.
10I was eating out with my boyfriend, and outside the window, some lady hit a guy on a motorcycle. I saw him fly across the road and land in a bundled heap. You better believe I started crying! The waitress didn't know what to do, and I felt horrible, but I couldn't help it.
But, as for my own drama and problems, I leave those at home. Or try to, at least.
11I'm totally against it, but unfortunately, sometimes it's completely unavoidable. My ex and I had several tearful fights in restaurants (well, I was tearful) before we eventually broke up. I hope I won't ever go through that again...
12Generally I'd say getting emotional in public is a don't. If you are out to dinner or something and end up in an argument, either stop arguing and say you'll discuss it later or leave asap. Believe me, as a bartender there is nothing more awkward than being forced to witness a couple's private argument or drama.
13However, sometimes you can't help being emotional in public if something moves you. But if you are very upset you should go somewhere private until you calm down.
If a guy makes you want to cry in restaurant when you normally won't . No one should be subjected to that much pain. I say it is time to say "goodbye"
14don't, if at all possible. sometimes though the emotion is so high that people can't help themselves. when we see this when we're out we ignore it. we've noticed it more lately, i think lots of people are stressed.
15Thank goodness I chose drama classes over art
I can channel the energy to a poker
face most of the time.(unfortunately it makes you look like a b*tch) But there have been times that even a header or picture on a magazine can set me off in a crying spell so I just go to the
bathroom and pull it together. And then leave as quickly as possible. There was a time I was so depressed I had 'public day'...that was the day I made sure I was happy enough to run all my
errands and planned something enjoyable to make sure I could get through it. Sometimes the songs played in the grocery stores set me off. It was nearly impossible but somehow I got through
it. Arguing in public is an absolute no, that I can control.
16It's not like one wants to be emotional in public, it happens if it happens. A do or a don't? Of course, we would love it to be a don't, but stuff happens.
17I hate seeing people arguing in public. It's not at all classy and I'm sure the debate over if 'you totally checked out that girl/guy' can wait until you're home, or atleast until you're away from a crowd.
18Although I agree that if someone got broken up with in public or was told some other bad news, then I can see why they'd get emotional. Screaming and fighting in public is not really acceptable, though.
19i don't.
20it's pretty much impossible for me to cry in front of someone.
i'm just not a public emotions type of girl.
I'm not one to show my emotions very often anyways, but sometimes it can't be helped. However, I would NEVER start an argument in public! How embarrassing. It's embarrassing for the people around you, too.
21Don't. The exception is if you received a call about a loved one injured/passing or if someone said something very harsh. Then I can understand starting to cry or losing your cool, however leave ASAP, do not just stay in public. It is uncomfortable for everyone (aka strangers) involved and arguing in public is embarrassing.
22It's not the best thing in the world. It's really embarrassing to me. And it makes it super awkward for people you are with or around you. But really, I agree that sometimes you just can't avoid it, emotions aren't always controllable, and it happens. So it's not a huge deal, unless someone makes a habit out of it, b/c they just don't care.
23I have cried in public but the scenario was entirely different. I've cried at airports on several occasions when I was parting with love ones. But couples who often take their drama to public places have serious issues. There is a time and a place and having it escalate to epic proportions in public can easily destroy the relationship.
24I would have gone to the bathroom or insisted on leaving. I wouldn't be able to eat a meal if I was upset anyway.
I try and keep my drama for behind closed doors.
25A major major don't! I hate being involved in any kind of drama in public! Unfortunately my boyfriend doesn't mind at all and he doesn't mind arguing, crying and basically throwing temper tantrums in public (like throwing his coat on the ground in anger, hissing loudly at me in a restaurant...and everyone stares...ugh I hate that!
26I don't even cry in front of my family, so crying in front of strangers is out of the question. But I know some people can't help it.
27it's a don't if you can help it, but sometimes girls cry and they can't help it!
i cried in a restaurant once with my boyfriend and only the waitress would have been able to see (i wasn't bawling or anything and i was facing a wall) and it was kinda embarassing and my boyfriend felt terrible (especially cuz it looked like he was making me cry but he totally wasn't and is such a good guy)
but i try my hardest not to go into public places if i know i might get upset, especially about relationship stuff...like when i knew i was about to break up with my ex, he tried to meet me in starbucks and i made him come to my car! no chance i am going to let him catch me in a public place when i might feel like yelling!
28um, nourche - that doesn't sound like a super healthy relationship
29i'd not only be mortified if my boyfriend did that in public, but if he did it in private, i'd still think he was being a child...who behaves that way?
i try to suck it up and not...but sometimes a few leak out. i really don't want to be crying in public...its sooo embarressing! but hey...i'm not the first to cry..and won't be the last!
30I'm guilty of crying in public ... often. I'm just a really emotional person ... and it seems when my ex would say things to break my heart ... it was always in public. Even the run to the bathroom or go outside tricks don't help.
31We're human beings with a complex range of emotion! What's so scary to people about emotion? Have some empathy!
32agree with jenniferjane. Nobody enjoys being tearful in public, and I agree about leaving shouting matches at home. But if someone is sitting silently with tears rolling down her face and can't stop, I think it's really rude to shame her by staring! I guarantee you she doesn't want to be that person...
33DON'T! And if you do, sunglasses are a great cover up!
34i think that it's probably a don't but i know that i've had my situation once or twice when it's happened. i get embarrassed when things like this happen, and i know that there are a lot of folks out there who do listen into conversations and pay attention when they shouldn't.
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