A Very Interesting Dinner Last Night
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118442)
Gainesville, Florida
February 24, 2019 8:09am CST
Yesterday afternoon, my daughter called me around 5pm and asked me if I wanted to go to Gators Dockside (a local sports bar) and get some wings and watch the Gator mens basketball game after she got off work. Never one to miss an opportunity for wings (or sports), I agreed to meet her at 6pm.
After we were seated and had placed our food order, I noticed that it was eerily quiet in the restaurant, yet the place was packed to capacity. I mean, it was hushed silence, like someone died or something tragic had happened.
When our server returned to our table, I asked her what was going on, and why it was dead-silent in the restaurant. She laughed and told me to look closely at each table. After glancing around for a few seconds, I saw what she was talking about. The entire restaurant was filled with deaf patrons, and they were all using sign language to communicate. Our server told us that a group of about 100 were on their way to Disney World and stopped to get a bite to eat.
It was definitely an interesting experience. I've never been to a sports bar and experienced such peace and solitude. It was actually quite nice, I could carry on a conversation with my daughter without having to raise my voice to be heard.
Have you ever had an interesting experience with a large group of persons with disabilities? Or have you ever had something interesting take place in a restaurant or bar you were in?
25 people like this
24 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
24 Feb 19
Wow that's amazing. I love sign language and have learned a bit through my years. =)
I have never experienced that before but I bet it was very different.
4 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
24 Feb 19
@moffittjc That is so awesome!!! I didn't know they considered it a foreign language, I will have to see if they do here as well. That's amazing I think. 
Thanks for sharing that with me!
Thanks for sharing that with me!2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
@LovingMyBabies I guess "foreign" is not the proper way to describe it, but they do lump it in with other foreign languages for purposes of offering it as a language that meets the state's 2-year requirement.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
I would love to learn sign language. I think it's pretty cool that here in Florida, it's actually recognized as a language. In Florida, all students are required to take two years of foreign languages, and they now will accept sign language as meeting the language requirements.
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
24 Feb 19
I had this pair that would pass by where i was working sometime back and i kind of enjoyed how they would chat in sign language and then they would laugh.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
I'm glad that deaf people have a way to communicate with each other and with everyone else in the world. It's pretty amazing!
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Feb 19
I thought of the movie "A Quiet Place" because we saw that recently 
but oh wow, a huge group of deaf folks would be pretty silent! There is a nearby thrift shop that has mentally disabled young adults working on the floors in every aisle - picking up fallen hangers, sorting, stocking, People who go there for the first time are a bit shocked . . . some speak with no filters, one guy walks around quickly speaking Farci out loud as if he's having a non-stop conversation on a phone with someone (he does not appear to have any devices on him), one guy is very friendly and likes to go up to your face and say hi - the list goes on . . . makes the shopping experience quite interesting for sure!
but oh wow, a huge group of deaf folks would be pretty silent! There is a nearby thrift shop that has mentally disabled young adults working on the floors in every aisle - picking up fallen hangers, sorting, stocking, People who go there for the first time are a bit shocked . . . some speak with no filters, one guy walks around quickly speaking Farci out loud as if he's having a non-stop conversation on a phone with someone (he does not appear to have any devices on him), one guy is very friendly and likes to go up to your face and say hi - the list goes on . . . makes the shopping experience quite interesting for sure!2 people like this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Feb 19
@moffittjc Personal boundaries - yes - this guy liked to tap shopper's shoulders too - the guy who was supervising him kept having to tell him to not do that.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
Wow, that does sound like it would be quite a shopping experience!
I used to help my friend watch his autistic son, and he would also get right up into people's faces to say hi. He didn't understand personal boundaries. But he is a great kid. Actually, he's an adult now.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar 19
@much2say I work a part-time job at Home Depot, and today we had a district-wide safety meeting, where representatives from each of our district's 10 stores gathered together. After the meeting, our district manager took us to lunch. So there was 12 of us sitting together in a restaurant with our Home Depot shirts on. During the lunch, an older lady walks up to the table behind me, puts both of her hands on my shoulders, and leans in to my ear and asks if we all work at Home Depot. I was like, "what the hell is this woman doing, trying to flirt with me?" After she walked away everybody was laughing and saying that a Cougar was trying to pick me up! LOL I guess the woman didn't understand personal boundaries, unless of course she really was trying to flirt!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48442)
• Canada
24 Feb 19
I have never been to a sports bar and experienced that, although it would be a welcome event, but one day we were at our favorite sports bar and there was such loud noise. It turned out that the Celtic youth dance group was there, and talk about eating and running, that is what we did because the noise was out of this world.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (48442)
• Canada
24 Feb 19
@moffittjc No I get it.
I think that any group when they get together about something they are passionate about leads to loud commotion.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
@Juliaacv Yeah, but most large groups don't break out into spontaneous chants and cheers every chance they get. Well, maybe groups of drunks in bars might, but with Brazilians you can count on them to do that every time and no matter what kind of social situation they are in.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
I'v been in sports bars where loads of Brazilian tourists have come in to watch World Cup soccer matches. If you've ever been around large groups of Brazilians, they are very loud and obnoxious and love to constantly do chants. It's quite annoying. In fact, it was such a problem with Brazilian tour groups that Disney World in Orlando had to ban chants and group cheers in their theme parks because so many visitors were complaining about the Brazilians.
Now don't get me wrong, Brazilians are wonderful people, but they do like to create quite a commotion when they are in large groups! haha
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246838)
• United States
24 Feb 19
I taught people with disabilities during my entire career. Each person was unique and wonderful to know - both my students and their disabled parents. I had dinner out with the deaf and the blind many times.
Yes, we were in restaurants in Boston and Toronto when members of two basketball teams came into the restaurants to dine. They were very respectful, if not overly tall. lol
Another time my husband helped someone who had a heart attack.
Another time President George Bush (senior) was in the restaurant surrounded by the Secret Service.
I can go on and on. We eat out often. lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
Wow, you've got quite a few interesting experiences under your belt! I eat out a lot too, but I don't think Taco Bell qualifies as a dining experience! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
@DianneN I have not been to Dave's Raw Bar. I've never even heard of it. It's been so many years since I've been on Lake or Lucerne Avenues that I probably wouldn't recognize how much has changed. Is Dave's Raw Bar a good place to eat? And is Benny's on the Beach still there, out on the Lake Worth Pier?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246838)
• United States
24 Feb 19
@moffittjc 
. At least you eat out and enjoy life! Have you ever been to Dave's Raw Bar on Lake Avenue?
. At least you eat out and enjoy life! Have you ever been to Dave's Raw Bar on Lake Avenue?1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Feb 19
I had a cousin that was deaf, she was not quiet. 
Yes I have had many experiences with the mentally insane, its a different setting completely.
Yes I have had many experiences with the mentally insane, its a different setting completely.2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
There are many deaf individuals who can still talk they just can't hear. And of course, because they can't hear, when they talk they often raise their voices because they don't realize how high the volume is.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
25 Feb 19
@moffittjc Oh I know, she did not talk she was born deaf.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169966)
• United States
24 Feb 19
That is interesting. A couple of years ago, I went for lunch with sis, son and their family. We were in Union Station in Wash DC, which is not far from Galludet University (School for the deaf) We had a table beside us of deaf patrons..They were signing the entire time.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169966)
• United States
24 Feb 19
@moffittjc Yeah, fingers flying! lol.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
I love that a language was created that allows the deaf and mute to communicate with each other and with the outside world! I love when they get excited and "talk" really fast in sign language, just as we would talk really fast with words when we get excited!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
@snowy22315 Yeah, fingers flying all over the place! They have to be careful that they don't accidentally poke each other's eyes out!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Mar 19
I used to do in-home jewelry sales and I did a few shows for hostesses who were deaf. They had someone sign what I was saying and it was rather eerie. We have a Gators Dockside here in Ocala, I like their wings.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
22 Mar 19
@moffittjc well now we know where we are going to meet we just have to figure out when!! 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Mar 19
@BelleStarr Who would have ever thought that Gators Dockside would be the place we meet! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Mar 19
I love Gators Dockside, not only because of their great food and atmosphere, but also because I met my girlfriend there.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
It was a very pleasant experience for me, to actually be able to think clearly and communicate without yelling inside a packed sports bar.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458135)
• Switzerland
25 Feb 19
@moffittjc I have never been inside a sports bar. With my husband, we always choose quiet places where to go, we cannot stand the noise.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Feb 19
@LadyDuck You were smart to choose quiet places over noisy sports bars. The only reason I like going to this particular location is because they have about 100 giant TV's mounted throughout the restaurant, with just about every sport imaginable being shown. So no matter what sport you love, or what game is on TV at the time, there is always something for every sports lover. In this particular instance, my daughter was just craving buffalo chicken wings, and this happened to be the closest place to her work.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95189)
• Marion, Ohio
24 Feb 19
@moffittjc Any full bar is loud. Some restaurants can be too.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
@wolfgirl569 Yeah, and it makes it hard to carry on a decent conversation with someone.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
It was weird only in the sense that I wasn't expecting it. You expect a packed sports bar to be loud, not silent!
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Feb 19
Wow, I have not heard about that Starbucks. I think I remember reading about a deaf employee that a local Starbucks had hired, but definitely not about the one in Seattle that hired all deaf workers!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar 19
@just4him It's probably in Seattle! haha
1 person likes this
@just4him (306237)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Feb 19
@moffittjc Don't quote me as being in Seattle, but I know it's a Starbucks somewhere.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Mar 19
@JudyEv Yes, I said that as a kid. Some words/phrases are timeless.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Feb 19
Are you saying that persons with a disability are funny? I can't believe you Judy. That's mean! LOL
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325798)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Feb 19
@moffittjc I meant funny peculiar, not funny haha. Did you ever say this as kids? Probably not. It came from the era one or two before your time. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
Maybe they are the ones who are blessed, In today's world of over-stimulation from so many sources, the silence can be a welcome thing.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
@CarolDM Silence can be very refreshing at times.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 19
@moffittjc You make an excellent point. I actually love the silence.
1 person likes this
@WiseGhots (14607)
•
24 Feb 19
That's great, Jeff.
There's a local bar where it's possible to see a lot movie's stuffs on the wall. It's like a piece of Hollywood. It's pretty nice to go there.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
I've seen places like that before! Planet Hollywood is a well-known place that features a lot of Hollywood memorabilia. It's pretty cool to see all the props, photos and other movie relics that they have hanging on the walls throughout the restaurant.
1 person likes this
@WiseGhots (14607)
•
24 Feb 19
@moffittjc I've never been in Planet Hollywood... But it's 100% IN on my list.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
@WiseGhots I've been to the Planet Hollywood location at Disney Springs (formerly called Downtown Disney) in Orlando, and the Planet Hollywood in New York City. It's a pretty neat experience.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
25 Feb 19
I have a friend who met her college language requirement with a sign language class. In the schools they mostly use SEE (signing exact English) but in deaf communities and in the deaf culture generally they learn ASL (American Sign Language). I have worked with a large number of people with disabilities, but generally not hearing impaired. I have taken classes in SEE though.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Feb 19
I would love to take an ASL class. I'm sure there are community education classes offered by our local colleges that would include an ASL course!
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
27 Feb 19
@moffittjc definitely one of those things we will never forget.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Feb 19
Oh goodness, I remember the same thing. I was the project manager on a construction site at the time the twin towers fell, and that day we must have had 300 workers on duty. Once the news broke on what was happening, one guy had a little black and white battery-powered TV that all 300 workers tried to gather around to watch the news unfold. You could hear a pin drop it was so quiet!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Feb 19
I usually like loud restaurants where I can't hear myself think. I'm always afraid of what my brain might be saying!
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Mar 19
Well, the staff would have known, and they would have probably called the police or something thinking I was some deranged lunatic! lol
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 19
Once I realized what was going on, I did enjoy watching all the different "conversations" going on around the various tables.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
25 Feb 19
Well didn't you feel a bit dumb lol.
I cant imagine a sports bar quiet though, lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Feb 19
Courtney, me feeling dumb happens much more often than you realize! haha
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
27 Feb 19
@moffittjc think it does for us all, LOL
1 person likes this
