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[dr_stones]

If you wish to be freed from children on an aeroplane, do not fly coach.

There.  You get what you pay for in the travel market.

[normative_]

If you wish to be freed from children on an aeroplane, do not fly coach.

There.  You get what you pay for in the travel market.

When my university pays me more, I will.

[poiuy]

HEY YOU who keeps staring at me because my baby is crying, or complaining not-so-quietly to the person sitting next to you about screaming pain-in-the-ass children on planes--I'm not enjoying it either!  I would pay serious bucks for some miracle that will keep my child quiet and content from take-off to landing.  So if you possess such powers, please do fill me in.  And share it with other traveling parents.  I assure you, you'll get rich fast! 

Seriously people, please try to keep in mind that most frazzled parents really are doing their absolute best to keep their kids from driving everyone else on the flight crazy.  Perhaps you could try showing some compassion for them.  If you keep that promise, perhaps they will promise to keep their child from pounding on your seat back for two hours straight or from eating food off your tray.

Now everyone, have a nice flight.

Give your children alcohol. Or drugs. So that they stop kicking us and throwing things on our heads. Or spitting up on us. Or running up and down the isles and banging in to us / our work that then gets spilled all over the floor / our laptops. And don't give me that nonsense about harming the kids or us not being tolerant. If kids don't behave themselves, they don't belong on planes. Or they should be sedated. Or put in very long sleeves that tie around the back.

It's all for the greater good.

And it is the parent's responsibility to make it happen. You wouldn't expect people to understand if your child rampaged in a restaurant, kicking people's chairs and fingering their food.

If you know how to keep a child quiet better than their parents do,
feel free to take over.   Like the prior poster wrote, easier said
than done.  As we found on our most recent trip, even multiple
prescription medicines failed to prevent/cure/soothe our child's
ear-ache, and yes, he was screaming in agony during the landing.
I am so sorry if you were inconvenienced.  If you ever had to
endure similar pain, you'd probably bellow too.  Judging from
the awful glares we got, in the public perception,
the 1.5 hours he was quiet were overshadowed by the
20 minutes he was noisy. 

It's easy to suggest giving a child alcohol or drugs on an e-forum.
In real life this is illegal, and parents trying this would get arrested;
in case you didn't know.   In case you *did*  know,
why bother to bring it up?  Even as a "joke", it's threadbare.

We need to travel too.  Since you advise that we stay
home or stay off planes, why don't you try that strategy
for yourself?   Telecommute or drive to your destination.
Or give yourself the meds, drinks, and straitjacket. 
Might mellow you out. 

[normative_]

Two things Pouiy:

1) It's a question of externalities. I don't hit people or kick people or their stuff. Not everything a child does can be blamed on the child. They're children. But they have parents who are responsible for them. Period. They are responsible for dealing with it. If, outside of a plane, your kid breaks my window, I go to you, not to the kid.

2) No one is seriously suggesting you drug your kid or tie him up. It's called humour. Be as patient with that as you expect us to be with your kids, and we'll all get along fine.

If they stop kicking us, that is.

 

[london1]

Hey You Guys:  Yes, you who are walking four-abreast on the sidewalk.  Who do you think you are, the Cartwrights?  Please walk two-abreast so those of us who work in this city can get back to the campus after lunch.  And pick up the pace while you are at it.  This is not a cakewalk.

[poiuy]

Two things Pouiy:

1) It's a question of externalities. I don't hit people or kick people or their stuff. Not everything a child does can be blamed on the child. They're children. But they have parents who are responsible for them. Period. They are responsible for dealing with it. If, outside of a plane, your kid breaks my window, I go to you, not to the kid.

2) No one is seriously suggesting you drug your kid or tie him up. It's called humour. Be as patient with that as you expect us to be with your kids, and we'll all get along fine.

If they stop kicking us, that is.

 

Well normative:  if my child "bothers" you and you come to me,
I'll tell you again what I wrote above:  there are limits to parental
effectiveness.  If you can do better within the limits of the law
feel free to take over.  I bow to your superior wisdom.

Parents have responsibility for their children, but parents do not have magic control and authority over their children.  As many posters have
said, it's not as if the parents are enjoying themselves any more
than you are.   If they found an effective tactic they'd use it.

And if that is what you call "humour", don't quit your day job.
We've heard all about drugs, alcohol, restraints, and dungeons before.
There are limits to patience, and after listening to jab after jibe
about kids, what little patience the kids have not already used up
wears out. 
Do you bear bait in your spare time? 

[dr_stones]

If you wish to be freed from children on an aeroplane, do not fly coach.

There.  You get what you pay for in the travel market.

When my university pays me more, I will.

Specious. 

[dr_stones]

I'm pretty good with kids. So, when kids are acting up on planes, I'm usualy able to help calm them down, and sometimes a (usually new or lone-travelling) parent learns something in the process.

If you've had kids, you get it. If you never had kids, you might, but odds are if kids annoy you and you never had kids, you just don't get it.

They're not pets, or robots. They are miniature crazy people.

[nightowl]

If you've had kids, you get it. If you never had kids, you might, but odds are if kids annoy you and you never had kids, you just don't get it.

They're not pets, or robots. They are miniature crazy people.

Dr stones, this is the best definition you have given yet!

Having had to travel with three small children alone with one of them throwing up just as we boarded the plane, I have infinite gratitude for all my fellow passengers like drstones who were good with kids and helped me out.  Although I do have to say that my kids did none of the things people have grouched about here.  I have infinite patience for anyone else traveling with small children and anyone with kids, I hope you sit next to me next time so I can pay it forward.

[dr_stones]

Mighty kind of you, Pat.

Know the difference between a four-year-old and a businessman on an airplane?

The four-year-old actually pays attention to the flight attendant. 

[normative_]

That's great. Some stewards and stewardesses just have a knack.

I have to say I have a positive experience with most parents. They can't stop the crying of the little ones, which is why I have earplugs. They normally make an effort to reign in the kicking or the whacking when I ask nicely, which is all I can ask. Which I do. A solution is only elusive if I can't find the parent or they insist on letting the kids do whatever they want. To whomever. Thankfully, that's rare.