Topic : 03/06 Etiquette Dilemmas

Child behaviour is one of my soap boxes. My oldest daughter was two years old the first time I had her on an airplane. She alternated sitting  in her seat and sitting in my lap. Otherwise she behaved like an adult. We talked but she was not loud or disruptive to others on the plane. When she had to go the the bathroom she quietly told me and held my hand as we quitely  walked to the bathroom and back.  No child can be expected to be an adult but at that age children have the capacity to be able to learn right from wrong to a greater extent than most parents realize. Maybe they don't want to realize this because it puts the responsibility on them for their childs' behaviour. Both of my children were taught to have manners in public at a very young age. At one time my two daughters, who were teenagers at the time, and I were in public having our senses assaulted by a screaming, crying, kicking brat. The mother was doing nothing with this kid to let him know that you shouldn't  behave that way in public or anywhere else. I looked at my daughters in astonishment and said "You two never acted that way." My oldest daughter said they knew they wouldn't like what  happened if they did act that way. You don't have to beat or abuse a child in any way to teach them. But it does take work and thought and I feel most parents don't want to be bothered. They would rather cruise and let the kid do whatever he or she wants and somehow that parent has the abiblity to ignore the brat. I can't ignore it. I doubt I would have been able to ignore the brat on the airplane. I did not force my bratty kids on others and I do not appreciate it when someone forces his or her bratty kid on me. That mother and child should have been removed from the airplane. I remember hearing about that incident on the news. My daughter that has a little boy heard about that, too. We three flew from Dallas to St. Louis. My daughter was scared to death fearing she and her baby would get thrown off of that airplane. The baby was 22 months old at the time and he can be a handful. But I wasn't worried. I knew she disciplined her child. He was a little testy and fidgity but he was not noisy and unruly and disruptive. He did fiine. That is my proof that very young children can behave on airplanes without disturbing others. I recall a trip I took on an airplane sitting across from two little girls. One was under a year old and I think the other was three. Ay first I thought "Oh, no." But those children behaved. They weren't perfect little adults but they did not create a problem. I commended the parents for obviously disciplining and training their kids. More proof that children can behave on airplanes. Again, don't force your bratty kids off on me.

I agree with you on your first point about etiquitte, however, your second is a little frustrating to me.  What about the saying "there is a time and a place for everything"?  You're probably asking, "well, what about it?"  She was flying to Arizona, she wasn't going to a bar to pick up guys. Get my drift?

I don't consider being told to put clothes on grounds for a law suit based on discrimination.  I have CP so, when I think of discrimination I think race, ethnic background, religious conviction, physical abilities , etc.  Things we can't help, not things we can like the way we dress.  Once it was brought to SWA's attention, she was asked to change so apperently she was the one breaking the rules, otherwise the person who made the initial complaint would have been informed the she was within dress code. 

Furthermore, it is up SWA and every other airline what their customers wear.  To fly on buddy passes you HAVE TO wear the appropriate attire, no if , and's or but's.  I am aware that she was not flying on a buddy pass.  I just think it needs to be accross the board.  I've been reading other posts that feel the same way I do and I'm wondering where are our rights to not  be exposed to people who think they have a right to dress how they choose, in public no less?  You can dress however you so choose in the privacy of your own home but the minute you step out into public you make it the publics business. Not to mention,  what about the kids on that flight who probably unintentionally saw her underwear as well?  Shouldn't parents have a right to voice their opinions if they feel someone is not dressed appropriately with their chioldren present?  I think so!  I would be shocked if this particular situation doesn't majorly change things in the way of dress code.  It very well should.

It amazes me how many people actually pay attention to what others are wearing, I mean really aircraft seats are not set up like say train seats, so unless someone's child was hanging over the seat, how would they see anything ?  Okay, maybe she flashed when putting bags in the overhead, but how many passengers (unless you have a thing about watching others) were really paying that much attention.  Look at it this way, at least you KNEW for sure she wasn't hiding ANYTHING in that outfit ( tongue in cheek ) to be honest I wouldn't wear it (don't have the legs for it ), but what an airline charges for its tickets, no I wouldn't want them dictating what I can or cannot wear anyway.

As for the baby, OMG, if he was just babbling happily (beats the screaming child in row six , right ?) then whoever complained its their problem, and yes they should get over themselves, even a crying baby, his/her ears might be REALLY aching (I know when I fly my ears are in agony for the better part of the flight and NOTHING helps), if it bothers a person that badly, bring earplugs or charter a private flight, its PUBLIC transportation, that means you have to deal with every type of person imaginable.

Not only do I consider peeing on the seat, and using a cellphone while a clerk is waiting on you rude, or making sure EVERYONE in the restaurant hears your phone conversation, how about people using terms of endearment to you "sweetheart " , "dear" and my personal favorite "honey " to total strangers ? I can tolerate it from older people, but NOT people my age or younger, that drives me nuts.

As for noise sensitivity, migraines , adult ADHD and other illnesses can be culprits, but we do not live in a silent world (no kidding, there have been times I wished I would lose the hearing in my other ear as well, yes babies crying, screaming kids, they can send me up the wall, why ? It's the pitch of the wailing, however I do realize that there is probably a reason for it and have learned to remove myself.