Originally Posted by bealine

henkybaby as a defender of parents and children? Would you Adam and Eve it?

There was an interesting discussion on LBC Radio t'other day concerning the growing trend of "thug parents" who "inflict" their own ill manners and their unruly children on the silently suffering public.

"They buy the most enormous pushchair they can find (those 3 or 4-wheel leviathans with which you see "celebs" jogging in New York's Central Park, then refuse to fold them when getting on a bus, preferring to take the space reserved for wheelchair users. Even when said wheelchair user wishes to board a couple of stops later, parent refuses to vacate the area."

As a conscientious BA guy, I always try to do my best to get a pushchair in the cabin of the aeroplane, as I know it is so much easier for parents at the other end. But I do expect parents to (a) bring a pushchair of a reasonable size and (b) get to the gate early before the main thrust of boarding starts. So many arrogant parents arrive with enormous contraptions at the last minute expecting to get them taken on board. (What do you want guys? .......do you want it put in a toilet and lock it "out of use" for all the other passengers? Be reasonable..................)

So, I guess we have to be a bit tolerant but parents need to go back to school ands learn a few basic manners too! .......and as for this "no smacking" culture, a good timely clip round the earhole never hurt anyone, for long, providing it was well-deserved!

My Mum's (RIP) answer if we children started crying or whinging was "If you don't stop, you'll get something to cry about!" I think fellow passengers on trains, buses and the Irish ferries had a better, quieter journey in those days!