Originally Posted by lg10
Um...ok. From my perspective, "anyone" who would like to win converts to his/her side would give a more calm/content-ful answer than a string of red frownie faces.
I am beginning also to see that flyertalk may have a "norm" of a slight
anti-child bias. I encourage the OP to have a look at babycenter.com or
yahoogroups (under 'travelling with children') so that s/he can get a more
nuanced discussion instead of the spiteful comments that I'm getting here.
At any rate, I don't think that an airplane is very much like a restaurant or
church etc. The main difference is that a plane is a small, sub-optimal
environment for everyone. Compromises must always be made. Not every
compromise will be made in favor of the childless business community.
Paragraph 1: Just like your post count shows, you are new to f/t. That may be why you do not understand the "SMILIES". There purpose is to try and carry over a sense of BODY LANGUAGE that cannot be shown over the internet or in writing. It is a way to let YOU know that I am not trying to THROW YOU OFF THE PLANE AT 30,000 FEET! Frownie-Faces are YELLOW not RED!
Paragraph 2: f/t is NOT anti-child by any means. Most of us travel with their children or have in the past. I have three boys and they have been flying since birth. "BEEN THERE - DONE THAT". The difference between people on f/t and the other sites that you mention is that people on f/t tend to respect others and try to find a mutually acceptable way of dealing with situations. On the other sites, all they care about is "How do I do this regardless of its affect on others!"
Paragraph 3: It is exactly like a RESTAURANT, People eat at that seat before you were there and long after your gone. It is NOT sterilized after every flight. We should do all we can to minimize the contamination for the sake of everyone. All too often someone starts changing their babies diaper in the cabin and OTHERS are eating or have just eaten and it nausiates them. So if you think it is OK to lay your baby on the table and start changing the diaper or sit at the table and change the diaper while others are eating, you are out of touch with what is acceptable.You are so correct a "plane is a small, sub-optimal environment for everyone" so guess what any bacteria or germs WILL be transmitted to others through-out the aircraft. You have your head in the sand thinking that the "business community" is childless.
Lavatories have diaper changing stations that fold down over the toilet. Ask the f/a which one or ones on the a/c that you are flying is equipped with one and use it. Diaper changing in the cabin is DISGUSTING!
Moderator, please close this useless, redundant, thread? @:-)