Originally Posted by
Micromegas
I do think that it is very unlikely that my child will seat kick. In the event that he does it appears that it is a big problem as I will have you and your ilk screaming assault. It's like the Sword of Damocles, it's not that it falls all the time but that it could fall at any time without warning despite your best efforts to stop it. And when it does fall it's a big deal.
I'm not going to get into a debate over literary style. If you like, we can match graduate degrees some time.
Notwithstanding, what you wrote above does, indeed, get to the heart of the matter. If you know there is a potential that your kid is going to kick seats, then book bulkheads, F, or don't fly with your kid. Because I don't care whether your kid is a perfect angel 99% of the time if, the 1% of the time he is not, I'm on long haul trying to sleep, or a transcon trying to relax myself enough to get through a difficult job interview, etc.
Seat kicking is never acceptable. Period. Your best efforts mean nothing, if the result of them is that my seat is kicked. Your child's otherwise angelic behavior means nothing, if your child kicks my seat.
That kind of imposition on strangers is completely unacceptable. Ever. Under any circumstances.
I still feel that parents are on your side regarding this issue and that we are not entitlement demanders as we do not board with with the intent for our children to seat kick. A bully (who I will assume is a fully enfranchised adult in total control of his actions) has intent to punch you in the nose. Only after repeated "I don't care" and "not my problem" beat downs did we parents lose patience (which is tough to do to a parent - kudos!). While your sentiments are perhaps legitimate I'm not sure they are productive which you should care about but probably don't. I hate to tell you but a world with 100% guaranteed zero seat kicking is a utopian fantasy. If, however, as a result of this debate I can invent a solution that would guarantee such a world I will cut you in for 50% and you can retire the next day!
And that is difference between you (and parents who think as you do) and me (and people who think as I do). A society in which parents do not inflict intrusive behavior on strangers is not utopian -- it's the society in which I grew up. I am well aware that the prevalent philosophy among many parents is, "I can bring my child anywhere as long as I do my best," but it's one that is, at it's core, an entitlement demand. It is wrong to expect people to tolerate intrusive impositions in any context because they originate from a child. The fact that the parent may have done their best to curtail the imposition doesn't discharge their responsibility to strangers. There are venues in which childish behavior doesn't bother anyone or is, in fact, privileged. Aircraft, however, are not one of them. That's not utopian idealism in my book. THAT is simple reality. It was the reality that I grew up in and spent a good part of my adult life in.