Irresponsible Parenting or Am I Missing Something?
Feb 23, 2019, 12:53 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 565
This photo was taken literally 3 seconds are touch down and there wasn't any seatbelt on that I could see. I'm 99% sure there wasn't one on him at all.
We often hear about car crashed when three 18 year olds have been killed because they weren't wearing seatbelts and I know each and every single one of us say "what...who doesn't wear a seatbelt?".
Well ladies and gentlemen. it starts right here. This moment in this kids life may spell his future out for him. Mum thinks its ok not to wear a seatbelt on a plane so car must be ok...right! This is why those 18 year olds die because they weren't wearing seat belts. This decision right here!
My guess is that if I witnessed this, then the kid is probably in a car without one on a regular basis too.
We often hear about car crashed when three 18 year olds have been killed because they weren't wearing seatbelts and I know each and every single one of us say "what...who doesn't wear a seatbelt?".
Well ladies and gentlemen. it starts right here. This moment in this kids life may spell his future out for him. Mum thinks its ok not to wear a seatbelt on a plane so car must be ok...right! This is why those 18 year olds die because they weren't wearing seat belts. This decision right here!
My guess is that if I witnessed this, then the kid is probably in a car without one on a regular basis too.
Feb 23, 2019, 12:54 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 565
Not at this moment because I had to quickly whip my phone out of my pocket to grab this photo! Very shortly after I turned it on!
Feb 23, 2019, 12:57 am
#18
In memoriam
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DAL
Programs: SWA A list preferred and CP, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Hertz President's club
Posts: 9,803
Is this not the seatbelt
This photo was taken literally 3 seconds are touch down and there wasn't any seatbelt on that I could see. I'm 99% sure there wasn't one on him at all.
We often hear about car crashed when three 18 year olds have been killed because they weren't wearing seatbelts and I know each and every single one of us say "what...who doesn't wear a seatbelt?".
Well ladies and gentlemen. it starts right here. This moment in this kids life may spell his future out for him. Mum thinks its ok not to wear a seatbelt on a plane so car must be ok...right! This is why those 18 year olds die because they weren't wearing seat belts. This decision right here!
My guess is that if I witnessed this, then the kid is probably in a car without one on a regular basis too.
We often hear about car crashed when three 18 year olds have been killed because they weren't wearing seatbelts and I know each and every single one of us say "what...who doesn't wear a seatbelt?".
Well ladies and gentlemen. it starts right here. This moment in this kids life may spell his future out for him. Mum thinks its ok not to wear a seatbelt on a plane so car must be ok...right! This is why those 18 year olds die because they weren't wearing seat belts. This decision right here!
My guess is that if I witnessed this, then the kid is probably in a car without one on a regular basis too.
Feb 23, 2019, 1:10 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,683
As for the child that’s just how things are. Every day I see people on phones ignoring their children, being on a plane is not going to change that.
Feb 23, 2019, 1:28 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,666
I flew Garuda the other day, we took off with laptops on and people working on them, it was a first for me, lol...Phones on is common in the US, people are checking email well into climb out and 10 minutes before landing.
Feb 23, 2019, 2:01 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
Why not flight safe before you turn it off, so it comes on in flight safe mode. Should you have turned it on knowing it wasn’t in flight safe mode? Did you think the photo op more important than the rule, or is it seatbeat rule important, flight safe mode not? I’m not trying to bait you, it’s just interesting how one thing warrants a post on FT and the other you were comfortable with.
As for the child that’s just how things are. Every day I see people on phones ignoring their children, being on a plane is not going to change that.
Feb 23, 2019, 2:22 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,228
I think sestbelts are one thing, phones are another - ie separate issues.
Is it irresponsible parenting? I’m not going to judge; I wasn’t there. If the kid didn’t have a seatbelt on then they should have, but how many times were they told? I think, sometimes, kids only learn when something goes wrong and they get hurt, unfortunately. We also don’t know whether the child had some kind of behavioural / development disability.
You see it all the time “don’t play there”, 10 seconds later “don’t play there”, ten seconds later lots of crying. You have to have eyes in the back of your head sometimes & kids will be kids. On this occasion, no harm done. I’m not a parent but it always strikes me that the best parents are the ones who engage with rather than ignore their kids & follow through if kid is not listening the first time they are told to / not to do something. If they were told & got away with it then it’ll reinforce completely the wrong message. What I also know is parents are human too & sometimes it’s easier to let things slide.
On the phone, no way of knowing if parent’s phone was in flight safe mode!
Is it irresponsible parenting? I’m not going to judge; I wasn’t there. If the kid didn’t have a seatbelt on then they should have, but how many times were they told? I think, sometimes, kids only learn when something goes wrong and they get hurt, unfortunately. We also don’t know whether the child had some kind of behavioural / development disability.
You see it all the time “don’t play there”, 10 seconds later “don’t play there”, ten seconds later lots of crying. You have to have eyes in the back of your head sometimes & kids will be kids. On this occasion, no harm done. I’m not a parent but it always strikes me that the best parents are the ones who engage with rather than ignore their kids & follow through if kid is not listening the first time they are told to / not to do something. If they were told & got away with it then it’ll reinforce completely the wrong message. What I also know is parents are human too & sometimes it’s easier to let things slide.
On the phone, no way of knowing if parent’s phone was in flight safe mode!
Feb 23, 2019, 2:34 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 565
I think what the OP meant was "very shortly after[,] (i.e. after that, afterwards) turned it on." So it had been in flight safe mode for landing and then she turned it on. Nobody turns off phones these days on airplanes (as in complete shut downs); we just put them in flight safe mode.
Phone wasn't off at all. Just in flight mode! Funny how some people need to assume to turn on others so quickly. Biggest negative about this forum!
In any case I'm a casual pilot myself and have a keen understanding on the importance on safety in commercial aviation so this isn't up for debate.
Feb 23, 2019, 2:38 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London(ish)
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 565
It may have been but if I was a betting man I'd say no, but I can't say with absolute certainty.
I also saw zero parenting and we were watching for a solid couple of minutes in absolute shock. Myself or my wife never saw the mum tell the kid to sit down.
I also saw zero parenting and we were watching for a solid couple of minutes in absolute shock. Myself or my wife never saw the mum tell the kid to sit down.
Feb 23, 2019, 2:42 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Mucci; BAEC GGL; (In memoriam: KLM Flying Dutchman Royal Wing & FB Platinum Elite)
Posts: 186
Given this looks like Club Europe seating, I’m waiting for this to develop into another ‘Should children be allowed in Business Class?’ thread 
Feb 23, 2019, 3:25 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Balham - Gateway to The South
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 2,020
Parents on phones is one of my bugbears - it deprives children of personal interaction.
When I was a child - a veeery long time ago I would stand on the front bench seat of the car with a toy steering wheel which was made to be used in exactly that way. What it didn’t do was make me a ‘risk taking’ adult.
The photo does seem to show a seat belt but I would question it’s efficacy with that much slack.
I have seen a lot of things but not this ! Shocking.
When I was a child - a veeery long time ago I would stand on the front bench seat of the car with a toy steering wheel which was made to be used in exactly that way. What it didn’t do was make me a ‘risk taking’ adult.
The photo does seem to show a seat belt but I would question it’s efficacy with that much slack.
I have seen a lot of things but not this ! Shocking.
Feb 23, 2019, 3:37 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
Disgraceful but, unfortunately, all too common.
No, don't intervene. The idiot parent will learn nothing and you will just get a mouthful of abuse. Pick your battles.
No, don't intervene. The idiot parent will learn nothing and you will just get a mouthful of abuse. Pick your battles.
Feb 23, 2019, 3:38 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 629
I think sestbelts are one thing, phones are another - ie separate issues.
Is it irresponsible parenting? I’m not going to judge; I wasn’t there. If the kid didn’t have a seatbelt on then they should have, but how many times were they told? I think, sometimes, kids only learn when something goes wrong and they get hurt, unfortunately. We also don’t know whether the child had some kind of behavioural / development disability.
You see it all the time “don’t play there”, 10 seconds later “don’t play there”, ten seconds later lots of crying. You have to have eyes in the back of your head sometimes & kids will be kids. On this occasion, no harm done. I’m not a parent but it always strikes me that the best parents are the ones who engage with rather than ignore their kids & follow through if kid is not listening the first time they are told to / not to do something. If they were told & got away with it then it’ll reinforce completely the wrong message. What I also know is parents are human too & sometimes it’s easier to let things slide.
On the phone, no way of knowing if parent’s phone was in flight safe mode!
Is it irresponsible parenting? I’m not going to judge; I wasn’t there. If the kid didn’t have a seatbelt on then they should have, but how many times were they told? I think, sometimes, kids only learn when something goes wrong and they get hurt, unfortunately. We also don’t know whether the child had some kind of behavioural / development disability.
You see it all the time “don’t play there”, 10 seconds later “don’t play there”, ten seconds later lots of crying. You have to have eyes in the back of your head sometimes & kids will be kids. On this occasion, no harm done. I’m not a parent but it always strikes me that the best parents are the ones who engage with rather than ignore their kids & follow through if kid is not listening the first time they are told to / not to do something. If they were told & got away with it then it’ll reinforce completely the wrong message. What I also know is parents are human too & sometimes it’s easier to let things slide.
On the phone, no way of knowing if parent’s phone was in flight safe mode!
Feb 23, 2019, 3:55 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: BA, SW, IAG
Posts: 143
Someone above said they arent going to judge.
Well, as a parent I am going to judge. This parent was completely irresponsible.
Well, as a parent I am going to judge. This parent was completely irresponsible.
Feb 23, 2019, 4:46 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 2,333
Parents on phones is one of my bugbears - it deprives children of personal interaction.
When I was a child - a veeery long time ago I would stand on the front bench seat of the car with a toy steering wheel which was made to be used in exactly that way. What it didn’t do was make me a ‘risk taking’ adult.
The photo does seem to show a seat belt but I would question it’s efficacy with that much slack.
I have seen a lot of things but not this ! Shocking.
When I was a child - a veeery long time ago I would stand on the front bench seat of the car with a toy steering wheel which was made to be used in exactly that way. What it didn’t do was make me a ‘risk taking’ adult.
The photo does seem to show a seat belt but I would question it’s efficacy with that much slack.
I have seen a lot of things but not this ! Shocking.
btw - good to see that there is someone else from Balham in this forum