I doubt complaining will change the respect for others
that certain travelers seem to lack but sometimes we
need to vent.

Is the situation worse today than in years past?

I have no answers for that other than to say the
proliferation of electronic gizmos has allowed the
obnoxious to annoy anyone within earshot.

In any case, I try to not let this stuff ruin my day.

I agree with your article except for babies/toddlers.

My son is 15 months old. Headphones are too big for his ears and theres no way he will keep them in his ears anyways. He doesnt watch tv but we have a few episodes of sesame street on the ipad for emergencies.

On a recent NYC->MIA flight we were delayed on the plane half an hour, then an hour, then 90 minutes. Everyone was starting to get fussy and naturally so was my son. We shushed him, fed him, gave him other toys but eventually relented and turned on sesame street.

Within 30 seconds the middle aged woman in front of us yelled at us to use headphones and that 'if my son cant sit quietly on the plane then he shouldnt be flying.' As calmly as i could i politely explained to her that the plane could either hear the sounds of elmo and big bird, or the sounds of a baby screaming, please let me know which she'd prefer. Other passenger got angry and called the flight attendant who sided with us.

Yes, technically you should use headphones with all electronic devices. Yes, technically people shoudl be quiet on flights. But sometimes Elmo isnt a bad alternative.

It's the little things, like such as formatting posts with paragraphs, that are
the basis of a polite society.