Sexist Airline Policies
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I think if the stated reason for seating unattended children apart from adults is the fear of child molesters, then it's a stupid reason. Statistically, pedophiles make up a tiny % of the population. Of those, I have to think that any of them that would attempt to "prey" on a child in the confines of an airline seat must be the dumbest people on the planet. Without my blessed headphones, I can hear every single hushed conversation of the people in front of me and behind; they'd get caught. It's least advantageous "hunting ground" for a predator to choose.
Realistically, I think the odds of an attended child being molested are higher than those of an unattended child.
Now, having said all that, I think there is some value to seating them apart--just not for the purposes of preventing molestation. We constantly tell kids to be careful not to talk to strangers, or get in cars with them, etc. I can see it being fairly stressful for a kid, depending on their age, to be put in a seat next to a complete stranger, which might make them feel essentially trapped. If we're trying to give kids some peace of mind and make sure adults don't have to be bothered by random strange children, then I think it's great. But let's not delude ourselves that it's really keeping child molesters at bay.
*begin slow clap*
Perfectly stated!0 -
I don't think that it's for keeping child molesters at bay, but rather as I said before - perhaps incoherently - to protect the airlines from suits claiming molestation. Honestly, one suit like that - whether it happened or not and I agree that statistically speaking it's a remote possibility, but dollar signs make people do funny things - could take down an entire airline.
I would also imagine that it's probably for some of the reasons Evan stated, as well as for the peace of mind of other passengers. However, it sells MUCH better as "we're protecting kids from that evil Chester the Molester" than "we don't wanna get sued" or "we know that most passengers would rather gouge out their own eyes than sit next to some screaming chold unrelated to them."0 -
If the policy is applied equally then I don't care.. In fact, I'd much prefer not to sit next anyone else's child and play babysitter.
This too! I already have a very strong dislike of young children (toddlers and under) on airplanes in the first place. Of course I specifically book seats so as not to be next to anyone except my boyfriend. Love the tail section for singles and double seats
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If the policy is applied equally then I don't care.. In fact, I'd much prefer not to sit next anyone else's child and play babysitter.
This too! I already have a very strong dislike of young children (toddlers and under) on airplanes in the first place. Of course I specifically book seats so as not to be next to anyone except my boyfriend. Love the tail section for singles and double seats
^love of the quoted ones.
My biggest issue is with children on airplanes. Period. I know its a necessity and something that has to be done but I absolutely hate crying and screaming kids, specially on long flights0 -
I thought this said "Sexiest Airline Policies" lol, I was kinda wondering lol.
I'm not sure that the policy will actually do anything at all besides cause more problems than it solves. I didn't realize so many unattended children on flights got molested, you would think they would just stop letting children that young fly unattended, if it really was an issue.0 -
It's probably also important to note that it did say victimization, which could include verbal or witnessed abuse (e.g. someone masturbating in front of a child, etc). I still don't see that happening on a plane, but w/e. I can see it happening on a city bus, though, and we don't have policies against people sitting next to each other there based on age--plus buses don't have attendants.0
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Yeah, I thought this at first too and was all, "Well that's a HUGE f*cking letdown!"I thought this said "Sexiest Airline Policies" lol, I was kinda wondering lol.0 -
If the policy is applied equally then I don't care.. In fact, I'd much prefer not to sit next anyone else's child and play babysitter.
This too! I already have a very strong dislike of young children (toddlers and under) on airplanes in the first place. Of course I specifically book seats so as not to be next to anyone except my boyfriend. Love the tail section for singles and double seats
^love of the quoted ones.
My biggest issue is with children on airplanes. Period. I know its a necessity and something that has to be done but I absolutely hate crying and screaming kids, specially on long flights
You could put them in a crate on the roof.0 -
It's probably also important to note that it did say victimization, which could include verbal or witnessed abuse (e.g. someone masturbating in front of a child, etc). I still don't see that happening on a plane, but w/e. I can see it happening on a city bus, though, and we don't have policies against people sitting next to each other there based on age--plus buses don't have attendants.
No kidding about pervs on the bus. During year 11, (15 - 16yo) it seemed that everywhere I looked - on the bus, in car parks, in the street - there was some guy with his stiffy out wanking at me.
As for adults on planes and kids, here's what I think. The policy is in place to protect the airlines from the repercussions of dealing with all sorts of bigots as well as victims of genuine abuse. Struth, imagine if your kid was placed in the company of ..... a lesbian, an Asian person, a Muslim, a Christian, a fat person, someone who couldn't speak English, somebody who used inappropriate language, someone who was drinking alcohol during the flight, an adult who was watching movies not intended for your child's age group ..... Yes, some of these things could happen on a bus but a plane is not public transport and users expect different standards.
Also, I think, that of all adults likely to complain about being sat next to unaccompanied children the most likely would be men.0 -
I don't want to sit next to someone's rugrat anyway.0
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I don't want to sit next to someone's rugrat anyway.
I have 5 kids of my own. I do NOT want to be seated next to someone else's kid!!0 -
Stupid. As if women don't cause trauma to kids either? A man is now guilty until proven innocent?
I would be offended if I were a man.
I agree, I can see where they're coming from because there are men out there who do abuse women and children, but there are women out there who abuse men and children too. I can't see the article, so maybe this has already been explained, but has anyone thought of Father's, sitting with their daughters or sons on a plane?
I don't think it is better to leave a child on their own if they're only flying with their dad, vs actually sitting next to him on the plane ...
Hope that makes sense, but yeah I don't see how it can work, it sounds like your doing more harm from this good intention than anything else.0 -
If I remember correctly, you HAVE to be accompanied by an adult till you're 12. I have been travelling since I was 3 so traveling abroad was a norm for us and if you were under 12, the flight attendant or some other adult would always be with you. After 12, my mother used to find a family and ask them to keep an eye on us. She knew me well and would find a family with a cute daughter
If by "adult" you also mean airline personnel, then yes, and "unaccompanied" is a bit of a misnomer (though it really means that you're the only customer in your party), as you're escorted around by airline staff whenever and wherever you're not with whoever's picking you up or dropping you off, and the closest you get to unaccompanied is when you're in the airplane (at which point, the assumption is that the half dozen airline staff inside of the 500 square foot vehicle is sufficient enough to keep an eye on you.0 -
Honestly, I think men in this society are constantly "looked at" and while I understand being on the lookout for pedophiles, I think as a society we're getting into the habit of being wary of every guy. A woman for example get to talk to strangers kids, hold them even but guy usually have to know the person first. I came from another culture in Asia and while I have adopted to the culture here, its still weird to me.
Like many said, men are now presumed pedophiles and this policy is just saying it out loud what a lot of folks are thinking.
Agreed. It's sad, too, because it's starting to run men out of childcare and teaching jobs, and keeps men from helping others for fear of being accused of something.0 -
I don't think minors should be allowed to fly unaccompanied.
That said, I would not give up my seat. Move the kids if you have a problem with me.
:huh: Why not? Minors can do just fine travelling by themselves. Additionally, most airlines have rules regarding behavior ( http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=unaccompanied_minors_terms_and_conditions ), including being able to listen to the attendant and "having sufficient maturity to travel with limited adult supervision." Most of them also have rules regarding which flights they can do (for example, UMs can't usually travel red-eye flights, and the younger age groups can only travel nonstop flights). As long as a child can behave, why shouldn't they be allowed to fly by themselves?0 -
Honestly, I think men in this society are constantly "looked at" and while I understand being on the lookout for pedophiles, I think as a society we're getting into the habit of being wary of every guy. A woman for example get to talk to strangers kids, hold them even but guy usually have to know the person first. I came from another culture in Asia and while I have adopted to the culture here, its still weird to me.
Like many said, men are now presumed pedophiles and this policy is just saying it out loud what a lot of folks are thinking.
Agreed. It's sad, too, because it's starting to run men out of childcare and teaching jobs, and keeps men from helping others for fear of being accused of something.
Just wanted to say that I agree totally with this ..0 -
Honestly, I think men in this society are constantly "looked at" and while I understand being on the lookout for pedophiles, I think as a society we're getting into the habit of being wary of every guy. A woman for example get to talk to strangers kids, hold them even but guy usually have to know the person first. I came from another culture in Asia and while I have adopted to the culture here, its still weird to me.
Like many said, men are now presumed pedophiles and this policy is just saying it out loud what a lot of folks are thinking.
Agreed. It's sad, too, because it's starting to run men out of childcare and teaching jobs, and keeps men from helping others for fear of being accused of something.
Just wanted to say that I agree totally with this ..
As do I.
My boyfriend is a single dad and an amazing one at that! he's always playing with his son and goofing around like a big kid etc. He loves kids, but he was so scared to take his son anywhere alone for a long time because of the way that 'all' men seem to be getting lumped into the pedophile/rapist/predator category these days. I feel bad for him sometimes because I know he's the most amazing dad I have ever seen and he shouldn't be being treated like some freak because he loves his son.
We are truly missing out on some very talented and compassionate male teachers, coaches and caregivers (amongst other things) because as a society it seems to be the norm to just lump all men into the 'danger' box as opposed to investigating EVERYONE to ensure that the best interests of our children are protected regardless of who is in charge.0 -
This is what happens when policies are designed solely to appease to special interest groups and not for protection.
That being said, if it means that I get a massive discount on my ticket price or bumped to first class I'm all for it!!0 -
Fine with me. I don't want to sit next to someone's kid anyways. I wish they had seperate "family" flights. Sitting on a long flight with parent's who can't keep their children under control is enough to drive me to drink.0
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I think if the stated reason for seating unattended children apart from adults is the fear of child molesters, then it's a stupid reason. Statistically, pedophiles make up a tiny % of the population. Of those, I have to think that any of them that would attempt to "prey" on a child in the confines of an airline seat must be the dumbest people on the planet. Without my blessed headphones, I can hear every single hushed conversation of the people in front of me and behind; they'd get caught. It's least advantageous "hunting ground" for a predator to choose.
Realistically, I think the odds of an attended child being molested are higher than those of an unattended child.
Now, having said all that, I think there is some value to seating them apart--just not for the purposes of preventing molestation. We constantly tell kids to be careful not to talk to strangers, or get in cars with them, etc. I can see it being fairly stressful for a kid, depending on their age, to be put in a seat next to a complete stranger, which might make them feel essentially trapped. If we're trying to give kids some peace of mind and make sure adults don't have to be bothered by random strange children, then I think it's great. But let's not delude ourselves that it's really keeping child molesters at bay.
I so agree with this. I work in law enforcement and I can say that most sex offenders prey on vicitim that they know. The spend time with the child, gain his/her trust, develop a relationship and slowly start to push the boundaries. Very, very, very rarely does a kid get grabbed and molested by a stranger. It's highly unlikely that an offender is going to try something in a very confined area, in plain sight of everyone else.
And, I would like to add that there are plenty of female offenders as well. There are a lot more male offenders, but that doesn't mean the female ones aren't out there.0
