Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 13:45:40 -0500
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
From: Elspeth Kovar <ekovar at worldnet.att.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: keyboards & flights, was Re: Return of The King
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

At 10:19 AM 12/24/03, Lawhorn, William - BLS wrote:

>Flying is difficult, flying with children can only be  . . .more difficult.=
>   I don't envy the parents in those situations.
>
>Mjw
>
>Headphones and good batteries.  Two hours of screaming children completely
>drowned out by the sounds of music.  You know it is loud though when you
>catch a brief noise or two breaking through the music.

*Good* headphones.  Otherwise the rest of the passengers are subjected not
only to the sounds of children being unhappy but also to your choice of
music.  I'll admit that I'm one of those who gets more annoyed by having to
hear the noise -- often to the point of being almost able to distinguish
the words and certainly able to determine the song if it's familiar --
leaking from under someone's headphones than I am by unhappy children.  The
former is preventable and from someone who presumably has control over
their actions; the latter often isn't and isn't.

I generally go with sympathy, telling the parents that it must be rough on
them and that I appreciate their efforts, and sometimes asking if there's
anything I can do to help.  Usually there isn't but the general response
reassures the parents that not all of the passengers think that they're
terrible people or want to lynch them.

This even if I personally want to use Erika's solution or lock the
younglings in the lavatory for the duration.

Elspeth