It takes a lot to shock me but I've just watched *that* viral video of the kid screaming on a plane, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I feel traumatised.
I gave the clip a quick watch before writing this piece, expecting to see an unruly kid being a kid, but the noise is phenomenal and I can see why passengers on that flight are upset at being subjected to eight hours of it.
If you've no idea what I'm on about then here's the Sun's take on it:
CALLS have been made for airlines to bring in child-free flights after a "demonic" kid was filmed running riot on a journey from Germany to New York. After passengers described the eight hours of screaming as the "flight from hell" it sparked a debate into whether there should be flights reserved solely for adults.
The man who uploaded the film to You Tube doesn't have children and has since claimed that he's being cyber-bullied by parents. "I'm just an artist," he said, questioning why parents have been contacting him to express their outrage at his decision to share footage of the unknown child on the internet. He also suggests the video is evidence that children are addicted to technology, since the child apparently being denied access to an iPad whilst he was filming.
Let me just cut to the chase here. I would have had a hard time listening to that kid for eight hours in a confined space such as a plane – but I have an even harder time understanding why anyone would video such a moment and then share it with the world.
This is a child we're talking about. We know nothing about him, his mother nor his personal circumstances. We don't know whether the incident was due to bad behaviour, an addiction to technology or a hidden disability such as autism. The noise in the video sounds more like verbal stimming to me than 'demonic screaming'. What if this was an autistic meltdown due to sensory overload and not a 'tantrum' caused by technology addiction?
To judge the child or his mother's parenting skills on the strength of this one episode without knowing any of the facts is, in my view, out of line. To incite others to judge it too by posting it online isn't art – it's shaming real individuals who have to live with that moment being scrutinised by the world forever after. We all know how excruciating it is to deal with a child's difficult behaviour in a confined space. Imagine having THAT moment shared on YouTube without your consent. It doesn't bear thinking about.
I'm pretty sure the mum was far from enjoying the experience. Did anyone offer to hold her baby while she got the older child soothed and settled or were they too busy filming to help? Why not ask a mother what she needs in this situation rather than film her for entertainment or public consumption? I'd love to know if anyone did anything besides make her feel awful for a situation that was clearly well beyond the bounds of her control.
We'd like to hear your thoughts on this story. Share your views here or come and join the conversation over on our Facebook page. And have your say in our poll on whether planes should have designated child-free zones.
My children are grown up now and I have no problem sitting near young children. It’s the self centred parents I object to who seem to think it is their right to sit and watch a movie, chat and drink their duty free booze during the flight, expecting their children to entertain themselves and inevitably get bored and annoy others.
We used to take a bag filled with books, games,cards and puzzles on flights and took responsibility for ensuring our children were entertained throughout the flight. I do feel for parents with young babies -there’s not a lot you can do When your baby is crying and other people glowering at you doesn’t help.
i voted yes because i have kids and don't want grumpy judgey people by me and my toddler. He is a nightmare to take anywhere where as my daughter was an very well behaved on planes and people would actual comment on how good she is behaving on the aeroplane journey. So its not obviously parenting as hes completely different. Going on holiday soon and feel that the dread is worse about the other people being judgemental to us than him!
Hasn't anyone noticed this constant attack on children and men all the time. People need to realise what they are supporting. Everyone voting for this was once a child. I bet none of them were perfect either.
And what is this all about everywhere people go others are constantly filming them and posting it online so the person can be judged. Get a life. Babies cry, toddlers have tantrums, get over it. All these crazy people who want child free places and they love to use their so called freedom of speech, but the children themselves aren't allowed a say, where's their freedom of speech? Oh it only exists for the few! That must be democracy! Being manipulated by the media to constantly hate children and men, that's democracy, except for those being attacked. Lastly what are all those people going to do when it comes for them?