# Flying Children **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 1, 2000, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228 "2000-05-01T05:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Flyhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea5d25/32.png) [@Flyhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyhalf)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/21 "2000-05-04T10:10:53Z")
Sylence, Why don’t you stick a plane up your ass with your head, there is certainly enough room. Ever been on a plane for 14 hours with SEVERAL kids crying nearly the entire time? Didn’t think so. Putz. (A fee has been paid to WallyM7 Industries for the use of this trademarked item.) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/22 "2000-05-04T17:54:21Z")
Flyhalf, don’t mean to burst your bubble, but I have flown next to a screaming for 8 hours of an international flight. The kid was a Romania infant being taken to her new parents and at under a year of age, being on a flight, and the pressure to her poor little ears, the tyke just howled the entire time. You know what? I gave up my seat in the back of the plane to sit next to this child because I felt bad for the business man suffering next to her. He didn’t say a word of complaint, but he was extremely grateful that I did switch seats. I can tune out children crying. ---
**Author:** ![Sylence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Sylence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylence)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/23 "2000-05-04T21:53:49Z")
> [@](#): > > However, for the time being–Pull YOUR Head out of your ass and realize that you didn’t HAVE to have kids. I guess I should have mentioned that I _don’t_ have kids. I just understand where the parents are coming from. > [@](#): > > . . . doesn’t mean we should have to put up with parents who can’t shut their children the fuck up. Children don’t have an on/off switch, GaWd. Has it occured to you that the parents might be trying their hardest to keep the kid quiet but Junior isn’t cooperating? Not to mention that the parents are probably pretty flustered. If the parents are totally ignoring the kid, then yes, I can see your point. Frankly, I wish they’d just stuff them in the overhead compartment if they’re going to treat them like luggage. But if some poor parent is trying to keep their kids quiet and the kids are suffering from an ear problem, try to be a little more understanding. > [@](#): > > Ever been on a plane for 14 hours with SEVERAL kids crying nearly the entire time? Does three screamers on a trip from Denver to Miami count? > [@](#): > > Putz. Thank you, Flyhalf. Don’t be surprised if Wally sues you for defacing his insult. Here, I just stole the sucker from a screaming two-year-old. You have thirty seconds to calm him down before this group of irritated businessmen beat your skull in with their briefcases. Good luck. – Sylence ---
**Author:** ![Bad-Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@Bad-Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad-Mojo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/24 "2000-05-04T22:30:23Z")
> [@](#): > > But if some poor parent is trying to keep their kids quiet and the kids are suffering from an ear problem, try to be a little more understanding Gee, if it’s a known fact that infants suffer during flights, isn’t it therefore cruel of the parent to inflict said suffering on the child and therefore the other passengers? > [@](#): > > Why don’t you try to be a little more understanding? I can put up with a crying fit or the occasional whiff of “poopie.” It’s only a few short hours, for fuck’s sake Because that’s not what I paid my dollar for. If I wanted to smell shit, I’d go to the zoo. > [@](#): > > Sure, it’s easy for YOU to say “don’t take the kid on the airplane,” but why don’t you pull your heads out of your asses and look at the situation from the point of view of the parents? Yeah, in the exact same way the parents are looking at the situation from _my_ point of view. Or the child’s for that matter. Don’t forget, the parent has also inflicted suffering on the child. Why is it that these parents insist on inflicting this shit on the rest of us? Especially considering that the environment in question is _obviously_ not conducive to their children! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/25 "2000-05-05T01:10:16Z")
sdimbert-- it’s spelled “Gastrophetes” – meaning “belly-bow”. The Gastrophetes was a early cousin of the crossbow. It was man-portable, not an example of siege artillery. (Yes, catapults **were** called artillery.) It shot arrows . _Small_ arrows. It was not a catapult. But I forgive your insolence; you poor, pathetic, punk. The continual shrieking of your unnatural offspring has obviously blasted your intellect to jelly. You have been reduced to mental, moral & physical bankruptcy; & I pity you immensely for it, you miserable _putz_. God’s mercy on you, you poor swine. As for the brats, try an exorcist. ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/26 "2000-05-05T05:44:55Z")
**Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor** posted: > [@](#): > > \*\* > sdimbert-- it’s spelled “Gastrophetes” – meaning “belly-bow”. \*\* (Ahem.) From [A Brief Summary of Catapult terminology](http://maxwellms.org/teachers/kaigler/medieval/abrief.htm): > [@](#): > > The basic tension device is a bow and arrow. It is powered by the tension resulting from bending the bow. This was improved with reinforcements to make the composite bow. A larger version of the composite bow, mounted on a frame, was called a gastrafetes, or “belly-bow”. A rock throwing version was called a palintonos. Improvements on the gastraphetes led to the torsion-powered katapultos. (emphasis mine -sdimbert). So, it **is** spelled “gastrafetes” - not “gastrophetes.” I’m right and you’re wrong. Check the sig. _ **Jerk** _. **Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor** went on to say: > [@](#): > > \*\* > The Gastrophetes was a early cousin of the crossbow. It was man-portable, not an example of siege artillery. (Yes, catapults **were** called artillery.) > > It shot arrows . _Small_ arrows. > > It was not a catapult. > \*\* Now, back to the dictionary. Again, from [http://www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com): > [@](#): > > Main Entry: cat·a·pult > 1 : an ancient military device for hurling missiles > > Main Entry: missile > Function: noun > 1: an object (as a weapon) thrown or projected usually so as to strike something at a distanc So, technically speaking, an arrow is a missle, and a gastrafetes shot arrows. Ergo, the gastrafetes was a catapult. Happy now? You could have just slunk away, but you had to act like a smarmy smaty-pants. And as to the rest of your “post”: > [@](#): > > \*\* > But I forgive your insolence; you poor, pathetic, punk. The continual shrieking of your unnatural offspring has obviously blasted your intellect to jelly. You have been reduced to mental, moral & physical bankruptcy; & I pity you immensely for it, you miserable putz. God’s mercy on you, you poor swine. > As for the brats, try an exorcist. \*\* Hmmm… Let’s see: [ul] [li]Improper use of semi-colons (they belong between _independent_ clauses). Check out [Commas vs Semicolons in Compound Sentences](http://owl.english.purdue.edu/Files/12.html).[/li][li]Your sentences run-on.[/li][li]Your attempts to insult are both pedantic and pedestrian. This is the _Pit_, you know.[/li][/ul] I must say that I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to write a post as _recherché_ as this for my 200th. I hope that all my milestones are this memorable. Now will you please shut up and go away? ---
**Author:** ![Morgan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Morgan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/27 "2000-05-05T16:24:32Z")
Dear GaWd and Bad-Mojo and Milroyj: You see, I’m used to my kids. I listen to them crying every single day. When I run across people like yourself, I love to point them in your direction and let them annoy the hell out of you. Doesn’t bother me any. If you think I’m kidding, you don’t know how much of a vindictive bastard I am. If you sit down across the isle and smile and ask how old my kids are and what their names are, I’ll bend over backwards to make sure they don’t bother you. If you shoot me a nasty glance, make a loud “hrumph” when you sit down, and make loud comments to your neighbor about this being the “Barney Flight,” I’m going to let my kids kick the back of your seat from one coast to the next. But it will sound sincere when I say, “Sorry, sir, there isn’t anything I can do.” Say anything you want. Complain as much as you want. The great thing is I don’t have to justify my actions. Why? Because I have all the power. You have none. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/28 "2000-05-05T17:23:13Z")
You know what morgan, I love to antagonize assholes like you who have uncontrollable children, in full view of the public eye. I make comments, I scowl, I say embarassing things to the waitstaff in restaurants about your terrible lack of discipline in your children. I’ve made mothers pat their checks early and leave restaurants when their savant-esque, half retard children decide that they need to play in the ketchup, or play “Hide the fry in mommy’s purse”.In fact, I get perverse enjoyment, much as you do, out of the whole process. Also, asshole, please note that I’ve been on the side of the parents all along when speaking of the distaste I have for you and your spawn. So go back, read the fucking posts, and consider that one day, I will be in your shoes. Oh, and get over it… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228/29 "2000-05-06T09:45:02Z")
> [@](#): > > **BTW screw you to all the people who have given me nasty looks when they see me get on a plane with my kid (she’s 2). She has never cried on a flight. That includes flights from Virginia to California, Seattle, Connecticut & England all with connections. (I’m not trying to make other people feel bad about their own kids, I’m just lucky) I f\*cking hate the way they assume that all kids cry.** Nicky is the same way, and I have gotten dirty looks before too. He first flew cross country when he was 3 months old (AZ - FL) and he flew AZ - MA twice before he was a year old. He sometimes gets a little loud when talking (he gets excited) but he quiets down again when you tell him to. What do people expect us to do? Not travel? My family is spread out across the country–I’m not going to keep my son from his family just because a few people get irritated by children. Anyway, back to the OP–what we would do is change him in the seat (often we’d have an extra–always nice, but fnot we’d get up and use our own) We always make sure to have an aisle seat for this and other reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-children/18228.md?page=1)