RANT: I don't care if you want to sit next to your kids on the airplane

[DizneyMommy]

I guess we just have a different perspective. I will still choose to give grace and compassion to others and give them the benefit of the doubt. Especially another mother in what could be a very stressful situation.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I was on a flight earlier today where a man wanted to sit by his wife. He was very pleasant and offered a window seat in exchange for an aisle seat. It's amazing what a good attitude and a reasonable offer will get you.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I guess I just don’t assume the worst in people until I see it. The OP did mention there was a major storm or something, that mom and her kid could have been with their whole family, got cancelled, slept in the airport, and had to take separate flights just to get home. Or their last flight was overbooked and they got bumped. That kiddo could have a major medical/mental health issue that Mom doesn’t want to tell the whole world about but needs to be there to tend to. You don’t know. As a special needs mom myself who meticulously plans our trips so that everything runs as smoothly as possible, crap happens and you can’t always control everything.

There is a quote that circulated quite a bit when Robin Williams passed away. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. We live this every day.

The thread..over all the pages..has moved well beyond the original comment on the thread. A lot of people are speaking about generalities rather than coming up with all the possible scenarios.

So I guess in a nutshell we're not and have not for quite some time strictly speaking about the OP's original post on this thread and not trying to be mean but unfortunately that's where reading all the pages in the thread would have been helpful.

I guess we just have a different perspective. I will still choose to give grace and compassion to others and give them the benefit of the doubt. Especially another mother in what could be a very stressful situation.

That being said with reading all the pages you're free to maintain your opinion as others are as well. Unfortunately when you extrapolate things out and imply large character flaws by saying grace, compassion, etc you can understand where that becomes a double edged sword in assuming the worst out of people who opt not to move seats.

 

[sk!mom]

I guess we just have a different perspective. I will still choose to give grace and compassion to others and give them the benefit of the doubt. Especially another mother in what could be a very stressful situation.

Except for me and anyone else who won’t give up a seat- no grace and compassion for us.

 

[DizneyMommy]

That is not at all what I said. I think assuming people are being jerks for the sake of being jerks makes me sad. And I feel for that poor mom and whatever she was going through. Honestly I never travel alone so I wouldn't have been able to give my seat up because I'm with my own kids, but I would have done what I could to help her. Maybe that's flag down a FA and ask them what can be done to get this kiddo with his mom. Maybe thats talk to other passengers nearby and see if we can't all make it work together. Maybe she asked at the gate and they said too bad, tough, and she's frustrated and nervous and desperate. You just don't know.

 

[CarolAnn856]

I guess we just have a different perspective. I will still choose to give grace and compassion to others and give them the benefit of the doubt. Especially another mother in what could be a very stressful situation.

But what about grace and compassion for that person being asked to move who has anxiety, or has knee problems, or whatever prompted them to secure a seat that works for them? You keep ignoring that reality. Or is the miniscule chance that there is an emergency involving a kid more important that the other person's actual problem?

 

[DizneyMommy]

But what about grace and compassion for that person beung asked to move who has anxiety, or has knee problems, or whatever prompted them to secure a seat that works for them? You keep ignoring that reality. Or is the miniscule chance that there is an emergency involving a kid more important that the other person's actual problem?

Did the OP actually have a problem? I read that they paid for their seat and no way they are going to help this Mom because they did not like her tone.

Mom had a problem, and it seemed like a gang up on Mom based on the OP's very limited information given. Like I said, I couldn't have given my seat up either, but I would have helped her however I could. There are other ways to help besides giving up your seat. And besides going online to blast the poor woman without knowing what is going on in her situation.

 

[Skellingtonj]

But what about grace and compassion for that person beung asked to move who has anxiety, or has knee problems, or whatever prompted them to secure a seat that works for them? You keep ignoring that reality. Or is the miniscule chance that there is an emergency involving a kid more important that the other person's actual problem?

There is none from what I can see. As far as the op was concerned, her needs mattered More then anyone else’s. She was still getting home no matter if she gave up her seat or not. Let’s hope she’s never in a situation where someone needs to help her with something. #karma

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Did the OP actually have a problem? I read that they paid for their seat and no way they are going to help this Mom because they did not like her tone.

Mom had a problem, and it seemed like a gang up on Mom based on the OP's very limited information given. Like I said, I couldn't have given my seat up either, but I would have helped her however I could. There are other ways to help besides giving up your seat. And besides going online to blast the poor woman without knowing what is going on in her situation.

We're not talking about the OP anymore..well I guess you are; but fairly certain all have moved beyond what's written in the OP.

The OP's post is from Feb 2016!

 

[EveDallas]

I find it ironic that someone who is judging others for not giving up a seat wouldn't do it herself. We all have reasons why we wouldn't want to/be able to switch seats. Saying that your kids are your reason does not make it any more viable than anyone else's.

 

[sk!mom]

I find it ironic that someone who is judging others for not giving up a seat wouldn't do it herself. We all have reasons why we wouldn't want to/be able to switch seats. Saying that your kids are your reason does make it any more viable than anyone else's.

Right, and claiming grace and compassion in the process. To me the real point is if you want to ask someone to trade, fine. But grace and compassion would dictate no judgement if they declined.

 

[ronandannette]

The kids flying as unaccompanied minors are not watched every single minute. It is not at all the same as flying with a parent or guardian.

Of course not but they do remain the full responsibility of the airline and in-flight staff who I'm sure are observant to make sure they are always comfortable. That's not the case at all with kids that are separated from parents seated elsewhere in the cabin.

 

[maxiesmom]

Of course not but they do remain the full responsibility of the airline and in-flight staff who I'm sure are observant to make sure they are always comfortable. That's not the case at all with kids that are separated from parents seated elsewhere in the cabin.

I would guess the parents are as able to keep an eye on them as flight attendants are able to keep an eye on minors, and do their job at the same time. Probably more so.

 

[DizneyMommy]

You guys. For real. Read my original post. I said NOTHING about the person not giving up their seat. I said ZERO about them being a jerk or anything else. I was speaking to the internet shaming of the poor mom who is not here to tell her side and who we have like ZERO information about other than she was trying to sit with her child. That is sad. That the OP could not have thought outside of I paid for this seat and she is trying to steal it from me, is ugly. I'm sorry if you don't agree, or whatever. I said NOTHING about the OP should have given up their seat but I would not. And no, I - a parent traveling with a 2 year old - COULD NOT give up my seat but that doesn't mean I wouldn't try to help her in whatever way I could. And I CERTAINLY would not be on the internet shaming her over asking. No matter how frazzled she was.

Geez.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Isn’t all gaslighting inherently negative?

Well, yes, clearly . I had the impression the poster was referring to some specific form of gaslighting or something related, not just saying gaslighting is a bad thing (besides, I didn't read anything in this thread that could be reasonably called gaslighting) . Thus, my hope the poster would come back and clarify what she meant

 

[ronandannette]

I would guess the parents are as able to keep an eye on them as flight attendants are able to keep an eye on minors, and do their job at the same time. Probably more so.

How, if they're seated several rows away? The next rant thread on here will be about an annoying seat-mate that kept getting up repeatedly throughout the flight and disturbing everybody else in the row. Not to mention on my last flight the seat-belt sign was lit up more than half the time... And I'm not entirely sure which scenario you're talking about with the flight attendants. If a kid is flying unaccompanied, watching them becomes the FA's job. It's not like they're doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.

 

[Allison]

I guess we just have a different perspective. I will still choose to give grace and compassion to others and give them the benefit of the doubt. Especially another mother in what could be a very stressful situation.

But you can see how this post does not come across as having grace and compassion. It can be interpreted as rude and judgemental of those who have a different perspective than you.

 

[DizneyMommy]

But you can see how this post does not come across as having grace and compassion. It can be interpreted as rude and judgemental of those who have a different perspective than you.

Nope. Sorry, I cannot. I do not see it as rude and judgmental for me to say that it is wrong to internet shame a parent who you know NOTHING ABOUT because they want to sit with their child on an airplane.

 

[Allison]

Nope. Sorry, I cannot. I do not see it as rude and judgmental for me to say that it is wrong to internet shame a parent who you know NOTHING ABOUT because they want to sit with their child on an airplane.

So, you are showing grace and compassion when you deem the situation worthy to do so, not in all situations. That's fine. We all do it. It's human.

 

[sk!mom]

You guys. For real. Read my original post. I said NOTHING about the person not giving up their seat. I said ZERO about them being a jerk or anything else. I was speaking to the internet shaming of the poor mom who is not here to tell her side and who we have like ZERO information about other than she was trying to sit with her child. That is sad. That the OP could not have thought outside of I paid for this seat and she is trying to steal it from me, is ugly. I'm sorry if you don't agree, or whatever. I said NOTHING about the OP should have given up their seat but I would not. And no, I - a parent traveling with a 2 year old - COULD NOT give up my seat but that doesn't mean I wouldn't try to help her in whatever way I could. And I CERTAINLY would not be on the internet shaming her over asking. No matter how frazzled she was.

Geez.

But we also have very little information about the OP. And very little information about the mom with kids. Were they tiny, were they preteen? But see all that has been discussed and bounced around in these many pages which you haven't read.

I'm taking exception with your very judgmental claim that you will continue to grant grace and compassion which implies that I and anyone who has stated that in real situations we have declined to give up seats lack grace and compassion. Or in my case, sometimes I do if compensation is offered which your comments would lead me to believe that you would judge me very mercenary and graceless.