Is this accepted now? Young children and electronics on public transport.

[AnneGrommit]

The last few times I've been on a train (not in quiet coach) and quite often on the bus I've had my peace disturbed by toddlers with phones/tablets either playing noisy games on them or watching programmes. When I've asked parents to rein them in I've been invariably met with either passive aggressive remarks about not liking children (I have three myself) or outright hostility and a statement along the lines of "it keeps them quiet". No, it doesn't. It stops them from pestering you but it's far from quiet. AIBU or is this an accepted "thing" now? Because it's fucking annoying.

The scary thing is this generation will be the Ines to look after us in our old age

Yes that is terrifying, to think they'll be changing our bedpans with one hand and watching paw patrol with the other

Maybe dispense with the hyperbole? I know it's annoying.

I used to work with SN children. There were no tablets. I simply had to try and keep them amused on long journeys. Not easy and I would have used games with volume turned down if I could. Although it would simply not have worked with the boy obsessed about roads who used to ask the name of every single road we ever went on, and where it lead. Constantly.

CherryChasingDotMuncher I now have a vision of the future where our DC have plonked us in a home with some form of smart device for company and we're all on MN posting our AIBUs at 85

Just for the record I wouldn't allow my children to play on devices on public transport, but I also wouldn't moan about others doing it on PUBLIC TRANSPORT. People's faces and odour offend me regularly on public transport but I wouldn't moan about it. If you really can't stand it find an alternative. Wittering on so pathetically is not the best solution is it?

As expected, people who play videos with noise on and no headphones have a lot of good (or not so good) excuses.
Why is it so hard to understand? Electronic noises are not appropriate when in public!
So if you can't use headphones then no volume (not "low volume", as if it is high enough for you to hear then the person next to you can hear it as well).
If you can't wear headphones and don't want a soundless video, well you could find something else to do

Think about it this way: you believe you have a good reason to make noise with your phone/tablet/etc? Would you be happy if every single person in the carriage/restaurant/etc does the same? And they won't all be watching peppa pig, some will listen to music you hate, some will watch videos with violence and swearwords... And no one would be able to enjoy their music/video because of everybody else's.
So basically you are being selfish.

I hate this too. I hate the disturbance of others, and I hate that children aren't being taught that boredom and respect for others is part of life.

SEN and having the odd bad day exempted of course. It's the habitual use that's so irritating and depressing.

Headphones for long journeys on buses, trains etc. For short journeys and waiting rooms etc I fail to see why it's necessary to provide a screen to entertain children at all. It makes children expect to be entertained all the time which then increases the whining when they don't get access and have to wait for stuff. Catch 22

Wittering on so pathetically is not the best solution is it?

No the best solution is for people to stop being such monumental dicks, btu there doesn't seem to be any hope for that solution.

grannytomine
fine you don't mind peppa pig playing in public transport. But that still does not mean it is acceptable.
I don't actually care about people loudly swearing in public, but I know that many people do and would not think it is acceptable behaviour on public transport.

I could say the same thing. Horses for courses

My daughter is severely disabled and her behaviour has autistic elements. She loves her iPad and Kindle and hates hats, gloves and other impedimentia. There is no way I'd expect other people to tolerate her predilection for YouTube Kids animated Christmas songs all year round! I put headphones on at home as a trial, she ripped them off, I immediately removed the tablet, "explained" and put them back on then returned the tablet. This was repeated a few times and then she tolerated them because she realised she only got the tablet with the headphones. She does have her tablet in her room and elsewhere without headphones but totally accepts that she has them outside, and in fact her autistic traits mean she now insists she has headphones and signs for them if I pass her the tablet outside the house and I'm not quick enough at producing the headphones. Cognitively, my daughter is roughly comparable to a child of around 15 - 18 months as she has severe global delay.
I really think the vast majority of parents who let their children play these things without headphones just haven't tried very hard and are being selfish. I was sat near a boy of about 9 doing this uncorrected at an airport gate and it's just so rude.

Also previous posters are correct, children's headphones are cheaply available that govern the maximum volume to safe levels. Even though she is 18, we buy these for my daughter as she would have the volume too loud if she could. We do get through a few sets in a year because she is a bit heavy handed, but that's just tough luck.

abigcupoffuckyou for all your lecturing everyone else, manners don't apply to you do they?

People's faces....offend me regularly on public transport but I wouldn't moan about it.
Now I know you are simply trying to pick a fight.

And I'll remind you that children can have very different special needs. Some, like my son, would be very very upset about the noise your child is making with their electronic devices. He doesn't understand why it's ok to make such irritating noises, and frankly neither do I.

Well my eldest is 46 so I don't think there is much chance of him watching PeppaPig. Have you tried explaining to your son that other people have rights as well?

I'd rather hear neither a screaming child OR peppa fucking pig blaring out of your phone. You know, like most people?

So you are the person who decides what most people think? I don't need to entertain children on trains or buses but I have no problem with other people doing it. I hate hearing kids cry, do you think most people enjoy it?

No... I'm being truthful. People offend me regularly without even trying, but that's my problem not theirs! So I keep my mouth shut and accept that everybody is different and has different ideas about what is acceptable and what is not. I am a regular user of PR and I have rarely encountered such crimes to ears and children. I suspect OP is being a tad over dramatic!

PT*

Silverbirchtree leaving the noise issue out of it, anything that enables people with disabilities and their families to have a fuller life is a good thing surely? Nothing wrong with tablet use in itself.

Think about it this way: you believe you have a good reason to make noise with your phone/tablet/etc? Would you be happy if every single person in the carriage/restaurant/etc does the same? And they won't all be watching peppa pig, some will listen to music you hate, some will watch videos with violence and swearwords... And no one would be able to enjoy their music/video because of everybody else's So you have taken a vow of silence then? Because you know people might not want to listen to you.

The scary thing is this generation will be the Ines to look after us in our old age

I wouldn't expect all children to be looking after their parents in their old age. They might not.

We do get through a few sets in a year because she is a bit heavy handed, but that's just tough luck.

You sound like you're doing amazing btw. I totally get that some kids might not be able to handle headphones, but that doesn't mean they're entitled to listen to (as many others have said) Peppa Pig at full volume on a train in the quiet carriage, as I've experienced many a time.
Even out of it it's unreasonable.

No OP is not being over dramatic. It is very rude and selfish behaviour

So you have taken a vow of silence then? Because you know people might not want to listen to you.

Have you read any of the thread at all where people have said they'd PREFER toddler chatter/peekaboo games than the same looping track from Toca Boca 100 times?

o you have taken a vow of silence then? Because you know people might not want to listen to you

You know that's not the same thing.

According to your standards. You are failing to take into consideration that everybody has different ideas about what is rude and selfish. So you are the one that is infact being selfish and inconsiderate!

I'm being truthful. People offend me regularly without even trying, but that's my problem not theirs! So I keep my mouth shut and accept that everybody is different and has different ideas about what is acceptable and what is not Exactly, if you only knew how many times I have had to stop myself offering a sniffer a tissue.

There are lots of things available now which make lives, including those of disabled people, easier. Just because they didn't exist in years gone by doesn't mean they shouldn't be used now - with respect to others around you of course!