Question for parents who let kids use electronics with sound in public places without headphones

[Anonymous]

Why?

I am genuinely curious. I just got back from a long weekend trip. It seemed like everywhere I went - the airport, hotels, public transportation - there were children using phones or other portable electronic devices without headphones. Kids were playing games or watching movies with the sound on. One bus trip I had to listen to the entire song of BINGO. On one leg of my flight, the flight attendants had to remind passengers more than once that headphones must be used.

Why do you do it?

[Anonymous]

Because they're thoughtless assholes.

[Anonymous]

People are assholes.

[Anonymous]

I assume they're training their kids to be the annoying adults who have loud conversations in public about subjects that the rest of us have no interest in.

[Anonymous]

I generally don’t allow my kid to have a phone when we are in public spaces. As a result, I don’t carry headphones with me all the time. So if there is some unexpected reason that I hand the child my phone, I probably wouldn’t have headphones handy. I just don’t carry them with me all the time. Or something like a plane, I would bring headphones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I generally don’t allow my kid to have a phone when we are in public spaces. As a result, I don’t carry headphones with me all the time. So if there is some unexpected reason that I hand the child my phone, I probably wouldn’t have headphones handy. I just don’t carry them with me all the time. Or something like a plane, I would bring headphones.

This has happened to me too, so I tell the kids they have to put the game/phone on mute so I don't disturb others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume they're training their kids to be the annoying adults who have loud conversations in public about subjects that the rest of us have no interest in.

Preferably on red eye flights when 99% of the other travelers are asleep and the lights are off

[Anonymous]

What do you all say to parents when you see this? I too have toddlers but am not rude like this. My kids are also upset they don’t get iPads at doctors office waiting rooms and dinners and they see other kids listening to theirs without headphones. I’d like something to say so that other parents are aware that what they’re doing is incredibly annoying and that headphones are mandatory

[Anonymous]

My DH doesn't mind if my kid does this- it drives me nuts. He's from a different country where culturally, this wouldn't really be viewed as rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH doesn't mind if my kid does this- it drives me nuts. He's from a different country where culturally, this wouldn't really be viewed as rude.

Really? Where would that not be viewed as rude? I was the OP and wondered if some cultures would not view it as rude.

[Anonymous]

How is hearing a conversation happening in their video/game anymore rude than hearing conversations they would be having otherwise?

I’m equally irritated by both listening to kid songs in a waiting room and listening to kids make fake car noises and crash their trucks into each other in a waiting room. Doesn’t make them rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is hearing a conversation happening in their video/game anymore rude than hearing conversations they would be having otherwise?

I’m equally irritated by both listening to kid songs in a waiting room and listening to kids make fake car noises and crash their trucks into each other in a waiting room. Doesn’t make them rude.

Not a conversation - music and sounds. Speaking in public is expected, B-I-N-G-O is not expected on a bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH doesn't mind if my kid does this- it drives me nuts. He's from a different country where culturally, this wouldn't really be viewed as rude.

Really? Where would that not be viewed as rude? I was the OP and wondered if some cultures would not view it as rude.

NP. I’m from one of those countries, and IT IS viewed as rude! The difference is that the uneducated population is larger, so it’s easier to get away with it.

[Anonymous]

Don’t leave home without earplugs is my advice !

[Anonymous]

We always use headphones at airports, planes, trains, etc.

My elementary kids don’t get screens during meals. My toddler often gets a show on our phones. We don’t eat our at quiet places with her though. I don’t think anyone cares that she is watching bubble guppies.