@georgetakei@universeodon.com I mean my first reaction is “complaining lady clearly has NFI how much more pleasant her flight probably was, with the sound machine rather than a constantly screaming baby”.
Edit: but having said that, feeling like you can just bring a sound machine on a plane does seem very entitled

@georgetakei@universeodon.com
Children under 4 yrs should be stored in the hold and reclaimed (maybe) on landing!

More seriously, how loud and/or annoying is one of these machines? My experience of needing to do something others might object to is that explaining what and why you’re about to do it gets you a lot of slack.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com maybe ask before you do something like that, rather than just deciding that it is fine?

Seriously, be a little mindful of others Kaley, you are coming off as being kinda selfish and removed from reality. While your comments about wanting to strangle the complainer were just completely out of line, for which you should apologize immediately.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com

I prefer the sound machine to the sound of a crying child. Unfortunately, all babies are different and while some can sleep anywhere, others can’t. I think it’s best for the grown adults to compromise with the tiny person and the overworked parents. I know it’s not easy, but it makes for a better society in the long run. As it is, people ask parents, especially mothers, to separate themselves from society because they inconvenience us, and it’s isolating and not good.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com it’s people’s own responsibility to bring noise cancelling headphones when flying. With those on the volume isn’t a problem, and it’s not your baby, so that’s not a problem either.
In short, bring noise cancelling headphones to your flight.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com “The lady turns around and she goes, ‘Oh, so your daughter does know how to smile.'”
This says it all for me. Just a nasty person. I’d much rather have a sound machine than a crying kid.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com I always bring ear plugs or ear buds or something to drown out noise if I’m flying. I would rather hear a noise machine than a crying baby.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com
Noise canceling headphones are a must on flights. I really wished I had them on the flight where I had a nosy society column writer sitting next to me.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com This is why I don’t fly unless I am out of choices.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com The request was reasonable, however their reaction to the complaining passenger was not. They should have explained the situation and they should have said something like, “Let’s give it 10 more minutes and the baby should be asleep by then.” I always take earbuds with me on the plane so that I can block out the noise with music or my own relaxing sounds.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com They were both wrong.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com Planes are already loud and uncomfortable. Playing a sound machine is as annoying as playing music or a movie without headphones. I don’t like being that person, but if you can’t travel by air without disturbing other people with your noise, don’t travel by air. I know not all other alternatives are good, and staying home may be lonely, but the level of entitlement here is just extreme. And the “I could have murdered her” comment is just gross.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com

Dear Mr. Takei,

I realize that this may not be a popular opinion, but here goes:

Why can’t airlines offer a “Sceaching Hell-Spawn Free” class on certain flights?

That, or maybe the Swaddling Clothes Car Alarms can be shipped by Freight…?

@georgetakei@universeodon.com Flew regularly with my kids as babies, wouldn’t dream then or now of playing noises loud enough that other passengers would not only hear but be irritated enough to complain about 😬

@georgetakei@universeodon.com I have to say I would rather external noisemakers of any kind - without headsets/earpieces - should not be allowed to be used. Period.

Do not think you can do so just because it is the only thing that stops your baby from crying.

Ever think of recording the white noise and playing it through a “pillow speaker” so your child can hear it but it doesn’t bother anyone else?