Mother and autistic son booted from flight

[kevinsmith]

Sorry...the story is a video.
Link. (http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6223045)

I'm not really sure which way to go on this. On the one hand, airlines aren't exactly known as being helpful and accommodating anymore. But on the other hand, if this kid is rolling around in the aisle as they said, is the "right" of this lady to fly more important than the rights of the rest of the passengers to not have to listen to a screaming toddler for an entire flight? At what point do we become too accommodating? All good questions.

[chrisvet]

Great, the minority suffer to accomodate the majority.

No problems here.

[Jesmo]

They should make like underground tunnels that go around the world for fat, retarded and ugly people.

[Jenovah]

Travelling is an issue for many people with autism, but personally I cannot see how this could have been handled any better if he was acting the way it is described.

One has to wonder how else they are supposed to travel though..

[droogsteve]

OK, so the kid was autistic. But does that really make a difference? What if the kid was just an uncontrollable brat? The results are the same, a disruption on the flight.


Better to eject them off the flight before takeoff rather than risk the kid REALLY freaking out at 30,000 feet. If that happened, and the mother refused to physically restrain the kid, the crew would have to do it. That would mean risking injury to the kid, having to restrain the mother if she became violently protective of the kid (a very real possibility), and the resulting lawsuits. That's not even mentioning the customer service issue of inflicting an out of control kid on a plane full of paying customers.

I sympathize with the parents of autistic kids, it must be tough. But I still think the airline made the right call.

[Dayve]

Flying is stressful enough as it is, knowing that any number of things could go wrong and result in you hitting the ground and dying at 500mph.

You don't need some annoying ass kid whining and screaming on top of that too.

[Riley]

Having a autistic sibling so I can see how this could happen. Now that she is older it is much easier but when she was that age, seriously we very rarely ever took long trips and only one on a plane. No matter how hard we would try to prepare her for situations like that it didn't always turn out well. I don't blame the airlines either, they have to do what they have to do, but I can also sympathize with the mother.

[KakUMei]

Having a autistic sibling so I can see how this could happen. Now that she is older it is much easier but when she was that age, seriously we very rarely ever took long trips and only one on a plane. No matter how hard we would try to prepare her for situations like that it didn't always turn out well. I don't blame the airlines either, they have to do what they have to do, but I can also sympathize with the mother.

You too? My brother is autistic and he was also much much worse when he was younger. Now he is just obsessed with video games haha.

[Riley]

You too? My brother is autistic and he was also much much worse when he was younger. Now he is just obsessed with video games haha.

How old is your brother? She goes through phases. When she was really little she obsessed over the preview channel, but we never needed a TV guide. Than those sing along videos, disney movies and the nickelodeon chanel. :)

[kevinsmith]

Great, the minority suffer to accomodate the majority.

No problems here.
So the majority then needs to suffer to accommodate the minority? Hm..makes sense. Why put out one person when you can put out hundreds.
Sorry, buddy, but that's idealistic nonsense.

Having a autistic sibling so I can see how this could happen. Now that she is older it is much easier but when she was that age, seriously we very rarely ever took long trips and only one on a plane. No matter how hard we would try to prepare her for situations like that it didn't always turn out well. I don't blame the airlines either, they have to do what they have to do, but I can also sympathize with the mother.

Don't get me wrong, I can empathize with the mother. I feel for what she had to go through. But at the same time, are we supposed to let a kid scream and kick and yell on an entire flight?

[Riley]

So the majority then needs to suffer to accommodate the minority? Hm..makes sense. Why put out one person when you can put out hundreds.
Sorry, buddy, but that's idealistic nonsense.



Don't get me wrong, I can empathize with the mother. I feel for what she had to go through. But at the same time, are we supposed to let a kid scream and kick and yell on an entire flight?

If you read my post you would see I said "I don't blame the airlines" :rolleyes:

[KakUMei]

How old is your brother? She goes through phases. When she was really little she obsessed over the preview channel, but we never needed a TV guide. Than those sing along videos, disney movies and the nickelodeon chanel. :)

With my brother it was Batman, then every single Chrysler made car (because my Dad had one), then it was Twister the movie (I don't even know how many times I've seen that god awful movie). Now it is video games. Oh, he is 17 now but still looks like he is 14 or 15.

[Jenovah]

With my brother it was Batman, then every single Chrysler made car (because my Dad had one), then it was Twister the movie (I don't even know how many times I've seen that god awful movie). Now it is video games. Oh, he is 17 now but still looks like he is 14 or 15.

With me it used to be cars which later switched over to videogames, geography, history and (just recently) politics.

Which kind of autism does your brother have if I may ask?

[Riley]

With my brother it was Batman, then every single Chrysler made car (because my Dad had one), then it was Twister the movie (I don't even know how many times I've seen that god awful movie). Now it is video games. Oh, he is 17 now but still looks like he is 14 or 15.

Oh god I hear ya. I seriously have the sing along videos memorized along with a big bird video that I accidentally misplaced. :uhoh: Tomi is almost 9 but I have to say she has come a long ways from where she was. She has become more social, she still prefers to be alone but sometimes will interact with some of the neighbor kids.

[kevinsmith]

If you read my post you would see I said "I don't blame the airlines" :rolleyes:

That last part wasn't directed at you...I know you weren't blaming the airlines. Sorry...it wasn't clear. I expect you people to read my mind sometimes. :)

[Riley]

With me it used to be cars which later switched over to videogames, geography, history and (just recently) politics.

Which kind of autism does your brother have if I may ask?

So you are Autistic? When you say what kind, what do you mean? I mean I realize there are variations of Autism but didn't realize there were different kinds.

I knew a kid I went to school with that was Autistic and he was SO into politics, he was actually quite interesting to talk to because of his vast knowledge. With you, have you thought about getting into politics for a living?

[kevinsmith]

So you are Autistic? When you say what kind, what do you mean? I mean I realize there are variations of Autism but didn't realize there were different kinds.

I knew a kid I went to school with that was Autistic and he was SO into politics, he was actually quite interesting to talk to because of his vast knowledge. With you, have you thought about getting into politics for a living?

Dammit, I apologized to you, I demand an acceptance! ;)

[Riley]

Dammit, I apologized to you, I demand an acceptance! ;)

Of course Kevin, it is unwritten between you and I my little snookums.

[kevinsmith]

Of course Kevin, it is unwritten between you and I my little snookums.

Awww shucks. *looks down and kicks dirt*

[chrisvet]

So the majority then needs to suffer to accommodate the minority? Hm..makes sense. Why put out one person when you can put out hundreds.
Sorry, buddy, but that's idealistic nonsense.

I highly doubt you're a Marxist. Read on:

THe needs of the many greatly outweigh the needs of the few: Spock, and he got it right.

The needs of the Few outweight the needs of the Many: Kirk, a marxist philosophy.

[droogsteve]

That last part wasn't directed at you...I know you weren't blaming the airlines. Sorry...it wasn't clear. I expect you people to read my mind sometimes. :)

I'll try. You're thinking of.......midget porn!!!


What do I win?

[KakUMei]

With me it used to be cars which later switched over to videogames, geography, history and (just recently) politics.

Which kind of autism does your brother have if I may ask?

You don't get it. Autistic kids have a tendency to obsess about certain things for an extended period of time.

Like watching the movie "Twister" 5 times a day.

[TFS]

Sorry...the story is a video.
Link. (http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6223045)

I'm not really sure which way to go on this. On the one hand, airlines aren't exactly known as being helpful and accommodating anymore. But on the other hand, if this kid is rolling around in the aisle as they said, is the "right" of this lady to fly more important than the rights of the rest of the passengers to not have to listen to a screaming toddler for an entire flight? At what point do we become too accommodating? All good questions.

I think you answered your own question: flying is NOT a right. If you and those in your charge do not behave according to the standards the airline sets for you, you have no business on their planes.

what's to keep him from trying to get up in the cock pit mid-flight? "Oh, it's not his fault, he's autistic! You can't tell him to not do that!" It may be a strain on some families to deal with, but some people are just not fit to fly. The safety and comfort of the majority overrides the child's medical condition. The airline has to look to accommodating the majority of their potential returning customers.

[Yuseke]

Two possible solutions. Throw him in cargo or lock his bitch ass in the bathroom. Nah, I'm joking...or am I?

[MelL]

I'll try. You're thinking of.......midget porn!!!


What do I win?

Just wondering, since you're medically-trained, Droog, would sedatives be solution for such a scenario? Or would there be the real potential for complications with an autistic person?

[kevinsmith]

I highly doubt you're a Marxist. Read on:

THe needs of the many greatly outweigh the needs of the few: Spock, and he got it right.

The needs of the Few outweight the needs of the Many: Kirk, a marxist philosophy.

Wait, I'm confused. So when you said:
"Great, the minority suffer to accomodate the majority.

No problems here."

You were being sarcastic? I didn't pick up on the sarcasm for some reason.

I'll try. You're thinking of.......midget porn!!!


What do I win?

Nothing...that wasn't too hard. You know that I'm ALWAYS thinking about midget porn.

[TFS]

Wait, I'm confused. So when you said:
"Great, the minority suffer to accomodate the majority.

No problems here."

You were being sarcastic? I didn't pick up on the sarcasm for some reason.



Nothing...that wasn't too hard. You know that I'm ALWAYS thinking about midget porn.

Midget LESBIAN porn...with a giant shemale

[kevinsmith]

Midget LESBIAN porn...with a giant shemale

And a dwarf wearing a viking helmet with a dildo on top.

[TFS]

And a dwarf wearing a viking helmet with a dildo on top.

Not a strap-on on the chin?

[Mr.SelfDestruct]

Pff, that's shit's tame.

Around here we watch REAL porn. Like bestiality.

[kevinsmith]

I wonder if I can get into trouble for hijacking my own thread....

Shit, I probably shouldn't use the word "hijack" in a thread about flying.

[Spike Lee]

You're not hijacking this thread, you just wanted to make that joke.

[kevinsmith]

You're not hijacking this thread, you just wanted to make that joke.

Man, you're a bigger buzzkill than a nun walking in on teenage sex at a Catholic School.

I know this firsthand from last week....

[Spike Lee]

*kills new joke just offered*

[TFS]

Man, you're a bigger buzzkill than a nun walking in on teenage sex at a Catholic School.

I know this firsthand from last week....

That's only a buzzkill if it's a nun and not a priest.

[kevinsmith]

That's only a buzzkill if it's a nun and not a priest.

It's a buzzkill if it's a priest too, because if there is a boy involved, he'll try to get in on the action and that little while collar thing is distracting.

[TFS]

It's a buzzkill if it's a priest too, because if there is a boy involved, he'll try to get in on the action and that little while collar thing is distracting.

autism to the altar in just three pages...

Hey you! Yeah, you, crazy! Get out of my rect....or.....y....

[Jenovah]

So you are Autistic? When you say what kind, what do you mean? I mean I realize there are variations of Autism but didn't realize there were different kinds.

I knew a kid I went to school with that was Autistic and he was SO into politics, he was actually quite interesting to talk to because of his vast knowledge. With you, have you thought about getting into politics for a living?

Yeah, I guess variations would be the better word, should have worded that a bit differently..

And yes, I have thought about going into politics, but I'm not really socially gifted so I doubt I'd really get anywhere, I think I'd be more of a "behind the scenes" kind of guy! :lol:

[OrangeC]

Leave the kid on, he might just drive a potental terrorist to go crazy and he will probably off himself instead of the whole plane.

ALLAHU ACKBAR!!

[KeyboardPatriot]

Flying is stressful enough as it is, knowing that any number of things could go wrong and result in you hitting the ground and dying at 500mph.

You don't need some annoying ass kid whining and screaming on top of that too.

How is flying stressful? I feel safer in a plane then I do in a car. But maybe because I work as a first officer?

There is a number of things that can actually go wrong and you can still stay in the air. You can loose engines (not all of them), you can loose some fuel, you can loose power, a lot of the vital stuff that actually goes into the operation of the plane is on emergency power, just because the cabin lights are off dosen't mean you are going to die. Hell, theres planes that have lost their elevators, or ailerons, or any other piece of important flying technology and still safely landed the plane. Now, this really hasn't happened to much to airlines because our planes are maintained to the point of craziness, but theres TONS of stories of things like this happening to military aircraft such as C-17's, B-52's, C-5's, C-130's, and the list goes on. A majority of the risk in flying is when you are taxiing to the runway, but when your in the air the risk is minimal.

[KeyboardPatriot]

With my brother it was Batman, then every single Chrysler made car (because my Dad had one), then it was Twister the movie (I don't even know how many times I've seen that god awful movie). Now it is video games. Oh, he is 17 now but still looks like he is 14 or 15.

Just get one of your friends to fuck him, and his whole views on what is important in life will change and he will become more normal to you.

[jn_powell]

How is flying stressful? I feel safer in a plane then I do in a car. But maybe because I work as a first officer?

There is a number of things that can actually go wrong and you can still stay in the air. You can loose engines (not all of them), you can loose some fuel, you can loose power, a lot of the vital stuff that actually goes into the operation of the plane is on emergency power, just because the cabin lights are off dosen't mean you are going to die. Hell, theres planes that have lost their elevators, or ailerons, or any other piece of important flying technology and still safely landed the plane. Now, this really hasn't happened to much to airlines because our planes are maintained to the point of craziness, but theres TONS of stories of things like this happening to military aircraft such as C-17's, B-52's, C-5's, C-130's, and the list goes on. A majority of the risk in flying is when you are taxiing to the runway, but when your in the air the risk is minimal.
I don't think the statement has as much to do with fear of flying as the stress of traveling in general. Hauling your luggage through a crowded airport, waiting in lines, basically stripping for security, piling into an extremely crowded tube with a hundred plus other people for hours on end, all compiled on the fears many people have (why I don't know really) of a terrorist attack and the fact that many people do have a legitimate fear of flying. Who are we to judge other's fears as irrational as they may seem to us? Also, just as an FYI I think the word you are looking for is lose, not loose.