Viewing material on ipad - whose right/wrong and would the BTP get involved

[Scousemouse]

I read a thread on another forum which basically goes:

Woman sitting on train watching Homeland on a tablet sat on the table with head phones
6 year old kid next to them
Kids mother asks woman to stop watching it as its not suitable for her child to see
Woman refuses

75% of the responses basically said woman was unreasonable and no one should watch that sort of thing in public as even adults might find the sex/violence offensive

20% thought the mother should parent her kid properly

But what made me post here was........ about 5% said the train manager should have made the woman turn it off and if not the BTP should be called and have the woman arrested for displaying sexual material to a minor.

I have a suspicion that the BTP wouldn't even bother responding and I can imagine some train managers might find it amusing. I can imagine the headlines now.........

 

[Skymonster]

So if the kid was occupying a seat and was sat next to whoever was watching the tablet, why did the mother not move into that seat and have the kid to the seat she was in (which presumably, given only two seats on one side of a table, wouldn't have line of sight with the tablet)?

In any case, I can think of many things that are far more offensive than Homeland - if I'd been watching it on a train my response to the mother would probably have been the same.

 

[6Gman]

What is "Homeland"?

 

[PeterC]

What is "Homeland"?

Google is your friend

 

[cuccir]

75% of the responses basically said woman was unreasonable and no one should watch that sort of thing in public as even adults might find the sex/violence offensive

20% thought the mother should parent her kid properly

If that's a fair representation of the views then I'm glad I'm not on that fourm - both claims sound unreasonable.

The parent was within her right to ask for some consideration; the other woman was within her rights not to comply but I think that would be a reasonable thing to do.

The idea that no one should watch it in public is absurd though; the idea that the mother was parenting improperly is also stupid and judgemental.

I'm quite confident that the BTP would have had better things to do. A train guard might have asked the passenger to turn it off on the grounds that it was annoying aa fello passenger - bylaw 6 says that

No person shall molest or wilfully interfere with the comfort or convenience of any person on the railway.

which she was arguably doing, depending on how we understand 'wifull' But even then I suspect most guards would have seen it as something not to get involved in. I doubt any would seriously consider passing any such brhaviour on for investigation and I doubt she was actually breaking the bylaw.

What is "Homeland"?

An American TV series which has been running for quite a few years now. Broadly, it's a spy thriller centered on American investigations into Islamic terror. It has some violence and nudity buy nothing too remarkable for post-watershed content.

 

[matt_world2004]

On the metro article there is a poll and I have never seen such a conclusive poll published in a newspaper before.

 

[Scousemouse]

On the metro article there is a poll and I have never seen such a conclusive poll published in a newspaper before.

Metro poll?

 

[Scousemouse]

here is the original forum post.



https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_b...her-kids-to-mind-her-own-business?pg=1&order=

Most of them appear to be bat****

 

[Warwick]

The word "Mumsnet" tells you everything.

 

[Ianno87]

I'm quite confident that the BTP would have had better things to do. A train guard might have asked the passenger to turn it off on the grounds that it was annoying aa fello passenger - bylaw 6 says that



which she was arguably doing, depending on how we understand 'wifull' But even then I suspect most guards would have seen it as something not to get involved in. I doubt any would seriously consider passing any such brhaviour on for investigation and I doubt she was actually breaking the bylaw.

I'd say the complainant was the person wilfully disturbing the comfort and convenience of the passenger quietly minding their own business watching something on their iPad with the headphones in...

 

[Jonny]

I think it would have to be way worse than something like homeland for BTP to get involved...

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tra...-porn-on-trains-passengers-told-a3443911.html

Call the police if you see people watching porn on trains, passengers told

Passengers who witness people watching porn on public transport have been told to call the police.

Guidance issued by police also confirmed that people caught watching porn can be prosecuted for causing harassment, alarm or distress.

It follows a spate of such reports, with BBC Radio 4 raising the issue in Woman’s Hour on Monday after one of its reporters noticed a man watching porn on the bus during her commute.

Transport for London has previously urged passengers to report such incidents to a member of staff.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “We are aware there has been some discussion in the media recently about people watching pornography on public transport and whether transport groups or the police can do anything about this.

“If you feel uncomfortable or distressed by someone who is looking at pornography on the railway, we want you to report it to us.

"There is various legislation which could potentially be used to prosecute this behaviour in some circumstances, including railway byelaws or Section 5 of the the Public Order Act for causing harassment, alarm or distress.

“You can use our discreet texting service - the number is 61016 - to report what is happening without those nearby overhearing, if this makes you feel more comfortable.”

I have to admit to a few episodes of Torchwood and Doctor Who on the train though...

 

[221129]

If you called the BTP in this case I wouldn't be surprised if they laughed all the way to Krispy Kreme. Half the time you can't get them to come out to actual on going incidents let alone someone watching a bit of TV some one else disapproves of.

 

[B&I]

The onward march of The Permanently Offended continues

 

[matt_world2004]

I would argue that porn is a different kettle of fish to mainstream tv. Including violent mainstream TV. People have very little personal time to themselves and someone who has had kids should not dictate what they do in that personal time. The person wacthing homeland on the train didnt concieve that child with you. Do not force them to experiance the consequences of it.

 

[NoOnesFool]

Well did the woman have the screesn tilted discreetly away from the view of others or was she proactively flaunting her viewing choice? I think if she tilted it away, then it can't really be deemed asas a wilful annoyance.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Some of the scenes in Deadpool aren't really appropriate for watching in open public, yet the film is available through Beam on VTWC (and was on VTEC as well).

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Correct way for mother to ask for consideration: "Excuse me, sorry to disturb you... but I'd rather my child didn't see what you're watching. Could you turn the ipad round a bit. Much appreciated"

Appropriate response of ipad watcher to the demand of mother to stop watching programme "no, but I understand your concern... how about I turn the ipad round so your child can't see it?"

Jeez, have we all become so absorbed in our tech devices now that we've all forgotten how to communicate effectively and politely with each other through speech?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, @Teflon Lettuce has the correct answer!

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Yes, @Teflon Lettuce has the correct answer!

aw shucks

 

[Bletchleyite]

aw shucks

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

To be honest... on the few occasions that I've used my laptop on public transport I've tended to angle it so only I can see it... After all I "paid" for the content so why should any one else get to watch it? Just like if I'm reading a book and I notice someone trying to read it over my shoulder I'll angle myself so they can't....

Selfish aren't I?

 

[bussnapperwm]

Some people, like that mother, just need to get a life and stop complaining about things that don't concern them. If I want to watch a film like Die Hard, carry on writing my erotic fiction novel, or view a program like Homeland on a train, as long as I've got headphones in and the wireless internet connection will allow it, I will, complaint or no complaint.

As long as I'm acting within the law, then they can either like it or lump it.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Some people, like that mother, just need to get a life and stop complaining about things that don't concern them. If I want to watch a film like Die Hard, carry on writing my erotic fiction novel, or view a program like Homeland on a train, as long as I've got headphones in and the wireless internet connection will allow it, I will, complaint or no complaint.

As long as I'm acting within the law, then they can either like it or lump it.

Hmmm... and therein you show what is wrong with society... All me me me..

As I said in my post above... what's wrong with replying "no sorry, but I will move the screen so your child can;t see it"?

 

[bussnapperwm]

hmmm... and therein you show what is wrong with society... all me me me.. as I said in my post above... what's wrong with replying "no sorry, but I will move the screen so your child can;t see it"?

Simple, why should I move when potentially the kid inserted itself there after I started watching/doing?

Parents should parent their own offspring, not complain about other people doing completely legal things.

Whatever next? A parent complaining because the person next to their kid was chewing something a decibel too loud? Calling the person next to the kid a paedophile because was grabbing something from a trouser pocket that was on the side of the kid?

This country is going to the dogs!

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Simple, why should I move when potentially the kid inserted itself there after I started watching/doing?

Parents should parent their own offspring, not complain about other people doing completely legal things.

Whatever next? A parent complaining because the person next to their kid was chewing something a decibel too loud? Calling the person next to the kid a paedophile because was grabbing something from a trouser pocket that was on the side of the kid?


This country is going to the dogs!

Inserted itself? You mean sat in a vacant seat next to you? Possibly either the ONLY seat available.. OR the seat reserved for it?
You're right though... the country is going to the dogs... You're on public transport... and to make it a pleasant experience for everyone there has to be a bit of give and take... on ALL sides...

FWIW I think that if you are watching something that isn't suitable for children on public transport then you have a DUTY to ensure that they cannot see what you are watching.... or to put it another way... if you was sat on a train with your 5 yr old kid and the person sitting next to them was watching the Texas Chainsaw Massacre on their i-pad and your child could see it... would YOU expect said person to take reasonable care to ensure your child couldn't see it?

 

[GusB]

Whenever we made a journey by train as a family, my parents always ensured that there were enough materials packed (paper, pens, puzzle books and comics - the only time I ever saw comics was on train journeys) that would provide sufficient distraction as to avoid bothering other passengers. When those options failed, a good old-fashioned game of eye-spy normally did the trick. If the train was busy and we ended up having to share a table with a stranger, we'd constantly be reminded not to distract the man/lady from reading their book/newspaper*, and if I did try to have a peek at what the other passenger was reading, I'd have been swiftly told to mind my own business.

*no iPads in those days

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Whenever we made a journey by train as a family, my parents always ensured that there were enough materials packed (paper, pens, puzzle books and comics - the only time I ever saw comics was on train journeys) that would provide sufficient distraction as to avoid bothering other passengers. When those options failed, a good old-fashioned game of eye-spy normally did the trick. If the train was busy and we ended up having to share a table with a stranger, we'd constantly be reminded not to distract the man/lady from reading their book/newspaper*, and if I did try to have a peek at what the other passenger was reading, I'd have been swiftly told to mind my own business.

*no iPads in those days

But equally in those far off days that I also remember well... said stranger would probably be brought into the fun if they showed any sign of wanting to join in. Certainly people would be more likely to strike up conversations on the train/ bus with total strangers than they are today. Then again how often these days do you sit there with a kid literally screaming for attention whilst mum and/ or dad are glued to their phone/ tablet/ other entertainment source... and ignoring their child?

 

[Bromley boy]

correct way for mother to ask for consideration: "Excuse me, sorry to disturb you... but I'd rather my child didn't see what you're watching. Could you turn the ipad round a bit. Much appreciated"

Appropriate response of ipad watcher to the demand of mother to stop watching programme "no, but I understand your concern... how about I turn the ipad round so your child can't see it?"

jeez have we all become so absorbed in our tech devices now that we've all forgotten how to communicate effectively and politely with each other through speech?

I’d generally agree with this.

Although, in my opinion, it was incredibly rude and presumptuous of the mother to ask a complete stranger, sitting in a public place and minding their own business, to switch it off. Some parents need to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them and their children.

It would have been better for the mother and the children to have simply moved to other seats. Personally I’d find it incredibly irritating to have a child (or anyone else) sitting next to me watching my device.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

I’d generally agree with this.

Although, in my opinion, it was presumptuous of the mother to ask the watcher to switch it off. Some parents need to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them and their children.

It would have been better for the mother and the children to have simply moved to other seats. Personally I’d find it incredibly irritating to have a child (or anyone else) sitting next to me watching my device.

TBF if, as reported the mother DEMANDED the device be switched off, then I think that was out of order... as I said her correct approach should've been apologetic and conciliatory... and would, most likely, have had a better result for what she wanted {her child not able to see the content}

As to moving seats... we don't know whether that was an option... it could be that the train was rammed and they were the only available seats...

It really does seem to me this incident is indicative of the general "the world revolves me" attitude of society that we now live in....

As I was always taught... you catch more flies with honey than vinegar

 

[GusB]

but equally in those far off days that I also remember well... said stranger would probably be brought into the fun if they showed any sign of wanting to join in... certainly people would be more likely to strike up conversations on the train/ bus with total strangers than they are today...then again how often these days do you sit there with a kid literally screaming for attention whilst mum and/ or dad are glued to their phone/ tablet/ other entertainment source... and ignoring their child?

All pretty valid points, to be honest. Strangers were brought into the eye-spy game, conversations were struck-up. I remember one occasion when we alighted from the train with several bars of rather tasty Swiss chocolate as a result of a conversation with a stranger. Yes, those were the good old days, and I'm sure someone will come along and say that it's not like that any more, it never will be and that my misty eyes are looking through the proverbial pink specs, but isn't it just about having a little bit of respect for the people around you? So many people these days expect others to mind their own business while they still feel the need to interfere in the lives of others.
I'm sure that somewhere in the mists of time there will probably have been an occasion where someone reading a Mills & Boon novel on a train would have raised a few eyebrows.