Prudie Rules: Asking a Parent to Lower a Child’s iPad Volume Is Not Rude
Slate’s advice columnist Prudie addressed a reader’s query about whether it is rude to ask a parent to lower the volume of a child’s iPad on a plane. The reader, who was delayed on a tarmac for 39 minutes, politely requested the flight attendant intervene and later asked the mother if she had headphones. The mother responded dismissively, stating the child was three years old. Prudie concluded that the reader was not in the wrong for making a polite request, while the mother was at fault for ignoring the request. The columnist emphasized that while toddlers are excused for noise, parents should still respond with basic courtesy when asked to mitigate disturbance.
