Parents, have you noticed more kid-haters out there recently while traveling?

That’s the sense I received this week while reading reports from blogger Barbara De Lollis, who writes Hotel Check-In, a community geared toward the readers we call “road warriors.”

Barb does a great job covering the issues that matter the most to the people who travel the most. Her readers are passionate and vocal – she’s had posts that garner 300+ comments. And yesterday she hit a hot button when she published two posts that both dealt with traveling children and families.

One post asked readers whether or not kids should be allowed in VIP hotel lounges. And the other post was about a Travelocity poll that asked people about their pet peeves while traveling – and included many that involved children.

I was a little surprised at the vitriol levied against traveling families. I don’t have kids, nor do I travel for work as often as others. So maybe I don’t see all the bad behavior that’s out there. Among the complaints outlined in the comments: children touching all the food at a buffet without eating it, parents who change smelly diapers on the floor of airplanes, kids who run around nicer restaurants, etc.

Maybe I’m a little less anal about some of this stuff. I don’t tense up when I see a baby on a plane like some people I know (although I do check to make sure I have headphones!) After all, we were all kids once – we occasionally cried, kicked the seat and squirmed around – and hopefully our parents taught us then that these behaviors weren’t appropriate. In a country where less than a third of the population has a passport, I WANT parents to expose their children to travel. And I feel bad when I see a harried mom trying to wrangle multiple children under 5, especially if she’s solo - I usually try to lend a hand with their bags if I can instead of shooting them a dirty look.

Of course, there are some limits. For the record, I do think that kids should only be allowed in VIP lounges during off hours or weekends. Yes, I know that parents worked hard for their elite status and they have the right to use those perks in their personal travel. But if I was a business traveler preparing for yet another stressful power point presentation, I would be extremely annoyed if my quiet space was interrupted.

And I do expect parents to keep an eye on their kids in planes and restaurants, although I’m sure it’s tough when you are already exhausted from a day on the road. Just like adults, some kids are better travelers than others – and parents should be attuned to their personality and adjust travel plans accordingly if possible.

Basically, it all boils down to courtesy. Have we become so fragmented and self-centered these days that it’s impossible to put ourselves in the shoes of someone else?  Shouldn’t we spare a little bit of empathy toward the youngest members of society?

So parents, what do you think? Do you think travelers have become more intolerant of kids?