France's SNCF has launched a new train carriage policy, dubbed "Optimum", designed to exclude children under 12 from this space, citing concerns about noise levels and disruptions to business meetings. However, the company's decision has been met with widespread outrage and criticism, both within France and beyond.
The backlash was swift and vocal, with many arguing that such a policy is not only unreasonable but also reflects a broader societal trend of intolerance towards children. The French high commissioner for children, Sarah El Haïry, described the initiative as "shocking", while academics have pointed to the growing trend of adults-only spaces, including shopping malls and amusement parks, which are excluding teenagers from traditional hangouts.
This phenomenon is not unique to France, with cities such as Chicago and Washington introducing youth curfews in some areas. In the UK, there has been a call for "safe, welcoming, and unstructured space" for teenagers, who often feel excluded from their own communities.
Proponents of adults-only spaces argue that they are necessary for business meetings or relaxation, but critics point out that this approach ignores the importance of community and social interaction. As one writer notes, "inconvenience is the price of community", suggesting that we need to tolerate some disruption in order to reap the benefits of social connection.
The article also highlights the need to reevaluate our attitudes towards children, who are being increasingly excluded from public spaces. The writer argues that children are not just a future demographic but also an important part of our present and past, with many adults still exhibiting loud and boisterous behavior in public places.
Ultimately, the debate around SNCF's "Optimum" policy serves as a reminder of the importance of finding balance between individual needs and social responsibility. By embracing diversity and inclusivity, we can create spaces that are welcoming to all ages and backgrounds, rather than excluding certain groups from our communities.
The backlash was swift and vocal, with many arguing that such a policy is not only unreasonable but also reflects a broader societal trend of intolerance towards children. The French high commissioner for children, Sarah El Haïry, described the initiative as "shocking", while academics have pointed to the growing trend of adults-only spaces, including shopping malls and amusement parks, which are excluding teenagers from traditional hangouts.
This phenomenon is not unique to France, with cities such as Chicago and Washington introducing youth curfews in some areas. In the UK, there has been a call for "safe, welcoming, and unstructured space" for teenagers, who often feel excluded from their own communities.
Proponents of adults-only spaces argue that they are necessary for business meetings or relaxation, but critics point out that this approach ignores the importance of community and social interaction. As one writer notes, "inconvenience is the price of community", suggesting that we need to tolerate some disruption in order to reap the benefits of social connection.
The article also highlights the need to reevaluate our attitudes towards children, who are being increasingly excluded from public spaces. The writer argues that children are not just a future demographic but also an important part of our present and past, with many adults still exhibiting loud and boisterous behavior in public places.
Ultimately, the debate around SNCF's "Optimum" policy serves as a reminder of the importance of finding balance between individual needs and social responsibility. By embracing diversity and inclusivity, we can create spaces that are welcoming to all ages and backgrounds, rather than excluding certain groups from our communities.
I'm literally shocked by this SNCF policy 
! What's next? Excluding seniors from libraries or public restrooms? 
As a parent, it's disheartening to see that some people think kids are just an afterthought 
. Newsflash: kids need space to grow and socialize too! 
All these adults-only spaces are creating a "us vs them" mentality 
. I get it, business meetings can be noisy, but what about the noise of families enjoying quality time together? 
It's all about finding balance, not excluding certain age groups from public spaces 
. We need to get back to that old-school value of community and social interaction 
.
... I mean, who doesn't love a quiet space for business meetings and whatnot? But at the same time, can we just relax and let kids be kids, you know? They're not always gonna be all noise and disruption... I'm sure they'll get bored with all the screaming and tantrums eventually 
I don't know, man... Can we just find a happy medium and make sure everyone's comfortable? Maybe invest in some fancy soundproofing technology or something? 
I'm literally shocked by this news! Like, who thought it was a good idea to exclude kids under 12 from a train carriage? It's not like they're gonna be super loud or disrupting meetings... I mean, come on! 
What's next? Adults-only airports? Shopping malls? It's like we're creating these little 'adults-only' bubbles and leaving the youth out. That's just not right, you know? 
We need to find ways to make spaces welcoming for all ages, not just for our own convenience.
#KidsFirst #InclusiveSpaces 
I gotta say, this whole adults-only train carriage thing is just plain weird 
. Like, what's the big deal about kids making a bit of noise or disrupting business meetings? It sounds like SNCF is trying to suck out some of that youthful energy and replace it with...well, nothing 
.
.
.
. Do we want to be communities that welcome diversity, creativity, and social interaction, or are we just going to create more bubble spaces for the "adults only" crowd? 
I mean, come on... adults-only spaces? That's just crazy talk! Back in my day, we didn't need some fancy train carriage policy to tell us when we could take a break or have a business meeting. We just used common sense and considered other people around us.
I mean, I'm all for giving people some peace and quiet when they need it, but this policy is just taking things too far.
. I mean, shouldn't there be seats for kids too? 
. I'm all for some peace and quiet on trains, but excluding kids is just unfair 
. I mean, I get it, some people might wanna chill in peace without the noise and chaos of young'uns, but come on! Kids are people too! 
#TeenagersUnite.
. And don't even get me started on these youth curfews in Chicago and Washington... like, what's next? A national "no kids allowed" law? 
I'm literally shocked by this new train carriage policy in France! Like, what's next? They're gonna make schools for adults only too?! 
. It's just so unfair that kids are being excluded from all these public spaces because of a few noisy passengers 
. Can't we just find a way to accommodate everyone? Maybe it's time for the French to rethink their whole 'Optimum' policy and get with the times 
I'm totally with Sarah El Haïry on this one... it's shocking that SNCF would even consider a policy like this! 
We're all human beings, after all! 
it's just another example of how we're losing our sense of community and acceptance towards all ages. 
And can we talk about how weird it is that some people think adults-only spaces are a thing? What happened to community and social interaction? 
We need to stand up against these kinds of policies and fight for inclusivity in all areas of life. 