Ok, the above post was scary!
Whilst I agree that parenting standards have really gone down in certain parts of the world, I also see that tolerance to children (again in certain parts of the world, has also gone down. For example, when I take my kids to a southern european country to a restaurant, I feel they are welcome and many adults even approach them and play/joke around with them. On the other hand, where I live now, the opposite is true, when in a restaurant, other adults are either indifferent to or even annoyed at the fact there are kids around. (My kids know how to behave in a restaurant).
I totally agree that parents have to control their kids in the airplane and that crew are not a babysitting service. However, it is not always so easy. I have 3 kids, 2 boys and one girl, all been raised the same way, the boys behave perfectly in the airplane (always have) but my girl is a drama! "the look" does not seem to work on her, and even strapping her down with the seatbelt does not work because she always manages to wrigle out of it. Now, at home, if needed she gets a smack in her bum, but today in public it's like a "no no", and if you do it you end up getting bad looks from other people!
Drugging kids so that the trip is "pleasant" for everyone else? No thank you.
Also I agree that kids should not stand on seats because of a safety issue, but not out of concern that some people behind will be stared at.
About the nappy changing on seats: I too think it is totally innapropriate (would never do it in a restaurant etc...), but, on some aircraft it is simply impossible to change a nappy on 8-9 month old baby in those tiny lavatory tables (later on they can stand). So yes, I have in the past changed my babies on the seat, embarrasing as it was, but still better than travelling for 2 hours with a nasty smell. And no, I did not get poo all over the seats/ other pax etc...
So,I totally agree that parents have to discipline their kids, not let them be a nuisance to others, teach them how to behave etc.... But in general, society is also becoming more and more intolerant towards children. eg "OMG, this child is staring at me! whatever shall I do? what a nuisance!!"
Sorry for the long message...