Air passengers behaving badly

[Lord Manhammer]

Just please, for the love of all things holy, keep your socks on during the flight, especially transatlantic ones!

 

[DCLMP]

I don't think it's gotten worse. What's changed is there is someone with a cell phone filming the bad behavior. You would think that would make people behave better.

 

[SirDuff]

On a flight last month, we were not far off the ground when someone started to play a movie with the volume turned way up. I figured I would just have to deal with it. But then, thankfully, the flight attendant came over the intercom and said as a reminder, you have to listen to movies with headphones or earbuds. And the noise went away!

I’ve been that person twice (once on train and once in lounge before the flight). I was watching something on my iPad (I think on the train it may have been on my computer). I had my headphones in my ears but, apparently, forgot to put the other end of the plug into my device (or it was in wrong or the wrong device). Of course, because I had things in my ears (the headset), it was especially hard to hear (I am already hearing impaired) and I probably had the volume way up.

In both cases, I did notice myself (but it was probably a good few minutes at least), fixed it and humbly apologized to anyone in earshot. But I felt so awful for being such a jerk (or appearing to be a jerk, really I was just an idiot).

I still cringe when I think about it.

 

[bsmcneil]

I’ve been that person twice (once on train and once in lounge before the flight). I was watching something on my iPad (I think on the train it may have been on my computer). I had my headphones in my ears but, apparently, forgot to put the other end of the plug into my device (or it was in wrong or the wrong device). Of course, because I had things in my ears (the headset), it was especially hard to hear (I am already hearing impaired) and I probably had the volume way up.

In both cases, I did notice myself (but it was probably a good few minutes at least), fixed it and humbly apologized to anyone in earshot. But I felt so awful for being such a jerk (or appearing to be a jerk, really I was just an idiot).

I still cringe when I think about it.

I've had this happen at home with the kids and 100% get it. I do wonder if it's more likely for those of us dealing with hearing loss because things already sound off to me so I'm less likely to notice until one of my kids asks if I can turn my thing down (which is a nice change of pace from me asking the same)

 

[ford family]

Just please, for the love of all things holy, keep your socks on during the flight, especially transatlantic ones!

What are transatlantic socks?

ford family

 

[seshat0120]

It is just a sign of the times unfortunately. Years ago, someone would have simply asked them to keep it down or they could leave, but today much more is tolerated. Everyone is afraid of backlash or getting cancelled today. Our forefathers did not tolerate disrespect like that, but it was indeed a different time though.

I was at a carnival / fair many years ago where my mother placed some trash in what she assumed was a trash barrel. It turns out it was a ball bin for a carnival game, and the Carny got mad and called her a pretty nasty derogatory name. My father calmy walked over, bear hugged the Carny, and put him into the said barrel. He then politely asked the man to apologize to my mother and told him her name, and explained it was an honest mistake as it looked just like another trash bin close by. The guy apologized and everyone went on with their night. You would rarely see something like this today, but that was pretty commonplace 30-40 years ago. There were potential consequences to behaving badly back then. My father did not tolerate disrespect towards him or my mother, period.

What you just described your father doing is assault and battery. Frankly, I would hope we, as a society, have grown past the need for vigilante justice and assaulting people because of something that's said. The need to physically retaliate is worse than someone calling you names. Two wrongs don't make a right and all it does is escalate things.

 

[Babs Johnson]

I don’t know what happened, but last year some commotion occurred in the back of the plane. Departure was delayed and eventually two people were removed from the flight. It was Southwest from Baltimore to Tampa.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

What you just described your father doing is assault and battery. Frankly, I would hope we, as a society, have grown past the need for vigilante justice and assaulting people because of something that's said. The need to physically retaliate is worse than someone calling you names. Two wrongs don't make a right and all it does is escalate things.

I agree that we have certainly moved past that as a society, like I said this was many years ago. Just pointing out that disrespect of others was not as tolerated back then versus today.

 

[leebee]

I posted this somewhere recently, sorry if it's a 'repeat:'

When I was younger (60s and 70s) you automatically respected others, because they are people. If they showed you they didn't deserve respect, fine, but you treated people how you wished to be treated, by being kind, polite, and respectful. Somehow we got away from this and demanded that people EARN respect, which for some reason made it OK to be rude, disdainful, or impolite until someone showed you they were "worthy" of being respected. With this viewpoint, I think we've lost a lot as a society and as individuals.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

I posted this somewhere recently, sorry if it's a 'repeat:'

When I was younger (60s and 70s) you automatically respected others, because they are people. If they showed you they didn't deserve respect, fine, but you treated people how you wished to be treated, by being kind, polite, and respectful. Somehow we got away from this and demanded that people EARN respect, which for some reason made it OK to be rude, disdainful, or impolite until someone showed you they were "worthy" of being respected. With this viewpoint, I think we've lost a lot as a society and as individuals.

Very good take here, and I agree with a lot of it. Respect of others used to be the norm, and parents used to teach their kids to respect others. For me growing up if my parents believed I was being disrespectful to them or other adults there were consequences. Disrespect is common today, with little to no consequences..........this is why I believe it is much more prevalent today.

For example teachers and administrators are subjected to significantly more disrespect today than they were when I went to school. I personally believe it is because parents don't teach their kids to respect others, and there are far less consequences to these actions today versus prior generations. We have had a female teacher badly beaten in her classroom by a male student in the past few years, and this would have been unheard of 30 years ago.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

What are transatlantic socks?

ford family

Well I guess technically transatlantic socks would be compression stockings, and I've seen people take those off on a flight as well.

 

[CynBeth]

We have been very lucky do not want to jinx anything. I think maybe once on a flight many years ago someone was told to get off but do not remember much about it. On an international flight we were on in 2018 someone complained to the flight attendant that my DH was pressing buttons on the screen where you can watch tv and movies or play games too hard. It was so long ago can’t recall if after that he stopped using it because he was so worried the guy would start more trouble or just tried to use an even lighter touch than he already was.

We recently were in Italy on the train from Venice to Rome which is about 4 hours. We were in an area of single seats with more room but right in front of us were 2 seats on each side and there was a couple also from the US on the right diagonal from me and the woman who was by the window kept laying down with her head on the window and her bare feet were over his lap sticking out in the aisle.

 

[Moliphino]

I posted this somewhere recently, sorry if it's a 'repeat:'

When I was younger (60s and 70s) you automatically respected others, because they are people. If they showed you they didn't deserve respect, fine, but you treated people how you wished to be treated, by being kind, polite, and respectful. Somehow we got away from this and demanded that people EARN respect, which for some reason made it OK to be rude, disdainful, or impolite until someone showed you they were "worthy" of being respected. With this viewpoint, I think we've lost a lot as a society and as individuals.

But then you have people who actually expect deference and then scream they've been disrespected when you treat them with the same basic respect as all other people.

 

[Wiltony]

While this is an interesting thread to read, I'm disheartened by the comments like "we're not going to make it" and "people don't care anymore," etc. As if society is in a downward spiral. I reject that, and am more optimistic.

What we're not sharing is the 200+ other people on those flights who were respectful and well-behaved. People who thank the flight attendants, are gracious, kind, and polite to fellow passengers. Those who greet others warmly, say excuse me, and lift others up. I encounter WAY more people like that, to be honest. I'll bet you do, too.

We're fine.

 

[Praying Colonel]

There's an Instagram account called Passenger Shaming that has some really interesting stuff on passengers behaving badly (sometimes very badly).

The closest I had was DW and I were on a flight with a guy who had headphones on and was listening to music. He started "seat dancing," waving his arms about. We thought about asking for assistance, but he stayed in his personal space so we just hoped he'd quit at some point. Eventually DW and I switched spots so I was sitting next to him and he cooled his act.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

There's an Instagram account called Passenger Shaming that has some really interesting stuff on passengers behaving badly (sometimes very badly).

The closest I had was DW and I were on a flight with a guy who had headphones on and was listening to music. He started "seat dancing," waving his arms about. We thought about asking for assistance, but he stayed in his personal space so we just hoped he'd quit at some point. Eventually DW and I switched spots so I was sitting next to him and he cooled his act.

There is a lady that does this at the gym I go to for my lunch break. She sets up a whole tripod and everything and films it for social media I assume. I don't want to end up in her videos, so I normally get some free weights and head for the opposite end of the gym from her. Doesn't bother me too much, I just find it really odd in a crowded gym with business people trying to get a workout in on their lunch break.

 

[Wiltony]

There is a lady that does this at the gym I go to for my lunch break. She sets up a whole tripod and everything and films it for social media I assume. I don't want to end up in her videos, so I normally get some free weights and head for the opposite end of the gym from her. Doesn't bother me too much, I just find it really odd in a crowded gym with business people trying to get a workout in on their lunch break.

There is a growing trend at gyms to enact rules that prohibit filming. Please complain to your gym and hopefully they will adopt this rule as well.

 

[sam_gordon]

Very good take here, and I agree with a lot of it. Respect of others used to be the norm, and parents used to teach their kids to respect others. For me growing up if my parents believed I was being disrespectful to them or other adults there were consequences. Disrespect is common today, with little to no consequences..........this is why I believe it is much more prevalent today.

For example teachers and administrators are subjected to significantly more disrespect today than they were when I went to school. I personally believe it is because parents don't teach their kids to respect others, and there are far less consequences to these actions today versus prior generations. We have had a female teacher badly beaten in her classroom by a male student in the past few years, and this would have been unheard of 30 years ago.

I think part of the issue is there has been a push for people to "stand up for themselves". So if they are "wronged", don't just accept it, push back. On it's face, that's a good thing. However, people see themselves as being "wronged" too easily (see the elder joke thread as an example). There's a middle ground. How to get people to see that (and stay in it), I don't know.

 

[tzolkin]

But then you have people who actually expect deference and then scream they've been disrespected when you treat them with the same basic respect as all other people.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

People do not seem to understand the difference between the two. This is especially true when discussing children/young people. Many will say "respect" when they really mean deference or obedience. One can be very respectful of their elders, but not defer to their opinion or do what they tell them to do.

When I was younger (60s and 70s) you automatically respected others, because they are people. If they showed you they didn't deserve respect, fine, but you treated people how you wished to be treated, by being kind, polite, and respectful. Somehow we got away from this and demanded that people EARN respect, which for some reason made it OK to be rude, disdainful, or impolite until someone showed you they were "worthy" of being respected. With this viewpoint, I think we've lost a lot as a society and as individuals.

Deference is earned. Respect should be shown toward everyone.

 

[BrianL]

THe worst one that I saw recently was on a Southwest flight home from Orlando, I took an open Aisle seat next to a lady on teh window. A little kid in the middle seat in front of us was just slamming back into the seat, constantly bouncing and making the seatback move a good inch or two. The adults with thsis child never once told her to stop - they just acted like it wasn't happening. I looked over to the lady and said, "Well, at least nobody's going to sit between us." Yeah, they didn't either!