You hear this all the time now, a passenger angry that someone reclined into their space, and a different passenger angry because someone behind them complained when they reclined into their space.
Can’t we just get along?
I get it. Flying can be stressful and tiresome. I understand what motivates someone to recline their seat in an attempt to try and relax. The recline button works, so permission is implied. Right?
I also understand the flip side, sitting back relaxing while watching a movie when all of a sudden the screen plummets toward your feet as the passenger in front of you reclines with all haste like there is a prize for whoever can lever back the fastest!
If that happens, you have very few options. One, you can try (and fail) to angle the now much lower screen up so you can see it. Two, you can recline your own seat angering the 6’6” strongman behind you, or three, you can rub the shoulders of the person who relined into your lap and compliment them on their brand of shampoo.
This is a difficult situation no matter who you are,
Whether you’re the tired jerk in front, or the impatient frustrated one behind.
Once during a meal service on a flight from Australia to Dubai, the person in front of me reclined pinching my glass of wine between the seat back and the tray it sat on. I saw it happen in what seemed like slow motion and I quickly reached for my glass of wine in an attempt to avoid the inevitable consequences.
The faux plastic wine glass shattered unable to stop the juggernaut force pressing back and wine spayed out showering me and passengers two rows back.
In the end, we all had a good laugh, although I never did get a new glass of wine. Damn airline!
And that’s the problem, the airline! Or is it human nature?
Either way, the only way to exist in any state of relative happiness is to be courteous and patient. After all, the airlines have created the perfect testbed for human emotion and conduct.
Passengers aren’t stupid. People know (or should know – there are always outliers) that their actions have consequences. Go ahead, plead ignorance and try and convince yourself that the discomfort you cause others is their problem.
Sucks to be you, bro!
Why should flying be any different than tweeting, or commenting on Facebook, or driving?
In the end, the only thing any of us can do is to one, gain understanding and two, manage our expectations. Three, we should always be courteous and respectful of others, and four, would you treat your mom like that?
I don’t think so.
I would never punch the back of a seat in which someone I loved was sitting. Except if I were 12 and my brother was sitting there. I would probably punch kick and pull the seat in that case.
Maybe people are just acting like kids?
Yeah, that’s it.
Where did all of the adults go? 😉
