I read your first line and was immediately thinking of the JAL flight as well...they were told they had 90 seconds to deplane. The trays up and seats up right rules surely didn’t seem so frivolous when you life is on the line. A good reminder...
Early on in my Navy career we were still required to wear our uniforms while on travel and I was given an empty seat in First Class due to my military service. It was the one and only time I have ever sat in those large, spacious, comfortable seats. I don't have any animosity towards those in first class though. Even though I could afford it, I am far too frugal to pay for the privilege. A by-product of my rural, farm boy upbringing I suppose. I can definitely identify with the rage towards rule-breakers though. It seethes inside of me like a pot trying to boil over. I have quite a bit of self-control but I am sure my face shows my disdain for these selfish types who think only of themselves. My pet peeve is the passenger who is seated at the back of the plane but stows their enormous carry-ons in the very front overhead bins.
Good essay. I've never understood envy. If someone can afford something I cannot, so what? My station would not be improved by their deprivation. Rule-breakers on the other hand .... Grrr.
David, excellent switch-up in talking about getting angry at rule-breaking jerks to the privilege of affording first class et al. I’m not sure the rule-breaking is worse than it always was in the out-for-myself US of A - or don’t-tell-me-what-to-do - we aren’t Japan, which has its own cultural rigidities to deal with. And with unfairness on airlines, I think most people understand you get what you pay for, especially because air travel is so unpleasant these days - BUT I do think people are angrier for all sorts of reasons and on both sides of the political aisle, which means many things can trigger rage at what other people (aka JERKS) do in public. Good thing nobody can read my mind when I’m driving 😉
Thanks for another enjoyable piece! I looked at the linked underlying research on association between air rage incidents and planes with first class cabins. It's an interesting idea but I think it's an equally interesting example of mistaking association for causation. I'd imagine that planes with dual-class cabins are associated with longer flights, and that longer flights are far more likely to be sites of air rage than shorter (this seems to be supported by other data in the research - that the majority of air ragers have overconsumed alcohol or suffer nicotine withdrawal - both of which are time dependent conditions). So I'm not sure if the guy who loses it back in economy is driven at all by the fact that someone's getting free sparkling wine up in Seat 1A.
Also: did the Scofflaw plan work? Were kids and wife able to cut the line to join Mr S??
I have to admit that there is something rather obnoxious about Disney’s obvious way of making more money at the “expense” of its other customers. Still, if it’s offered, and there are people who can and/or willing to pay for it, then I’m not going to blame those customers.
First Class is not something I’ve ever been concerned with, not for a minute. It’s expensive, and I can’t afford it, or at least, I can’t justify it. Then again, I do my best not to fly anywhere. The entire experience is a crap shoot. You don’t know who’s going to be sitting next to you, and too many people have become obnoxiously self serving. They’re completely oblivious or uncaring as to how their own behavior impacts the experience for others who have the misfortune of being stuck in their general vicinity. And, let’s face it, when you’re packed into a relatively small space, that “vicinity” can include enough people to increase the odds that some part of your flight is going to be irritating.
I have written about individual behavior versus the collective good often. And although karma may come into play, it’s usually not soon enough for me to revel in it.
When I come upon selfish drivers behaving badly, I will either flip them off or give them the peace sign. It all depends upon my personal mood. I usually feel better when I do the latter. My mother’s wisdom of “kill them with kindness” comes to the surface.
I've been told (although I have never validated this) that only children 12 years and younger are permitted to ride bicycles on the New York City sidewalks. As a result, I become furious at any obviously-above-12 bike rider on the sidewalk. As you have suggested, it's not necessarily because my own health or safety are at risk, but precisely because that person is breaking the rules.
Oh, I also look with disdain upon those that throw trash in the streets, either while walking or driving.
Something about air travel really brings out the worst in people (me included). I have so many stories of being silently angry at random people on planes. One of the worst was an Emirates flight where the family across from me--who apparently had a tight connection--yelled at the flight attendant until she cried because she wasn’t letting them disembark fast enough. They apparently didn’t understand the concept of jetways. 😡
Class and caste are burdens we have created by separating people according to status and wealth and there's a long history having to do with lower, middle and upper class behaviors. Most of the "elite" consider themselves privileged beyond ordinary folks and whether they earned it or inherited it, membership appears to have its benefits. On the other hand there are those who, having accumulated great wealth and privilege have decided to give most of it away. (Warren Buffet for starters). You may have seen the video of the man giving up his 1st class seat to a 94 yr old woman that shifted the mood of the entire plane. Small example and a good illustration that could be magnified into thousands of acts of kindness and generosity.
Ah, that glare coming out of your wife's eyes! Women often do use their power well.
The walk of fame or the walk of shame, which path to take?
I couldn’t begin to list the times I’ve been angry at the behavior of strangers, and still write a column called “I’m Not Complaining.”
I read your first line and was immediately thinking of the JAL flight as well...they were told they had 90 seconds to deplane. The trays up and seats up right rules surely didn’t seem so frivolous when you life is on the line. A good reminder...
David, you had me at “Oh yes!” This is a terrific essay.
Early on in my Navy career we were still required to wear our uniforms while on travel and I was given an empty seat in First Class due to my military service. It was the one and only time I have ever sat in those large, spacious, comfortable seats. I don't have any animosity towards those in first class though. Even though I could afford it, I am far too frugal to pay for the privilege. A by-product of my rural, farm boy upbringing I suppose. I can definitely identify with the rage towards rule-breakers though. It seethes inside of me like a pot trying to boil over. I have quite a bit of self-control but I am sure my face shows my disdain for these selfish types who think only of themselves. My pet peeve is the passenger who is seated at the back of the plane but stows their enormous carry-ons in the very front overhead bins.
Good essay. I've never understood envy. If someone can afford something I cannot, so what? My station would not be improved by their deprivation. Rule-breakers on the other hand .... Grrr.
David, excellent switch-up in talking about getting angry at rule-breaking jerks to the privilege of affording first class et al. I’m not sure the rule-breaking is worse than it always was in the out-for-myself US of A - or don’t-tell-me-what-to-do - we aren’t Japan, which has its own cultural rigidities to deal with. And with unfairness on airlines, I think most people understand you get what you pay for, especially because air travel is so unpleasant these days - BUT I do think people are angrier for all sorts of reasons and on both sides of the political aisle, which means many things can trigger rage at what other people (aka JERKS) do in public. Good thing nobody can read my mind when I’m driving 😉
Thanks for another enjoyable piece! I looked at the linked underlying research on association between air rage incidents and planes with first class cabins. It's an interesting idea but I think it's an equally interesting example of mistaking association for causation. I'd imagine that planes with dual-class cabins are associated with longer flights, and that longer flights are far more likely to be sites of air rage than shorter (this seems to be supported by other data in the research - that the majority of air ragers have overconsumed alcohol or suffer nicotine withdrawal - both of which are time dependent conditions). So I'm not sure if the guy who loses it back in economy is driven at all by the fact that someone's getting free sparkling wine up in Seat 1A.
Also: did the Scofflaw plan work? Were kids and wife able to cut the line to join Mr S??
I have to admit that there is something rather obnoxious about Disney’s obvious way of making more money at the “expense” of its other customers. Still, if it’s offered, and there are people who can and/or willing to pay for it, then I’m not going to blame those customers.
First Class is not something I’ve ever been concerned with, not for a minute. It’s expensive, and I can’t afford it, or at least, I can’t justify it. Then again, I do my best not to fly anywhere. The entire experience is a crap shoot. You don’t know who’s going to be sitting next to you, and too many people have become obnoxiously self serving. They’re completely oblivious or uncaring as to how their own behavior impacts the experience for others who have the misfortune of being stuck in their general vicinity. And, let’s face it, when you’re packed into a relatively small space, that “vicinity” can include enough people to increase the odds that some part of your flight is going to be irritating.
I have written about individual behavior versus the collective good often. And although karma may come into play, it’s usually not soon enough for me to revel in it.
When I come upon selfish drivers behaving badly, I will either flip them off or give them the peace sign. It all depends upon my personal mood. I usually feel better when I do the latter. My mother’s wisdom of “kill them with kindness” comes to the surface.
I’ll never hesitate to stow away my devices. Never knew why until now- thank you.
I've been told (although I have never validated this) that only children 12 years and younger are permitted to ride bicycles on the New York City sidewalks. As a result, I become furious at any obviously-above-12 bike rider on the sidewalk. As you have suggested, it's not necessarily because my own health or safety are at risk, but precisely because that person is breaking the rules.
Oh, I also look with disdain upon those that throw trash in the streets, either while walking or driving.
Something about air travel really brings out the worst in people (me included). I have so many stories of being silently angry at random people on planes. One of the worst was an Emirates flight where the family across from me--who apparently had a tight connection--yelled at the flight attendant until she cried because she wasn’t letting them disembark fast enough. They apparently didn’t understand the concept of jetways. 😡
Class and caste are burdens we have created by separating people according to status and wealth and there's a long history having to do with lower, middle and upper class behaviors. Most of the "elite" consider themselves privileged beyond ordinary folks and whether they earned it or inherited it, membership appears to have its benefits. On the other hand there are those who, having accumulated great wealth and privilege have decided to give most of it away. (Warren Buffet for starters). You may have seen the video of the man giving up his 1st class seat to a 94 yr old woman that shifted the mood of the entire plane. Small example and a good illustration that could be magnified into thousands of acts of kindness and generosity.