Todd Walton wrote:
On Jan 6, 2008 7:06 PM, Andrew Lentvorski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Or worse, let's talk about some of the parents. I had a woman get on in
the last boarding group with her child and ask if I could move so she
could sit with her son.
Uh, no.
If you couldn't be bothered to get your first group boarding pass at the
24 hour mark (this was Southwest) or be bothered to shell out the extra
$200 to guarantee a first boarding group, why should I give up my seat
to you? And I told her so. Loudly.
You sound like an ass to me.
Bummer. I was actually shooting for *rude* ass. Pointing out the nasty
truth generally gets you placed in that category. I guess I need to
work on that a little harder.
Sorry, six other families somehow managed to deal with traveling and
children without imposing on the rest of the passengers.
If you can't deal with the system and your kid simultaneously, *stay off
the damn plane*. Somehow people dealt with this for decades before the
21st century.
First, as I pointed out, there were plenty of options regardless of the
age of the child. Second, Southwest normally gives special dispensation
to board early and extra help for parents traveling with younger
children *because they get in the way of everybody else*. Third, this
wasn't someone who had any obvious mitigating factor (out of breath from
running via a missed connection; doesn't speak the language; quite
obviously unused to traveling; someone for whom flying is clearly a
large expense, etc.). Fourth, there wasn't even a *hint* of
contrition--it was obvious that she simply expected me to comply.
It takes a special level of arrogance to ignore everything the system
does to help you and then expect to impose upon someone afterward.
Stupidity on your part does not require action from me *in any way*.
And, if you try to impose on me, I'm going to tell you you are being stupid.
My tolerance for this kind of crap used to be higher when it was the
occasional thing here and there coupled with an appropriate amount of
contrition--the incidence was consistent with the "oops-I just didn't
know. Sorry". One is inclined to help in those situations.
Now it seems like way too many people are all looking for an "edge" or
an "angle" all the time.
I am striving to say more nice things to people who deserve it (like
parents whose children behave well), but I am also attempting to call
out obvious stupidity more often.
The psychologists are showing more and more that "silence gives
consent". If nobody objects, everybody thinks that there is universal
agreement. If even *one* person objects, suddenly other people feel
free to express their disapproval as well.
-a
--
[email protected]
http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
