Passenger Shaming

I'm not sure the offenders would be shamed into changing their behavior - - maybe they'd even like the attention! Likewise, if airlines had to post every offensive behavior that a passenger might exhibit, the list might be very long, and, again, someone so crude or thick-headed probably wouldn't take notice of the prohibitions, so you'd have to deal with them a case at a time anyway.

The only truly rude experience I've had over many flights was 12 years ago, involving a little girl and her brother in the seats behind us, who kicked our seats the whole way from Granada, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal. Their parents had deposited them on the plane to fly on their own, and they had no supervision. We didn't bother the flight attendants to intervene, but would have if it had been a longer flight. Hope the girl has matured by now -- obviously some adults never do.

I also saw an article on BuzzFeed about passenger shaming. I do not think it will do much good. Its a fine line between shaming people and bullying people. I have had kids kick my seat but getting upset would of done nothing to improve the situation. I have also had a non-sober passenger behind be bang on the tray table and make noise that only resulted in her being cut off from the alcohol. Lucky for me both flights were short.
J

Janet's post reminded me of one other time, on a flight from London to Denver, and the cordial bloke behind us was looking forward to attending his first-ever US baseball game the next day. BA offered unlimited complimentary alcoholic beverages then, even in coach, and he partook heavily. He got louder and obviously drunker as the flight went on -- but it never came to a full-on confrontation with any passengers or flight attendants. He probably should've gotten cut off at some point -- wonder if he made it through even the third inning the next day?

Not precisely addressing the original post, but interesting: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140917-how-to-trick-terrible-travellers

I am pretty sure that there are studies that show this type of tactic does not work. And it seems cowardly and passive aggressive. What works is identifying the behavior very descriptively and non-judgmentally. So, one would state that your foot is in another person's space rather than saying your behavior is rude, and then stating how that effects others. And, it needs to happen when the behavior in question occurs rather than after the fact. They pictures are fun, and horrifying to look at though.

I'm sure the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy applies to airlines as well, or it should. Just not sanitary.

How many people really want a possibly escalating confrontation with the person next to you in a very crowded and claustrophobic environment where there's really no place to decamp if the other person starts getting nastier? Not many.

So while it may not be the best or most polite thing to do to snap a picture while you otherwise suffer in silence, it probably makes a pretty high percentage of people feel a little better if they get to share the weirdness they had to put up with for their 3-15 hours trapped in the shiny metal cylinder.

I think part of it could be if people see how other people act on airplanes, maybe they'll think twice before putting their bare feet up on the walls, or on the back of someone's armrest, or eating stinky food or being obnoxious. Someone else mentioned seat kicking children. We just returned from LHR yesterday, and they moved some people around to accommodate families with children (my mom being one - Air Canada setup was 2-3-2, so hubby and I had the 2, and I thought that since I had her in the same row, she'd be across, but she was offset back two rows. Anyhoo - she likes the aisle seat, and there was actually no one in the middle seat, but they asked her and another lady to move to accom the family - and she ended up beside the window.) So with 5 rows in the middle by us, there were 3 families with toddlers/babies. One had a baby that cried a lot (thank goodness for headphones) on the 7 hr flight, but one with a toddler - that kid kept booting the seat in front, crawling up and down, opening and closing the tray table. I'm only going to assume the woman in that seat was grinning and bearing it, since she was travelling with kids as well and someone else moved to accom them. I would have lost my s#!&. And what parent just let's their kid do that? Not one of the better flights we had.

To piggyback on Nicole's story, when I flew to Hamburg a few years ago I sat in a 3-seat row. I was next to the window, a 4- or 5-year-old girl was next to me, and her mother was next to her on the aisle. The mother brought no toys for her child and went to sleep right after takeoff. She remained asleep until the plane landed. The kid had nothing to do and continually rolled around in her seat, playing with the seat belt and her shoes, whatever she could find, and of course leaning on me and putting her feet on me which I asked her politely not to do. I was really annoyed with the mother. How can you take a child on an 8-hour flight, not bring any toys for her, and sleep the whole time?

I'm noticing more and more today that people don't want to share, wait their turn, or consider anyone else. It's all about them and everyone else can go to hell.

I've had a few unfortunate experiences, two were in Business Class. Had the guy next to me take a sleeping pill or something, and wrap himself cocoon-like from head to toe at take off. I stayed awake, had dinner, a little wine, and fell asleep. I woke up to find that he'd "snuggled up against me" with his arm around my waste, and his leg draped over mine. I was still 'young' at that time, and was totally creeped out! (8 hour international flight)

A second time an obnoxiously drunk 'cowboy' had the aisle seat, and I boarded after him, and instead of standing up, he told me to
just step over him, and in the process of doing so, he said, I hope you land on my lap. The flight attendant continued to serve him during the flight, despite the fact that he was belching loudly and at one point got the air sick bag out of the seat pocket. He didn't use it, but fell asleep -- I couldn't BELIEVE it when she woke him to tell him that we'd be landing and if he wanted another drink to order one NOW! He did! I couldn't wait to get off.

I see nothing wrong with shaming these uncouthe people. But most of them wouldn't be ashamed. I think sometimes it's just a way of 'venting' frustration, because you can't confront these obnoxious idiots in person in the enclosed clostrophic atmosphere of an airplane.

Oh for pete's sake, just speak up if someone is being too obnoxious to take! "Hey, put your feet down, willya? This isn't your hotel room!" "Hey you two, no mile high club here, please!" I know flight attendants are busy, but they should be on top of shenanigans like that.

People are just way to polite - they don't want to be the one to start something and have to get booted off the plane. That being said, if someone stuck their feet up on my armrest or something - they could find themselves with a wad of gum stuck on their feet, or a big pen mark down their sole...ugh, people are animals on a plane (sorry - most people are great...)

I guess I don't think it's okay to shame someone if you first haven't asked them to change their behavior. So if you asked the guy (politely) to please put his feet in his own space, and he refused, then fair game. But, the first line of intervention should be to ask them. I'm not sure it's starting anything. You ask, and then let it go. Or seek help.

Here's more on the passenger shaming issue....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbwqk5aLkC0

I had an interesting chat with some flight attendants a few days ago about this story, and they said they've seen worse (I can only imagine)!!!!