My totally un PC view.
Maybe Kevin Smith should consider his seatmates while ranting about being told he could not fly without purchasing two seats. I totally understand that the man was humiliated for being basically kicked off a Southwest flight when he was deemed too heavy to only have one seat. I also understand the anger that must come with it. And the fact that some of it is due to the airlines having such small seats and packing us in like Sardines to make more money. With the hoopla over this incident comes the debate about America's discrimination against 'large' people. An obese (and I mean the clinical term) individual has every right to feel discriminated against. It happens. I'm too critical in this area. I'll admit it. But actually I'm sympathetic to his embarrassment.
However, I feel the need to speak up. I've been the person sitting next to someone who is too large to fit into the seat. I had no room to even breathe, much less move. In the outside seat, my body was forced out in an awkward position to where I was partway in the aisle; blocking it for those on the way to the restroom. The guy in the inside seat was pressed against the window with his shoulders hunched together. I couldn't even drink my beverage without contorting in a way that nature never intended. The three and a half hours in the air was torture--for all of us. At that time I wasn't thinking of much more than getting off that flight without the need for a chiropractor.
Now this woman was perfectly nice. She was well spoken, kind, and attractive. She was just very large. In any other circumstance I'd likely have loved to have had a conversation with her to pass the time. Because of my discomfort I hated her by the time we disembarked. I felt badly for feeling this way; but dammit, I'd paid the same price for my seat. All I wanted was the usual pain that comes with flying coach. Not the torture it became.
I've heard quite a bit about discrimination by the airlines and the un-fairness of their policies. I agree. But right now that is the way things are. I'ts been noted that Kevin Smith usually would buy two seats. And emphasized that he would do this not because of his size, but because he doesn't like sitting next to other people. No matter what the reason, I applaud his normal practice. This time he was on standby and only one seat was available. Fine. Taking whatever's left is the way that works. But I have to say that I agree with the airline making him leave the plane. He wouldn't fit without causing extreme discomfort to others in his row. He should have waited for two adjacent seats to become available.
Honestly? If he didn't like it; too bad. Life isn't fair. I wouldn't want to be one of the two unlucky parties next to him on a flight-no matter how short the duration. Why should others suffer because someone is too heavy to fit in their seat? How is it right to have others be put at a disadvantage in order to avoid discrimination to one person?
Sure, this issue of the two-seat policy and the shrinking of seat size in newer planes needs to be addressed. Especially since America as a whole is getting larger. I'm not denying it. But it's not my problem as an air passenger to fix it. Nor is it my place to sacrifice my comfort in order to accommodate another. If it's selfish, then so be it.
I only know that if I were one of the people sitting next to him? I would have breathed a huge sigh of relief when he was escorted off.
However, I feel the need to speak up. I've been the person sitting next to someone who is too large to fit into the seat. I had no room to even breathe, much less move. In the outside seat, my body was forced out in an awkward position to where I was partway in the aisle; blocking it for those on the way to the restroom. The guy in the inside seat was pressed against the window with his shoulders hunched together. I couldn't even drink my beverage without contorting in a way that nature never intended. The three and a half hours in the air was torture--for all of us. At that time I wasn't thinking of much more than getting off that flight without the need for a chiropractor.
Now this woman was perfectly nice. She was well spoken, kind, and attractive. She was just very large. In any other circumstance I'd likely have loved to have had a conversation with her to pass the time. Because of my discomfort I hated her by the time we disembarked. I felt badly for feeling this way; but dammit, I'd paid the same price for my seat. All I wanted was the usual pain that comes with flying coach. Not the torture it became.
I've heard quite a bit about discrimination by the airlines and the un-fairness of their policies. I agree. But right now that is the way things are. I'ts been noted that Kevin Smith usually would buy two seats. And emphasized that he would do this not because of his size, but because he doesn't like sitting next to other people. No matter what the reason, I applaud his normal practice. This time he was on standby and only one seat was available. Fine. Taking whatever's left is the way that works. But I have to say that I agree with the airline making him leave the plane. He wouldn't fit without causing extreme discomfort to others in his row. He should have waited for two adjacent seats to become available.
Honestly? If he didn't like it; too bad. Life isn't fair. I wouldn't want to be one of the two unlucky parties next to him on a flight-no matter how short the duration. Why should others suffer because someone is too heavy to fit in their seat? How is it right to have others be put at a disadvantage in order to avoid discrimination to one person?
Sure, this issue of the two-seat policy and the shrinking of seat size in newer planes needs to be addressed. Especially since America as a whole is getting larger. I'm not denying it. But it's not my problem as an air passenger to fix it. Nor is it my place to sacrifice my comfort in order to accommodate another. If it's selfish, then so be it.
I only know that if I were one of the people sitting next to him? I would have breathed a huge sigh of relief when he was escorted off.