Codependency is a funny thing. I was asked recently to define what it really meant. I gave a meandering answer to that question. Maybe this post will serve as a definition?
Flying is something I love. It's something I love even though I experienced my first aborted landing from CAE to CLT, and I am currently experiencing smells on this flight that I didn't quite know were humanly possible. You're not sure what an aborted landing is? Well, it's when the plane descends towards the runway and JUST before touchdown the pilot hits full throttle, raises the landing gear and takes the plane around for one more try at a landing. No need to check your calendar, it is not April Fools.
Back to the point of this post: Being in the middle seat while flying is not the most comfortable of experiences. Flying can be uncomfortable enough, but sandwiching a 235 pound guy between two strangers offers ample opportunity for this 235 pound guy to climb into stranger's heads.
One such opportunity to climb into other's heads is the fight over the armrests. Airlines cover tons of information during the boarding process: how to use a seatbelt, verbal confirmations for exit row seating (yes, I've heard one person answer "no" during that portion....didn't expect that one), and a plethora of other information. But, to my surprise, airlines do cover armrest etiquette.
There are some numbers I'd like to run through here before continuing:
3 seats
4 armrests
3 people
6 arms (usually, but not always)
So who gets the armrests? It's not so simple. It can be. But let me make this difficult too.
Here's one way to look at it: I'm in the middle seat. Throw me a bone, guys and give me me the middle two armrests. I mean, aren't I suffering enough being sandwiched between y'all? (Maybe one day I'll post more on my propensity to be a victim.)
This brings me to another point/question: What is the appropriate amount of touching on a flight? Don't act like you don't know what I'm referring to. Are my knees allowed to rest on another person's knees? How about elbows touching elbows? Or, here's a fun one, can a stranger's elbow rest on my right love handle? (Nope. Not making that one up. Wish I was. But, I'm not.)
Am I the only that thinks about stuff like this? I can't be. I guess it doesn't matter if I am the only one that thinks about things like this or not. The important thing is to note that the whole time I've been typing this my elbows have been OFF the middle two armrests. I mean, these guys probably need the armrests more than me, right? (Oh and maybe I can post more about being a martyr....not that I would know anything about that 🤔)
Maybe next time I get on a flight I could just open up a dialog with my fellow seatmates. Maybe it's time to bring some social awareness to this issue. Feel free to jump in and let's get people talk.
#ArmrestsForAll
No comments:
Post a Comment