appleman2006 wrote:Not sure you need another person chiming in on this but I think both sides of the discussion here have some merit.
I am appalled at how our society has arrived at the place where we all get totally enraged over every single incident even when we are not even close to being involved. Having said that a company like United should realize that that is the new normal and recognize that no one wins when one of their passengers is dragged down an isle in this way.
And so while I cannot defend United in any way, nor am I ever worried about being treated like this simply because I would refuse to ever allow myself to be put in a situation like this. In my travels particularly when on business I am very seldom in a position that an 800 dollar voucher would convince me to delay my flight but I am confident enough of my negotiating skills as well as the fact that I would take being wronged before I would allow myself to be dragged kicking and screaming from a plane.
This incident is simply a sad reflection of where our society is at IMO.
so agree, appleman. glad you posted your thoughts here.
we should all be fearful of the power of internet lynch mobs. it seems, any detail of anyone's life or business can be blown up in an instant, there is a costly ripple effect.
last week, if i recall, there was a high school in Texas "under fire" because they simply denied a grandmother the ok to attend their Prom as a "date" with her grandson!
how can schools/teachers function when they never know when some decision is going to suddenly be blown all out of proportion, no attempt at a "fair hearing?" .. many don't want a fair hearing, they just want destruction! i am bothered how this may impact quality teachers who just do not want to expose themselves to potential smears and lawsuits. the same with school staff and admin.
in this case, did they ever consider requesting the grandmother be a chaperone or guest?!
not mentioned. civilized discourse is unwanted in a feeding frenzy.
this has been predicted from the onset of the internet.
i.e., there have been questions about whether states/countries will be governable?
it was proven, long ago, pure democracies do not work.
imho, we are infants in knowing how to best use the internet. primitive!
hopefully, in future, people will look back on this and laugh. it's likely to happen.
for the sake of young ones, i hope so.
regarding airlines, millions of people over decades have been bumped from their seats.
many disgruntled,
many very happy with unexpected perks, life goes on.
weather can delay flights for hours-days. life goes on.
this doctor just happened to be one with a history of problems with general defiance, he ended up with some injuries. adults who throw toddler-like tantrums likely will end up with some sort of physical injury.
United has suffered various complaints over the years. they fly a lot of passengers/miles.
they are not #1 on my list of airlines.
on this complaint, i would feel happy they removed this man before flight.
i would not care to travel with someone like that on board. in air, this man might have caused much more disturbance over .. unpredictable.
i have read, flying is a privilege, not a right, even tho passengers purchase tickets.
that a purchased ticket isn't "everything."
is this true? i'm not sure.
also, that pilots are the captains of their air ships; they have great responsibility, but also, final say.
i believe that's true. not sure.
i am very tempted to book a flight with United right now.
i'd really like to visit my family.
the courts can, and should, deal with this problem.
it's not my decision.