I’d like to think I would have done something to help the guy, maybe leaned in to try and move the armrest or try and catch him before he hit his head if I was in one of the appropriate seats.
But these guys will kill you if you physically assault them.
As stated early, nothing justifies violence - ever.
The situation spiraled out of control once the police/security were called.
My point is let’s point the finger at the right people- at the over-zealous security guards who decided to use violence instead of working out a peaceful solution.
If only people would stop insisting that they are “human beings” with “rights”, and just comply with every last order, no matter how ridiculous and minute, from anyone in any kind of uniform, everything will go a lot better for the people who actually DO matter.
/s
Sadly. It seems to be: http://www.adweek.com/creativity/apology-bot-spot-too-racy-super-bowl-17730/
Edited to add: At least real in the sense that it was made (and then not aired) with Budweiser’s knowledge and approval.
I’m not arguing morality. I am tediously nit-picking legal formulae in a pedantic attempt to assert some kind of order on the situation!!!
My point was more that when the twenty (thirty? fifty?) people sitting in that aircraft saw those goons knock out their fellow ticketed passenger, they started videotaping. They didn’t jump up and say, “Hale and hearty greetings to you fine Chicago Police Officers, but it appears you have knocked the poor fellow about to the degree that he is incapacitated. Perchance you might pause briefly so that we may discern whether he needs immediate medical care…”
I’m being facetious with that reply, but my main problem is that they didn’t help, they just watched it happen with mild exclamations and snark (“…way to go guys!!!”).
Clearly, I’ve been reading Howard Zinn’s “People’s History of the USA” too much lately.
Other than volunteering for the payout and a later flight, that is.
United will certainly pay now. They’re on course for one hell of a court settlement.
In the coming SNL sketch I imagine the Air Police will pick somebody out and announce, “If nobody takes the buyout we are going to beat the shit out of this old man!”
You are putting the cart before the horse… Rule 25 applies to folks subject to Rule 21 and 24 – they are the rules for compensation for a bumped passenger due to an oversold flight, weather, etc (not rules about when a passenger may be bumped)
Shirley that should be “Catch-22”.
I feel like I have to apologize as that made me laugh. Related thought: Really wish I hadn’t skipped that Game Theory class.
Yeah, sure, the issue was that it was not “appropriate” for the super bowl and not that it was completely and totally appalling. It was “too racy” and not “totally rapey and majorly creepy” but hey, give her a Bud and it’s all good@
United CEO Apology Bot says, “Never apologize for apologizing.”
/bots/United/CEOApology sudo make.me.a.sandwich
United CEO Apology Bot says “Poof! You’re a sandwich!”
United CEO Apology Bot is a sucker for dad jokes.
Oh, Ok, I think I see how you’re not blaming the victim!
You’re just saying that it was partly the passenger’s fault. The airline told him what to do, and if he’d’ve just done what they told him to, he wouldn’t have fallen with his face against the armrest like that so hard. Clearly it’s wrong to blame the victim. I mean, what about “the rules”?!?! It’s not the airline’s fault the passenger incited violence by not “peacefully accepting” the choices his aerochauffeurs made without his consent. It’s not the airline’s fault this guy thinks he has special rights just because he’s a seated, paid ticket-holder with professional and ethical obligations that hinge on his immediate travel. It’s not the airline’s fault, because violence is never excusable. Ever.
Got it. Thanks for clearing that all up.
IANAL but just because the rules are numbered doesn’t mean they are in order. Every airline has broad discretion to decide their own overbooking policies and procedures. Operational needs are always going to be a factor in every business.
It’s splitting hairs trying to pin the blame on why the passenger was bumped - he was chosen for whatever reason. I’ve been there along with many thousands of others whose travel plans have been up-ended for no cause of their own.
What happened after this decision was made is the issue and how the various security people involved decided to handle his removal.
Look - I don’t mind taking criticism for a expressing facts that may be unpopular. But I don’t like the torches and pitchfork crowd looking for vengeance against a corporate boogeyman who perpetrated a social injustice when the focus should be on the security/police who recklessly escalated to violence. Let’s put the blame where it belongs people.
BBS used to be much more reasonable when discussing facts of a case.
Not even going to bother responding to this strawman.
The violence used against the passenger for nothing more than refusing to “voluntarily” leave the plane was what should be United’s downfall. They called security (who should also be given a LOT of additional training in defusing difficult situations), and they bear the responsibility for this passenger’s injuries. From all reports, videos, etc., it is apparent he wasn’t drunk nor did he threaten or attack the security personnel or airline employees. It happened because he wanted the seat he paid for and wanted to go home. The airline should have settled the seating before allowing passengers to board. The last 4 passengers to check in should have been the ones bumped, if no volunteers stepped forward.
If I’m not mistaken there was substantial progress made in making revenge porn illegal in some jurisdictions around that time. The ad was depicting something pretty damn close as well as being creepy for all the reasons you stated.
