Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
Skymall has some pretty cool stuff, and the prices are not all that bad.
Part of it is a matter of attitude and approach. When my young son points out I'm speeding, I tell him he's right, going the speed limit would be safer, and it would save gas, and I wouldn't want to get a ticket in any case. And I'll most likely slow down. I might offer some justification about the safety of going with the speed of traffic, but I'll slow down (at least until his attention is elsewhere).
It would not occur to me to trumpet how proud and noble a free thinker I am for bravely disregarding the speed laws and how he should learn from my example.
I don't mean that it's OK to do it as long as you act like you're sorry about it, I just mean that the attitude is it's own issue, and may be a more important element the rule involved.
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I don't believe I am trumpetting anything. A poll question was posted, I answered honestly, I posted what I do, and many folks decided to go off and equate reading an e-reader with killing someone after running a red light or being cool with burglary.
I would say most of the hyperbole is on the "Oh my god you are breaking a rule" crowd. I have no problem with Harry's comment, or anyone elses comment, that the behavior is selfish. It is selfish. I enjoy reading. I hate being on a plane. Skymall is entertaining for about 10 minutes. I get bored and nervous waiting for the plane to take off and land. I want to read and I happen to read on an e-reader. E-readers have not caused any plane to crash so I wonder why I cannot read on my e-reader. I say screw it and read on my e-reader so I am entertained for more then the 10 minutes it takes to taxi, wait for take off, take off, and reach a safe altitude when they will let me use my e-reader.
I have a problem who get on their high horse about breaking the law and risking everyones life by using an e-reader during take off and landing. There is no empirical evidence that they are actually dangerous. The FAA is looking to reverse its ruling on most of this because it is not dangerous, they just were hoping the airlines would pay the money to run the expensive tests to prove that they are not dangerous.
For the record, I speed but I do not run red lights, even at 3 AM in the morning when there is no traffic in sight. Sometimes I pick up other peoples litter because it bugs me. I have never intentionally or unintentionally killed anyone. And yes, I read during take off and landing on my Kindle.
And no, I don't think that breaking most rules is a sign of civil disobiedience or free thinking. Reading your Kindle on the plane is not the same as refusing to give up a seat on the bus or sitting at the counter of a segregated restaurant. Alec Baldwin was an ass. When The Flight Attendent told him directly to turn off his phone or tablet or whatever, he should have. I am sure he gave the Flight Attendent a ton of attitude as well as refusing to turn the device off. He should have been booted.
I just wish people would be allowed to answer questions like this honestly and avoid the hyperbole from people who think we should simply follow the rule. Or at least keep the comparisons in check.