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Do you talk to the person sitting next to you on the plane?

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Do you talk to the person sitting next to you on the plane?

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Old Feb 10, 2016, 6:42 am
  #46  
 
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I'm a talker so I'll chat anybody up any place (except the bathroom). Although, you can gauge who is open for conversation and who is giving you the subtle stfu. I'm usually watching some form of sports when I travel so that tends to be a good conversation piece.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 6:58 am
  #47  
 
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I prefer not to talk to the seatmate but I'm not a dick about it and will politely converse if engaged.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 7:42 am
  #48  
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Originally Posted by Beven12S
I prefer not to talk to the seatmate but I'm not a dick about it and will politely converse if engaged.
Not engaging in conversation when that is your preference is not being a dick.

The "dick" is the seatmate who is oblivious to the signals that you aren't interested in having a conversation (looking away, not making eye contact, one word responses, putting on headphones.) It is possible to politely inform him/her without being rude but if they still persist then curtly explaining you don't want to talk is definitely an option.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 1:17 pm
  #49  
 
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Originally Posted by PTravel
I rarely talk to seatmates. One exception was 21 years on a flight from LAX to HKG. Glad I did, too, because two days later he wound up introducing me to she who is now my wife of 20 years.
Man that's totally awesome. Congrats.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 2:02 pm
  #50  
 
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Originally Posted by Badenoch
Not engaging in conversation when that is your preference is not being a dick.

The "dick" is the seatmate who is oblivious to the signals that you aren't interested in having a conversation (looking away, not making eye contact, one word responses, putting on headphones.) It is possible to politely inform him/her without being rude but if they still persist then curtly explaining you don't want to talk is definitely an option.
I agree; well said. It's worth pointing out that tact is a conversational skill, not unlike witty repartee. Not everyone who wants solitude can phrase it disarmingly. Not to mention sometimes the person on the other end hears rudeness despite all attempts otherwise.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 2:58 pm
  #51  
 
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Originally Posted by BadgerBoi
Apart from the normal pleasantries, such as "move your arm before I break it", "you're in my seat, get out" and "May I please finish your wine for you? You can't possibly drink all that" I don't say much to a seatmate.

I find these few phrases are enough to set the tone for the flight without becoming overly familiar.
Tough guy.

These threads always bring out the anti-social types.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 3:36 pm
  #52  
 
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Originally Posted by DaveBlaine
Tough guy.

These threads always bring out the anti-social types.
Sorry, forgot the smilies. I'm neither tough nor anti-social, but I do find it hard to believe that anyone could possibly have taken my post seriously.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 3:48 pm
  #53  
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Originally Posted by BadgerBoi
Sorry, forgot the smilies. I'm neither tough nor anti-social, but I do find it hard to believe that anyone could possibly have taken my post seriously.
Being offended is the new national past time.

I prefer to say something creepy to my neighbor like asking if they like animal sex videos and pointing to my lap (top). That tends to slow down the conversation.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 4:09 pm
  #54  
 
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Originally Posted by Tchiowa
Being offended is the new national past time.

I prefer to say something creepy to my neighbor like asking if they like animal sex videos and pointing to my lap (top). That tends to slow down the conversation.
I hope that never backfires on you - it would be a very, very long and uncomfortable flight between San Francisco and Bangkok if your neighbour has an interest...
(insert appropriate smiley here)
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 4:48 pm
  #55  
 
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I greet them quietly upon sitting down but never initiate a full conversation. On occasion they do, but it's very infrequent up front versus Y.

I will break my rule for a chiselled/hot guy roughly my age if I think there's even so much as a snowball's chance in hell that he's gay. They also seem to be rare up front.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 5:15 pm
  #56  
 
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I prefer to mostly keep to myself and I guess I look somewhat unapproachable because most people seem to get the hint. Ever hear of Resting ..... Face? I have it. Not to say I won't occasionally engage in conversation, but not often more than a polite acknowledgment.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 9:07 pm
  #57  
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Originally Posted by BadgerBoi
I hope that never backfires on you - it would be a very, very long and uncomfortable flight between San Francisco and Bangkok if your neighbour has an interest...
(insert appropriate smiley here)
It would be worse if you were seated next to a FAM or other LEO who then told immigration and customs to check your luggage for kiddie porn and also suggested that they investigate whether your trip had been for the purpose of sexual tourism and had violated any federal laws.
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Old Feb 10, 2016, 9:51 pm
  #58  
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Wink

I've met a few hotties on planes they have led to some great times and good FWBs.

Never in F or J, though. Lol.


It seems that every time I talk to someone in FC at they are old, boring, and just don't understand me when I explain to them that I travel 150k miles per year all for fun and take an international vacation once a month.
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Old Feb 11, 2016, 12:19 am
  #59  
 
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I'm so much more fascinating than my invariably boring seatmates that it seems unkind to speak to them and force them to recognize their awful ordinariness. It's a heavy responsibility, being so special.
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Old Feb 11, 2016, 3:07 am
  #60  
 
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Originally Posted by Giggleswick
I'm so much more fascinating than my invariably boring seatmates that it seems unkind to speak to them and force them to recognize their awful ordinariness. It's a heavy responsibility, being so special.
Well, at least you still have room to grow sarcastically. Oh, wait.
TheTakeOffRush is offline  


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