Originally Posted by spartanflyer

I honestly feel for the fatter (used here as a descriptive, not with a negative connetation) passengers who have to wedge themselves into their seats. No rational person should want to cause distress to any other. I must say, however that there are many more obese people who have made poor dietary and exercise choices than there are people who have medically uncontrollable weight issues. I base this not on statistics and reports, but merely simple observation. "Back in the day" (early-mid 1970's) when I was in grade school, there was one "fat kid" in class (sometimes two). When I now visit elementary and middle schools, athletic games, etc, there is a predominance of heavy kids who get winded easy and experience true difficulty because of extra poundage. For the children, I am not blaming McDonald's or video games or society, I blame the parents. After you become an adult, you can no longer blame your parents; your life and health become your responsibility. It is because I feel that most people don't exercise discipline that I have an issue with sharing my paid for seat. True disadvantaged, absolutely. Right, wrong or indifferent, I do admittedly have an immediate prejudice against a larger passenger when they take up a portion of my seat as I assign a "lack of discipline or care tag" around their neck. If they don't care for their own health and comfort, why should I?

By the way, when I see a larger passenger coming down the Delta CRJ aisle tomorrow, the voice in my head will be saying "please not next to me, please not next to me.."

And the rest of you will be chiming in the silent chorus right along with me.