It's funny, I was sitting on the tarmac at IAD for two hours on Saturday (t-storms), and a flight attendant and I were talking about the same thing.

I have also noticed over the past year that the pilots have the FAs remain seated even if there's a slight hint of a bump ahead. That said, I live in DEN, and if you've ever flown through DEN at all, you know things can be a little unpredictable and nasty...especially in the summertime.

I too have noticed more and more people getting up when the seat belt sign is on. I can understand people getting up when it has been smooth sailing for awhile, but the folks who get up when the joint is shakin' just baffle me.

Especially the ones who get up even when the flight attendants have been asked to sit down.

European carriers turn off their seat belt signs much more quickly than US carriers. Likely a product of our litigious society.