I asked my father, who is in his eighties, and use to fly alot in the 1950s and 60s, about the question of talking to seatmates on the plane. He said it was unusual to not strike up a conversation with the person who was sitting next to them. Though back in the 1950s only the elites flew and their was a better chance that the person sitting next to you would have something in common.

One thing that hits me about the replies so far is the attitude that a chat with the seat mate has to be an all or nothing event. Why can't it just be a nice chat that starts and ends at a logical point. When the conversation runs out the other person would go to a book or turn on their IPOD or just doze off. The people on this board seem so have an impression that a quick chat with their seat mate will always turn bad and the person has to be some kind of nut or will harass or bother them. I doubt it will be the case.

The whole attitude people have about talking to their seat mates reminds me why no one attends the neighborhood picnic anymore. We have become so isolated from our neighbors now a days.