Laptop Etiquette?
 

So, I was flying from LAS-EWR on my way back from a 3 day business trip on 11/17. Anyways, I was in the bulk head aisle and about halfway through the flight the gentleman in the middle took out his laptop and started typing away. Obviously, no problem there as I work on mine about 70% of the time I fly as well. So, I find myself out of sheet boredom glancing at his screen every few minutes. He says "please try to mind your own business" in a not very pleasant tone. I was shocked, I had never heard anyone ever make that request in Y. I told him that offense, I really wasnt all that interested in his work but rather he is sitting so close its impossible not to glance at his computer every now and then. He let out an audible "sigh" and closed his computer for the duration for the flight.

A) I could not have cared any less at what he was writing

B) I have no idea what he was writing.

Was I in the wrong? I chalked it up to someone just being in a lousy mood

I'd agree. I think he was overly sensitive. If it were that sensitive he should have one of those screen protectors that limits the viewing area.
:rolleyes:

The guy's crazy! :rolleyes:

Too bad you didn't have a large magnet to drop into his laptop bag.

ha ha. it would have also been nice if he needed to get up to use the bathroom and someone didn't let him out...

If whatever he was writing was THAT sensitive, he shouldn't have been doing it stuck between two strangers......

Of course, you could have made him even madder by asking him whether he realised that he had made a typo in line 3... :D

i hate when
 

PArents entertain their kids with a dvd and play the volume loud enough for 3 rows to hear....get the kids some damn earphones!

....I do it too!
 

...you can't help it. Besides, anyone working on something that "sensitive" doesn't need to be doing it on an airplane because everyone looks at other's laptops. Besides, if you don't like the IFE, you can watch someone else's DVD too!

The guy was a jerk.
 

I would have gone into full harassment mode and critiqued his spelling and grammer. I guess you didn't have a warm discussion about Disney movies after that introduction, did'ya.

I agree.

Grammer?

I tend to look around when I fly, but I certainly do not examine documents on people's laptops. If it was something mission critical or top secret he should not be opening it in a public place. I certainly do not for my client documentation!

The way the man spoke to you was rude.

Now here's food for thought. I treat those who work on a laptop next to me the same way I do those who are reading a newspaper next to me whether on a plane, on the subway, or on any form of public transportation. I don't read over their shoulders; doing so is a bit intrusive. I think the same thing applies for laptops.

That said, I still think the way the man spoke to you was rude.

I agree with the others. There's just no reason to get huffy with the pax around you when you're stuck next to them on a flying can for several hours. It's just unnecessary stress.

I often watch DVDs on my laptop on long domestic flights. On a couple of occasions, I have whipped out the earphone splitter and shared the movie with a seatmate who has their own earphones. I figure I might as well make those around me comfortable as well...

Yeah...mabee not the persen to be corecting speling aftwor all.

What an A-hole! I used to type some work while in flight, but not wanting others to inadvertently see stuff that is confidential, I stopped doing it. This jerk can do the same. IMHO