Oddest Conversation with a fellow PAX in F yesterday...
#46
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Right now, I'm in F (Gogo) where there are four empty seats, including, thankfully, the one next to me. This is my third flight this week with empty seats. IMO, this is a March-April phenomenon.
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
I agree that the phenomenon is more common, but I believe it is less cunning than you make it out to be. My explanation is that the mechanism for regulating one's behavior has shifted from an internal one, based on a sense of what is appropriate (lagom, for Swedish-speakers), to an external one, based on what others will tolerate or fail to challenge. The bad behavior persists because it gets rewarding results for the actor.
This is why I get so angry with those who do not challenge others who are out of line, for they are reinforcing others' bad behavior through good old operant conditioning. In fact, I take umbrage at those who go out of their way to avoid a situation in which the possibility of a confrontation might arise; to wit, those who want to board as early as possible so as not to have to "deal with" the potential scenario of someone sitting in their assigned seat. By reducing the opportunities for confrontation (and therefore behavior correction), they are doing all of us a disservice. Neutrality is a myth. As Kierkegaard said, "you are choosing not to choose."
This is why I get so angry with those who do not challenge others who are out of line, for they are reinforcing others' bad behavior through good old operant conditioning. In fact, I take umbrage at those who go out of their way to avoid a situation in which the possibility of a confrontation might arise; to wit, those who want to board as early as possible so as not to have to "deal with" the potential scenario of someone sitting in their assigned seat. By reducing the opportunities for confrontation (and therefore behavior correction), they are doing all of us a disservice. Neutrality is a myth. As Kierkegaard said, "you are choosing not to choose."
Was it Kierkegaard or Dick van Patten who said, "If you label me, you negate me?"
#48
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Mile-High Club, Marriott Plt, SPG P-75, PC Plt, Hyatt Dia, Carlson Gold, BW Dia
Posts: 1,845