no... but they can depend on me :) It really is the sole reason I choose window seats now!

I always go for a window seat so I can sleep on long-haul flights, and some short-haul too.
The only exception is domestic Chinese flights where I choose an aisle seat as you'll often end up getting off the plane last if you're in a window seat.

HAHAHAHAHA

not unless you're 200+lbs and 6+feet and you show them who's boss..

I too would always book a window seat because I wanted to look out of the window during take off and landing. However, after several long haul flights where I've helped myself to far too much wine, I decided being hemmed in was no fun for me, my bladder and possibly my seat mates.

Now I much prefer the aisle seat - stretch my legs, get in and out of my seat with no issues and not have to wait for ages for the entire plane to disembark before I can get out. The only downside is when people grab onto my headrest as they walk or club my face with their oversized baggage as they squeeze through the aisle.

Merits
 

Both have merits! I'm happy as long as I'm not in a middle seat...

An Aisle Seat Quote
 

Window for life, control the window and get to lean my head against for a nap. Everybody uses the bathroom, so its to be expected.

I've been converting myself. If I'm going to be in F/J I will take a window same as if I can guarantee an exit row or if the flight is around an hour or less. But otherwise, it's aisles for me now.

window seat for me, always has been

I've always liked window seats best- you can lean on them for napping and I like to look out of the window. I was in a middle seat once, but I had a friend either side of me so it wasn't too bad. I've also tried the aisle seat which I hated as I kept getting bumped by passengers and the cart. I ended up leaning forward on my hands just trying to get some sleep!

Regional jets - Aisle. I like to read on board and I hate the lack of elbow room in window seats. And besides, on CRJs the window is so low that the view out the window is arguably better from the aisle seat anyway!

Anything else - Window.

That's cool. If I'm sitting in the aisle and you insist on having your window open, don't be surprised when I don't get up for you so you can take your potty break. You can try to vault over me in which case I'll probably shove you back into your seat or you can suck it up. Afterall, I don't have to do you a favor since you can't do anyone else a favor, amiright? See, I can be a passive aggressive ****head too if you insist on being inconsiderate. It's fun how that works out, ehh?

Well, thankfully if you fly any airline worth a damn nowadays(read: not crappy US airlines), the F/As will usually *command* you to close your shades on longhauls whether you like it or not. The idea being that it's NOT your window, it's the cabin crew's window and they're ultimately in charge of them. At any rate, the hypocrisy of you insinuating that I'm the selfish one isn't lost on me. Love THAT selfish sense of entitlement.

I've always believed that during daytime (or when most of the plane is awake on longhauls), the window passenger should have control over the shade. However, if its nighttime (eg when cabin lights are off), then the shades should be down. I think most people probably agree with this.

I guess you must be talking about USA domestic flights without IFE! The whole point on long haul flights, or even on short ones with IFE, is that no one can see their screens when the windows are wide open! The glare is too much. On night flights it makes no difference really if the shades are up or down!

I love to open the shades upon sunset and sunrise no matter if we're supposed to be sleeping or not. It's just beautiful and you can't experience anything like that anywhere else. Some flights are better than others for that but I even offer for my fellow row mates to have a look out the window and take pictures if they want because it's just stunning sometimes.