Hi,

I'm new to the forums with a strange question:

I'm working on a story for a national radio program about a strange flying phenomenon I've experienced. I am not a cryer——at movies or otherwise——but for some reason when I'm on an airplane I can't help but cry at whatever movie I'm watching. This can get very embarassing, particularly when seated next to some macho stranger and when the movie is, say, "Freaky Friday" or "Sweet Home Alabama" for the 14th time.

Does anybody else experience this or know someone who does? Any thoughts on why? If so, I'd love to hear about it and perhaps interview you for the radio.

You can email me directly at [email protected].

Many thanks.

Brett Martin

Having to watch "Sweet Home Alabama" 14 times would reduce me to tears, no doubt about that...

Roger that!

There was one month on 1992 when I was commuting (AA) between OAK-CLE. Four straight weeks, each way, showing Groundhog Day.

It lent an interesting perspective to the movie, but had the same net effect as "SHA".

LOL ^

Are you sure it is actually crying? Toward the end of most movies, both in the theater and on planes, my eyes tear excessively. I would always explain to my date/friends/traveling companion that this always happens to me before the movie started to avoid being slightly embarrassed.

On a routine eye exam last year my ophthamologist asked if I ever experienced periods of excessive tearing and I mentioned these examples. She asked if I had arthritis. I have traumatic arthritis from an injury. She said it is quite common in people who have arthritis. The other reason is from eye strain, staring at an object at a distance for a long period of time, in a dry heavily air conditioned space (like a plane or movie theater).

No, sad to say, this is real choking up, though I may use that as an excuse one day.

And yes, Sweet Home Alabama is from the devil.

This is news to me. I'm usually too tired on flights to cry. Never observed anyone doing so, either.