Would You Ask Someone For Their Paper?
Feb 16, 2008, 10:40 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 144
They didn't even have to embellish on some of their early stories, as they were bizarre enough on their own. My favorite was about a woman who ate road kill; a DJ found and called her on the radio, and she calmly and logically explained to him that she was forced into doing it because a band of gypsies had taken over her home and forced her to live outdoors and scavenge for food. She was totally serious too.
Feb 16, 2008, 11:06 am
#33
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Many, slipping beneath the horizon
Posts: 9,859
Only if I wanted to read it.....
I suppose that you and I live in different worlds. In my view, asking for a seatmate's paper (when he/she is through) is such an inconsequntial and "normal" request as to be relatively meaningless, a trivial social interchange.
I'd normally volunteer to pass mine along without being asked, of no greater import than helping old ladies retrieve their satchels from the overhead bins. If you're so concerned that others may be searching for chinks in your armor of personal insularity, perhaps you should consider a solitary hermitage as an alternative to life on this densely populated orb (or at least avoiding airports and air travel).
I suppose that you and I live in different worlds. In my view, asking for a seatmate's paper (when he/she is through) is such an inconsequntial and "normal" request as to be relatively meaningless, a trivial social interchange.
I'd normally volunteer to pass mine along without being asked, of no greater import than helping old ladies retrieve their satchels from the overhead bins. If you're so concerned that others may be searching for chinks in your armor of personal insularity, perhaps you should consider a solitary hermitage as an alternative to life on this densely populated orb (or at least avoiding airports and air travel).
Feb 16, 2008, 12:46 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 632
On a recent trip I had several magazines I was leafing through. Sitting in a window, aisle empty, mid 20s male pax in aisle. (Was reading news/business type magazines).
I placed one that I had read in the center seat, and proceeded to read a second.
I was quite shocked that the other pax reached over, took the magazine, and read it without asking me! He did put it back, but still, I thought that was pretty rude. Was it just me or was he out of line?
I placed one that I had read in the center seat, and proceeded to read a second.
I was quite shocked that the other pax reached over, took the magazine, and read it without asking me! He did put it back, but still, I thought that was pretty rude. Was it just me or was he out of line?
Feb 16, 2008, 2:55 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
Programs: SPG LT Plat, Hilton G,Priorty Club G, AC E
Posts: 2,979
I purposely take mags from the biz lounge and leave them in the seat back....
...when i am done. However now that AC has seatback movies on alot of its planes its not such a big deal anymore. I would always ask someone if they were finished if I could borrow a paper...why not?
Feb 16, 2008, 2:59 pm
#37
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NYC (formerly BOS/DCA)
Programs: UA 1K, IC RA
Posts: 60,745
Absolutely. I offer my finished paper to a seatmate if they look bored. I also appreciate the offer of a paper for the (all too rare) times that I am bored.
Feb 17, 2008, 5:15 am
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: 10 months VLC, 2 months everywhere else
Programs: *A
Posts: 3,770
Feb 17, 2008, 9:48 am
#39
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NY by birth, BNA by choice - soon YXE, the SKY by virtue.
Posts: 2,420
I will often ask "If you don't mind, may I read your paper when you're finished?" if I haven't brought any reading material or other ways to entertain myself on the flight.
I don't think I've ever been asked, though.
I don't think I've ever been asked, though.
Feb 17, 2008, 1:53 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
I've had people ask and I'm happy to oblige. It's rarely a paper, more commonly a book or a magazine. I read them and leave them in the seatback pocket or in the gate area for whoever comes next. I'm actually pleased that people do sometimes ask, otherwise I would wonder if all of them ended up being "cleaned." I'm thinking of making and laminating some bookmarks that say, "I'm finished with it, if you want it, it's yours" in case there's any doubt when I've left it behind. But I'm probably too lazy.
Feb 17, 2008, 4:48 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,145
I assume it must be those magazines that people are quick to discard after reading them. If it is one that I would like to keep for a while, I would only lend it (not give) to the passenger sitting close to me or where I can see him rather clearly from my seat.
Feb 18, 2008, 11:27 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 171
I have both asked to look at someone else's paper and offered others my own, and have offered magazines too. I usually make a point to take a stack of magazines on the plane with me, and often when there is an empty seat next to me, I will place them down, and mention to the person on the other side that he or she should feel free to borrow if he or she wishes. With magazines, I often want them back when I leave, but this is never a problem.
I have also commonly asked about a newspaper when a person has put it down and they seem finished with it. I have also been in seating areas in the terminal where several people have been sharing around sections of the paper.
I have also commonly asked about a newspaper when a person has put it down and they seem finished with it. I have also been in seating areas in the terminal where several people have been sharing around sections of the paper.
