Ditto to that. I am not going to lie and say I want to sleep when I have no intention of sleeping, nor will I pretend to sleep when there's something else I'd rather do. That would concede him too much power over me.

I also see no need to go into my beliefs - they are none of this person's business. Mentioning them would, to him, confirm my interest in talking religion with him - which I don't want to do since it wouldn't be a real discussion - and would simply serve as a springboard for more focused harassment than he could accomplish if he didn't know what they were.

I agree with the three-stop program given earlier:

1. "I'd rather not discuss religious beliefs."
2. "If you continue to bother me about that, it will be harassment, not just annoyance, and I will call the FA."
3. Press FA call button.

6 words: Pardon? Je ne parle aucun d'anglais. (or "I don't speak English" in any language of choice-mine's french)

Just prior to 09/11/01, I was on a Delta flight from Atl to Bwi. It was last minute travel and I was stuck in a middle seat between to guys. I didn't realize they knew each other. I think they needed one more conversion for a quota of some sort. I try not to be rude and it became very intense. During final approach one exclaimed to me, "If this plane crashes right now, do you know where you are going?".
Once at the gate I was so glad to bolt from that aircraft. In addition to feeling trapped I felt as though they had sucked all of the air out of the cabin. I didn't deplane. I escaped.

Into a body bag.

For the exits. Hopefully in one piece.

I sit down, greet my seatmate, open my book and make it very clear that I am not interested in any further conversation. In all my years of flying I have not been subjected to a conversation I didn't want to participate in. And I have read many good books!

You forgot to add taubenlecker (pigeon licker) to the end of each phrase. I find it adds some pizzazz... :D

RE: trying to convert me on a trans-con
 

LIGHTWEIGHT! I sat in a middle seat on a 747 from Los Angeles to Seoul about 16 years ago next to a MOONIE!

Jesus may be the solution to all your ills, but not mine. My ills can be fixed by Andrew Jacksons. A faster solution involves U.S. Grants. Even faster would be Benjamin Franklins.

PTravel gives us an excellent example of why it would be silly to assume all Jews are alike, and yet several posters seem to treat all Christians as identical.

The only thing all Christians have in common is a recognition that we as sinners can't get to heaven on our own merits, and that God had mercy on us and sent His only Son to die on a cross to pay the price we couldn't.

Thanks. :o

As a matter of fact, it cost me a buck for Tzdakah (charity) just a month ago. On the Brooklyn Reality Tour, we pass a parked MM when we drive through Crown Heights on Saturday. ;)

dh

I think I agree with you, PTraveler
 

Of course, such behavior is rude. But the preferred solution to (any) rude behavior is a soft approach that might allow the other person to "save face." Perhaps, I should have used that term instead of "dignity". Yeah, I could jump down the throat of an annoying seat mate, too, but then I would have a sulky seat mate next to my for the rest of the trip.

Of course, there ARE limits and would never suggest anyone be a doormat for insufferable behavior of a seat mate. It just never hurts to try a gentle approach first. You did say to try, "I am not interested in this conversation" in your first post. I would call that gentle.


Such activity is not worthy of respect, nor should anyone be subject to it unwillingly. I only meant the PERSON deserved respect, mostly in hope that his behavior might change for the better.


I am sure you have heard of the concept of a "white lie". No one is obligated to use one. Brutally firm honesty is perfectly fine if that is one's style. Another approach is a white lie ("Sorry, I must sleep".), the point of which is to save the OTHER person from embarrassment of being told forthrightly he is an annoying pest.


That was a good story. You are talking about boundaries. I'll tell you one.
I met an executive with MX, so we are talking about a well-educated upper class person in Mexico. We were having a great conversation in the middle of a large hall, and I could not help but notice he was perfectly comfortable speaking to me about six inches off of the bow of my nose. This was after returning from Japan, where one usually stands about six feet off of a stranger.

Now this not a perfect or even a good example because one can expect different cultural norms in different countries. Maybe the Mexican executive should have made an allowance for me and stood farther back. He didn't; I did not interprets this as rudeness, but him just being himself.

I am very well acquainted with the Bible thumping mentality. I understand why the behavior is objectively disrespectful, and I would not criticize you for pushing back. However, person doing this does not think he is disrespecting you. Maybe 50 years ago, somebody would call a grown black adult man "boy". Also objectively disrespectful. But that behavior comes from ignorance. It not often possible to deter these "my way or Hell's highway" Christians. It is up to each of us to determine how much of our patience or energy is worth the effort.

Always difficult to judge the best response, and obviously each person is going to find a different balance within his comfort zone.

Topic Reminder
 

Just a friendly reminder that the topic for this TravelBuzz thread is how to deal with an unwanted proselyte next to you on an airplane. Meta-discussions of religion which transcend the topic will entitle the thread to a no-fee, one way, F or C routing to our OMNI forum. Thank you! Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

The solution to all of my wills has a Citibank logo on the lower left, has Bill Gates' name and address on the upper left, and has a blank where I can fill in whatever absurd large number suits my fancy that day. Oh, and his autograph on the lower right. And they come in books of 50.

On the other hand, I didn't know my doctor was named Jesus....:rolleyes:

Umm, right...

Please don't sit next to me. I'm, err, busy...