What Has Been the Rudest Thing a Fellow Passenger Has Done on Board a Plane?

I have already answered this question here: Batul Netterwala's answer to What is the best or most diplomatic way to say "no" if someone asks you to swap seats with them on an airplane?But well, here it is again : My fiancu00e9 and I were travelling to Chennai and we had a window and middle seat. Before boarding we had decided I would get the window seat (I'm dominating like that :P).

But when we reached our assigned row there was a woman in the aisle seat. Must have been in her early 50s. Sensing that she wouldn't be comfortable sitting next to a guy, he and I decided to switch seats (much to my chagrin).

As we are about to take off, I see that the lady in the aisle has a co-traveller who is across the aisle in a row ahead of us. (This is a small plane, so it was just 2 sets of 3 seats on each side of the aisle. ) Both of them keep asking the flight attendant something, to which she keeps telling them "I'll get back to you".

(Later on I realized they were asking her for a window seat for each one of them.)After the flight takes off & the seat belt sign goes off, I decide to start reading my book, while my fiance decides to listen to some music. Lady in the aisle is still bugging the attendant, even asking her if she could sit in the empty exit row by the wing, but quickly backs off when she's told she will need to pay extra for the extra legroom.

It was an afternoon flight and my fiance starts dozing off, resting his head on the window, with the shutter closed to shut the light out. I put my headphones in and continue reading. Suddenly lady in the aisle pokes my arm hard and says (quite rudely may I add) "why did he shut the shutters?

I can't see out! if you guys aren't going to look out of the window, why don't you ask him to exchange seats with me?"Now I was pissed off.

She was extremely rude.She could see that my fiance was sleeping with his head on the window.We actually checked in like 2 hours before our flight was scheduled to take off (the requirement of domestic flights is only 45 minutes) because I wanted a window seat (which I couldn't even sit on because of her!

)I told her "I'm sorry, but he's sleeping"& she persists and goes "Well at least open the shutter so that I can look out" Hearing her voice her co-traveller looks back and they start conversing in a language I don't understand. Then lady in the aisle switches to hindi and goes on to talk loudly about how "today's generation is mannerless & does not respect elders" & "what sort of an upbringing had I got for refusing her so bluntly" & how we were "so selfish & wouldn't share the 'privilage' with her".I was so mad.

We were in the clouds at that point (as visible in the window across the aisle), so looking out didn't even matter. The commotion woke my fiancu00e9 up and being the gentleman that he is, he opened the shutter for her (I refused to let him give her my window seat! I would have gladly given her the seat had she been a bit more polite!

)After the plane had taxied to a stop, she refused to move out from her seat and let us collect our bags from the overhead compartment because she couldn't "deal with crowds" & if we wanted to sit in the interior seats we should "not be in a hurry to get off". (This was when the rows up till us were almost empty and the only seats occupied were by senior citizens and a mother with a tiny infant). I was astounded by her vindictiveness, but we let her behavior pass and waited until the plane was 90% empty before she moved out and we could leave

· Other Questions

What are Serbian men like?

Having been born and living here for almost 40 years now, I can say itu2019s changed - for the worse (wars and economic crisis has compelled the best, the most able to leave the country, looking for a better life).So there is a great difference of and average Serb before the 1990 and today (after wars, crisis, embargo and mafia getting the power in the country ever since). The pre 1990 was the best country to live in IMO and the good traits of mentality/character were prevalent.

As for today:Generally speaking (which means average, with all the restraints that gives).Tall, (women say) good looking, mostly dark hair (500 years of Turkish occupation does that to a Slavic nation :) ).In terms of character - temperamental (compared to western/northern Europe), in for sports - either competing, or watching, or just playing, especially group sports with a ball.

Love to drink, but handle alcohol well - compared to most westerners (Irish and Russians are close :) ).The bad:In terms of character, Serbian society is now at the level of a spoilt puberty child - not ready to take responsibility for whatu2019s happening to them and their choices, blaming others, living and planning from day to day.Another u201cexceptionalu201d trait is that you can expect everyone to try to trick you.

People here prefer to screw someone for 50 euros in 45 minute work, than earn 100 euros after a full hours work so that everyone is happy.Finding a way around the rules and regulations is the national sport. Seriously.

Buerocracy (which is made by the same people) incourages that, since the rules are such you canu2019t do anything following them (book Catch 22 comes to mind). Being honest and of strong character is frowned upon here - which explains the high amount of corruption and crime.Easy to get into arguments and fight - even in the street.

Most people here in the street (both men and women) are frustrated, nervous. Love all the people, but wouldnu2019t like their daugher marrying a Gypsy, or a Catholic.The good:Sense of humor, friendliness (yes, it does contradict the previous passages - the country is full of contradictions :) ), ingenuity (improvise way out of problems, or difficult situations).

Many are still prepared to help strangers in need. A person lying/falling in the street will have someone approach and try to help, still, in spite of everything, unlike in some u201cwesternu201d countries - even if itu2019s u201cjust a drunk bumu201d.For a night out, you want Serbs (preferably Bosnians, but Serbs are close)!

For good jokes and conversation - also a close match between the two. For business - Germans (as the complete opposite). Genuinelly very good to strangers, especially foreigners - most people will go out of their way to help.

The good ones are really good - having lived/grown in such an environment, they are prepared for the bad, but have exceptional character to stay on top of it, not merge.Treatment of women/patriarchy:(Take it with a grain of salt - I am a man from Serbia)Iu2019d say, nowadays, women are treated with as much respect as men. People who disrespect others, will also disrespect women and vice-versa.

Same goes for those who pray upon the weaker - women are physically weaker. And a lot of people here tend to mistreat the weak, being weak is considered bad (primitive way of thinking?).

Most people I know share their load of housework. Yes, women are more likely to do the cleaning, but men are more likely to haul groceries, fix the house, car (low standard of living means people tend not to pay for proffessional services if they can manage) etc. I doubt women would have it the other way round - thatu2019s why we donu2019t even ask them - lol.

:) Seriously, Iu2019d say women have the same problems that the u201cwesternu201d ones have - ballancing bearing children and career.There is still some u201csocial pressureu201d that can be interpreted as patriarchal - man taking a leave to care for a newborn, instead of the woman, is legal, but almost no one does it. Still, Iu2019d call that common sense, not patriarchy.

Colour me conservative. :).