A year or so ago as my family was taking our annual Hawaii trip, we ran into a fellow who was very very unfriendly. As we boarded the plane in Phoenix Sky Harbor, I thought it would be a relatively tame flight. I was wrong…
Now my Dad is a good guy, but as far as personal space, he has absolutely no concept of what it means. So we were probably an hour or so into the flight, and my Dad grabs his briefcase from the compartments on top but accidentally hits an unsuspecting a-hole on the head.
My Dad said nothing, and was completely unaware that he had hit anyone, and this made the guy even more pissed off. He literally got out of his seat in the aisle and was shaking his fists at my Dad. He kept saying things like, “When this plane lands I’m gonna F you up etc.” My Dad was trying to apologize, although I think he still didn’t know what happened. Anyway, the guy even called a flight attendant and asked if she would reseat MY DAD! I couldn’t believe the nerve of this guy. He didn’t ask for a new seat for himself, but for my Dad. Eventually the flight attendant explained what happens when you fight on a plane and the guy shut up. The jerk sat there and watched “Over the Hedge” and ate his peanuts and stayed quiet.
Of course, there was no fight on the ground which was nice. The funny thing is, on the way home from Hawaii a week later, guess who I got to sit next to? Yeah, that guy. Surprisingly, the fellow had no idea who I was, or even that my Dad was 2 seats away from him. He started talking about college (I was in college) and blah blah blah. Normal stuff that any overly-conversational person would talk about. Then he said, “you wouldn’t believe this one guy I almost fought on the way over.” He started telling me about how my Dad was such a wuss and didn’t try to fight. I just sat there trying not to laugh and waiting for the right moment to put my iPod in my ears – which eventually happened.
I have met my fair share of a-holes, but that guy definitely takes the cake.
– River from Phoenix
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
The only a-hole in this story is your Dad. He bashes a guy in the head and doesn't know he did it. He might have something clinically wrong – get him checked.
JJL,
Maybe you're the one who needs to be checked. Dad was not aware that he had done anything more than to remove his briefcase from the overhead bin.
River could have told him, Dad watch what you are doing you hit that guy with your briefcase but he didn't.
In short this was an accident, dad didn't do it deliberately. If someone, River or the A-hole, had informed him about what he had done he could have appologized and that probably would have been the end of the incident.
All three are discourteous. OP should have told his old man, or apologized on his behalf.
The bunghole needed to calm down, and dear old dad needs to pay attention.
How was River discourteous? S/he showed a remarkable amount of restraint. On the return flight, I would have let the guy get his foot deep in his mouth and then said: 'that's my Dad you are talking about'.
That's why the only real a-hole in this story is River for denying us the opportuniy to find out what would happen if she pointed to her dad a few rows back and asked "did that guy look like him by any chance?" Now that would have been the scene that I would have like to read about.
Exactly what I was thinking. River from Phoenix was way too polite with this guy.
You all are a bunch of fucking assholes. These fights always happen.
Fights always happen with people who are as calm, cool, and collected as you.
yeah, then i am stuck with people like you
You are not stuck with anyone. You can always take the bus. Enjoy the company. You would fit right in.
Oh, and Demotage, get a life!
No thanks Rerere, have one already…..
Oh, sorry.
I'm surprised dad was that oblivious if he hit the guy as hard as it sounds like he did. The guy definitely overreacted. Anyone who thinks that fighting is a reasonable way to settle something and then calls the other person a wuss for not wanting to fight is a douchebag.
River from Pheonix… River Pheonix… strange.