I was flying on an 8 hr flight with my two small children. They both went to sleep shortly after take off and slept the entire time, as it was an overnight flight. The cabin lights were dimmed and everyone tried to get some sleep… except the guy who had moved seats to be directly behind me. He sat and talked to the stranger next to him for HOURS. I was desperately trying to sleep and in a state of tension that my baby would be woken up by this noisy guy and might start crying and wake up everyone else. He was one of those guys that just knew everything about EVERYTHING and felt he had to share it, loudly, with the poor sod he had sat next to.
Finally, after 5 hrs of this utter torture, when it was about 3 am and I was just about ready to jump out the plane door, I plastered the best smile I could muster on my face, sat up on my seat and turned around and asked him to keep it down a bit please as I was trying to sleep thank you very much, as politely as I could without showing the inner murderous rage burning behind that fixed smile.
I fully expected to be sworn at for my cheek in daring to ask him to consider all the people around him trying hard to sleep in the middle of the night, but after a rather stunned silence there was a muttered “Sorry” from behind me and I swear I could feel the guy beside him silently telling me he loved me for finally shutting this guy up.
Peace reigned for the rest of the flight, and it was so, so sweet.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
You're far more patient that I would have been. I would have told him to quiet down long before you did.
Probably from Michigan, everyone between the ages of 30-60 there seems to know everything and make a point of telling you about it. Was it a chink?
No, Madachode was right ….. Michiganders can't shut up ….. they're right behind Minnesottans….. (it's a toss up)
I think Karl was reacting to the racist term that Madachode used, not that people from Michigan tend to be talkative.
To madachode: Now, that was very nasty. We don’t need racists here. How would you like it, to be called white trailer trash red neck?
I once sat next to a man who kept talking since he sat down. When we reached 10,000 ft as the flight attendant announced it was ok to use electronic devices, I quickly put on my Bose headphone hoping the guy would shut up. He didn't and kept getting closer to my headphone and spoke even louder to make sure I can hear him throught the Bose headphone
You should have shoved the headphones on his head and cranked the volume to the max.
Some people have no concept of personal space nor can some people pick up obvious non-verbal hints to leave someone alone.
Racist? Who's racist?
As a yellow dog eating gook, I remind you that "chink" is not the proper term. "Chinaman" is the correct word to use.
Kudos to the OP and the yapper for handling the situation civilly.