This is a good one.
(But, Goldie, all your posts are good. Great, even!)
(Why, thank you.)
[Goldie bows and begins.]
When I was travelling home for Christmas, I was confined to a tiny seat for an extended period of time. As per usual, I decided to check the collection of movies available to me on the tiny screen in front of me. There was nothing that grabbed my attention hard enough, but I settled on… something. (I swear to you that I do not remember the title, or the plot.)
What I saw next made my jaw drop.
It was the strangest thing I have recently witnessed.
Are you ready?
Aside from the note stating that the movie had been modified to fit the screen, I received another message. I do not remember the exact wording, but it essentially said that if I felt like the person/ people sitting next to me would be offended, or would not like that movie, I should pick a different film.
…
WHAT?
Throughout my flying career, I have never seen a porno movie offered as entertainment. (Even though, maybe that would make the time pass by faster.) So what is the warning meant to do? Which movies should I not watch? How am I supposed to decide what I can and cannot watch? Do I need to ask every passenger (probably the whole plane, in case they happen to walk down the aisle and catch a glimpse of something) if I can watch x, y, or z?
I am a reasonable person. If there is a young kid sitting next to me, I might not watch a horror movie. If there is an elderly person, I might re-consider a movie that has a lot of sex scenes, etc. That is common sense and courtesy. I do not need a reminder for that.
HOWEVER, I am NOT about to ask people sitting next to me if I can watch a thriller, or a comedy, or a documentary about bacon. That is just ridiculous. My seat. My screen. My eyes. My ears. My movie. My choice.
***
I am aware that this is not a post about how I feel TODAY, but it is about a recent feeling that still reminds on the forefront of my memory.
If you are unsatisfied with that explanation, please do not report me to the authorities for not sticking to the Hashtag protocol. (Is there one?)
In good faith I offer you this:
It is still early, so anything could happen today, BUT, I am very excited for it to be Friday. Not only because it is the last day of my working week (like every other Friday), but because I have just recently returned from a Christmas/ New Year’s break. And I think we all know that it is not easy to get back into the working routine once you are off for a while. So today I am grateful for surviving this short work week, and excited for the weekend, because Lords knows I will need to be refreshed come Monday – a FULL week of work.
[The audience gasps.]
Stay golden,
***
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One day at a time... 
Shocking! I agree totally with you it’s courteous to mind what you watch according to who you’re next to, but it’s the thin end of the wedge, are we to ask if we can eat smokey bacon crisps or cheese and biscuits?
Keep on keeping on
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That’s a tough choice. Have you tried the Lay’s cheese biscuit flavored crisps?
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No I’m off the crisps and snacks as much as I can be, i only eat what falls from the tree…
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Good for you. So no kale and squash? 😉
The flavors do sound appetizing, though.
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I wouldn’t eat Kale if it was the last thing on Earth, the kids feed it to the G-pigs and it stinks when it goes off, like the rotten egg of the veg world
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I think I tried it once after it got baked in the oven. It was interesting. Almost turned to dust.
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Haha, you know maybe what you consider courtesy is not natural to everybody and probably they put this message because there were people who didn’t pay attention to who is sitting next to them. I don’t think the warning is meant for documentaries or thrillers or comedies like you said 😉
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Unfortunately, you are right. I find that courtesy and common sense are not something that many people seem to have anymore.
I hope they are meant for those who don’t think – like you said. I’m just worried with all the political correctness and people getting offended by anything that one day I will put a movie on, and the person next to me will say: “I don’t like this actor. Turn it off.”
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Haha, I’m sure if that happens you will know what to tells them 😉
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Most definitely.
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Wow that is absolutely ridiculous! So afraid to offend anyone we start to limit our abilities to be ourselves.
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That is so true. Hence, I worry that we might really regress instead of progressing as a specie.
And then people are surprised depression is so prevalent. Doesn’t it upset you and cause you inner turmoil when you are scolded and not able to be you (within reason, of course)?
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You’ve got excellent points here
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I’m far more bothered by someone with offensive BO or exuberant usage of nasty cologne. Someone who tries to invade my seat or feet space as well as their own than what they watch on their in flight screen. Those films are already limited, as you said, there’s no porn etc.
The thing is – I don’t think anyone IS that hyper sensitive. I think this excessive ‘correctness’ is being forced into our consciousness because no one needed safe places and all this other weird shittery until colleges etc started promoting it.
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I remember meeting someone briefly on a connecting flight, who told me how they were freaked out because the movie they picked out (Shape of Water) might have been a bit too questionable for an elderly person sitting next to them. They ended up turning the movie off, feeling embarrassed and unsure. I, personally, have not seen that movie, but like you – I don’t think most people care. I HOPE they don’t. We don’t need snowflake’ism to spread.
I’ve said this many times before – I am SO glad my college days are over. I might have been behind bars by now. Or in an insane asylum.
Do you watch movies on planes? Or prank your fellow passengers?
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I’m too afraid of being put on a no fly list! It’s one of the few places I mostly behave. I mean – telling people that flying is 100% safe, it’s crashing that kills you and stuff like that doesn’t count..
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I wish I could talk like this with someone at the airport/ on the plane. People I travel with usually say: “Stop it”, and the rest just scatters away.
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Social engineering Goldie in full effect. Instead of actual criminal prosecution, now they use the “Scarlet Letter” to shame those who step out of bounds. I don’t know about you but it is taking some effort getting back into the swing of things at work, after such a long holiday!
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I often say that I was born in the wrong time (Can I start telling authorities that I identify as a person hundreds of years older?). I find it hard to deal with the new societal trends.
I was surprised that I actually slid right in the first day. The second day was harder. I’m taking a deep breath for next week. It’s gonna be hell. It’s funny how everyone in the office was so exhausted on Friday after just 3 days of work.
Is there an optimal amount of days for a break to not make you too lazy/ tired once you go back to work?
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Anything more than 3 days and I turn into a shit bag. It takes sooo much effort and energy to pull myself together into something somewhat professional and appear professional!
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I hear ya. On day 4 I wonder what to do. That’s too much day off. However, once I pass day 5, I never want to go back.
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You ain’t kidding, I love the super slow start to a day.
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Interesting, such a message.
In all honesty, my mum has always been sensitive to horror and any type “making love scenes” in movies. She always said it was destroy a child’s innocent mind.
It’s very hard to find movies where two people are not kissing each other.
But as for you situation, people do not have any business watching over your shoulder onto your private device.
Make they should make a warning like that!
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I remember as a kid being told to close my eyes when people were kissing.
I love your idea. “Warning: If you are not the intended viewer of this movie, please FCK OFF.”
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oh wow! I haven’t been on a plane for year but I’ll have to travel twice before spring so I wonder if I see that! That’s a little too much!
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I flew a different airline back, and I did not get it, so maybe it’s airline specific. That particular one was United.
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You’re right Goldie… people should not watch over our shoulders in public and if they do then their choices led them to watch what we chose by also choosing to watch it. What a warning ⚠️… I have not seen this one yet but now I will look for it. Funny how the airlines try to cover their butts. Lol.
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I saw it on United, but not on a European airline. It’s gone off the rails here in the US. But you are right – it is all about covering THEIR butts. But it’s sad that those are the measures they have to take (over common sense).
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Agreed. They “have to” take those measures or people will bury them. Sad.
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