Posted on 09/07/2007 12:15:15 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Historians have discovered that Dante actually envisioned a 10th circle of hell, with sinners condemned to spend their eternities traveling from one destination to the next on any one of America's insufferable airlines. It appears that the people running this industry have found a way to make every single aspect of this form of travel an experience in misery.
The latest casualty is to be found in the in-flight movies. Most offerings these days are monumental cinematic embarrassments, movies that would never rise to the level of the $1 stack at Blockbuster, and probably cost the airlines even less. So most passengers take a pass these days when those $5 headphones are offered, finding it more entertaining to stare at the back of the seats in front of them.
I can lose myself easily in work or a book while these movies are playing, but a strange thing happened a couple of weeks ago during one of these flights. After hearing the ping of a couple of attendant call buttons, I looked up and saw that all the screens had gone blank. A few minutes later, the stewardess came on the intercom to announce that because of numerous complaints from passengers with families about the graphic violence being shown in this particular film, it had been stopped.
Chalk up a new outrage. The airlines are now airing graphically violent and sexualized R-rated movies, and it matters not a bit to them that children cannot help but sit there and watch, headphones or not. Delta started showing R-rated films in December, while United and US Airways have increased the frequency with which they show such films. Last month, the three airlines all featured "Fracture," in which Anthony Hopkins shoots his wife in the face, then drags her body away from the pool of blood.
The New York Times published a report on the trend, focusing on Thomas Fine and Sara Susskind of Cambridge, Mass., who were forced to spend two hours on a United Airlines flight desperately trying to distract their 6-year-old son from screens displaying the R-rated "Shooter," which depicts multiple gory killings.
"It's not like he can look away when he hears the sound (of gunshots coming through nearby headphones), and he's sitting on a plane bored, and he's 6," Fine said. The Times also featured a mother whose 7-year-old daughter has nightmares after watching a graphic preview for the latest "King Kong" movie on a US Airways flight.
But even more shocking than that frustrating situation is how callous some airline executives sound in response to protests. "Parents have to be responsible for the actions of their kids -- whether they shouldn't look at the screen or look away," said Eric Kleiman, director of product marketing for Continental Airlines. If you think that was a dodge, try this: "People love Pepsi, and we don't serve that, so there you go, we just ruined their flight. That's an accurate analogy."
That's a ridiculous analogy. Next we will be told that a half-ounce stale pretzel bag constitutes a meal. Such is the arrogance of those who care not a wit about their passengers.
Crumbling Hollywood standards in television and movies are spreading their imposing effects across the culture. The airlines defend their increasing embrace of R-rated films by saying this is the direction that entertainment is headed, so therefore they're only following where the market is going. Airlines are also moving into showing sleazy television shows, like ABC's "Desperate Housewives," so young children can also now witness suburban adultery and seduction at 30,000 feet.
What in the world is wrong with these airlines? For decades, they entertained their passengers with quality films. Every once in a blue moon, they still do, and passengers are treated to a movie they otherwise might never know existed. A couple of years ago, I caught "The Legend of the Pianist on the Ocean," a fascinating work of creative genius. A few months ago it was "Copying Beethoven," with an extraordinary performance by Ed Harris in the lead role.
When quality films contained adult matter, the airlines simply edited it out, respecting that impressionable children -- and discerning adults, too -- were on board. Have you ever heard a passenger exclaim after a flight that he would have enjoyed the film more had there been graphic violence or gratuitous obscenities?
The situation has become so obnoxious that North Carolina parent Jesse Kalisher has started a Website called KidSafeFilms.org to lobby the airlines to stop this visual abuse of children. Good for him. Even better: Next time you're on one of those insufferable flights, and one of these shows comes on, do as the passengers did on my flight a couple of weeks ago. Raise hell.
Yes, in fact, I was the crew chief of a plane that could carry 80+ passengers if called on, and often did because she was the squadron VIP jet. But we didn't fly like VIPs. Loud plane, cold food, troops seats, etc.
It just seems that for people who are so blessed in every way, our only challenges are to find ridiculous inconveniences and blow them all out of proportion.
That's true in general these days. My problem is that we have a situation where a group of adults, supposedly very responsible adults, because they run a corporation in one of the most safety-obsessed industries out there. And these adults knowing that there will be small children present, decide to run a film that is absolutely inappropriate for said children. It's bizarre and creepy behavior before you ever get to the twit from Continental who compares this bizarre and creepy behavior to serving Coke instead of Pepsi.
Like I said, it's as if the airline served them dog crap and was surprised they had the gall to complain.
You ever catch the episode of Malcolm in the Middle where Hal and his folk singing group (”The Gentlemen Callers”) performed that song?
“”Basic Flying Rules: “Try to stay in the middle of the air. Do not go near the edges of it. The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there.”””
LOL, That is good.
Hey, when you fly that's one of the things you have to suck up. Just be glad it wasn't an adult throwing the tantrum...I had to pull out my parade ground voice to deal with a guy on a Northwest flight once. Probably would have been arrested if it was post-9/11.
Worse, you’re headed to a terminal.
I hope certain American industries bite the dust.
Go to Russia and stay there.
And I hope certain American executives have the pleasure of watching the ground quickly coming up to meet them.
Have to agree with Joe’s post 100%.
I agree. In fact after working for Continental Airlines for a number of years, my opinion is that the whole company can go to hell.
Somehow I suspect you got lucky.
Something from the distant past, (about the mid 70s), is that the Continental office (in Houston) kept cases of booze in the offices,many, many cases (dozens) it was passed out as tips, etc. (fifths, not the little bottles).
Hmmm...have your rider remove that burr from under your saddle. Consider the following:
We have here a situation involving a group of adults, supposedly very responsible adults, because they run a corporation in one of the most safety-obsessed industries out there. And these adults, knowing that there will be small children present, decide to run a film that is absolutely inappropriate for said children. It's bizarre and creepy behavior before you ever get to the twit from Continental who compares this bizarre and creepy behavior to serving Coke instead of Pepsi. What's next, special children's flights with in flight entertainment by Kinko the Clown?
It's as if the airline served them dog crap for an in flight meal and was surprised they had the gall to complain.
The airlines USED to feed their customers, that had over a 4 hour flight, a MEAL.
The airlines USED to apologize all over themselves if they scratched your luggage, much less lost it for 2 or 3 days.
The airlines used to VALUE their customers hoping that the customer would fly on their airline again.
The airlines USED to have fares regulated by the federal government (the Civil Aviation Board), insuring that all airline operators made a profit even on half-empty flights. Consequently, prior to deregulation airline seats were wider and pitched farther apart, increasing customer comfort; ticket prices were higher, weeding out the riff-raff, who traveled by bus; stewardesses could be hired or fired based upon looks, size, competence and personality, and were consequently better at providing personal service; and passengers were treated like valued guests instead of cattle — no airport security, no X-rays, no stale pretzels, and few delays. Regulated airline fares also kept more airlines in business, forcing carriers to compete on the bases of service and comfort instead of price.
Man, I miss those days.
Why don’t we all fly naked? If there are small children or adults who are offended, they can close their eyes for the entire flight.
You do have a very good memory, and for better or worse, it is accurate.
That’s why I love Jet Blue Airways. They have individual video screens and DirectTV. I can usually find something to watch.
The Kingston Trio came there too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.