“So it is accepted practice by all airlines to overbook”
Accepted by who? Imagine any other industry (besides car rental which is just as bad) doing this...it wouldn’t be ‘accepted’.
And the airline really screwed up by boarding the plane first, and then having to drag this guy off. They should have offered cash and vouchers at the gate, and gone high enough to get a ‘taker’. But dragging the guy down the aisle is just stupid.
Accepted by all airlines, as they all do it. And accepted by all passengers that buy a ticket, as this is commonly known and we know people who take options and credits for giving up a seat. So all of a sudden you don't accept it because of this incident? Did you ever "not accept" the overselling practice before and voice your opposition?
It's bad PR for United, but these days, it's bad PR to demand gender specific bathrooms in North Carolina.