And said in the safety video. And said by the FA passing through 10. And probably two or three other times.

 

You realize we still tell them how to properly fasten their seatbelts right? Don’t even get me started on how it is safe for me to bring liquids through KCM but me and my liquids are an imminent threat to aviation if we get a random while out of uniform. There’s so much stupid imposed by the TSA and FAA that I’m pretty sure they have an annual competition with cash prizes to see which agency can create more stupidity and misery.

 

Is a turkey sandwich a liquid?!

 

Yes, but they’re doing all this for the kind of people who come through the door and ask the FA “um can you tell me where my seat is?”

 

Anyone who doesn’t know how to fasten a seatbelt probably shouldn’t be out in public alone.

 

And yet...we still "demonstrate" to the lowest common denominator.....and that denominator is prettttttty low. Hard pressed to do the Limbo under that standard.

 

I was told by a retired Egyptian army officer there are people flying in from rural parts of the country to Cairo that have to be shown.

He, himself, was from a rural part. His favorite story. A guy gets up and sits in the FA seat. He will not move. A FA tried to get him to move. The other FA tried as well.

Finally, they called the CA. The CA came out, straightened his tie, buttoned his coat, and put on his hat. Looking serious and authoritarian, he started walking down the aisle.

A PAX stopped him and asked what the problem was. He said give me a moment with him. He went back and whispered in the ear of the unruly PA. A look of terror came over his face. He jumped up and ran back to his seat and sat very still.

The CA asked what he did. The PAX shrugged his shoulders. He said the unruly PAX was from a rural part of Egypt. He told him that FA seat he was sitting in was not going to Cairo.

 

There are 10's of millions of people who don't know what a seat belt is -- but none live in the West so it's a LCD deal.

My favorite third-world anecdote: World used to fly Hajj charters back in the day. Passengers used to go into the lav and poop on the floor (they had no idea how to use a Western toilet.) Signage wouldn't work as most of the passengers were illiterate.

A mechanic decided the solution would be to paint footprints on the floor facing the door.

Male passengers then peed on the door.

 

Guess that is a better result than the stories on mainland China domestic flights where the parents put their toddler in the aisle and pull down their pants. The kids would squat and poop in the aisle, then go sit down.

Now if you excuse me, I am going out back and join Jethro and Elly May at the CE-ment pond.

 

Hey Now!!!! Them's my peeps.