11/21/2008 11:26:30 AM EST

My solution on fat people taking up two airline seats

posted by Perry

Here is my solution to the fat guy/two airline seats problem

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On Thursday's show for The Young Turks, there was a discussion on how to solve the problem about morbidly obese gastropods taking up multiple seats on airlines.

 

I say that, when getting all your information for travel, you also take your weight and register with the Obese Rider's Club or something like that.

 

If you are in this club then airlines will be able to prepare extra seats for you when you intend to fly. You would need to pay an extra fee to be in the Obese Rider's Club, depending how many extra seats you'd require

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My solution on fat people taking up two airline seats | 49 comments (49 topical, 0 hidden)
And they say... (none / 0)
that liberals are the kind and compassionate among us...

How come is it then that Liberals are the ones to point out and judge us by our differences and use stigmas to gain more power over our lives?

The Obese Riders club? You are mean spirited and cruel - and the sick part is you probably think you actually have good intentions by suggesting this in the first place...

:( 

by bobo1 on 11/21/2008 12:23:14 PM EST

hmmm (none / 0)
Such sensitivity and consideration for others can only mean one thing coming from you bobo.  You must be fat.

by bfaul on 11/21/2008 12:33:48 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Yeah... (none / 0)
but regardless of my personal size, my point remains the same. I am not a "2 seater" if that is what you are inferring, but really, the "Obese Riders Club"? Give me a fucking break...

:)

by bobo1 on 11/21/2008 01:02:37 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Wow. Who didn't see that coming? (none / 0)

But to get back on the topic, if someone who is so fat that they require two seats is not "obese", how would you prefer that we describe them?


And that's another thing: I am absolutely amazed to see a plea for political correctness come from bobo1.  Of course, this is only because he's sensitive about his weight and it's a personal issue for him.  But if it was someone else's feelings who were hurt...!

by EveningStarNM on 11/21/2008 01:51:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
how about? (none / 0)
fat ass rider's club
shamu's sister rider's club
Shuttle to seaworld
The blob Rider's club

It could be a lot worse than "obese"

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 11/21/2008 03:08:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Obviously (none / 0)
The Wider Rider Club!!

by desertpear on 11/21/2008 03:35:12 PM EST

[ Parent ]
awesome (none / 0)
i don't need to go any further, that's about the catchiest name for a deal, I want to get fat just to be a wider rider.

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 11/21/2008 04:53:58 PM EST

[ Parent ]
You and Chris are VERY wicked people. (none / 0)

I feel privileged to be even distantly as sociated with you.

by EveningStarNM on 11/21/2008 07:20:42 PM EST

[ Parent ]
i've been "misunderestimated" before (none / 0)
I'm a bastard, and for some reason us free thinking bastards get labeled as "tree huggers".  I'll verbally cut down any asshole, and personally, I think no one is off limits, handicapped too.  I'm an equal opportunity person, and if I were to deny handicapped people my dry humor when they deserved it, I would be demeaning them by "protecting" them, when really they want to be made fun of when they deserve it too.  I had an autistic friend growing up, and I didn't even realize he was autistic until later in life, and those things stay with you.

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 11/21/2008 09:08:14 PM EST

[ Parent ]
How about being a Wider Glider-Rider, (none / 0)
or the person who infiltrates the group to report on them and becomes the Wider Glider-Rider Insider. OK, just had to satisfy my geeky urge to post...I'm done now.

by tifosies on 11/21/2008 10:29:32 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Relax (none / 0)
Have you run out of things to feign outrage about, because this one is pretty weak.  And they say that liberals are the ones that can't take a joke...

by Spencer on 11/21/2008 02:37:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Not at all (none / 0)
I wasn't really inferring anything, I was just tweaking you a little for the fun of it.  So I'm taking it that you won't wear the ORC badge?

by bfaul on 11/21/2008 03:38:00 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Yes, why must we divide. (none / 0)
Said our resident segregationist.

by Spencer on 11/21/2008 02:45:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]
for my friend bobo (none / 0)

by sfinneganus on 11/22/2008 08:08:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
don't make fun (none / 0)
This person is a card-carrying ass-organ-donor. There are people out there with no asses whatsoever!!

by desertpear on 11/22/2008 10:35:26 PM EST

[ Parent ]
How fat we talking about... (none / 0)
I'm down to like 240 now but was 275 at one point...and could still fit in 1 seat.  I guess I'm thicker than wide.

There just isn't enough room in coach to guarantee you can count on 4 inches of privacy space all around you.  If me being a little heavy means your arm is touching my arm, well don't cry for me Argentina.

If someone literally is 4 foot wide and it's impractical to sit next to them then yeah, I could see something like that...but what is that, 400 lbs or something?  At that point you are talking a risk of injury during accelleration or something.

But for someone like me, who's a bit fat, but not Hindenberg, heck no I shouldn't have to pay more.  Heck, I'm losing weight.  I'm working on it.

If it's fat phobia, imagining that all fat people smell bad, that they are sticky or gross...well that's your preconceived notions and not my problem.  I keep clean and I've met plenty of stinky skinny people.

So....takes up 1.5+ seats, yeah, maybe...pudgy and a snug fit, well that's 80% of all Americans nowadays.

by GretchenDawntreader on 11/23/2008 06:35:11 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Actually, on some level this makes sense (none / 0)

Granted, it does on a very cold, profit-driven level. I don;t agree of basing it on a grossly exclusionary on, such as forming an obligatory "obese rider's club".

But there is a direct correlation between the weight of an aircraft, and the speed it can fly/the fuel it uses.

Imagine if a company made airplanes with all first class seats, or all coach seats with first class space between them...

And instead of charging you a per/seat ticket price, everyone walked straight up to the counter, with their checked baggage and everything, and stepped on a giant scale. Your fare price was determined by total weight the plane has to carry.

They could then come up with membership programs where you pay fees to get random discounts, or preferred check-in... something like you can sit down to get weighed-in or something... i don't know...

But basically, along those lines, someone who is larger would pay more, just as someone who is carrying excessive amounts of baggage would have to pay more.

In the end, the things that cost the airline more, which are weight, and baggage handling, would cost the traveller more, and the airline would be more profitable. 

It makes sense to me...

Sure, it's not fair. But when in your lifetime, has life been fair? Better yet, when in your lifetime, has an airport experience, ever been fair? I dare you!

"Objectivity lies not in balance, but in truth. And truth is more often than not unbalanced - slanted in favor of right, and against wrong." -Ed

by Ed on 11/21/2008 01:39:39 PM EST

It's not only an issue of weight,... (none / 0)

... but also one of limited space. &n bsp; We're talking about some very expensive real estate.

by EveningStarNM on 11/21/2008 01:52:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
There IS the issue of weight as well (none / 0)
If you have to pay for your baggage by weight, why not pay for your ass by weight once it starts to affect the flight weight.  There is a LIMIT on how much a plane can carry safely, so a plane full of Obese people may actually be a flight hazard if not booked correctly.

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 11/21/2008 03:10:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
how big an issue... (none / 0)
I'm sorry, but compared to the weight of a fully loaded and fueled passenger jet, a 150 lb person vs. a 300 lb person is really negligible.

They charge you for extra bags because they can.  The cargo space under the plane is there whether it's full or empty.  Again, a few bags more or less, negligible.

When fuel prices soared in recent months, they jacked up prices and started charging for 100 things that used to be included previously.  Last time I looked, auto gasoline is down from a high of $4 to below $2 again....have the airlines made all those 100 things free again?  Jet fuel should be a lot cheaper again now...

What, you say they haven't?  Hmm!

by GretchenDawntreader on 11/23/2008 06:48:09 PM EST

[ Parent ]
love it (none / 0)
you pay by weight of both baggage and body based on relative fuel used.  great idea (esp. since I weigh 120 lbs).

by desertpear on 11/21/2008 03:37:42 PM EST

[ Parent ]
it only makes sense (none / 0)
it would encourage people to "lighten their loads".

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 11/21/2008 04:54:58 PM EST

[ Parent ]
If airlines don't like fat people... (none / 0)
...why do they use WIDE BODY jets?

Hmmmmmmm?

by MedfordTim on 11/21/2008 02:09:04 PM EST

Ba-da-boom (none / 0)

by EveningStarNM on 11/21/2008 02:20:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I proposed this to be considerate (none / 0)

Imagine how much better it would be for a person to just discreetly order a ticket and be given the required seats for their flight, then the absurd situation described on the broadcast where they were weighing the obese individuals in front of everybody.

 

Instead of getting stuck in some humiliating scene where you're embarrassed in front of everybody by having it declared you're too fat to only have one seat (or if the flight is full, being denied flying)...everything is arranged in private when you're in the Obese Rider's Club

by Perry on 11/21/2008 02:18:36 PM EST

A Simpler Solution (none / 0)

There are size and weight limits for carry-on bags.  There should be size and weight limits for passengers.  If a passenger requires two seats on the airplane, then the passenger should pay for two seats.

Do restaurants make fat people pay for each of the two meals they eat, or does the restaurant only charge for one?  Do clothing stores charge more for the materials used in large sized clothes or do they charge the same price as small?  Do automobile makers charge the same for a large car that they charge for a subcompact?

A fat people's club is obnoxious.  But requiring that passengers pay for what they use only makes sense.  Why would we expect an airline to be the travel equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet?

by rbruck on 11/21/2008 03:01:30 PM EST

lol (none / 0)

"There should be size and weight limits for passengers."

I can't help imagining a round space that your ass has to fit inside, like those cubes your carryon has to fit inside.

by desertpear on 11/21/2008 03:40:15 PM EST

[ Parent ]
it sucks sitting next to an obese person (none / 0)
I'm going to be the dick and say it.  The people spill over into YOUR seat.  They're taking up MY space with their fucking thighs and belly, and fucking eating while doing it.  I swear to god this lady sitting next to(on) yasi was eating pretty much the entire flight from California to Chicago.  The woman brought her own meal aboard, AND we got a fucking in flight meal.  It was insanity.  Now imagine a 777 full of these people.  There are only a couple types of fat people who absolutely can't lose weight, and I sympathize with those people, but MOST obese people are lazy and don't know proper eating portions.  I know people with thyroid problems, so I have already acknowledged that some people are genetically predisposed to be obese, but MOST people aren't, and they have no excuse, and a "fat tax" might actually work.  

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 11/21/2008 05:00:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]
it sux (none / 0)

I used to travel a lot for work, and most of my travel arrangements were made a day or two before my trips.

On one trip from Denver to Tokyo, I ended up with the middle seat in a coach row of 5 seats.  The plane was completely full, even the jumpseats.  On each side of me were two two-men heavyweight wrestling champion teams.  Being barely on time for the flight, as I usually was, the four heavyweights were already seated, with the armrests folded up (of course), before I got on the plane.

By the time I wedged into the 3 inches of space left in the middle of the row and fished my seatbelt out from under someone's butt, and before the plane ever left the ground, all four of these guys were sound asleep.

My next 10 hours were pure misery.  About two hours into the flight, I found that my Stewardess Call button didn't work, and I was already getting thirsty.  Crawling over a team of sleeping heavyweight wrestlers was not something I was willing to risk.

As bad as it was not being able to go to the bathroom for the next 8 hours, my thirst from breathing the dry airplane air caused my greatest discomfort.  I have never been so thirsty in my life, and haven't ever been since.

You are absolutely right, Chris.  It isn't the airlines so much that suffer from passengers who are too large for their seats.  It is the passengers who have to sit next to them.

by rbruck on 11/21/2008 05:34:50 PM EST

[ Parent ]
flying (none / 0)
It is a miserable experience and I try to avoid it whenever possible.

by desertpear on 11/21/2008 06:46:18 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I like the window seat. (none / 0)

Give me a window seat and I'm happy -- really happy.  If I could afford it, I'd fly just so I could look out the window -- and I wouldn't much care where we landed.

It's the process of getting to the plane that bugs me.

by EveningStarNM on 11/22/2008 11:10:38 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I like the aisle (none / 0)

I don't feel so boxed in and claustrophobic.  I also won't be the first sucked out of the window.

I agree that it is mostly the annoyances associated with air travel that are the most irritating.  Esp. having to get there so early just so you can wait until your flight is delayed.

by desertpear on 11/22/2008 11:52:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I take xanax for that part (none / 0)
It would be nice if we had some decent alternatives, like bullet trains.  Amtrak isn't fast enough to make it viable for business people.

by desertpear on 11/23/2008 03:32:30 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Nah (none / 0)
I can't back this one.

by corwinlinnel110 on 11/21/2008 06:17:42 PM EST

User pays (none / 0)
Im not very leeeeberal on this point.

I think if you use a service you pay for it, and if you use 2 or 3 or 10 seats on a plane then you should pay for it.
The plane is all about space vs weight etc to be proffitable.
Now if an airline wants to have a 'standby' plan where a large person can wait for a 'free' seat that is not sold and the airline gives them the extra seat for nothing then that might be a plan.

If someone goes to McDonalds for a 'meal' and they eat twice as much then should they still just pay for one 'meal' ?

I know, Im the bad guy but I think it is unfair to impose extra costs on the airline (and ulimatley all other passengers, remeber, the airlines dont just take a hit, they pass it on)

by Maverick on 11/21/2008 07:09:51 PM EST

Id like to read the verdict (none / 0)
The judge gave in the case in Canada


by Chinese Democracy on 11/21/2008 09:36:15 PM EST

[ Parent ]
that analogy was as stupid as you are (none / 0)


by Chinese Democracy on 11/22/2008 02:00:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
You continue to amaze, Ken (none / 0)

You're apparent obsession with your hatred of homosexuals, including someone who may be the only gay person you know on this board, shows a definite weakness.&nbs p; Are you sure you want to make your weakness so easy to exploit?

What happened to you, Ken?  Was it your father or an uncle or some other trusted person who abused you?  Very often, people who have been abused go on to abuse others, either by repeating what was done to them or by blaming innocent people for the abuse they suffered.

Ken, Chinese Democracy is not responsible for what happened to you.

by EveningStarNM on 11/22/2008 07:01:43 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Ken fails to understand himself (none / 0)

"...over-the-top, gay bashing, redneck act..."

Ken, if you do it all the time -- and you do -- then it's not an "act".  You really are that way.  But since psychopaths lack any ability for introspection, and since you seem to have no ability to employ logic, we shouldn't expect you to understand.

But I really do wish you would stop abusing the word "conservative", because you are not conservative at all.  I respect many conservatives.  I have friends who are actual conservatives.  I even liked Everett Dirksen, although I disagreed with him on many issues (I started paying attention in the early sixties, before many of my friends even knew we had such public servants as ''Senators'').

Believe me, you have nothing in common with any of them.

by EveningStarNM on 11/22/2008 11:00:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]
KenTroll (none / 0)
has been posting that "act" line of crap for ever.

He thinks I forgot when he changed nics to harrass people. Or that he has had many many posts deleted because they where so foul and out of bounds.

The good ones like he hopes I die from AIDS where all deleted.

He is a homophobic.. racist .. part of the right wing lunatic fringe as if evidenced in nearly every one of his posts.

His little ploy of divide and conquer is cute but meaningless. Im not going anywhere. I like MOST of the posts here and more importantly I agree with Cenk 99% of the time .

Instead of him trying to lay down the rules as to what he finds acceptable ( who gives a flying shit)
He should thank his lucky redneck gay bashing stars that he is still allowed to post here at all because on any other blog he would be gone after a few of the gems I have seen from him.

I find it mildly interesting that he finds it suprising that there would be a liberal posting on a liberal blog that doesnt like conservaties.  WHAT A SHOCK!

I havent read in any terms of service anything that says I have to  put up with.. tolerate.. like.. anything to do with right wing whack jobs.

a couple free clues for the troll

  1. I loathe the lunatic fringe limbaugh wing of the republican party.

  2. the only reason a right wing nut ball bothers posting on liberal blogs is because it gets them attention.. and if people LIKE him for it.. then he is really getting over on them.

  3. Im a proud liberal with a capitol L  .. this country was founded by liberals ..and liberals have helped the people the most. starting with  weekends off and going from there.

  4. NO ONE is making a troll or anyone else post here. If my posts bother them so much that "etiquette is out the window" . Then dont post here at all.

 we may now resume our regular programing.


by Chinese Democracy on 11/23/2008 05:06:31 PM EST

[ Parent ]
KenTroll (none / 0)
You keep bringing up that you pay so you should stay. Im sure they can live without your "producer level" contribution.

Since you are a known liar.. that statement is in question anyway.


by Chinese Democracy on 11/24/2008 02:18:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]
awww KKKentx (none / 0)
You are so full of shit..

You are a typical right wing troll that posts on a liberal blog. There is no need for any explanation beyond that.


by Chinese Democracy on 11/22/2008 11:36:51 PM EST

[ Parent ]
What's not liberal about that? (none / 0)

"I think if you use a service you pay for it..."

Okay, maybe fiscal responsibility hasn't been liberals' strong suit, but with more and more progressives and true conservatives (two groups which are more alike on this point than people think) inf iltrating the Democratic Party, liberals are learning the importance of fiscal discipline.  Paying for the services you use -- as opposed to simply borrowing without end -- is becoming accepted practice, with it being codified in congressional procedural rules ("paygo&quo t;).

It follows that liberals, as well as progressives and true conservatives, would insist that the person who requires two seats on the plane should pay for both.

The get-something-for-nothing&n bsp;fat cat Repugnantcans, on the other hand, would scream bloody murder if someone want to charge them for both of the seats that their fat asses require.

by EveningStarNM on 11/21/2008 09:42:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
extra seat (none / 0)

When I had to fly with my house bunny, I was required to have her in a soft-sided carrier that fit beneath the seat in front of me, AS WELL AS buy an entire extra seat for her. She weighed about 5 lbs.

Now that is what I call discriminating against bunny-huggers!!  Fancy rats can't fly in the cabin at all because of people's ridiculous paranoia. 

by desertpear on 11/22/2008 10:42:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I'm no fan of the airlines. (none / 0)

Of course, I'm not surprised that you had to pay for a seat that you didn't require just because you needed to use a space that was designed for luggage.  After watching too many episodes of that PBS series, I no longer expect fairness or rationality from the airlines.

by EveningStarNM on 11/22/2008 11:06:00 PM EST

[ Parent ]
PS: (none / 0)
.
I do love the way Google target the ads at the top to match the page content.

by Maverick on 11/21/2008 11:01:04 PM EST

Look at it this way (none / 0)
If you're on a plane and the large person next to you interferes with your comfort, ask yourself if that is the worst thing that's going to happen in the world today. If your answer is no, then have a good flight.

by diguardi on 11/22/2008 12:53:38 PM EST

ken has a point (none / 0)
That would be a tough choice for me.  And babies ALWAYS scream and cry because you can't explain to them how to equalize their ears.

by desertpear on 11/22/2008 11:54:22 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Next time walk (none / 0)
Forget the babies.  Who DOESN'T scream when they have to sit next to Ken for any prolonged period?

by OneHitKill on 11/23/2008 12:53:38 AM EST

[ Parent ]
My solution on fat people taking up two airline seats | 49 comments (49 topical, 0 hidden)
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