No Exit: Sociology Meets Air Travel

By Karen Sternheimer

When I was in high school I was really into existentialism. Not a surprise, considering that teens are often trying to figure out the meaning of their lives (even though existentialists consider life to be without inherent meaning…but I digress). 

One of my favorites was the Jean-Paul Sartre play, No Exit. If memory serves, the play is about a group of people, each seriously flawed in their own way, who had to spend eternity together. To paraphrase Sartre’s point, “hell is other people.”

For some reason this idea really struck a chord with me when we read it in my 12^th grade world literature class. Other people can really help create friction that otherwise might not exist. (The irony that I would become a sociologist is not lost on me, by the way).

This thought occurred to me on a recent flight. As in Sartre’s play, I was placed in close quarters with a selection of strangers, each with their own unique set of characteristics. Although I thankfully will not spend eternity with them, for the four hours of the flight’s duration we had to learn to negotiate relationships with one another and manage our emotions in the process.

Our challenge began immediately upon boarding. There was someone sitting in my aisle seat, so I had to ask her to move. She did, reluctantly leaving her eleven-year-old son sitting in the middle seat. As I was getting settled in, the woman asked him repeatedly if he was okay from her middle seat across the aisle. 

Each time he answered that he was, but within minutes she asked if I wouldn’t mind sitting in her middle seat just for take off, that I could move back for the flight, and then we could switch again when the plane descended. I said we should just switch, that I didn’t want to move back and forth. I admit I was less than gracious about exchanging seats, until I saw a rather attractive man who had the window seat now next to me, which seemed like a just reward.

So I fully admit to being part of the friction, which increased when I asked the flight attendant if I could use the bathroom in first class before the flight left, since it was much closer than walking to the back of the plane as people were getting seated. She was clearly annoyed but agreed. 

This type of social situation produces all sorts of opportunities to breach norms and challenge what we think are agreed upon social rules. I gave up a highly valued aisle seat for the least valued middle seat. I also crossed “class” lines by using the bathroom in the wrong cabin.

Other social rules get tested while flying too. The young woman in front of me chatted quite loudly with her seat mate for a good part of the flight. It was obvious from the conversation that they did not know each other, as they talked about where they lived and the weather in their respective homes. 

Nothing is unusual about this, except that the loud conversation was continually peppered with profanity. I had the sense that the man next to me was annoyed too, but neither of us said anything to each other or to her. 

I thought about this for a few minutes—what would I say? Do I ask the flight attendant to remind her of the unwritten social rule to watch your language? She might have thought that since only adults were immediately next to her and behind her it was totally acceptable to use the f-word as her favorite adjective. Or maybe she was trying to bond with her similarly-aged seat mate by using words she thought might connote familiarity.

The other people surrounding me carried on conversations too: where they grew up, where they live now, favorite restaurants in their destination city, places to shop, and so forth. This type of conversation seems quite acceptable under the circumstances, yet for those trying to sleep (as I was) any talk was disturbing.

In fairness, I’m sure sitting next to me was not so great either. I had a raging cold and spent the entire flight blowing my nose and sucking on cough drops. Because of the absence of personal space, there is a good chance that these unsuspecting strangers left the flight with my germs.

When the plane landed, I couldn’t wait to get out of there and leave my temporary intimates forever. I learned more about them that I wanted to (the lady next to me had ten children, the man next to me played fantasy soccer league on his Mac, even after the flight attendant asked us to turn off all electronic devices). 

But with the critical distance of walking through the airport terminal, I realized the absurdity of my irritation. After all, I safely traveled more than 2,000 miles in four hours. The flight was smooth, landed and departed on time. They even served a hot meal in coach (yes, Continental still does that!), and the only challenge was in negotiating being so close to other people.

This experience reminded me that unspoken rules often contradict each other; while some people might prefer that one rule be followed, others might be following another. Is hell other people? I wouldn’t go that far, but we do present challenges to each other when we are in close quarters with no exit.

Comments

[Douglas Gilbert]

It's not that "hell is other people"; it's hell is other Sartre's and other Strangers of the self-absorbed type. Other intimates are not hell. Someone in a corner of hell is holding a dish of ice cream. As you say, though riding with profanity, you arrived safely. These chatterboxes are minor rule breakers compared to more dangerous people in the world. The bumble bees of the plane usually don't sting and even if they do, it's usually minor unless you're allergic to stings and then of course you die which can be most unfortunate. Flight attendants don't often make for good Queen Bees, and I suppose the passengers are more like unruly children(who haven't learned social norms yet) rather than like insects.
------
-- Douglas Gilbert
~~http://mojoepoe.wordpress.com
and hell is no comments and no italics in a life of nuance.

[Janis Prince Inniss]

Good question about whether you should have requested that the flight attendant ask the passengers to watch their language, especially when the 'power' of flight attendants has beeen in the news lately: Two cases of Southwest flight attendants deeming passenger attire "too revealing", while two women claim they were mistreated by attendants because they were "too pretty"! Checkout out http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2008/03/too-pretty-to-f.html for a round-up of these stories. Really begs the question about what the rules are!

[ALA]

Flying is my favorite sociological experiment. I love to see how people react to one another. I was recently on a flight and had two men in their late 20's/early 30's in front of me. The were in the military but not in uniform. They spoke to each other as if they were on their base with all the other soldiers. There was an expletive every other word. There happened to be an article in the Southwest magazine about the "No cussing club". I mentioned the article to my travel companion, just audible enough for the gentlemen to hear. After that, I did not hear another curse word the rest of the flight. I think that the social rules are there but many may not know them or may forget them. In that case, I think it's okay to nicely and subtly remind them.

[Con Dao]

These chatterboxes are minor rule breakers compared to more dangerous people in the world.

[visit seoul]

The bumble bees of the plane usually don't sting and even if they do, it's usually minor unless you're allergic to stings and then of course you die which can be most unfortunate.

[event tickets]

I love to see how people react to one another. I was recently on a flight and had two men in their late 20's/early 30's in front of me. The were in the military but not in uniform. They spoke to each other as if they were on their base with all the other soldiers.

[cheap tickets]

Someone in a corner of hell is holding a dish of ice cream. As you say, though riding with profanity, you arrived safely. These chatterboxes are minor rule breakers compared to more dangerous people in the world.

[Adventures]

The were in the military but not in uniform. They spoke to each other as if they were on their base with all the other soldiers. There was an expletive every other word. There happened to be an article in the Southwest magazine about the "No cussing club".

[Antigua]

The bumble bees of the plane usually don't sting and even if they do, it's usually minor unless you're allergic to stings and then of course you die which can be most unfortunate

[honolulu tours]

I love to see how people react to one another. I was recently on a flight and had two men in their late 20's/early 30's in front of me. The were in the military but not in uniform. They spoke to each other as if they were on their base with all the other soldiers

[Tour to Turkey]

The were in the military but not in uniform. They spoke to each other as if they were on their base with all the other soldiers.

[andaman ferry booking]

This is such an inspiring post and testament to the power of gratitude, Tracy. As you say, our perception is the lens through which we view the world. Changing that lens consistently actually rewires the brain to see things that way as the default.

[Walton Taxi]

I’ve wanted some of those travel bags for quite some time. I might just bite the bullet and buy some before our next trip.

[Remax Belize]

I just learning how to write article. By this post I understood that Iam using keywords not in good way.So this informational post which helps me to increase my knowledge.This is really interesting and make me to read many times. I have save this page for future reference.

[การ์ดแต่งงาน]

So great to uncover someone with original ideas in this issue. Realy thank you for beginning this up. This internet site is a aspect this is wanted on-line, somebody after a little originality. Valuable activity for bringing a brand new task toward net!

[צימרים בצפון]

These chatterboxes are minor rule breakers compared to more dangerous people in the world. The bumble bees of the plane usually don't sting and even if they do, it's usually minor unless you're allergic to stings and then of course you die which can be most unfortunate.

[koreansk mat oslo]

Your post was so much useful. Also check out our website for more information

[skredder oslo]

this is a great post

[Simone Perele]

Really awesome blog!!! I finally found a great post here.I really enjoyed reading this article.

[andaman holidays]

Your article is very good. Really interesting. Thank you very much.

[trip to kunti betta]

Preserving the cleanliness & beauty of our beautiful land is our topmost priority. Website :

[morocco tours]

I was recently on a flight and had two men in their late 20's/early 30's in front of me. The were in the military but not in uniform. They spoke to each other as if they were on their base with all the other soldiers.

[Best Wardrobe Designers in Telangana]

Thank you for your good content. I like it.

[travel community]

As you say, though riding with profanity, you arrived safely. These chatterboxes are minor rule breakers compared to more dangerous people in the world.

[https://adventurescroatia.com]

I love to see how people react to one another. I was recently on a flight and had two men in their late 20's/early 30's in front of me. The were in the military but not in uniform.

[Mexico Travel]

The post you shared is very unique and informative. Thanks for sharing such a useful post.

[k-eta]

I was recently on a flight and had two men in their late 20's/early 30's in front of me. The were in the military but not in uniform. They spoke to each other as if they were on their base with all the other soldiers.