To Air Is Human

The things I learn watching CNN with the sound off on the elliptical trainer in the morning! The above clip comes via a report this morning that Delta Airlines has been using short video to indoctrinate passengers about airline courtesy. This clip is called "Middleman"--you'll see why when you watch--and the Planeguage campaign's YouTube page includes such other classics as Lavdance, Kidtastrophe and Shady Lady.

The videos are illustrative, but they're not actually prescriptive. What is proper middle-seat armrest protocol, anyway? In a three-seat row, both end people get a dedicated armrest and share one. Is the middleman entitled to half of each armrest? Two-thirds? The controversy rages at Delta's blog, where one commenter insists: "When will people learn?! The 'Middleman' should always get the armrests! He's the one stuck in the MIDDLE!" Probably a middleman talking.

Of course, there's a little victim-blaming going on here. Whatever society's failures to inculcate respect for others, some of the plane-etiquette problems might be a little easier to deal with if planes weren't so damn cramped, no?

Or is it bad manners to point that out?