The state we're in

[altariel]

Tuesday. I was livid about the passengers on the flight from Malaga to Manchester who forced two young men off the plane on apparently no more grounds than that they looked a bit funny. I caught an interview with a couple who were on the flight, who said that when the two young men got on board the whole atmosphere changed. (Why an interview with these people? Why not an interview with the injured parties?) The husband of this couple – the preposterous have-a-go wannabe – said you could tell something was strange about them because everyone else was wearing shorts and flip-flops and they weren’t. It’s enough to make you take up wearing a hoodie. What a shame the airline didn’t tell anyone who had a problem with these young men that they were free to get off and catch a later flight. I hope someone sues.

Some of you may remember that at the start of the month I received a mailshot letter from the local police inviting me to inform upon people speeding down my rat-run road (they were asking residents to note down names or index numbers of speeding drivers). In an unusual burst of activism, no doubt triggered by having no internet to keep me soporific, I rang them up on Monday to find out exactly what they intended to do with these bits of unsubstantiated gossip. They explained they want people to note down patterns of behaviour so that they can then come out and set up their speed cameras or whatever in order to prove or disprove allegations.

Speaking to the policewoman tasked with this, it transpired that I am the very first person to call them about this letter (this tickled me to high heaven, I’m sure you can imagine), and that they were all wondering why nobody had got in touch with them, given that speeding on the road had been such an issue at local community meetings. She sounded young and earnest and a bit bewildered to have this lunatic barking about civil liberties down the phone at her. (No, I was perfectly well-behaved and polite but, God, I did feel old.) I didn’t offer to participate, but I did suggest that perhaps one of the problems might be with the letter, which reads very badly: “Citizens! Do your moral duty! Shop your neighbours!” only in unreadable Arial and semi-punctuated.

The whole thing reinforces one of my general rules-of-thumb about, you know, life – that most seemingly dubious actions are basically down to ineptitude. Not the case with the people on that flight, though. They’re just bastards.

Comments

[hafren.livejournal.com]

I've seen an interview with the young men, who seemed awfully bemused that any civilised grown-ups, especially en route to Manchester, would consider wearing shorts. But it wasn't the passengers' paranoia that got them turned off the flight: it was specifically the captain, who took fright, seemingly.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Now I'm back online, I can go and read around more about this story - it slipped off the TV news very rapidly.

[iainjcoleman.livejournal.com]

From what I've seen, the two men seem to be putting it behind them and chalking it up to experience. Which is fair enough, but I can't help thinking they would have a decent case if they were to sue on the grounds of racial discrimination.

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

We are going on a walking holiday in the Sierra Nevada next month, which necessiates flying in and out of Malaga. We shall be wearing hiking trousers and hiking boots. I wonder if our fellow passengers will find that alarming. Oh wait, we have the wrong skin colour for suspicious behaviour.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It was a very depressing story.

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

Yup. "Never ascribe to marriage that which may be adequately explained by incompetence."

Oh wait, that was 'malice', wasn't it.

;)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

So easily confused ;-D

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

What a shame the airline didn’t tell anyone who had a problem with these young men that they were free to get off and catch a later flight. I hope someone sues.

Well said indeed. There aren't enough *headdesks* for this one. I suppose that, the day before I fly next, I'd better check with all the other passengers and make sure I know what they're wearing, so I can be sure and dress in the unofficial uniform so I don't get kicked off the plane. Bastards.

I love the fact you called about the letter. Go you. Now we (the world) need several more million of you.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Whenever I hear a story like that, I remember what the lines from the Pogues song about the Birmingham Six (before their release): "They're still doing time/For being Irish in the wrong place and at the wrong time."

Not having the internet meant I suddenly had all this time available to interact with the real world...!

[trixieleitz]

...only in unreadable Arial...

Could've been worse. Could've been Comic Sans. "Shop your neighbours, 'cos it's a giggle, innit?"

[altariel.livejournal.com]

With some Eeeevil Clown clipart.