American Airlines once described their new seats with less legroom, less padding and no entertainment screens – but satellite wifi – as trying to recreate “the living room experience” since you could watch your choice of shows on your own device. But when you’re stuck in a metal tube packed in with strangers it’s not your living room, and you shouldn’t behave like it is. For instance, you should wear pants.
You also shouldn’t watch porn on your devices. Of your wife. With other peoples’ kids nearby. Apparently, like the thing about pants, this is something some passengers do need to be told.
I realize I’m a libertarian, but IMO people really shouldn’t just watch porn in their seats on airplanes. Particularly when kids are around. Particularly when it appears to be porn of their wife who is sitting right next to them. Yeah, that happened. Traveling is weird.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) March 30, 2023
Here’s the remarkable thing. Apparently the passenger went about watching their porn, as though they were all by themselves (well, except for one part of that), and nobody said or did anything. Which means he’s going to think it’s ok next time, too.
However I think there are some things that we can probably all agree cross a line. A flight attendant once shared on their Facebook feed a story about a passenger taking such a long time in the lavatory that another passenger expressed concern and eventually the crew started to suspect a medical emergency. After much knocking he came out, iPad in hand. He went in there to watch a movie. At least he hadn’t watched it at his seat.
Still, what movies are ok and which ones aren’t? What about inflight entertainment that shows Boogie Nights with Mark Wahlberg? I’m never watching that kind of movie. But what about an HBO or Showtime drama? I’m usually sitting in a premium cabin, so I have a little more space at least. But when I’m in coach I lean on inflight entertainment a bit more since it’s harder to get work done. Up front I’m rarely sitting next to young children, usually it’s a middle-aged business man. Still, I’ll fast forward through any explicit scenes I didn’t know to expect. Sitting in back I avoid even things like Game Of Thrones altogether.
When you report the incident you do have to hope, of course, that your flight attendant isn’t watching porn. Air Canada once warned pilots to stop leaving porn in the cockpit. And Etihad pilots once wrote up their inflight wifi for being too slow to download porn.
Do you bring your own shows? If so, what shows do you rely on to keep your interest on a long flight? I’m always looking for recommendations. And how do you handle a more explicit scene?
Oh the joys of the traveling public
The more I know about people the more I love my dog
Hopefully Spirit got them where they wanted to go
@ Gary — I don’t know which is worse — the guy watching the porn or no one saying anything about it. I sure as hell would say something — LOUDLY — until it was turned off. Why would anyone think that this is acceptable behavior?
Two words thrice. Liquids spill. Accidents happen. Laptops fail.
So was the wife hot or what?
America is a funny country in which apparently everyone watches porn (check internet stats), but nobody wants to see nudity, yet extreme violence is not a big deal and people stand behind a President who paid hush money to a porn star while his wife was with their newborn. This is very odd coming from other parts of the world.
Why. Why. Why. Always in USA ?
I had this happen on a flight. I was in 2B. I look forward and 1A is watching some…shall we say instructional videos involving a dungeon. Now, I have NO issues with what people watch in the privacy of their own home, but watching on a plane in front of the people is crossing a line. In this instance, I hit the call bell, alerted the flight attendant and had them discretely ask the passenger to move on to some other form of entertainment. No need to embarrass anyone, but wanted it to stop.
Men, grow the blank up.
Isn’t this the woman who said that she was sick and tired about Hispanic people that look Mongolian trying to talk to her in English? Maybe we should consider the source before we decide that this porn viewing actually happened.
I remember flying from AMS back to the U.S. and a guy a few seats over was flipping through a graphic porn mag like it was no big deal. I don’t recall if there were any kids around, however.
I really don’t see any issue with this. Let him watch what he wants. If it’s offensive to anyone – simply don’t look. Live and let live.
2018 singapore airlines SIN-ICN-LAX everyone watching “red sparrow”
In De Santis Florida, you better not look magazines or books with photos of artwork by Michelangelo, that filthy and pornographic Italian!
ChadMC says:
March 31, 2023 at 1:04 pm
I really don’t see any issue with this. Let him watch what he wants. If it’s offensive to anyone – simply don’t look. Live and let live.
Sir, I disagree with you 100%. An airplane is NOT a “private venue,” and your attitude/opinion would allow for incredibly offensive behavior in a very public space. The freedom of any individual to behave as they wish is and must be limited by it’s effect on the freedom of others. On a civil flight we are a “community of persons” whether we like it or not, and “individual rights” are, by common necessity and common decency (IMO), sometimes in need of abridgement or adjustment.
I agree with ChadMC. As long as the passenger is wearing a headset and being discreet ( not flaunting what he is watching) than it is his business not yours. Why are there so many damm nosy bored passengers who don’t seem to have anything better to do than get in other peoples business. Announcing loudly what someone else is watching is rude and a good way to escalate the situation. Not call light worthy. And I agree with the other poster, most of you are perfectly ok with extreme violence but God forbid a nipple is shown and you all freak out.
@ChadMC and @CMorgan – Soooooo…are you saying there’s no limit to what should be considered societally acceptable public behaviors? This is a very slippery slope. We all have our limits. I guess my limit is if I’d be uncomfortable doing “x” in front of my mother it’s probably not something I want to do in a public venue.
Subjective, I know, but I can assure you that most people would not want to watch a porn in front of their mother. No matter how that goes, there could be tens of thousands of dollars in therapy involved. 😀
@Sco – yes. Yes, it is. Not a reliable source for any kind of information, let alone the salacious kind.
Haha Gary — When this post came up, I thought about sitting in biz class once, aisle seat, and Game of Thrones came up. There was some kind of orgy scene, all kinds of nudity. Not my fault! I was just watching the show for the first time and this came up! It was embarassing and hard to turn off; I am kind of slow and did not have a jacket or something to throw over the screen. Interesting that other people may have had the same experience.
I’m mixed on this subject. Sure, I think all of us can agree that watching porno on an airplane if not illegal, is wrong and we shouldn’t do it. However, what about sex scenes in movies? I was recently watching “The Wire” on a plane, when one of the shows sex scenes popped up, and there were definitely kids seated behind me in both rows. Where is the line? What is the line for horror movies and violence?
For me: I think any non-porno is fair game to watch on your device at your seat. If kids happen to glance at it, that shouldn’t be my problem, by virtue of them not being my kids. Avert their eyes, explain what it is, or make them look away. That is your responsibility as a parent. This idea that actual adults should tiptoe around, because someone’s children might happen to view something that the parent finds objectionable is ludicrous to me.
I always thought it was interesting that airport books stores sold porn magazines (less so today than 10 or 20 years ago). Like are you supposed to bring that to read on the plane? Maybe the guy really likes his wife or maybe it was Michael Avenatti.
America…land of hypocrites and nuisances to the world. Hopefully you terrible people will be nuked soon.
“But what about an HBO or Showtime drama?” Seriously? You have real issues if this is a concern. I get people not watching porn in their seats but cable tv? Really? If people are soo concerned about what their children may see then maybe they should teach their children to respect the privacy of others and not be trying to see what is on their device or screen. Sorry you are soo insecure that Game of Thrones would make you uncomfortable to watch on a plane. I’ve been in some other countries that what they play on tv in the middle of the day is at the level of softcore porn. Some people need to really grow up when it comes to nudity.
Some airlines have had IFE video that shows graphic nudity/sex scenes. Other airlines pay their entertainment supplier to keep such stuff out of their IFE videos.
Donald Trump was on a flight watching movies of his daughter?
I’ve fast forwarded through material before or simply angled my iPad away from other passengers while I continue to listen to the content. But that applies to regular movies or shows.
A straight up porn? Why? I don’t watch porn to be entertained. It serves a purpose for a few minutes, a purpose which certainly isn’t appropriate on a flight.
My guess is that they are swingers and he was advertising his wife to the other passengers to make something happen later. Or simply gets turned on by other people being aroused by his wife. But without seeing the content it’s hard to judge just how inappropriate it may be. Perhaps a link is needed?! I’ll be sure to only click it in the hotel later.
SOBE ER DOC Yes it is a slippery slope that’s why I commented the way I did. Some people are offended by PG or PG 13 others R etc etc. where do you set the line? You will never satisfy everyone and someone will always be offended. The best advice is to be discreet if you are watching some thing that you think is questionable and if you were looking at other peoples screens and see something that is questionable, simply look away as it’s really none of your business what that person is watching
Gosh you prudish Americans…
I would never think about ff a scene in a movie or a TV show because someone else staring at my monitor could be offended by what is shown there.
That’s ridiculous.
Why is it my business if someone else watches porn with headphones.
He is not entering my physical space and he annoys no one with noise. So if I don’t wanna watch his pron, I can look somewhere else.
I’m much more visually offended by these disgusting Godzillas which are too fat to face away.
Ricardo–your NUTS and obsessed with our great Governor De Santis!!get a life.