Random Thoughts - Part Deux [NO POLITICS]

[Cole]

Another god awful flight this morning.

It all started at security, when a family of 3 took an ungodly amount of time to unload their bags and put the belongings into the plastic trays. I have a feeling they've never flown before, because some of their stuff had to go through twice because there were still electronics being pulled out of them after going through the scanner. The woman beside me took around 4 minutes to get her stuff off of my seat when I got there (I'm a habitual "last call" boarder, because why stand in line after you've stood in line to get to your seat), and her bag from the under seat storage, then kept bumping her elbow into my arm every few minutes, then while watching the in flight entertainment, she laughed so loud I could hear it over my audiobook. In addition to all that, she continually used my tray table to hold her stuff while rummaging through her bags.

I hate flying so much.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Cole

Another god awful flight this morning.

It all started at security, when a family of 3 took an ungodly amount of time to unload their bags and put the belongings into the plastic trays. I have a feeling they've never flown before, because some of their stuff had to go through twice because there were still electronics being pulled out of them after going through the scanner. The woman beside me took around 4 minutes to get her stuff off of my seat when I got there (I'm a habitual "last call" boarder, because why stand in line after you've stood in line to get to your seat), and her bag from the under seat storage, then kept bumping her elbow into my arm every few minutes, then while watching the in flight entertainment, she laughed so loud I could hear it over my audiobook. In addition to all that, she continually used my tray table to hold her stuff while rummaging through her bags.

I hate flying so much.

Well, at least a baby didn't throw up all over you ...... see, it could have been worse ......


humfrz

[Cole]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, at least a baby didn't throw up all over you ...... see, it could have been worse ......


humfrz

I've actually never sat beside a baby before, and I don't think I've had young children on many of my flights. Though, for some of the things that have happened to me on flights, I'd probably take being puked on.

The worst was when I was sat beside a guy who must have weighed at least 400 pounds. The guy needed two of the seatbelt extenders. I was cramped as hell in my seat, and was overcome with an absolutely terrible odour from the man.

Oh well, fortunately I don't do long haul flights, since all my work is domestic, and generally the flights are a maximum of four hours or so. I can put up with annoyances for that long, and then complain about them later to you guys and the lady friend.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, at least a baby didn't throw up all over you ...... see, it could have been worse ......


humfrz

Oh it can get even worse than that!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ue-flight.html

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by ScoobsMcGee

Yes, but there are some pretty crazy labor laws in Sweden that I have to keep track of now.

For example: If someone works from home more than a certain number of hours per week (I believe 10), the company is responsible for certifying that their home office is a safe working environment, and provide furniture / amenities to the employee for home use if not.

Swedes? They don't function well as minions, you know.
To get decent performance out of a Swedish subordinate you need to make him like you and trust you. (If they start calling you "jänkarjävel" you're in trouble.)

[ScoobsMcGee]

Either quoting seems to be funky or my PC is and I'm too lazy to figure out why, but here is my primary source for learning how to interact with employees from Nordic (and other) countries: https://satwcomic.com/

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Oh it can get even worse than that!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ue-flight.html

Well, he WAS from Portland ..........


humfrz

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by ScoobsMcGee

Either quoting seems to be funky or my PC is and I'm too lazy to figure out why, but here is my primary source for learning how to interact with employees from Nordic (and other) countries: https://satwcomic.com/

Quoting doesn't work when there's unicode characters in the text and you're using a pedestrian browser. Chrome will handle it fine.

I love that site, it's awesome :-)
I'm Norwegian and I have lived and worked in both Denmark and Sweden; and those comics are very accurate. In a cute and cuddly way. They don't portray the darker sides of the Nordic psyche.
We're not easily offended, but if you say the wrong things we carry grudges to our graves.

I have dealt with many Americans professionally (software development/consulting) and there are preconceptions and stereotypes it could be beneficial to be aware of.
Many Scandinavians will be apprehensive when an American joins a group.
If the first impressions confirm the stereotype of the loud, obnoxious, condescending and ignorant American we will clam up and be less cooperative.

I'm not saying all Americans are like that. On the contrary, in my experience most are very nice and easy to like.
All I'm saying is it's wise to keep that stereotype in mind when meeting Scandinavians for the first time.

A few things that will severely reduce an American's chances of befriending Scandinavians:

• Making noises like the Swedish chef from Muppet Show.
• Claiming knowledge of disgusting things we eat. (You really have no idea, even if your grandmother in Minnesota makes lefse.)
• Stating anything is bigger/better/cheaper in America. Even if it's true.
• Talking and laughing so loud the rest of the room goes silent in embarrassment.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Sarlacc

A few things that will severely reduce an American's chances of befriending Scandinavians:

• Making noises like the Swedish chef from Muppet Show.
• Claiming knowledge of disgusting things we eat. (You really have no idea, even if your grandmother in Minnesota makes lefse.)
• Stating anything is bigger/better/cheaper in America. Even if it's true.
• Talking and laughing so loud the rest of the room goes silent in embarrassment.

Seems just like universal good manners stuff to me, when meeting anyone.

[Doovy]

Originally Posted by Cole

Another god awful flight this morning.

It all started at security, when a family of 3 took an ungodly amount of time to unload their bags and put the belongings into the plastic trays. I have a feeling they've never flown before, because some of their stuff had to go through twice because there were still electronics being pulled out of them after going through the scanner. The woman beside me took around 4 minutes to get her stuff off of my seat when I got there (I'm a habitual "last call" boarder, because why stand in line after you've stood in line to get to your seat), and her bag from the under seat storage, then kept bumping her elbow into my arm every few minutes, then while watching the in flight entertainment, she laughed so loud I could hear it over my audiobook. In addition to all that, she continually used my tray table to hold her stuff while rummaging through her bags.

I hate flying so much.

Originally Posted by Cole

I've actually never sat beside a baby before, and I don't think I've had young children on many of my flights. Though, for some of the things that have happened to me on flights, I'd probably take being puked on.

The worst was when I was sat beside a guy who must have weighed at least 400 pounds. The guy needed two of the seatbelt extenders. I was cramped as hell in my seat, and was overcome with an absolutely terrible odour from the man.

I haven't been on many planes in my life. These stories are not making me feel very good about my flight next week.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Doovy

I haven't been on many planes in my life. These stories are not making me feel very good about my flight next week.

I have flown at least 200 times. Of those trips maybe 4 were unpleasant for one reason or another. The only time I would say to panic is when the person beside you is holding a baby between new born and one year old. They don't seem to do well with the pressure changes and tend to scream. A lot! Loudly! Right in your ear!

[Doovy]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I have flown at least 200 times. Of those trips maybe 4 were unpleasant for one reason or another. The only time I would say to panic is when the person beside you is holding a baby between new born and one year old. They don't seem to do well with the pressure changes and tend to scream. A lot! Loudly! Right in your ear!

I can only imagine...

Luckily the few times I have flown, nothing unpleasant has happened. My time is coming, though...I know it...

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Doovy

I haven't been on many planes in my life. These stories are not making me feel very good about my flight next week.

I just seem to have bad luck whenever I fly. Most of my bad experiences have been since this past April. Before then, my poor experiences have been few and far between.

[Leonardo]

I was on a flight from Orlando to Salt Lake. The capt. got on the intercom: "Is there a DR. on board the plane?" A guy a few isles back is haveing a seizure. He starts vomiting, which actually starts a chain reaction of people vomiting. (kind of like in Goldmember) Anyway, they then make an emergency landing in Denver. The capt. took the plane down faster then I have ever landed, at almost a 45 degree angle. It was crazy. I have flown hundreds of times all over the world. This was a first for me.


So, then once on the ground, they quarantine the plane for a few hours while a clean up crew disinfects the plane.



Finally, we got off the plane, and headed to the Marriot to get a few drinks in their lounge. They were comped!!!!