As someone who has worked in customer service, I know just how freaking stupid people can be. Those who's jobs require them to deal with people every day largely have my sympathies. So one would think I would be on this Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater guy's side after he cursed out a passenger on board his flight for not listening and removing his bags from the overhead compartment when he wasn't supposed to, which resulted in Steve getting bashed in the head with said bag.
Surprisingly, I am not on his side. Part of this is due to the fact that I got to this story a bit late, after everyone had already called him a working class hero, setting up a much more noble situation in my head that clearly didn't happen. But mostly, it's because when you work in customer service, it's your job to not blow up at the customer, no matter how idiotic, rude, etc. they are being. I may have bitched about customers to my friends and family after the fact, but never to the customer themselves.
So the fact that this guy couldn't keep it together until after the passenger had gone really doesn't do much for me. From what I've heard of the story, I've had to deal with far worse situations while not going ape shit in front of everyone. What makes it worse is the hero worship he has acquired. If after the situation the sentiments were "Well, I can understand how he might have cracked under stress," that would be reasonable. But to call him a hero who's actions should be replicated is ludicrous.
And coming late to the story, at the same time I was finding out about the conflict, reports were surfacing that called the story into question. The passenger who supposedly sparked this whole thing has yet to be identified (which considering the close quarters and number of people on board should be pretty easy), and other passengers have said that Slater seemed to be in a bad mood the whole flight. So it seems to me this is just a case of someone having a bad day and being a dick about it.
And topping the whole thing with even more ridiculousness is the fact that Slater has been offered a reality show, because of course he was. My faith in society is dangerously low as it is, but giving this guy a TV deal will set a new record. Supposedly the show will deal with him helping disgruntled employees find "extravagant ways" to quit their jobs. Because yeah, that's going to fix everything! Because there is nothing future employers like more than seeing that you quit your old job on a reality show in the biggest "fuck you" you could possibly give to your boss. They love that stuff! They will have no problem at all finding new jobs.
Oh society, you know how to solve everything.
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