T-shirt intimidates airplane passengers

[sam_gordon]

From the article in the original post. The wearer was asked to remove it.

But that doesn't violate his rights (assuming rights are the same in Australia). The airline has the right to deny boarding for (almost) any reason. That's what I was saying when I said someone has to live with the consequences of the choices they make.

 

[mhsjax]

From the article in the original post. The wearer was asked to remove it.

Yes, was asked if he was able to remove it, but he didn't have another shirt. According to the report, the FA went in search of another shirt but never returned. Sounds to me like he did wear the shirt and was never "ordered or made" to take the shirt off.

 

[hiwaygal]

The fact that he was asked to remove the shirt because some people were "intimidated" is ridiculous. Period. He had just as much "right" to be there on that plane as anyone else.

If you choose to think someone is ignorant, stupid, filthy, crude, ugly, rude whatever because of how they look/dress that is your "right". To then go and point it out and tell someone that they are any of those things is even more rude and an infringement of their "rights".

I don't choose to let what someone is wearing intimidate or offend me. I may not like it or would not choose to wear it myself, but they are not me and I am not them.

If someone told me to remove an article of clothing because it bothered them I would kindly tell them they don't have to look.

edited to add: I put the quotations around "rights" because that is a tenuous argument at best. IIRC the Constitution does not guarantee any rights about what to wear or how to feel about something.

 

[sam_gordon]

The fact that he was asked to remove the shirt because some people were "intimidated" is ridiculous. Period.

I agree.

He had just as much "right" to be there on that plane as anyone else.

Unless the airline said differently, I agree.

If you choose to think someone is ignorant, stupid, filthy, crude, ugly, rude whatever because of how they look/dress that is your "right".

Yes.

To then go and point it out and tell someone that they are any of those things is even more rude and an infringement of their "rights".

No. I have every right to go to whoever I want and say your shirt is rude or offends me. That might be rude to you, but it's nowhere near an infringement of your "rights". If in a business, it's up to the business to decide if they want to do anything. If they decide to ask you to change your clothes or refuse you business, that's still not an infringement on your rights.

If someone told me to remove an article of clothing because it bothered them I would kindly tell them they don't have to look.

And if a business (say Disney) said "Either change clothes or leave", you'd simply say "you don't have to look"? I'd agree with you if you're out in public.

 

[mhsjax]

The fact that he was asked to remove the shirt because some people were "intimidated" is ridiculous. Period. He had just as much "right" to be there on that plane as anyone else.

If you choose to think someone is ignorant, stupid, filthy, crude, ugly, rude whatever because of how they look/dress that is your "right". To then go and point it out and tell someone that they are any of those things is even more rude and an infringement of their "rights".

I don't choose to let what someone is wearing intimidate or offend me. I may not like it or would not choose to wear it myself, but they are not me and I am not them.

If someone told me to remove an article of clothing because it bothered them I would kindly tell them they don't have to look.

edited to add: I put the quotations around "rights" because that is a tenuous argument at best. IIRC the Constitution does not guarantee any rights about what to wear or how to feel about something.

I think you are reading way, way, way, more into this than there really is. No one demanded that he take it off. These people were on a plane and the shirt has a threat printed on it. Now, if you hadn't seen the film, if may make you suspicious, especially on a plane. Sorry but that is just that way it is.

 

[NotUrsula]

OK, folks, here is your homework. This weekend, find time to either read or watch The Princess Bride.

If you are an adult under 70 and have not seen the film, you are out of the loop, and are teetering on the edge of fuddy-duddy territory. If you have seen the film, watch it again and enjoy the good times. Watch it with your kids -- they will be running around pretending to wield a sword and quoting "prepare to die!" for at least a week.

The film is one of the funniest of all time, and has probably contributed more common catch-phrases to American culture than any other films besides (perhaps) Casablanca, the Wizard of Oz and the original Star Wars trilogy. The performances are classics, and it is on the AFI's list of 100 Best Film Comedies.

For those of you who have not yet done this assignment, THIS is the real Inigo Montoya:

(That would be Mandy Patinkin, age 34, in a really goofy wig and moustache.)

As to wearing the quote on a plane, meh, no biggie. Total over-reaction. Obscenity on a shirt is one thing, but this wasn't obscene in any language, and it is an easily-explained joke. The FA should have just told the "concerned" passengers that it was a tagline from a movie, and that it referenced a medieval sword duel.

 

[hiwaygal]

No. I have every right to go to whoever I want and say your shirt is rude or offends me. That might be rude to you, but it's nowhere near an infringement of your "rights". If in a business, it's up to the business to decide if they want to do anything. If they decide to ask you to change your clothes or refuse you business, that's still not an infringement on your rights.

And if a business (say Disney) said "Either change clothes or leave", you'd simply say "you don't have to look"? I'd agree with you if you're out in public.

You have every right to approach someone and tell them their shirt is rude/offensive whatever and they have every right to punch you. Would you seriously tell someone they stink and you don't like looking at their feet?

What if someone were to tell you they didn't like the way you dressed because you looked like an uptight, close-minded, racist, threatening person and asked you to change your clothes. Would you go and change your clothes? What would you say?

For anyone to determine what is offensive or intimidating to society is presumptious at best. What offends you may not offend me. Who gets to decide?

The business is different because presumably they have rules in place. If the only reason Disney (or any other business) is asking me to leave is because someone else said something, they have to decide who's dollar is more important. Mine or the other persons. If, in fact, the "offensive" material doesn't violate their previously stated rules.

 

[hiwaygal]

I think you are reading way, way, way, more into this than there really is. No one demanded that he take it off. These people were on a plane and the shirt has a threat printed on it. Now, if you hadn't seen the film, if may make you suspicious, especially on a plane. Sorry but that is just that way it is.

No actually, anyone who thought the shirt was "intimidating" is reading way way way more into this than there really is.

It's a movie quote. On a mass produced t-shirt.

If you let that kind of thing "intimidate" you, you have much bigger problems than a t-shirt.

 

[TifffanyD]

OK, folks, here is your homework. This weekend, find time to either read or watch The Princess Bride.

If you are an adult under 70 and have not seen the film, you are out of the loop, and are teetering on the edge of fuddy-duddy territory. If you have seen the film, watch it again and enjoy the good times. Watch it with your kids -- they will be running around pretending to wield a sword and quoting "prepare to die!" for at least a week.

Oh oh but what if you have seen it and think it's dumb and have no desire to rewatch it (me)??

 

[robinb]

You have every right to approach someone and tell them their shirt is rude/offensive whatever and they have every right to punch you.

No, sorry they do not. The first is free speech and the second is assault.

 

[sam_gordon]

You have every right to approach someone and tell them their shirt is rude/offensive whatever and they have every right to punch you. Would you seriously tell someone they stink and you don't like looking at their feet?

Actually, they DON'T have the right to punch me. Then it's assault.

What if someone were to tell you they didn't like the way you dressed because you looked like an uptight, close-minded, racist, threatening person and asked you to change your clothes. Would you go and change your clothes? What would you say?

From a stranger? I'd probably ignore them. From someone I know, I might try to argue with them. No, I would not change my clothes. But that wasn't the situation here. It was not a member of the public saying something to the guy, it was the FA, who was representing her employer. Which, as you admit...

The business is different because presumably they have rules in place. If the only reason Disney (or any other business) is asking me to leave is because someone else said something, they have to decide who's dollar is more important. Mine or the other persons. If, in fact, the "offensive" material doesn't violate their previously stated rules.

He has the right to wear the shirt.
Any member of the public has the right to be offended or otherwise not like the shirt. They even have the right to ask him to change. They don't have the right to FORCE him to change (which isn't the case in the OP).
The airline (or any business) has the right to ask someone to change because the clothing doesn't fit their "model". If the person refuses (which is their right), the business has the option of refusing service.

 

[hiwaygal]

No, sorry they do not. The first is free speech and the second is assault.

The first could also be construed as a verbal assault or hate speech.

It all depends on your perspective.

 

[hiwaygal]

It was not a member of the public saying something to the guy, it was the FA, who was representing her employer. .

Re-read the article. The FA asked him because other passengers found his shirt intimidating.

The company refused to comment. So she wasn't asking him as a representative of her employer.

 

[pixiewings71]

OK, folks, here is your homework. This weekend, find time to either read or watch The Princess Bride.

If you are an adult under 70 and have not seen the film, you are out of the loop, and are teetering on the edge of fuddy-duddy territory. If you have seen the film, watch it again and enjoy the good times. Watch it with your kids -- they will be running around pretending to wield a sword and quoting "prepare to die!" for at least a week.

The film is one of the funniest of all time, and has probably contributed more common catch-phrases to American culture than any other films besides (perhaps) Casablanca, the Wizard of Oz and the original Star Wars trilogy. The performances are classics, and it is on the AFI's list of 100 Best Film Comedies.

For those of you who have not yet done this assignment, THIS is the real Inigo Montoya:

(That would be Mandy Patinkin, age 34, in a really goofy wig and moustache.)

As to wearing the quote on a plane, meh, no biggie. Total over-reaction. Obscenity on a shirt is one thing, but this wasn't obscene in any language, and it is an easily-explained joke. The FA should have just told the "concerned" passengers that it was a tagline from a movie, and that it referenced a medieval sword duel.

My favorite movie of all time, my kids have been watching it since they were born, we can all quote just about every single line in the movie and it still cracks me up and gives me warm fuzzies when I watch it. I watched it just last week, posted on my FB about how much I love it and had 20 replies in 10 seconds with movie quotes. LOL Then one of my friends said "I've never seen it" and I gasped in despair and said "We MUST plan a movie night soon!" In her defense she isn't one who really watches movies very much at all. I'll be driving and have bad traffic and start yelling "My name is Inigo Montoya, get out of my name or prepare to die" LOL

Oh oh but what if you have seen it and think it's dumb and have no desire to rewatch it (me)??

Then you should see someone because you clearly have issues...... hahahaha in the interest of not offending you I want you to know I'm kidding. One of my BFF's doesn't like this movie, I just laugh and tell her she's got issues. It's like Napoleon Dynamite, not everyone will like it but those who do know each other.

 

[TifffanyD]

Then you should see someone because you clearly have issues...... hahahaha in the interest of not offending you I want you to know I'm kidding. One of my BFF's doesn't like this movie, I just laugh and tell her she's got issues. It's like Napoleon Dynamite, not everyone will like it but those who do know each other.

I also don't like Star Wars or Godfather (tho I have never watched them entirely)... but I love me some Zoolander and quote that all the time! I guess that would be my Napoleon Dynamite.

 

[Tiggeroo]

People were bothered by this? Inconceivable!

I do not think you know what this word means

 

[sam_gordon]

Re-read the article. The FA asked him because other passengers found his shirt intimidating.

I got that. But the FA could have ignored the other passengers, or explained the movie reference (assuming she knew it).

The company refused to comment. So she wasn't asking him as a representative of her employer.

The first sentence does not equal the second sentence. She WAS representing her employer. Perhaps she made a decision the company didn't agree with. Perhaps the company agrees with her decision but wants the story to fade away. Either way, at the time of the incident, she WAS representing her employer.

 

[pixiewings71]

I also don't like Star Wars or Godfather (tho I have never watched them entirely)... but I love me some Zoolander and quote that all the time! I guess that would be my Napoleon Dynamite.

"I'm not an ambi-turner" ya, that one kills me too. LOL
But you would know the quote if you saw it on a shirt, I mean "Luke I am your Father" LOL

 

[robinb]

The first could also be construed as a verbal assault or hate speech.

It all depends on your perspective.

Telling someone that they find an article of clothing offensive is not a verbal assault or hate speech, no matter how you try to spin it. In any case, neither is illegal by themselves unless the speech is threatening in nature. A punch in the nose in response to someone's first amendment speech - definitely illegal.

 

[mhsjax]

The first could also be construed as a verbal assault or hate speech.

It all depends on your perspective.

You just lost all credibility. I am 100% sure that if these people who felt intimidated by his shirt were told what this is from, by almost everyone else because apparently everyone but a select few have seen the movie, then they wouldn't have a problem with the shirt. But it was on airplane and it mentioned the word "die". It probably made some people nervous because of that. But you seem to have lost all ability to see clearly on this. YOu are too worried about your rights and everyone else being snotty or they have a much bigger problem. Well sorry I didn't see the movie, but I can guarantee you that I would have not feel intimidated by it after it had been explained to me. Would I still think it was probably a poor choice, yep, but I wouldn't say anything. But I can tell you that your actions would 100% be a poor choice if you punched someone. I think that YOU, are indeed the one with a much bigger problem.