At one point in the last couple years I made any active decision to rarely, if ever, speak to someone sitting beside me on an airplane. Why? I can’t honestly say exactly why other than the chances of meeting someone I like or have a rapport with is, well, extremely low. So, why expend the energy when the positive outcome of the effort rests somewhere between 1 in 50 and 1 in a 100. This is anti-networking and yes, I know it’s a problem.
Then, over time the hard and fast rule has evolved into one qualifying question – something like – hey how’s it going? I figure one test question, or heaven forbid someone speak to me, and there’s a possibility (2 in 50?) that a decent conversation could occur.
Their answer then pushes me down the decision tree of speak more or blog about the experience because the person is a bozo. :)
Today, the answer in an irritated and in a I can’t believe this happened to … me sort of way was “Just trying to get home.”
See, we’d been delayed all of 20 minutes. Big deal. There’s nothing that can be done other than leave the airport, rent a car and drive back to Dallas. But this person hasn’t chosen that option, but did decide to complain about the decision she made.
Decision tree complete – blog about it.
We’re delayed – no shit. Relax.
But, for the record I did make effort.
