Conversation Stereotyping

IND to DSM via ORD

DSM to IND via ORD

Stereotyping is bad.  Make no mistake about it.  When you stereotype, you judge someone and judging people is bad.  You form an opinion of someone based on how they look, the way the dress, what they are doing and many other things.  After you form this opinion, you put these people into mental boxes.   And they will never get out of his box because you likely will never talk to them to learn the truth.

When you spend as much time in an airport as I do, you see lots and lots of strangers.  Thousands of people I will never talk to or likely see again.  When I am walking on the moving sidewalks, I don't take the time to form an opinion.  I am to focused on getting to my gate.  I do form an opinion of the people riding the moving sidewalk but you should read an earlier post to understand that.  But once I arrive at my gate, I sit.  And it is here where I generally form an opinion of thousands of people, unfairly.  I keep these thoughts to myself and occasionally share them with you, my loyal readers.  I will admit that I do stereotype while passing through security but that's not to judge, that's for my own sanity.

When you are in an airport or on a plane, it is next to impossible not to overhear people's conversations.  I don't try to eaves drop but sometimes you hear people.  For instance, there was a woman sitting behind me yesterday from IND to ORD.  She turns to her colleague and says, "the last time I was in Chicago, I went the the Jerry Springer show".  When I was in college, I watched the Jerry Springer show a time or two.  I have a pretty good idea of the type of people who go watch Jerry Springer.  When I hear this woman say this, how do I not put her into that category of people that I am envisioning in my head?  I have no idea what she looks like, right or wrong, I have developed a mental picture.  As soon as we arrive and everyone stands, a quick glimpse back by me and yep, she was exactly who I thought she'd be.

The next time you are travel, think about what you wear, think about how you behave and think about what you say.  People will always judge you.  Just limit the material you give them to work with.

Are we lazy?

IND to DEN
DEN to CID
CID to IND via ORD

I kind of bounced back and forth a little bit last week.  I had to fly to Denver for a Company meeting and then stopped in Cedar Rapids to see a customer on my way home.  As usual, I got to spend some time in ORD, my home away from home.

If you have ever traveled through ORD, the trip over to the C Concourse is a unique one.  Go down some big escalators, WALK across 2 long moving sidewalks and back up another big escalator.  Below is a photo from that section of ORD

If I land in the B Concourse in ORD, my connection will be in C.  If land in C, my connection is in B.  Thus, I spend a lot of time in this unique area between concourses.  It is here where I witness some really lazy people.



When people ride the moving sidewalk like its an actual ride at an amusement park, it annoys me.  How lazy are you that you can't walk?  You walked to get on the moving sidewalk.  You will walk when you get off of it.  Why can't you walk while you're on it?  It is a very high percentage of people who ride these things.  Its usually the vacation traveler who has the family and they are on island time with no where to go.  Still, vacation or not, you can't be that lazy.

As to any rule, there are exceptions.  If you have crutches or a bum knee/leg/foot.  Its OK to stand.  If you have small children.  Kids will ride these things for hours.  As a parent who travels with my daughter from time to time, you do anything you can to keep kids busy in an airport. 

If you are elderly, go ahead and enjoy the rest.  Everyone else, your excuses are unacceptable.

If you must STAND, at least follow the proper etiquette.  Stand to the right, walk to the left.  Get out of the way so the person who wants to get by can.  If you are with your buddy, don't stand by one another.  Move over to the right side.  Our country has lots of issues.  I think as a society we are getting lazier.  Moving sidewalks aren't helping this either. 

I have never pushed anyway out of the way.  I have wanted to but I refrain from it.  I do say some really loud Excuse Me's or give "the look".  It's only because I want to get to my gate and hurry up and wait for my next flight.

Next time you travel, walk on the moving sidewalk and observe the number of people enjoying the ride!