Posted on 08/10/2010 3:22:50 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Most of us will probably never pull a Steven Slater: curse out a customer, grab a drink and leave our place of employment in a blaze of glory.
But let’s face it, we’ve all had the urge.
Slater, a flight attendant on JetBlue, instantly became a folk hero in many people’s eyes Monday after he grabbed a microphone and ranted at a passenger who had refused to apologize for hitting Slater with some luggage. Slater then grabbed a beer from the galley and fled the plane via the emergency exit chute.
“How many of us can honestly say we haven’t wanted to do the same thing? Steve is a working class hero!” one reader, Aaron Steele, commented on msnbc.com.
“Maybe not the best way to quit your job but hey, sometimes enough is enough,” said another, usa1967. Workplace experts say that while most of us probably don’t have the chutzpah to do what Slater did, many have felt enough workplace stress to at least fantasize about telling everyone to take this job and shove it.
“I think that’s why we all secretly hold him up as a hero. I know he did the wrong thing and he even probably broke the law, but I get it,” said Tim Besse, co-founder of Glassdoor.com, a website that allows employees and employers to post anonymous information about their workplaces.
That’s especially true with airline travel, which is full of the kind of hassles and stress that can inspire rage and fury in even the most mild-mannered people. In fact, many readers said an outburst such as Slater’s dramatic exit was inevitable given how flight attendants and other people in customer service are treated these days.
“Can’t blame him for snapping. Unbelievable how rude people are — no apology for clocking him in the head with a bag? I’d snap too!” wrote VTPeach.
To some, it was the passenger who prompted Slater’s rant, rather than Slater himself, who was at fault.
“What about the passenger who refused to apologize? I would call him the real IDIOT!!!!” wrote whatever-2167628.
Besse, of Glassdoor.com, said companies often get high marks for valuing customer satisfaction. But that can turn into a negative if employees come to feel like they have taken the idea that the customer is always right too far, to the point that customers are treated better than employees.
“Steve Slater, who’d been doing this basically all his life, on this day in New York basically decided the customer wasn’t right,” Besse said.
Some may see Slater as a hero because they know they don’t have the luxury to speak out like that in their own lives. While Slater may have felt great after finally letting loose in such a public way, the fact is that most of us need our jobs more than we need that release. And most of us realize that such a dramatic move can carry heavy consequences, such as the felony charges that Slater is currently facing.
That’s especially true these days, with the unemployment rate hovering at 9.5 percent, nearly 15 million Americans looking for work, and many who are working being asked to do more work for the same or even less money. “It’s about time workers start to flip out!” wrote one reader, Jimi-2167680.
Of course, not everyone is thrilled with the way Slater decided to handle his workplace frustration (including legal authorities, who are holding him on charges of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing).
More than 40 percent of msnbc.com readers voting in an online poll called him a hero, but around 35 percent felt he was “just plain crazy.”
“Sounds like we are safer that he is now on the ground,” wrote Bruce-308647.
“Gotta love it. … Finally, a flight attendant standing up to a RUDE passenger. Seen it a million times. Could have handled it better, though!” wrote another, Da Llama-2167553.
What was reckless about it?
if you haven’t flown in five years, be prepared, NOT for a steward losing it, but your fellow passengers. It has gotten horrific to fly. On all airlines. There are always nice, polite passengers, but some of them should get an eject button at 30K feet. And give yourself at least an hour to get thru the airport with security.
I'm leaning more toward your assessment. "Brat" was the word that came to mind, and when I heard he was gay, I thought "figures."
I remember reading a story about a boss who would take potential employees to lunch and see how they dealt with waiters. They would be hired or not depending on how they dealt with people who took “lesser” jobs.
A quote I heard somewhere “you can always tell the measure of a man by the way he treats people who can do nothing for him.”
People could have died????
The plane was on the tarmac!
It’s all about the chute. The wreckless endangerment probably is because the plane can’t taxi with the chute deployed, meaning (1) the passengers and other crew had to deplane on the active tarmac (dangerous) and (2) the plane was now a stuck-in-place large obstacle for other planes (dangerous). That’s not even getting into sticking a big sail on the side of a full airplane.
The trespassing probably is for going onto the active part of the tarmac. Flight attendants generally aren’t cleared for that. That’s also potentially dangerous for others.
My bet is that he does some time, possibly federal, unless (or maybe even if) he cuts a very nice plea deal.
I flew from Baltimore to Dallas this morning and I sat next to a real nice guy, Marco from Italy....He talked the whole way but it mad the trip go a lot faster.....he has been here on a tourist Visa and it is time to go home.....
When he first flew here he meant to fly into Dulles to stay with friends in VA but due to communication problems he flew he made his reservation for Dallas....he managed to find a way to VA but he now has to return home via Dallas.....
Agree.
If the feds have any sense, they will drop charges against this guy.
The guy is not a criminal....he lost it dealing with extremely rude passengers. IMO, the passenger is the one who violated the law and should be charged.
The sad part is these passengers are rarely, if ever, charged. So their behavior only gets worse.
Although this guy is a typical homosexual who can’t control himself, I do feel bad for him in this situation. The passenger in question sure sounds like a first class jerk.
How strong of a wind would need to come by to yank the plane around and kill people? Is that wind possible on a tarmac?
Yeah, I agree. When I wrote that I thought they were seating the passengers before a flight when this happened, so the plane would still be at the gate. If this happened on a taxiway, I see the endangerment as well as the trespassing.
The sad part is these passengers are rarely, if ever, charged. So their behavior only gets worse.
The guy that pays writes the check should always be treated like the boss. With the security garbage and now the fee after fee, it’s a wonder that more passengers don’t blow up.
But let’s face it, we’ve all had the urge.
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I have also had the urge many times in my life to punch someone in the face, but I have never done it.
No, I do not admire this guy and his gay little hissy fit.
Admittedly, I do not fly very often, but IMO most airline passengers are very compliant and are appreciative of the crew. I am sure that there are a few who are real pains in the joebiden, but that is no excuse for this drama queen to act the way he did.
Too bad he’s not a black guy....he could claim the passenger was racist and get his job back.....
I suggested people start keeping their mouths shut and start treating the help a bit nicer.
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Something I always do. People providing a service to you are to be treated with respect, as should all people.
After not flying for 5 years, I flew 2 weeks ago on JetBlue (my first time for that airline)
It was a more comfortable flight than other airlines & on the way home the pilot did well to fly away from turbulence.
I use to be OK with flying, but not anymore.
A lot of people are crazy, unwashed and rude....
..I would just as soon not fly.
When I ran a customer service department (ok, I was the only person in the department) back in the 1980’s I had fantasies of doing hat this guy did.
I guess I’m blessed because I actually like my job now.
If my destination is within an 8 hour drive, and I have time, I drive (or take bus/train) rather than fly. It used to be such a great way to travel (fear notwithstanding).
I even remember when people would get dressed up for a flight. And dinner in First Class was served on plates, with real glasses, heavy stainless flatware and linen napkins! Now, half the passengers look like they couldn’t be bothered with so much as a shower, or using a comb. And the bag of peanuts just doesn’t do much for me.
The novelty of flying JetBlue the first time was enhanced by the wonderful aroma of coffee & finding out they serve Dunkin Donuts coffee in Dunkin Donuts cups, LOL-(it doesn't take much for me)....
...also my destination was 2-1/2 days away by car....so I flew.
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