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Am I the only one who does this?

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09-18-2024 , 11:08 PM

Dr. Meh

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,668

When I’m at the gate to board a plane, I scope out the other passengers to determine who I think may be dependable and useful in a disaster situation.

That way, if the plane goes down and some of us survive, I know who I can trust and form an alliance with if/when it devolves into a Lord of the Flies type scenario.

Also, feel free to use this thread to share things you do that might be unusual but maybe they’re not and everybody does it and just doesn’t talk about it.

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09-18-2024 , 11:40 PM

All-inMcLovin

Wholesome Mod

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 51,127

That's actually really interesting. I'll do that on my next plane trip, although I generally just try to stay positive and not think about a disaster happening.

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Yesterday , 12:02 AM

27offsuit

actions have consequences!

Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38,679

I sincerely size them up with 'These are the unwashed masses I may die with today'

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Yesterday , 01:07 AM

Dr. Meh

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,668

Oh, I have another. If I’m in a work setting and need to use the restroom, and I mean use the stall and not the urinal if you get what I mean, I will purposely wait until an opportune time to step out when few, if any, people will notice.

I feel like if I’m gone too long and people saw me go to the restroom, they’ll know what I was doing. Upon my return, nobody would say anything, of course, but we would all know and maintain an uncomfortable awkward secret.

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Yesterday , 11:04 AM

cokeboy99

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,934

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Originally Posted by Dr. Meh

Altho i work from home now, I know exactly what you mean and approached the same way when I was in an office. I mean, everyone does it, so I don't know why it matters, but I do understand the feeling.

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Yesterday , 11:05 AM

cokeboy99

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,934

I always try to keep in mind the best exit or escape route. I don't obsess, just try to be situationally aware, especially in a new place. These days, something can happen anywhere and any time, so I just want to be prepared to get out as quickly and easily as possible in case of emergency.

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Yesterday , 11:36 AM

MSchu18

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 18,120

I do the opposite... I look for trouble, not alliances.
if there's trouble, I don't need some amateur mucking up my line of response.

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Yesterday , 11:42 AM

Dr. Meh

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,668

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSchu18

I do the opposite... I look for trouble, not alliances.
if there's trouble, I don't need some amateur mucking up my line of response.

Wait. You mean you look for potential bad actors with nefarious schemes? Because I do that, too. But then I look at my potential allies to help take him/her down if necessary.

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Yesterday , 11:44 AM

Dr. Meh

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,668

Quote:

Originally Posted by cokeboy99

I do this, too. And always sit facing the points of entry. I can’t stand having my back to a door.

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Yesterday , 12:08 PM

#10

wazz

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Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,828

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Originally Posted by Dr. Meh

Do you not have sufficient examples of those visual assumptions being wildly wrong that you have little faith in these immediate broad stroke guesses? Feels very weird to me

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Yesterday , 01:40 PM

#11

borg23

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Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 15,879

nope. i fly all of the time and this never even crossed my mind. the chances of a crash are as close to zero as you can get.

I do scope out the plane to see who brought a baby with them then I stare at these people and hope they explode before we board.

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Yesterday , 02:11 PM

#12

Dr. Meh

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,668

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazz

When on public transport and I see someone with a book and they're reading just the opening page or two I judge them and when they're almost at the end of a big book I judge them positively. Judge them even more positively if it's fiction by a foreign author

Do you not have sufficient examples of those visual assumptions being wildly wrong that you have little faith in these immediate broad stroke guesses? Feels very weird to me

Oh I’m certain my guesses are wrong.

Honestly, I think it’s probably more of a coping mechanism for me since I don’t particularly care for flying. Thinking we would actually survive a crash helps me focus on something more positive than thinking we would all die suddenly after what would possibly be several minutes of intense fear.

So rather than thinking about dying, it’s focusing on a potential future.

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Yesterday , 03:07 PM

#13

housenuts

1st Quartiled the 500

Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 51,675

Quote:

Originally Posted by cokeboy99

same

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Yesterday , 03:17 PM

#14

NickMPK

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Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,674

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Originally Posted by Dr. Meh

I'm not sure why you'd do this on a plane and not in other scenarios. Flying on a plane is safer than basically any other activity you can engage in. And in the extraordinarily unlikely event of a plane crash, you're almost certainly all dead no matter what you do.

This is completely different than something like a mass shooting, which is much more common in the US by several orders of magnitude. And also a situation in which your own actions are going to go much further in determining your fate.

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Yesterday , 03:24 PM

#15

wazz

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Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,828

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Meh

Ah, I see, thanks for explaining. Makes sense - so it's about control? You recognise you have very little real influence over the situation, so in order to feel more calm and in control, you rehearse unlikely scenarios in which you can have some influence. You're at the point of consciousness about your unconscious that you know you're not collecting this information in the expectation it will be of practical use, but rather it soothes you to know you've done what you can in advance. Does that sound right?

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Yesterday , 03:50 PM

#16

Playbig2000

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Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12,044

I just checked and over the United States alone there's currently 11,263 planes in the air, not counting all the ones who are on taxiways, runways and ramps. Statistically, air travel is by far the safest method of transportation.

My BIGGEST fear about airplanes though (especially when I used to fly every day) is the drive home from the airport. If I crash my car while driving on a highway, I'm done through finished completed over. That's why I make sure when I pass someone they're not texting or staring at their phone, and I also make sure I don't drive in a truck's blind spot for too long, but that's just me.

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Yesterday , 06:18 PM

#17

johnzimbo

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,777

I just try to figure out who looks closest to Indiana Jones

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Yesterday , 06:19 PM

#18

golddog

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Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 7,217

Kind of an interesting thread, Doc. Good basis for discussion.

I think I'm kind of like cokeboy, keeping aware of things but not obsessing.

One thing I do when available is sit left-of-center in a theater/plane/whatever. This cause I'm blind in the left eye, and I figure it will be easier for me to navigate in an emergency if most of the area is in my field of vision.

I also share borg's dislike of miniature humans on planes, but not to the extent displayed in his post. If it's SWA, I'm avoiding that area best I can.

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Yesterday , 06:40 PM

#19

bundy5

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Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 8,281

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Meh

Seems appropriate in a hijacking situation more than if the plane itself encounters mechanical issues.

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Yesterday , 08:25 PM

#20

Dr. Meh

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,668

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazz

Yes! I think that’s exactly right

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Yesterday , 08:28 PM

#21

Dr. Meh

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,668

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickMPK

I’m constantly prepared for shooting type situations, too. I’m pretty hyper-vigilant when I’m out and about on account of working with criminals all the time. The plane one is just unique and unusual mainly because of the lack of control, as Wazz pointed out.

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Yesterday , 08:32 PM

#22

Dr. Meh

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 3,668

Just thought of another thing I used to do.

As a kid, I would stand in the shower and let the water hit my back/shoulders. It would run down my arm and when I fanned my fingers, the water formed a stream off my fingertips. I pretended it was my superpower to shoot water from my fingers.

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Yesterday , 11:09 PM

#23

Tuma

Worships Amon-Ra

Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 16,761

I tend to shop near open or close because of the greatly lessened chances of a shooting.

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