In light of the throngs of people stuck in limbo in airports and train stations because of ash-related flight delays, John Dickerson of Slate.com is collecting submissions of airport delay personality types. He asserts there are at least 6 distinct personality types that emerge in annoying situations - the sardonic joker, the exasperated mother, the combative lawyer, etc.
Have you noticed a common type that emerges during annoying plane, train, or bus delays? Give us your best description of a personality type revealed in annoying situations. Write or call in with your personality type!
Comments [19]
Just listened on podcast....you forgot the nervous conspiracy theorist!! The person who suddenly is sure the delay is caused by a coup...a terrorist plot..an unfixable fault of engineering...or just the simple big government..big corporate...whatever conspiracy, and talks loudly to no one in particular about all aspects of safety and possible further calamities that may be about to happen while generally raising the tension and fear levels around them as you see people begin to stiffen and panic sets in
How about some of the Typical Corporate Airline Types? Why beat up on the passengers?
1) Lying Public Relations Hack?
2) The charge-extra-for-bags Airline Company?
3) The overpaid Airline CEO?
4) The $200-change-penalty-charging Airline CFO?
Why blame only the victims?
HJS....that first comment, hilarious! Talk about the arrogant American! LOL
I'm claustrophobic, but I've never freaked out. When I'm stuck on a plane or in the subway, I very calmly speak to someone near me. Tell them in an ultra-reasonable voice that I'm a claustrophobe and am near panic. That poor person!
How about the guy/girl that keeps approaching the desk every half hour....LOL
The improviser-
I've been stranded in airports all over the world. I can't tell you how many times I've used the opportunity to teach restless kids how to make simple origami models or invent new ones for myself. No piece of paper is safe! (Need suggestions--go to origamiusa.org
The "I've been everywhere..listen what happened to me when I was traveling to X" type
What about me... The put on the iPod and read a book guy. 'Cause he knows that if they could move you to your destination - they would.
The Conspiracy Theorist
The sleeper, the person who ignores what is going on and pretends it is not happening.
How about the guy who's had "MUCH WORSE" experiences and will tell you about each and every one.
"When I was travelling to Thailand back in '02..."
How about some of the Typical Corporate Airline Types? Why beat up on the passengers?
1) Lying Public Relations Hack?
2) The charge-extra-for-bags Airline Company?
3) The overpaid Airline CEO?
4) The $200-change-penalty-charging Airline CFO?
Why blame only the victims?
The American Express card guy aka the boob who gets your seat because their work place has over-paid for his/her ticket when the plane is too full or relaid, etc
The "do you know who I am, I can get you fired" person.
Finally, the best person, the slacker, college student who doesn't need to get home and could care less about anywhere, just as long as there is free wifi.
"I'm a celebrity, get me outta here!" That would be me.
what about the 'i think i'm smarter than everyone else' guy who labels others' personalities?
the "sudden expert on everything volcano and airplanes"
friendly gregarious southerners who don't travel often.
the serene jackass who missed his flight & has learned to accept it (me)
The jungle-gym kid: this category knows no age limit. I've seen grown ups tossing balls around, restlessly moving back and forth between cramped aisles full of baggage, calling out to their companions at outdoor-volume levels, jangling their keys and change in their pockets, rocking whole banks of chairs back and forth, etc... all to the annoyance of everyone around them. When kids do it, you can at least blame it on their age and be annoyed at their parents for not pointing out to them how they are annoying the already exasperated people around them. When adults do it, there's really no excuse and no one else to blame.
out of the country, I've only come across the ugly american in airports.
when in costa rica, recently, I heard a woman say "well they need to get someone here who speaks english to tell us what's going on" I just looked at my friend and laughed.
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