And I gotta say, the guy made my day.
The funny thing is, I was seated on this flight yesterday - JetBlue #1052, Pittsburgh to JFK - next to a lady who was scared to fly. At the outset, she pulled out a rosary and started praying (that’s not unusual, especially on a flight from Pittsburgh, which is a heavily Catholic city).
As we ascended, the turbulence was a bit more intense than typical, but nothing to be alarmed over. She was crossing herself and fidgeting, so I told her, “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve been flying multiple times a month all my life and this is normal.”
She thanked me, and we got to talking a bit. I told her the same thing– “it’s totally normal”– when we heard the bump of the wheels coming down prior to landing.
It was when we stood up to disembark - in those annoying moments when everyone is waiting to be released from the metal can we’ve been packed in together - that Steven Slater commandeered the p.a. system and issued his rant. I didn’t take notes so the following is not exact, but a paraphrase: “F— you! F— all of you! I’m f—— through with this! I’VE HAD IT! I’ve been doing this for 28 f—— years and I can’t take it anymore. And for the f—– a—–who told me to f— off: f— you! That’s it! I’m done! F— you all!”
At that point the older Catholic lady looked back at me and crossed herself, and I told her, “No, that is not normal.”
College students sitting nearby were laughing. One of them mentioned that a flight attendant had been bleeding and speculated that that might be “the guy” who’d just engaged in the rant.
I missed Slater’s inflation of the emergency chute, and didn’t know until I woke up this morning about his racing home to Belle Harbor, Queens in his silver Jeep Wrangler and hopping into bed with his boyfriend (leave it to the great New York Post to get those wonderful details).
Overall, it got me to thinking: in a way it’s a shame things like this don’t happen more often. Let me explain: in an age when, for good reason, authorities are constantly on the alert for terrorists and mass shooters, when any highway altercation, we are warned, can escalate into a gunfight, when eighty-year-old women are forced the relinquish their knitting needles and nursing mothers their bottles of milk at airport screening because of dread of legitimate–and vicious–acts of brutality, we all must restrain ourselves and behave obediently. Current mores leave no room, no outlet, for the venting of frustrations, or for freewheeling, spontaneous behavior of any kind.
No one who would engage in deliberate violence against another person is doing so because of petty frustrations; obviously, something deeper is askew in such an individual. But what about the rest of us? The “normal” decent people who feel fed up with the lack of civility, the many little humiliations, of everyday life? People who would never dream of doing anything violent, and who–because of the actions of a few truly evil people–are prevented from expressing normal frustrations, normal anger, out of (often justified) fear that someone might “go crazy,” show up packing a gun, etc.? Sometimes we need to get in someone’s face and tell that jerk to f— off. Likewise, sometimes people just need to get out of a situation, to take an escape, when doing so does not harm anyone else.
Sometimes, in other words, people need to rip off their masks of social nicety and express feelings that are normal.
I did not feel in any way threatened by Steven Slater’s rant, and I didn’t take it personally. I was not insulted by it, but amused. I’d rather hear a flight attendant relate to me as a human being “F— you all” than be on the receiving end of phony, passive aggressive politeness. So “F— you, too, Steven Slater, you lucky Motherf—–! Hope you get a book deal out of this!
All that said, I’m glad Slater wasn’t the pilot.
12 Comments
I heard the last few seconds of your comments on CNN and had to read the blog. I absolutely loved the way you wrote the story. This from a fellow journalist.
Great reporting, hope you get an anchor job soon
I really enjoyed your appearance on Anderson Cooper’s show. Great getting your perspective.
Bravo!! I concur! As a Flight Attendant myself, I am experiencing Steven Slater’s actions with a vicarious sense of victory. Your observations were also a breath of fresh air. I am weary of acting phony and passive aggressive. I have told myself through gritted teeth when faced with similiar frustrations “this is only a role I am playing - straight from Stepford”. Here’s to authenticity! Team Slater!!
As this country’s First Black Flight Attendant, I want to say I appreciated your treatment of Slater - with the exception of your retort repeating his unfortunate use of the expletives; that made your article a little too flip for my taste and contradicted the seriousness of the untoward spectacle. I too feel sorry for Slater - the stress obviously got to him…I understand his angst and am glad his actions didn’t cause the passengers any danger.
Heather,
I saw your interview and unfortunately you are not the only person that expressed your acceptance, if you will with this moron disrespecting customers, stealing from his employer and causing additional expenses for his employer.
We never hear what occurred that caused him to pull this stunt so we have no idea if it was justified or not. I’m willing to bet that regardless what the reason was, I’m sure the airline does not consider it justified!
I hate that all these social misfits of society that pull crap like this get glorified by the media and wind up with their own show!
Does anybody know the difference between right and wrong anymore?
Your ability to see the humor in the situation drove me to your website & made it a pleasure to read your story. The poor soul sitting by you seemed so fitting for your rendering of the story. I agree with the prior comment, you have an excellent presence on the screen, hope you look for an on air reporting gig.
I suppose if I’d been on that plane, I’d be laughing it off, too: no harm, no foul, and the guys got some problems. On the other hand, I’m sick of people dropping f-bombs in public. We live in a society that celebrates self-expression without much limitation. This guy’s folk-hero status is evidence of that. So, I don’t really agree that “Current mores leave no room, no outlet, for the venting of frustrations, or for freewheeling, spontaneous behavior of any kind.” The fact that this guy lost it and vented his rage and frustration by dropping f-bombs over an intercom, stealing some beer, and improperly deploying the escape chute says volumes about him and little about society. He’s the one with the problem not the rest of us. Whatever frustration he felt at some rude passengers doesn’t justify his venting at all the passengers, including those who may have treated him nicely. Personally, I’d much rather strangers treat me with insincere politeness than sincere rage, and I’m happy to return the favor.
I really enjoyed your appearance on the Joy Behar show and CNN’s Anderson Cooper. You are such a gifted writer but also a real natural for TV. I am waiting for the Heather Robinson TV show…for real. You have the gift.
This story is HILARIOUS! I hate that this guy had to hit the wall like that but I love the message that he is giving to all of those obnoxious customers not only on planes but in every service industry. The customer is NOT always right!
I also enjoyed your recounting of Steven Slater’s meltdown on Anderson Cooper last night. Part of me says “right on, Steve” as I know how abused people in the service industry can be. However, I do wish he’d been even more creative in leaving his job - much like the young woman Jenny who used a 32 picture series of phrases on a dry erase board, mass e-mailed to her co-workers and boss, to quit. Now there’s a story to pursue. Check out you-tube or facebook.
I really do like your reporting. Keep up the good work.
As a flight attendant with 40 years on the job, I certainly can imagine what frustrations Steve might have been feeling. The deregulated (the libs did that to us!) industry has reduced our passengers from civilized people to “the bus trade” because cheap fares is what people want, so uncivilized passengers is what we get. Those passengers are in the minority, but make life difficult for flight attendants.
It’s too bad that Steve hadn’t faced his anger problem in an adult way before blowing up and using the “f” word in such a public way. What on earth was eating him that led him to pop the slide and exit so dramatically? Now he’s in big trouble, and deservedly so; still, he’s a hero to all of us who have put up with years of abuse from uncivilized passengers.
Dave’s comment made many good points.
Loved your article, Ms. Robinson! Write on!
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