1. Karsten

   Hey,

   The bit about the airline incident on your show made me think. You know I’m a normal sized adult (i.e. not over weight) and the thing is I pay the same price for a ticket than someone that may weigh twice or three times my size…

   Now airlines fly on a weight economy which means each pound = money spent by fuel to move these pounds through the air. I think it would be fair if you paid by weight and not by person.

   If you send cargo you pay by weight (sometimes by volume), but usually by weight.

   Just weigh everyone, issue the ticket and your ready to go. Might help some people think about their lifestyle and get them to shave of some pounds so they can save on a flight

   Feb 19th, 2010

2. Scott

   That’s a slippery slope Karsten. You’re asking people to pay for things based on factors many people can’t control. You’re assuming that this works because it makes overweight people think twice abot their life. What about people that are perfectly heathly and are 6’5″ and weigh 220 or 250lbs? They should pay more than someone that is the same build but only 5’2″ and weighs 125lbs? Does that extra money spent get the bigger person a more room in their seat? After all, if you’re paying because of your size, shouldn’t you get more for your dollar? Also, what about someone with a wheelchair – that’s extra weight on the plane – more fuel. Do we charge them for the weight of their wheelchair?

   -S

   Feb 19th, 2010

3. Karsten

   You make a good point, still I’m not talking about making people feel bad about how much they weigh – just about the economics of flying. I’m not getting at the every day normal “person size”, but when we get back to your segment about having to take two seats to fly well that’s the point; isn’t it? It sure is a slippery slope- still look at the damn statistics how many people are overweight in this world. Come on you just can’t say that has to do with nature. (I’m not talking about “normal” overweight but the craziness you see all the time in this fast food nation-world…

   I am not saying that my idea is totally the way I view the way it should be; I’m just saying that wieght = fuel spent to get that weight through the air. And after all what we we are in the plane, in the end, is “Cargo”.

   And yes I agree If you pay more because you weigh more than you should get a bigger seat- I have no problem with an economy seat as long as the guy next to me isn’t “spilling over” into my space.

   I’m not evil or anything – just trying to take a “bigger” picture look at it

   And naturally a Wheelchair does not factor into my argument. Ofcourse that would be an exception.

   Cheers
   KJ

   Feb 21st, 2010

4. Mike

   I have to agree with Southwest, if he’s too fat then he should pay for extra. As a country we’re a bunch of fatasses, plain and simple.

   I’m 6′ 230 pounds, but I workout and go heavy so I am kind of a big guy, luckily my gut doesn’t spill over, but since I am wide I take up a lot of space. It’s my choice to be big, so if I’m crowding someone then I have to pay for an extra seat and I’m even not fat. It’s about taking personal responsibility for yourself.

   This is just a grave example of what is wrong with our country, we’re too accepting. I recently saw a Tweet that fits this situation, “Healthcare reform starts with getting off your ass and taking a walk.” If you’re too fat to fly go on a diet, don’t make others suffer for your problems.

   I know I come off as harsh, but I am so sick and tired of hearing people whine about being judged for being overweight. (Overweight meaning obese, not being a few pounds heavier than your BMI says you should be) Shouldn’t we be looking at this situation as an example of what is wrong with us? When the airplanes were designed we were smaller, the airplane design stayed the same we got bigger. As a society it is our responsibility to take care of ourselves, not expect the world to conform to fit increasing obesity.

   I’m sorry rambled and I hope I made sense, but it just truly pisses me off to hear someone whine about being too overweight when they’re too weak to fix it.

   Feb 23rd, 2010

5. Mike

   One more thing, I forgot to point out, I’m a HUGE Kevin Smith fan! I even enjoyed Jersey Girl.

   Lastly, I follow Kevin Smith on Twitter and I thought his comments were funny as hell. I also found it amusing how poorly Southwest handled this, even though they were right in my opinion, this was a PR nightmare for them. I just shows the power of social media!

   Feb 23rd, 2010

6. Robert

   Hi All,

   This is a good topic because of the relevance it has to not only the Kevin Smith v. Southwest issue but to the debate about weight/health/travel in general.

   1. I don’t think Kevin Smith used this as a way to get more pub for “A Couple of Dicks” or I mean “Cop Out”. He was just frustrated due to the embarrassment. I also agree that Southwest would NEVER in a million years have kicked him off if they knew who he was.

   2. I am also a big Kevin Smith fan but Jersey Girl was terrible.(Clerks for life)…

   3. I am also larger than average (6′ 0″, 240lbs., muscular and overweight). I agree with Karsten in the point that it costs airlines more to fly a person who is heavier, but going on Scott’s point, my ideal weight is 220lbs. due to my large build. I can’t really control that. Also, if airlines started charging based on weight it might be seen as racist considering that norms for height and weight vary by culture/race/ethnicity/locale.

   4. If the airline had made Kevin Smith buy two seats, why did they offer him one seat standby? Shouldn’t they have only allowed him to fly standby if two seats became available?

   5. What it comes down to is disrespect. This probably happens to many Americans on a daily basis, but Southwest just happened to make a mistake by doing it to a celebrity. Kevin Smith felt disrespected and wanted to vent about it. Also, as a person who is overweight and has overweight family members, I know that every overweight person, particularly those who are obese, knows that they need to loose weight. We get constant reminders from TV, Magazines, etc. Due to genetics, it is just plain harder for some people.

   6. If you want to make a societal change, start implementing laws about food and health information. Force EVERY restaurant to post nutritional info. If they are too embarrassed about their 2500 calorie dinners, then maybe they will change their menu…

   Feb 24th, 2010

7. Scott Parent

   Great point everyone.

   I want to highlight on something that Robert said in point #5 – I am overweight myself. I’ve battled it since I was a kid. Do I always eat run and exercise as much as I should? No, but it’s not as if it’s a surprise to me that I have weight to loose. Skinny people seem to think that if you tell people they are fat we’ll look at ourselves and go “huh, really? I’m fat?” We’ve been hearing it our whole lives, so embarrassing someone or “pointing it out to them” is just a shitty thing to do.

   Great discussion.

   -S

   Feb 24th, 2010

8. Erykah

   Tracy Morgan…not Jordan

   Feb 25th, 2010

9. Scott Parent

   @Erykah – Too much “30 Rock” creeping into my stream of consciousness.

   -S

   Feb 25th, 2010

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