A recent incident on a cross-country flight has sparked a debate over passenger rights and etiquette after a plus-size woman was criticized for refusing to surrender her second airplane seat to a toddler.
While some sympathize with her insistence on keeping the additional seat she had paid for, others believe it was a matter of inconvenience.
The 34-year-old woman had initially booked two seats for her journey, citing previous discomfort when attempting to fit into a single seat due to her weight. Her plans took an unexpected turn when a young mother requested that she “squeeze into one seat” so her son could occupy the other.
On a Reddit post, the woman openly acknowledged her weight, saying: “I am obese. I’m actively working toward losing weight, and I’ve made progress – but I booked an extra seat because I’m fat.”
She went on to describe how the situation escalated: “[The mother] made a big fuss over it, and she told the flight attendant I was stealing the seat from her son. Then I showed her my boarding passes, proving that I paid for the extra seat. The flight attendant asked me if I could try to squeeze in, but I said no, that I wanted the extra seat I paid for.”
The woman argues that the toddler – at just 18 months old – was not required to have his own seat and could have sat on his mother’s lap for the duration of the flight. “The mom was hoping for some respite from a squirmy toddler,” she wrote.
The woman’s post divided social media users. Credit: Stefan Tomic / Getty
Passengers on the flight witnessed the tension, with the woman apparently receiving “dirty looks” and enduring “passive-aggressive remarks” throughout the journey.
She then asked the people of Reddit: “I do feel a little bad because the boy looked hard to control – but am I in the wrong?”
Responses to the incident have been mixed. While some passengers slammed the mother and the flight attendant for their behavior, criticizing the lack of planning and entitlement, others faulted the obese passenger for causing discomfort to fellow travelers.
One critic argued, “If you are so fat that you have to have more than one seat on an airplane, then you are selfish,” adding, “Flights overbook all the time, especially during the holidays – how can you justify having two seats to yourself?”
Credit: Karl Tapales / Getty
On the other hand, supporters of the woman’s decision questioned the purpose of booking an extra seat if passengers are expected to relinquish it. They argued that passengers should not be forced to yield seats they have paid for.
“The mom is an a**hole for not buying a seat for her son and assuming someone else would give up a seat they paid for,” one person commented. “Odds are she was hoping there’d be extra seats on the flight so she didn’t have to pay and used the lap thing as a loophole.”
A second supporter wrote: “People buy entire seats for high-end musical equipment. Not even people. Their lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on your part.”
And one confused social media user commented: “What’s even the point of the extra seat if the flight attendants are going to let entitled people bully others into giving it up?”
The incident raises questions about the balance between accommodating passengers with additional needs and ensuring a comfortable and fair experience for all travelers. But who do you think is in the wrong? Let us know in the comments.
Featured image credit: Stefan Tomic / Getty
September 25, 24
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Plus-size passenger divides social media after refusing to give the extra seat she paid for to a toddler
By stefan armitage
A recent incident on a cross-country flight has sparked a debate over passenger rights and etiquette after a plus-size woman was criticized for refusing to surrender her second airplane seat to a toddler.
While some sympathize with her insistence on keeping the additional seat she had paid for, others believe it was a matter of inconvenience.
The 34-year-old woman had initially booked two seats for her journey, citing previous discomfort when attempting to fit into a single seat due to her weight. Her plans took an unexpected turn when a young mother requested that she “squeeze into one seat” so her son could occupy the other.
On a Reddit post, the woman openly acknowledged her weight, saying: “I am obese. I’m actively working toward losing weight, and I’ve made progress – but I booked an extra seat because I’m fat.”
She went on to describe how the situation escalated: “[The mother] made a big fuss over it, and she told the flight attendant I was stealing the seat from her son. Then I showed her my boarding passes, proving that I paid for the extra seat. The flight attendant asked me if I could try to squeeze in, but I said no, that I wanted the extra seat I paid for.”
The woman argues that the toddler – at just 18 months old – was not required to have his own seat and could have sat on his mother’s lap for the duration of the flight. “The mom was hoping for some respite from a squirmy toddler,” she wrote.
The woman’s post divided social media users. Credit: Stefan Tomic / Getty
Passengers on the flight witnessed the tension, with the woman apparently receiving “dirty looks” and enduring “passive-aggressive remarks” throughout the journey.
She then asked the people of Reddit: “I do feel a little bad because the boy looked hard to control – but am I in the wrong?”
Responses to the incident have been mixed. While some passengers slammed the mother and the flight attendant for their behavior, criticizing the lack of planning and entitlement, others faulted the obese passenger for causing discomfort to fellow travelers.
One critic argued, “If you are so fat that you have to have more than one seat on an airplane, then you are selfish,” adding, “Flights overbook all the time, especially during the holidays – how can you justify having two seats to yourself?”
Credit: Karl Tapales / Getty
On the other hand, supporters of the woman’s decision questioned the purpose of booking an extra seat if passengers are expected to relinquish it. They argued that passengers should not be forced to yield seats they have paid for.
“The mom is an a**hole for not buying a seat for her son and assuming someone else would give up a seat they paid for,” one person commented. “Odds are she was hoping there’d be extra seats on the flight so she didn’t have to pay and used the lap thing as a loophole.”
A second supporter wrote: “People buy entire seats for high-end musical equipment. Not even people. Their lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on your part.”
And one confused social media user commented: “What’s even the point of the extra seat if the flight attendants are going to let entitled people bully others into giving it up?”
The incident raises questions about the balance between accommodating passengers with additional needs and ensuring a comfortable and fair experience for all travelers. But who do you think is in the wrong? Let us know in the comments.
Featured image credit: Stefan Tomic / Getty
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Woman left in tears after finding out the real meaning of tattoo she got in Fiji
By Michelle H
A woman broke down in tears after she realized the true meaning of the tattoo she got while on vacation.
Traveling to a foreign country filled with new experiences and unfamiliar cultures can be exciting – until it leads to a decision you might later regret.
This is exactly what happened to a social media influencer, who went viral after sharing a tearful video about her new tattoo.
When getting a tattoo in a language you don’t understand, the importance of knowing its meaning cannot be overstated.
Tattoos are permanent and often deeply personal, so a misunderstanding can lead to unintended embarrassment or regret. This is especially true when the tattoo is in a foreign language or uses symbols unfamiliar to the wearer.
What might seem like a meaningful phrase could translate incorrectly, lose cultural context, or even have an offensive meaning in the language of origin.
For example, people often choose Chinese characters, Sanskrit, or Latin phrases because they find the script visually appealing, but they might not fully grasp the nuances of the language.
Mistranslations are common and have led to tattoos meaning something entirely different than intended. Some characters or phrases may even be misspelled or used incorrectly, which can drastically change the meaning.
In many cases, people rely on online translations or untrustworthy sources, leading to errors. As a result, it’s crucial to do thorough research or consult native speakers or language experts to avoid mishaps.
Ultimately, tattoos are lifelong commitments, and it’s essential to ensure the message you’re carrying permanently is what you truly want to express.
This concept reflects a broader lesson in cultural respect and personal responsibility, as language and symbols hold significant weight within their native cultures.
However, one Australian TikToker seemed to miss all that.
Amy Dickinson, who has over 95,000 followers, posted a video in distress, asking for help to translate the tattoo she got in Fiji.
“I didn’t know that Fijians could be so mean, because now I’ve got a tattoo and I don’t even know what it means,” she said.
She then flipped the camera to reveal the tattoo and asked: “Okay, this is my tattoo. What does that even mean?”
The tattoo, which read “Matanivola Levu,” was located on her upper thigh—thankfully hidden from most people’s view.
She attributed her mistake to her spontaneous personality and later jokingly referred to it as being “so brat coded” in a follow-up TikTok.
Thanks to her followers, she eventually discovered the true meaning behind the ink.
One user explained, “That’s ‘capital letter’ in Fijian.”
And yes, Google Translate backed this up.
Another follower humorously pointed out: “That’s actually hilarious—it says ‘capital letters’ but it’s written in lowercase.”
Yet, some suggested an alternate meaning. One comment noted, “‘Big Book’ in Fijian can mean you have many stories to tell, which could imply you’ve had many adventures.”
Another echoed this, saying: “Matanivola Levu means you are like a big book, full of stories to share. It’s nothing bad, don’t worry.”
With some people questioning if the tattoo was even real, Amy posted another video, confirming it was permanent by lifting her shorts to reveal the words.
The moral of the story? Always understand what you’re committing to when it comes to permanent ink.
