930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: James Ford on February 16, 2010, 10:52:41 am
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Shouldn't there also be a rule against those ugly glasses?
Kevin Smith fuels row over "fat" plane passengers
Wed, Jan 20 2010LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Film director Kevin Smith has reignited a heated debate about airlines' treatment of overweight passengers after being thrown off a flight for being too large to fit in one seat.
An angry tirade posted on his Twitter page about the way he was treated by Southwest Airlines last weekend has fueled a wave of protests from some angry passengers while other travelers have stood by the airline's decision.
"If you look like me, you may be ejected from Southwest Air," wrote Smith, posting a photograph of himself on the plane, puffing out his cheeks.
Smith, director of the new Bruce Willis movie "Cop Out" as well as "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy," said a Southwest Airlines pilot ejected him off a flight from Oakland to Burbank, California because the pilot believed Smith didn't fit properly into just one seat and was a "safety risk."
"I'm way fat... But I'm not THERE just yet," he wrote.
Smith said he had actually booked and paid for two seats on a later flight but moved to an earlier flight as a standby passenger that only had one seat available.
His posting prompted a barrage of angry responses from other disgruntled customers, adding to an ongoing debate over the treatment of overweight customers by airlines and whether they should have to pay for two seats.
Air France found itself at the center of this heated debate last month after it was misreported that the airline was planning an extra charge for passengers unable to fit into a single seat. Air France has, since 2005, offered overweight passengers the option to buy a second seat at a 25 percent discount.
Southwest Airlines says its policy requires travelers to be able to fit safely and comfortably in one seat and be able to lower their armrests or buy a second seat.
United Airlines also has this policy and both airlines have a policy that overweight passengers can claim a refund on the second seat if the plane is not full. These policies were introduced after complaints from neighboring passengers.
But after a barrage of angry comments from Smith and other passengers, Southwest Airlines apologized to Smith by phone, on its own Twitter account and in a statement on its website.
The airline said it was unusual for it to be so public in handling such matters but decided this case was different because so many people were involved.
"We would like to echo our Tweets and again offer our heartfelt apologies to you," said the airline.
The airline said it put Smith on a later flight and gave him a $100 voucher for his inconvenience.
But not all of the comments supported Smith. Other people sided with the airline.
"Being heavy is not something to be proud about. I wish more companies would not tolerate the lifestyle of fatness!" read one comment on Smith's Twitter account.
Crisis management consultant David Margulies from the Marguiles Communications Group questioned whether the airline was being too polite by apologizing to Smith when its policy was both fair and reasonable.
He said too many companies backed down from reasonable policies because they are scared of negative publicity, in this case especially after Smith's online anger.
"Southwest has taken a very reasonable and fair approach to dealing with the issue of overweight customers and should be applauded for their actions," Margulies said in a statement.
(http://scribblednoise.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/kevin_smith_2132427.jpg)
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The airline said it was unusual for it to be so public in handling such matters but decided this case was different because so many people were involved.
"...so many people..."? Is this the airline's way of saying Smith is the size of multiple persons? Nicely done!
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At the risk of sounding a little Julian's America ( the thrift minded James Ford having no problem flying Southwest Airlines myself), the fact that he's flying on Southwest at all is pretty indicative of where Smith's career is at.
Fat and a smoker, he'll probably be dead before he's 50.
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Clearly, somebody had yesterday off....
http://www.930.com/forum/index.php?topic=11125.msg299436#msg299436
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the fact that he's flying on Southwest at all is pretty indicative of where Smith's career is at.
he does have a new movie coming out this month, though
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the fact that he's flying on Southwest at all is pretty indicative of where Smith's career is at.
he does have a new movie coming out this month, though
And from the trailers, it looks like typical multiplex fodder. How desperate is he for a hit?
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it looks like typical multiplex fodder.
Come on? A white cop and a black cop team up for some silly humor with racial overtones? Name 25 movies with that kind of setup - I bet you can only get to like 21.
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it looks like typical multiplex fodder.
Come on? A white cop and a black cop team up for some silly humor with racial overtones? Name 25 movies with that kind of setup - I bet you can only get to like 21.
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon 2
Lethal Weapon 3
Lethal Weapon 4
48 Hours
Another 48 Hours
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop 2
Rush Hour
Rush Hour 2
Miami Vice
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Does Cop and ½ count?
it looks like typical multiplex fodder.
Come on? A white cop and a black cop team up for some silly humor with racial overtones? Name 25 movies with that kind of setup - I bet you can only get to like 21.
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon 2
Lethal Weapon 3
Lethal Weapon 4
48 Hours
Another 48 Hours
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop 2
Rush Hour
Rush Hour 2
Miami Vice
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Does Cop and ½ count?
Absolutely.
I'll add:
Running Scared
The Last Boy Scout
2 of the 4 Die Hards
Nothing to Lose
Bad Company
Half Past Dead
I-Spy
And...
Colors.
Did Sherriff Bart have a white deputy?
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I was yammering in the other thread, sorry if I took it off course. Just posted there that he's speaking at 6&I on 4/22.
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it looks like typical multiplex fodder.
Come on? A white cop and a black cop team up for some silly humor with racial overtones? Name 25 movies with that kind of setup - I bet you can only get to like 21.
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon 2
Lethal Weapon 3
Lethal Weapon 4
48 Hours
Another 48 Hours
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop 2
Rush Hour
Rush Hour 2
Miami Vice
I don't think Jackie Chan counts as a white guy re: Rush Hours...
-The new Miami Vice (unless he was refering to the new one, in which case the old Miami Vice)
-Men in Black
-Men in Black 2: Men in Blacker
-48 Hours
-Another 48 Hours
-Double Team
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I don't think Jackie Chan counts as a white guy
THAT'S RACIST!!
No but seriously, I was talking with someone about this earlier today: when I was a kid (like 6-16) I would call anyone who wasn't African-American, "white." Hispanics, asians, native americans -- all white in my opinion. Now, looking back, IDK if that was EXTREMELY racist or very un-racist; people have different opinions when I tell them that. What do you think?
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don't forget National Security! (with Martin Lawrence)
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And Blue Streak!
don't forget National Security! (with Martin Lawrence)
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(http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/kevin-smith-the-simpsons-movie-premiere-arrivals-0a0Uys.jpg)
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(http://cache-03.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/1/2008/11/Rogen_Kevin_Fat_Guys.flv.jpg)
glad i'm not the only one that's kind of fascinated by this
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(http://www.hotindienews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/kevinsmith1-200x300.jpg)
so I guess the jorts are gonna end up being the sweatpants gateway for ol' silent blob
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(http://images.starpulse.com/pictures/2008/11/03/previews/Kevin%20Smith,%20wife%20Jennifer%20and%20daughter%20-ALO-030708.jpg)
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http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/obese_filmmaker_booted_from_flight?utm_source=onion_rss_daily
Obese Filmmaker Booted From Flight
Kevin Smith, director of such films as Clerks and Clerks II was ejected from a Southwest Airlines flight this weekend because of pilot concerns over his weight. What do you think?
Old Man
Johan Malinder,
Liaison Officer
"I feel sorry for all the passengers who missed out on a 40-minute monologue exploring Star Wars and oral sex."
Young Woman
Karen Kirk,
Aircraft Appraiser
"What does it say about your directorial career that your tweets are far more compelling, suspenseful, and emotionally honest than your recent movies?"
Asian Man
Thad Watson,
Unemployed
"Hugely obese and flying Southwest? Yikes, sounds like Kevin Smith's career is exactly where it should be."
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but kevin smith is hip and cool in many circles and likes comics books, video games, plus being nice to his fans. doesn't that count for something in today's "fuck you, i'm famous" society?
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but kevin smith is hip and cool in many circles and likes comics books, video games, plus being nice to his fans. doesn't that count for something in today's "fuck you, i'm famous" society?
Putting "hip" and "cool" in the same sentence as "comic books" and "video games" is like putting "hip" and "cool" in the same sentence as "government worker" and "alt-country".
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Thad Watson,
Unemployed
"Hugely obese and flying Southwest? Yikes, sounds like Kevin Smith's career is exactly where it should be."
to be fair things are looking up. he just got a $100 voucher
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but kevin smith is hip and cool in many circles and likes comics books, video games, plus being nice to his fans. doesn't that count for something in today's "fuck you, i'm famous" society?
Putting "hip" and "cool" in the same sentence as "comic books" and "video games" is like putting "hip" and "cool" in the same sentence as "government worker" and "alt-country".
everything does depend on how you roll. i know plenty of "cool" government workers.
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Putting "hip" and "cool" in the same sentence as "comic books" and "video games" is like putting "hip" and "cool" in the same sentence as "government worker" and "alt-country".
self-deprecating humor POTW.
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but kevin smith is hip and cool in many circles and likes comics books, video games, plus being nice to his fans. doesn't that count for something in today's "fuck you, i'm famous" society?
Putting "hip" and "cool" in the same sentence as "comic books" and "video games" is like putting "hip" and "cool" in the same sentence as "government worker" and "alt-country".
everything does depend on how you roll. i know plenty of "cool" government workers.
tell us, how do they "roll"? ;)
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(http://www.hotindienews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/kevinsmith1-200x300.jpg)
so I guess the jorts are gonna end up being the sweatpants gateway for ol' silent blob
Smith calls them "pillow pants". Julian is going to cringe at this fashion faux pas.
(http://www.screenhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/kevin-smith-pillowpants.GIF)