The multi-talented Steve Allen coined the term ‘dumbth’ to cover his contention that Americans’ public discourse and poor decision-making shows that we are not operating with full decks. The term came readily to mind while reading the comments on CNN’s story about Kevin Smith, a fat director who was kicked off Southwest Airlines, although he’d bought two tickets, when the flight was full and they needed his second seat.
Some 527 persons commented on the article; many of these became entangled in other arguments such as whether noisy babies should be allowed to fly, Mr. Smith’s general character, advice to him or to the airline, or international relations. Regarding the latter, someone suggested that in Europe, Americans are recognized by the size of their bottoms, another reader retaliated by stating that in the U.S., Europeans are recognized by their body odor and ugly shoes.
I know that many overweight artists—and I assume that Mr. Smith is among them—feel that exuberant eating is at the core of their talent. Singers, for instance, may believe that huge bodies are more resonant. Although I think they are mistaken, it certainly is within their rights to eat as much of anything as they can afford, as long as that doesn’t negatively affect others. Being crowded by an obese neighbor on a cross-country flight is an adverse effect.
One solution to the problem of overweight row-mates: airlines could offer measurement devices similar to those used to determine whether luggage fits into overhead compartments. At the boarding gate, each passenger would do a quick sit and if they didn’t fit, would be asked to wait until the flight was loaded.
As Mr. Smith had apparently purchased two tickets ahead of time, I think the airline should have honored that. It might have been in its best interest to have previously made a flat policy stipulating that such tickets would only be honored when the flight was not full. But they can’t have it both ways; that would be ‘dumbth’ at its nth.
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