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I was on a plane the other day sitting in the first row of economy. It was nice because I could fully stretch out my legs, as well as not have to climb over the stranger next to me when I had to go to the restroom. I enjoyed my single beverage served by the airline and took down all the granola bars and fruit in my bag within the first hour of the six and half duration.

After I couldn’t find a song I liked on my iPod and couldn’t find a position that let me sleep, I defaulted to watching the movie playing on the 8” community TV above the aisle. It was some chick-flick that I wouldn’t have dared watch anywhere below 3,000 feet. But it was entertainment, and although I wouldn’t have admitted it to anyone at the time, I kind of even liked it.

So in the mist of me minding my own business and enjoying the movie, a gentleman gets up to use the restroom. He wasn’t the first one to get up by any means, but the first for me to take note of. He kindly pulls on the handle of the door to see if it is being occupied to find it locked (yes, he missed the big light up sign on the side that clearly pictured he’d have to wait, as well as bypassing the courteous knock).

But this wasn’t what got me. It wasn’t until after these series of events did the man take a step back and watch the movie above his head.. and for anyone in the eight rows behind him, his head appeared right smack in front of the screen. Yes, somewhere between getting up from his seat and not getting into the restroom this person had become oblivious to the fact that there might be someone on the plane actually watching the movie.

Maybe I hold people to too high of a standard these days. Maybe people are supposed to just be in society, and not live within it. But for the other people whom are affected by such ignorance, I get a little angered. This isn’t the first occasion and definitely not the last where I’ll see such happenings unfold. They aren’t, by any means, something we should ponder too much about, in consideration of the scale of the other issues we need to worry about in this day and age. It is, however, something that I think all people need to consider, on a personal level. Call it “social awareness” if you will. Be aware of the environment around you, and have appropriate actions to match. I hope that’s not too much to ask.

comments/questions: jasonkoontz4@gmail.com