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Comment by Maximus9000 | Hacker News Reader

The unwritten rule is that "the middle seat sucks, they get both middle armrests". Sadly, not everyone knows that rule.

> "The seat you paid for has borders. Middle-seat elbow ownership ends on the armrests (you’re entitled to both)"

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/article-a-parent...

Most planes I fly on, the middle seat is not wide enough for them to do anything else. Three full-sized males sitting next to each other will be physically touching shoulders.

For real. I always think of this bit[1] while I'm riding in the middle.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFx1Cpxpx1E

Great bit!

Didn't know this was a thing, I feel bad now. I've probably taken someone's armrest before who sat in the middle. :(

That was a great read. Thanks!

Whoever takes the armrest first gets priority. It may cause your lifetime happiness to have a little more volatility but since everyone has the same random chance of getting the middle seat, still fair.

If you think getting the middle seat is random chance I’ve got news for you.

To whomever can take AND hold the armrest go the spoils of victory. What care I for plaintive cries of "fairness" when nature provided me the means to take the armrest I deserve from less capable arms?

That's why I always begin a flight by bludgeoning my neighbor into unconsciousness.

I personally smear my own feces on the armrests, having come prepared with plastic arm sleeves so that it doesn't get on me.

Please don't do this here.

Sorry, won't happen again.

I bet you get a lot of crotch in the face for your actions. Hot, seething, sweaty crotch from every person in the middle seat. The reason people choose civility is that eventually everyone benefits. Lack of civility immediately makes it worse for everyone. People in planes are already miserable, no reason to make it worse unless you enjoy causing others misery, which says more about you than anyone else.

Your chances of getting the middle seat go up as the other seats are taken, meaning that a lot of the people in the middle seats are people who had to book that ticket on short notice: death in the family, emergency business trip, other flight got canceled, etc.

The airline's already got "being crappy to the person who's having a crappy day" covered. Don't be the human embodiment of an airline.

I flew in a lot of middle seats and it’s because I was a young unattached guy booking last minute trips at high prices.

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