6 ms·

As a tall guy, I find that my knees are at most a couple of inches from the seat in front. When the person in front of me reclines and their chair hits my knees

by CHY872 11y ago

As a tall guy, I find that my knees are at most a couple of inches from the seat in front. When the person in front of me reclines and their chair hits my knees, it's clear that I'll be uncomfortable for the entire remainder of the flight. I don't recline; I judge people who do it in front of me as selfish, and I don't want to be hypocritical.

bemmu 11y ago
Don't suffer in silence, ask the person behind you. At least for me it makes no difference if the person in front reclines or not. Biggest effect is that I get to have the entertainment system a bit nearer to me. On the other hand, I suspect most people would be too nice to give a truthful answer even if they dislike it..
nemesisj 11y ago
"tall guy" is a qualitative statement, not quantitative. I'm 6'4". My knees always touch the seat in front of me - reclining helps me angle my legs a bit more so I have a few more positions for my legs, particularly on 8+ hour flights, which I often take. It also helps my back hurt less, and often means a significant difference (>1 hour more) in the amount of sleep I get on a flight. I'm not sure why using the seat as it's meant (particularly in response to someone else using the seat in the same way in front of you) is perceived as selfish. Granted, I often purchase Economy Comfort/Plus/Premier seats on redeye flights of more than 6 hours, but sometimes it's not an option.
- antihero 11y ago
  So there are two 6'4" guys sitting one in front of each other. The one in front reclines, putting the one behind in more discomfort. They are prioritising their own comfort over the person behind. This is like, the definition of selfish, unless the person behind is short enough for it to have no discernible effect (so likely under 5'10 or so).
- dzhiurgis 11y ago
  6'2" and reclined or not, flights are awful torture to me. There are no positions that my legs or shoulders wouldn't be in discomfort.
- Sephiroth87 11y ago
  I'm 6'4" as well, and it really sucks that I should have to pay just to fit my legs in the seat, let alone be comfortable...
  - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
    Come on, you have to buy longer jeans, and extra-long-sleeved shirts, and probably bigger shoes. They all cost more. And given society's worshipping of tall people, it can't really suck. Not buying it; no sympathy from me.
    - Sephiroth87 11y ago
      I'm not sure if you're joking or not, or what kind of shops you frequent, but I never had to pay any extra because my jeans were longer...
      - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
        If you can find them at all. Not on the discount rack for sure. I end up having to buy them wherever I can find them, often at a ridiculous price.
rfergie 11y ago
Likewise. I'm 2.04m and I never recline without asking. I expect the same courtesy from those sitting in front of me
- lawnchair_larry 11y ago
  I'm not sure that asking actually makes it any better. Has anyone ever said no?
  - rfergie 11y ago
    About half say no in my experience. But I'm not sure it really is about the yes/no answer - it is more a display of courtesy to someone whom you are about to cause discomfort
    - darklajid 11y ago
      Let me play the devil's advocate: If you're convinced that this WILL cause discomfort, why are you asking people - which very well might be too polite/afraid/distracted to decline - if you can do that? Aren't you, based on your very own impression and description of reclining, asking people if you can slap them every 10min for the rest of the flight? (I dislike flying in general, and I never had to take a flight longer than 4.5 hours. I couldn't care less about the argument, but would probably lean towards the 'So my chair can be set back. I guess I use it as intended' position)
      - dragonwriter 11y ago
        > Aren't you, based on your very own impression and description of reclining, asking people if you can slap them every 10min for the rest of the flight? A slap with consent may be weird, but a slap without consent is battery. So, if one accepts your slap analogy, there's a good reason to ask consent.
        darklajid 11y ago
        That's twisting the idea quite a bit. For me there is no analogy or issue. Ignoring the 'I think flights are crap in general' base line: My seat. I recline it or not, but that's my decision. I would have a harder time to recline it, if I'd be convinced that this is in some way 'hard' on the one behind me. But IF I were convinced that this was 'hard' for the person behind me, I'd not ask them for consent. A) They say "Please don't recline". Hah! I'm right! And I'm a great person for asking, and now not reclining my seat. Go me. B) They say "Enjoy" B1) Hmm. I am convinced that this reclining thing is bad for people in the seats behind the person in question. They agreed, but unless I'm wrong I'm now making their life miserable. But yeah - they're fine with it? B2) Interesting. Maybe reclining isn't that bad? I should reflect and think about whether my 'reclining is bad and torture' idea is sensible.
loco5niner 11y ago
I'm only medium-tall (6' 1") and it doesn't bother me that I have to be a little uncomfortable and change positions every once in a while. I'm actually more uncomfortable when I don't recline because then I have fewer positions to change to.

by CHY872 11y ago

bemmu 11y ago

Don't suffer in silence, ask the person behind you. At least for me it makes no difference if the person in front reclines or not. Biggest effect is that I get to have the entertainment system a bit nearer to me. On the other hand, I suspect most people would be too nice to give a truthful answer even if they dislike it..

nemesisj 11y ago

"tall guy" is a qualitative statement, not quantitative. I'm 6'4". My knees always touch the seat in front of me - reclining helps me angle my legs a bit more so I have a few more positions for my legs, particularly on 8+ hour flights, which I often take. It also helps my back hurt less, and often means a significant difference (>1 hour more) in the amount of sleep I get on a flight. I'm not sure why using the seat as it's meant (particularly in response to someone else using the seat in the same way in front of you) is perceived as selfish. Granted, I often purchase Economy Comfort/Plus/Premier seats on redeye flights of more than 6 hours, but sometimes it's not an option.

antihero 11y ago
So there are two 6'4" guys sitting one in front of each other. The one in front reclines, putting the one behind in more discomfort. They are prioritising their own comfort over the person behind. This is like, the definition of selfish, unless the person behind is short enough for it to have no discernible effect (so likely under 5'10 or so).
dzhiurgis 11y ago
6'2" and reclined or not, flights are awful torture to me. There are no positions that my legs or shoulders wouldn't be in discomfort.
Sephiroth87 11y ago
I'm 6'4" as well, and it really sucks that I should have to pay just to fit my legs in the seat, let alone be comfortable...
- JoeAltmaier 11y ago
  Come on, you have to buy longer jeans, and extra-long-sleeved shirts, and probably bigger shoes. They all cost more. And given society's worshipping of tall people, it can't really suck. Not buying it; no sympathy from me.
  - Sephiroth87 11y ago
    I'm not sure if you're joking or not, or what kind of shops you frequent, but I never had to pay any extra because my jeans were longer...
    - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
      If you can find them at all. Not on the discount rack for sure. I end up having to buy them wherever I can find them, often at a ridiculous price.

rfergie 11y ago

Likewise. I'm 2.04m and I never recline without asking. I expect the same courtesy from those sitting in front of me

lawnchair_larry 11y ago
I'm not sure that asking actually makes it any better. Has anyone ever said no?
- rfergie 11y ago
  About half say no in my experience. But I'm not sure it really is about the yes/no answer - it is more a display of courtesy to someone whom you are about to cause discomfort
  - darklajid 11y ago
    Let me play the devil's advocate: If you're convinced that this WILL cause discomfort, why are you asking people - which very well might be too polite/afraid/distracted to decline - if you can do that? Aren't you, based on your very own impression and description of reclining, asking people if you can slap them every 10min for the rest of the flight? (I dislike flying in general, and I never had to take a flight longer than 4.5 hours. I couldn't care less about the argument, but would probably lean towards the 'So my chair can be set back. I guess I use it as intended' position)
    - dragonwriter 11y ago
      > Aren't you, based on your very own impression and description of reclining, asking people if you can slap them every 10min for the rest of the flight? A slap with consent may be weird, but a slap without consent is battery. So, if one accepts your slap analogy, there's a good reason to ask consent.
      - darklajid 11y ago
        That's twisting the idea quite a bit. For me there is no analogy or issue. Ignoring the 'I think flights are crap in general' base line: My seat. I recline it or not, but that's my decision. I would have a harder time to recline it, if I'd be convinced that this is in some way 'hard' on the one behind me. But IF I were convinced that this was 'hard' for the person behind me, I'd not ask them for consent. A) They say "Please don't recline". Hah! I'm right! And I'm a great person for asking, and now not reclining my seat. Go me. B) They say "Enjoy" B1) Hmm. I am convinced that this reclining thing is bad for people in the seats behind the person in question. They agreed, but unless I'm wrong I'm now making their life miserable. But yeah - they're fine with it? B2) Interesting. Maybe reclining isn't that bad? I should reflect and think about whether my 'reclining is bad and torture' idea is sensible.

loco5niner 11y ago

I'm only medium-tall (6' 1") and it doesn't bother me that I have to be a little uncomfortable and change positions every once in a while. I'm actually more uncomfortable when I don't recline because then I have fewer positions to change to.