Assignment 3

     "Standing By" by David Sedaris, was a very entertaining story to me. I have to travel very often and it's usually by airplane. I have had EXTREMELY bad luck when it comes to flying, I do not remember a time where there wasn't a delay, cancellation or bags being lost. The fact that I can relate to the story makes it a lot more interesting. Basically everything he said, I have experienced first hand or heard stories from my step dad. My step dad flies about twice a week for work, so to say the least I am highly educated on "traveling etiquette". Dressing nicely is at the top of this list, you see so many people while traveling by airplane so it is in your best interest to present yourself in a nice way. My step dad stresses dressing nicely so I always do. Now when I go into an airport and see sloppy people I can't help but think "who let you leave the house that way?".    
      When Sedaris was mocking the way people dress in the airport I couldn't help but laugh because I have seen my fair share of sloppy looking people (275). Everyone judges other people however, the woman in the story took the judgement to another level by opening her mouth about a young man and his baby (276). To me the moral here is "keep your mouth shut". No one really cares what you have to say, they are just listening because they have to. They are trapped in the same situation as everyone else traveling. People have their own problems and don't need to listen to the next guy complaining about a line or whatever it is that they are complaining about. I know just how annoying it is to listen to a stranger go off on something you absolutely could care less about. Traveling really isn't a social gathering, sure there are a lot of people around but chances are you are never going to see any of them again, they are just faces in the crowd as you are to them. Instead of complaining to someone while traveling try to keep a positive tone and talk about something unrelated to the problems you are experiencing.
       At some point, one needs to realize that everyone has their own opinion or view on something. If you disagree, just keep it to yourself. Unfortunately not enough people know this. Most "air travelers" know this because of all the people they come across. You meet all different kinds of people, a lot of them are unfriendly but don't take it personal. Traveling can bring out the worst in people, it adds extra stress and anger because one never knows what may happen in the next moment, it is beyond our reach and that in itself can put stress on a person. As humans we like to have control of things and we do not like to be surprised about something that happens five minutes down the road. When we have plans or a schedule, we like everything to go accordingly and unfortunately while flying, that often isn't the case. Delays and cancellations are things beyond our control.
       I think Sedaris wrote the article because he wanted people to question themselves the next time they are in a situation like this. I think it's a challenge. Maybe the people who read this article will change the way they are in this kind of public setting. Maybe this article will make flying a more enjoyable thing to do. We will never surely know why he wrote it or what his intentions were but I think he was trying to challenge everyone when he wrote this.
      Sedaris brought up many questions in the article even if it didn't really seem like it. They were more hidden questions. Statements that persuaded you to be disgusted or maybe even annoyed by a certain individual he was talking about (176). I think he put the readers in his shoes, he made the readers feel his annoyance, disgust, and judgement. It makes one think the way he wants them to. I think that the main questions he rose were things that relate directly to human nature such as, judging people "do you do it?", complaining "do you?", taking your anger out on others "do you do that?", being rude to other people directly or indirectly "do you do that?", etc.. Obviously people do all of these things but I think he rose these questions to challenge people to try to change these things or to hold back when doing these things.
       Overall, I thought the article was really well written. Sedaris did a fantastic job pulling me into the story and actually feeling the emotions he was feeling throughout the story.
My only questions were: Do you guys think the story was written as a challenge?
Has anyone else experienced anything like this while traveling? Did you find yourself in any of the positions that Sedaris described?
                                                 Sedaris, David. "Standing By."
                                                 First Year Composition Reader. Boston:
                                                 Pearson, 2011. 275-277. Print.