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Behind the Aegis

(54,840 posts)
Tue Aug 14, 2012, 12:38 PM Aug 2012

Discrimination? Australian men can’t sit next to unaccompanied minors [View all]

Discrimination? Australian men can’t sit next to unaccompanied minors

Australian men are up in arms over airline policies that prevent male passengers from sitting in the seat next to unaccompanied minors.

A male nurse, Daniel McCluskie, 31, said last week he was humiliated after Qantas made him switch seats with a woman to get him away from a 10-year-old girl, The Age reports.

“After the plane had taken off, the air hostess thanked the woman that had moved but not me, which kind of hurt me or pissed me off a bit more because it appeared I was in the wrong, because it seemed I had this sign I couldn’t see above my head that said ‘child molester’ or ‘kiddie fiddler’ whereas she did the gracious thing and moved to protect the greater good of the child.”

A similar incident occurred at Virgin Australia, where fireman Johnny McGirr, 33, sitting next to two boys, ages 8 and 10, was forced to move as part of company policy, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“ is ‘we respect you but as soon as you board a Virgin airline you are a potential pedophile’, and that strips away all the good that any male does regardless of his standing in society, his profession or his moral attitudes,” he said.

Virgin Australia has announced it was rethinking its policy. British Airways changed a similar policy in 2010 after a lawsuit, agreeing to seat unaccompanied minors in a “safe but non-discriminatory manner.”

http://blog.sfgate.com/hottopics/2012/08/13/discrimination-australian-men-can%E2%80%99t-sit-next-to-unaccompanied-minors/

X-post from General Discussion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021130802

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Disgustingly sexist in nature. Behind the Aegis Aug 2012 #1
Good fucking grief. Warren DeMontague Aug 2012 #2
Absolutely repugnant. opiate69 Aug 2012 #3
Was it the "most pedophiles are men" argument? ZenLefty Aug 2012 #5
in part... opiate69 Aug 2012 #6
Ah, got it. ZenLefty Aug 2012 #7
We have a policy not to put women near emergency exits 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #9
I`ll agree changing seats itself isn`t a big deal if opiate69 Aug 2012 #14
And the fact he wasn't even thanked for it ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2012 #16
Of course, we should take it as an opportunity for "painful self reflection" (seen on DU™!) Warren DeMontague Aug 2012 #24
Painful self reflection... I'll get right on that... opiate69 Aug 2012 #26
No, no... Not painful self-FLAGGELATION, man! Warren DeMontague Aug 2012 #27
Dammit! Too late! I need a towel, neosporin and a cigarette, stat! opiate69 Aug 2012 #28
Hey, we were rapists last week.. Upton Aug 2012 #8
I've been told 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #10
You know what's bothersome.. Upton Aug 2012 #11
That horse left the barn a long time ago, Upton. hifiguy Aug 2012 #18
"Cross over into" ? 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #19
Hey, at least they banned you for something you said there. hifiguy Aug 2012 #20
I admit, I was surprised ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2012 #12
There was some of the usual staggeringly cretinous bullshit hifiguy Aug 2012 #15
Of course, because pedophiles reserve plane seats 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #4
Personally, I'm okay with it. ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2012 #13
Like you, I can see an upside, but, yes, it is still bigotry. Behind the Aegis Aug 2012 #17
I can't stand flying anymore Broken_Hero Aug 2012 #21
You successfully forded the river. Congratulations . . . 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #22
I'm with you. I think I'd rather push my truck across country than fly. ZenLefty Aug 2012 #23
Piece of cake in the summer. Warren DeMontague Aug 2012 #25
Too many erotoxins obvioiusly Major Nikon Aug 2012 #30
Flying is awesome Major Nikon Aug 2012 #29
My mistake. Wrong thread. Iggo Aug 2012 #31
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