this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2026
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This is so far out I'm simply at a loss for words on how to respond!? But I will make an effort to try anyway.
The norm in a modern democracy is to treat each other as equals, and respect the personal sphere of individuals.
Of course there are limits on what people can do towards each other, like assault is not allowed, but that rule is equal for all, and is not a "sexist" rule. It does protect women against sexist assault, but it does the same for men, although the problem for women are several magnitudes bigger.
Are you really comparing sitting next to a woman would be akin to sexual assault, in a society where men and women are treated as equals?
I have to downvote you, because I don't see a way you could have made the above comment in good faith. I reeks of apologism towards religious extremism and sexual discrimination.
You're arguing past my point and not really addressing anything I actually said?
No? I'm comparing it to something like hugs, which are acceptable cross-gender greetings in some places but limited to the same gender in others. That doesn't make places where the latter holds anti-democratic. I thought I was clear enough on that, but I'm not justifying what the man in the OP did; I'm just saying jumping from that to "disrespect for democratic values" is reading more into the story than there is to it. Plain entitlement is sufficient to explain everything we see here, and there'd have been no problem had the man been more respectful about what he was trying to do (for example by looking for someone to switch seats with). This is ultimately a problem of how he went about it, not of what he was trying to do.
No it's not, not among strangers in a random situation like sitting besides each other in a plane.
But sure if both parties are OK with it, why should society be involved with a voluntary legal interaction between 2 people that consent?
Not consenting to sit beside a woman however is CLEARLY discriminatory. As is attacking the flight attendant for doing her job! It is not normal or polite behavior. It is prejudiced religious bigotry.
And anyone behaving like that can fuck right off, and live in a paradise of religious bigotry in some religiously fanatic country.
You are trying to compare crazy with normal. Religious law is based on superstition and delusions. Democracy is based on the pursuit of building a better and fairer society for all.
Democracy is the opposite of being based on religion. If you want to live under laws based on religion, you do not belong or deserve to live in a democracy.
Other behavior aside, how?
Following Merriam Webster:
Is this even treating someone else like anything other than yourself in the first place?*
Sitting next to someone wouldn't provide anything. In fact, it's quite negative.
* Well, perhaps in this case that means unfairly treating people of your own gender by increasing possibility of someone sitting next to them in certain scenarios, which would fullfil the definition of discrimination.
In this case, if there were no other seats available, simply not taking the flight would have caused no harm. Actually, it would have made one passenger who'd keep more space happy. While it could be argued the passenger got better experience unfairly, based on her gender, I doubt anyone would give that a serious thought.
(My comment concerns someone voluntarily separating themselves)