The Applause Nobody Asked For
There exists a special circle of hell reserved for people who applaud airplane landings, and apparently, most of them book flights through New York’s airports. These aviation enthusiasts believe pilots require positive reinforcement for successfully performing the job they’re literally paid to do, as if not crashing requires a standing ovation.
The landing clapper epidemic reached peak absurdity last Tuesday when passengers on a LaGuardia flight gave thunderous applause after a routine landing in perfect weather. The pilot, via intercom, reportedly responded with, “Please stop. We landed. This is what planes do.”
Sociologists studying this bizarre phenomenon have traced its origins to a deep-seated need for public performance combined with a fundamental misunderstanding of how aviation works. Dr. Sarah Mitchell of NYU’s Department of Weird Behavior explains: “These people also probably clap when movies end at home.”
Real New Yorkers, equipped with appropriate cynicism, refuse to participate in this airborne theater. While tourists celebrate wheels touching tarmac, seasoned travelers remain stone-faced, already mentally preparing for the battle royale that is baggage claim.
The clapping brigade insists they’re “celebrating life” and “showing gratitude.” Meanwhile, the rest of us are showing restraint by not openly mocking them. Landing a plane safely is the baseline expectation, not an Olympic achievement. Next, they’ll applaud bus drivers for stopping at red lights.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/people-who-clap-when-planes-land-the-applause-nobody-asked-for/
SOURCE: New York’s #1 Satirical Journalism Site (https://bohiney.com/people-who-clap-when-planes-land-the-applause-nobody-asked-for/)
