I try to take it all with a grain of salt and give as much grace as I can. I close my eyes and if I make it there and back I am happy. When I was young I was anxious and angry, now I'm practicing not being a grumpy old man. All of these workers are just like me, living with what they have.
Totally agree here. I'm not particularly loyal to any one airline and have flown on Continental, Delta, US Airways, American and United over the years and to me all the crews are pretty much the same. Every now and then I've run into someone with a bad attitude but that seems to be the exception and that happens in any industry.
What amazes me is that they aren't all sociopathic killers. I mean seriously, have you taken a good look at the flying public? A bunch of loud, obnoxious, rude, pushy people who don't follow rules as if they're special for some unknown reason. Of course, the airlines treating us like cattle doesn't help but there is a large segment of the public that shouldn't be allowed out in public. Here are just a few of the reasons I dislike flying and these same people are probably the ones who put flight attendants in a sour mood.
The passengers who takes someone else's seat on purpose because they didn't like their seat assignment and didn't or couldn't get it changed before the flight. Now the flight attendant and everyone else has to endure musical chairs during boarding and delaying our departure.
The passengers who board with a multitude of carryons and then proceed to bang them into everyone on the plane as they make their way down the aisle and then take more than their fair share of overhead space.
The passengers who suddenly slam their seat back to the fully reclined position while jamming my knees into the back of the seat in the process. Come on, the space in coach is tight enough people, let's not make it worse!
The parent who doesn't keep their darling child from kicking the back of my seat the entire flight. Really? You want me to sit behind you and kick your seat for a couple of hours?
The people who are inconsiderate and trash the restroom without picking up after themselves. Slosh water all over the counter. Throw paper towels everywhere but in the trash. Piss all over the seat. (Hey, turbulence happens but have a little respect for the next passenger!) Take just a moment to clean up after yourself and then the restroom won't be trashed halfway into the flight.
The passenger who still hasn't turned off their electronic device after two announcements requesting they do just that. The flight attendant then has to come along and tell you a third time. (And, no, I don't want to get into an argument about whether or not these things really interfere with the plane's electronics!)
The passengers who jump out of their seat upon reaching the gate and start elbowing their way up the aisle from the back of the plane. They usually make it about one or two rows before the crush of people stops them dead in their tracks. Seriously? Why even try?
The passengers who put on too much perfume or cologne of dubious quality and sit down with a noxious cloud that radiates three or four rows in both directions. Gee, thanks for that.
If I were a flight attendant I'd either be on a constant valium diet or otherwise soon be fired and arrested for criminal battery upon some inconsiderate clod of a passenger.
If it were up to me, I'd rather fly with a whole plane load of flight attendants (if they'd have me) rather than the general public.