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Man Discovers A Full-Grown Teen After Parents Begged For Him To Swap Plane Seats To Be Together
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Man Discovers A Full-Grown Teen After Parents Begged For Him To Swap Plane Seats To Be Together

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People are often happy to help others; however, one cannot always know other people’s idea of help. While one might assume another person’s request is reasonable, it doesn’t necessarily mean it actually is. It is probably easier sometimes to not bother thinking, where did our help go? On the other hand, when presented with certain revelations, we get our rose-colored glasses knocked off and we can laugh or be sad while growing more aware of people who seem to ask for our help while in fact only use our lack of awareness for their plain and unapologetic selfishness. This seems to have been this Redditor’s experience when he gave up his plane seat next to his wife and only found out after the fact that he shouldn’t have bothered.

More info: Reddit

A man moved from his seat next to his wife so a girl could sit next to her parents, only to find out it wasn’t worth it

Image credits: Pixabay (not the actual photo) 

The couple was sitting ready to watch a show on their laptop during a 14-hour flight when two parents arrived

Image credits: u/QuabityAsuance

Image credits: Pew Nguyen (not the actual photo) 

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Image credits: u/QuabityAsuance

The parents seemed panicked and begged the man to move so their daughter could sit next to them

Image credits: Oleksandr P (not the actual photo) 

The passenger assumed the parents were in an unfortunate situation with a little girl and agreed to move

A man brought his story from a 14-hour flight to Reddit after he gave up his plane seat to parents with a child, but a certain revelation made him no longer think it was such a good idea. 

As shared by the Redditor, he was sitting next to his wife with a laptop loaded up with episodes from the show they were planning to watch during the 14-hour flight and their snacks all organized.

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The couple’s plans were interrupted by two parents, who showed up all frantic and begged the man to move so their daughter could sit next to them. As the parents seemed panicked, the man assumed they were in an unfortunate situation with a little girl and agreed to move.

As the man gathered his stuff and started walking down the aisle to his new seat, he realized that an approximately 16-year-old girl playing with her phone in the exit row was the girl these parents had in mind.

The man’s story received 30.8K upvotes on the mildlyinfuriating subreddit and the Redditor explained that the mildly infuriating part was that these parents traded them being slightly uncomfortable for him being slightly uncomfortable and it resulted in him having 14 hours to think of how he could have handled the situation better.

Walking to his new seat, the man realized that the 16-year-old playing with her phone was the kid her parents had in mind

Image credits: Sergey Zhumaev (not the actual photo) 

It would probably be difficult to see a certain angle from which the parents’ behavior would seem fair, with these few interpretations being highly unlikely. Either way, OptimistMinds provided what they called a “Comprehensive Guide” to people who use others, for those who wish to understand such behavior and avoid falling victim to it.

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OptimistMinds noted that when it comes to understanding certain human behavior, “it is not necessary that everything has the exact meaning as it appears sometimes” as they listed the common behavior exhibited by covertly aggressive individuals, which included seduction, like admiring or showing support for another person to make themselves seem trustworthy in front of others.

Another common behavior from the list was playing a victim and making others believe that they should feel sorry for such a person.

Finally, OptimistMinds brought up feigning ignorance or confusion – pretending to be totally unaware of the topic another person is talking about and in such a way making them doubt themselves or believe such person’s version of the story.

Redditors shared their takes on the situation

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Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Writer, Community member

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Aura is a writer at Bored Panda. She finished her BA in Philosophy at Vilnius University. She lived in Prague for a few years, where she worked in Trade Compliance at DHL Express. Finally, she came back to Vilnius to continue her studies in Philosophy.

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Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Writer, Community member

Aura is a writer at Bored Panda. She finished her BA in Philosophy at Vilnius University. She lived in Prague for a few years, where she worked in Trade Compliance at DHL Express. Finally, she came back to Vilnius to continue her studies in Philosophy.

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

Read less »

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

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Fat Harry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The guy's a fool. The reply should have been "Why don't one of you swap with her?".

arthbach
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another question is "Why do you think there is a need for a swap?" Then I am able to judge whether *I* think there is a need, or a want. If the child was autistic, or had medical/social problems I'd ask why couldn't one of the parents swap. If the child was little, I'd suggest a parent take the middle seat, and the child take the window, my partner and I could still be together, even it was across the aisle.

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Peppy Piplup
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My first thought was that the daughter probably is autistic. If she has sensory issues, it would would explain the urgency and panic to get her away from a screaming baby because the loud noise would cause so much suffering and distress for her the entire flight more than it would to someone who doesn't have sensitive hearing. And the mobile phone is probably because she's distracting herself in the high stress situation of a compact airplane.

Megan Humphries
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always a possibility I guess,. However, from the way op described her being unbothered and no mention of her seeming to be distressed about it, I doubt it.

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Fat Harry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The guy's a fool. The reply should have been "Why don't one of you swap with her?".

arthbach
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another question is "Why do you think there is a need for a swap?" Then I am able to judge whether *I* think there is a need, or a want. If the child was autistic, or had medical/social problems I'd ask why couldn't one of the parents swap. If the child was little, I'd suggest a parent take the middle seat, and the child take the window, my partner and I could still be together, even it was across the aisle.

Load More Replies...
Peppy Piplup
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My first thought was that the daughter probably is autistic. If she has sensory issues, it would would explain the urgency and panic to get her away from a screaming baby because the loud noise would cause so much suffering and distress for her the entire flight more than it would to someone who doesn't have sensitive hearing. And the mobile phone is probably because she's distracting herself in the high stress situation of a compact airplane.

Megan Humphries
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always a possibility I guess,. However, from the way op described her being unbothered and no mention of her seeming to be distressed about it, I doubt it.

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