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Seat Backs and Truthfulness in Their Full, Upright and Locked Positions
Sep 14The Economist published an article called Welcome Aboard, with a tagline “In-flight announcements are not entirely truthful.” This paragraph is an example:
Your life-jacket can be found under your seat, but please do not remove it now. In fact, do not bother to look for it at all. In the event of a landing on water, an unprecedented miracle will have occurred, because in the history of aviation the number of wide-bodied aircraft that have made successful landings on water is zero. This aircraft is equipped with inflatable slides that detach to form life rafts, not that it makes any difference. Please remove high-heeled shoes before using the slides. We might as well add that space helmets and anti-gravity belts should also be removed, since even to mention the use of the slides as rafts is to enter the realm of science fiction.
There’s definitely something to be learned by telling the truth, especially to employees. Added bonus: You never have to remember what you said.
About the Author
Frank Roche
Frank started IFRACTAL over 7 years ago with Sarah Chambers. Together, they've created HR communications and HR software for some of the world's leading companies. Frank is also studying Flamenco guitar and origami.
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“Successful” landings in water?
No, but slides and seat cushions have saved a few lives when planes have crashed in water. The slides also work on the ground.
What would The Economist propose as an alternative? Free-market announcements? Ads?
I was just laughing at that one. I don’t think there’s a better alternative than to make the emergency announcements…and I’m sure that in times of trouble equipment has saved lives. But, it seems, so has fate — where a person sits on a plane, who they sit next to, what they had for breakfast.
I liked the article The Trouble with Bad Probablity Estimation…and it was about truth in that sense. But heck, when I get on a plane, I just want to get there…and I want to be safe. I’ll go with that. And, with a little humor mixed in…I’ll go for that!