Gen Z thinks this selfish in-flight act is acceptable

The internet has erupted over the utility of what used to be an unwritten, but sacred, in-flight rule.

Gen Z thinks this selfish in-flight act is acceptable. Picture: TikTok

In breaking Old Man Waves Fist At Windowshade news, the world is going to hell in a handbasket.

That’s according to TikTok, where Generation Z has decided that not only are skinny jeans “ageing millennial” coded, but it’s now acceptable to put your window shutter up when other people are trying to snooze, Escape reports.

If you’ve been sleeping on this story, here’s the downlow. Sarah Turner, an insurance broker from the US, recently took to TikTok with a rant about a passenger on her flight who had opened their window shade, while every other window shade on the flight was down.

@sarahjohnstonturner Wait for it...would you? #redeyeflight #nosleep #westjet #flightettiquette #sleep #hawaii #maui #overnightflight #flyingwithtoddlers #flyingwithinfants #ettiquette #waitforit ♬ I'm an Asshole - Rick Moore

“Wait for it … Would you?” the video was captioned with the footage panning across the plane.

It showed a dark cabin and many people chilling in the dark, before reaching the offending seat, where a stream of light shone in.

“There is always that one person on a red-eye flight,” Ms Turner added.

The video clearly resonated with many people having been viewed more than three million times.

But not in the way you might expect. In fact, much to my horror, streams of comments have flown in supporting the sunlight worshipper.

“If you want to sleep, stay one more night in the hotel,” one TikTok user said.

“I paid for, I will absolutely leave it open,” said another.

“You need to chill on life,” chimed in a third.

Passenger’s ‘selfish’ plane act infuriates. Picture: TikTok

It didn’t end there. In fact, the ratio of comments was about 10-1 (or more) in favour of letting your window shade rip – of absolute individual rights over that of the community.

One person demanded if they are going to pay for a window seat, they’re going to leave it open.

“I don’t sleep in planes so it stays up!!” said another, while a third added: “I’m like this person. I love looking out the window.”

And there you have it. Yet further proof travellers are entering their feral era — a post Covid phenomenon where the repressed urge to Do What We Want has resulted in more people doing exactly what they want with less fear of judgment).

But it’s not just window shutters that are under threat from this indulgent enterprise (and travellers who have forgotten how to travel).

Further rude behaviour noticed by the Escape team include snoring, using the reading light (when the person next to you is trying to sleep), using the call bell frivolously, and racing like Usain Bolt to get off the aircraft.

It almost makes you pine for 2019, when all we had to complain about was legroom …

This story originally appeared on Escape and is republished here with permission