People who close window blinds on airplanes have lost the joy of living

r/

By default, you should keep the window shades open so your row-mates can see out the window and the miracle of human flight. People can request it closed if they want to nap and it can be lowered if the glare is intense, but otherwise, I judge the shit out of you for closing the blind for ignoring how cool it is to look out of the window in an airplane.

Comments

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  2. HALF_PAST_HOLE Avatar

    This is why I always try and get a window seat so I can control the blinds!

  3. New_General3939 Avatar

    When it’s dark, the window should stay open, and when it’s midday, the window should stay open. But if it’s morning or afternoon and the sun is blasting in, I’m closing the windows.

  4. KateCSays Avatar

    I’m right here with you.

    I have never been more disappointed than when the aisle-seat lady asked ME to close MY window in my window seat because she’s too afraid of flying to tolerate it in her peripheral view. I did it because I’m not going to disrespect a scared older woman on an airplane like that, but I was SO bummed.

  5. PawMeOffBro Avatar

    Okay? It’s not that impressive after you’ve flown more than a few times and the sun is annoyingly bright.

  6. whyliepornaccount Avatar

    I’m a pilot, so I’m used to having a better view.

  7. NetJnkie Avatar

    Fly 4 days per week for a long while…you’ll lose the joy too.

  8. Sweaty-Newspaper3596 Avatar

    I upvoted because I disagree but if you are a frequent flyer sometimes you just want to relax without the additional visual stimuli.

  9. raiderh808 Avatar

    I hate when people want to open their window shades to watch the sun rise in red eye. I’m trying to sleep.

  10. JimboNovus Avatar

    sounds like op needs to choose the window seat when flying

  11. j_grouchy Avatar

    I like them open not so much for the view, but to feel less like I’m in a cave…especially if I happen to have a window seat. It does get dull watching out the window, honestly…but I do like being able to see out, especially when we are in the descent stage.

  12. DiscoRabbittTV Avatar

    People that blind you with direct unfettered sun enjoy torturing others intentionally

  13. randall103 Avatar

    I always try and get a window seat. The only time it gets closed is if the sun is shining directly in, otherwise, open the entire time.

  14. xCamm Avatar

    Next time, book the window seat. I’m closing my blind and going to sleep or watching a movie.

  15. ParanoidWalnut Avatar

    If I’m in the window seat, it’s up to me if I want to keep it open or closed. I don’t care and have never thought about their opinions on the matter. I would be willing to open it at takeoff or landing if someone nicely asked for it, but no one really cares and I’ve never sat next to a kid who would’ve wanted that.

  16. ItsOKtoFuckingSwear Avatar

    Don’t be cheap and pay for a window seat then.

  17. DaisyCutter312 Avatar

    Yeah no thanks….if I’m in the window seat that blind is getting closed immediately. The window glare is pretty much a guaranteed headache for me.

  18. kickintheball Avatar

    Some people like to sleep on planes, sometimes it is way to bright with the window open. As someone who enjoys looking out the window, it’s pretty obvious why sometimes a closed window is ideal

  19. cycleaccurate Avatar

    Yeah you win. That’s unpopular. If you are sitting next to me and I’m on the window: blinds are closed as soon as my butt hits the seat.

    1M mile club and I detest all things about travel now. Like others have said. Judge me, don’t care. Ask me to open the blind: probably not.

  20. annaf62 Avatar

    i love looking out the window! but on a four hour+ flight there are hours of just sun and distant clouds so not much to see. i think you should keep it open during takeoff and landing for sure. whenever i can, i choose a window seat so i can look outside 😭

  21. NefariousnessExtra54 Avatar

    Listen, some people don’t like heights and a closed blind makes it easier for them

  22. Frenchie_in_the_am Avatar

    >People can request it closed if they want to nap

    What if the person by the window wants to nap? And chose the window seat so they could sleep more comfortably by leaning on the wall rather than their row mates or risk a painful neck?

  23. DeadVoterSociety Avatar

    Yeah, pretty unpopular. There’s not much view of hour four over the Atlantic.

  24. Sticky_Red_Beard Avatar

    Buy the window seat. Your judgement is irrelevant to me. 🙃

  25. OctopusCaretaker Avatar

    “…you should keep the window shades open so your row-mates can see out the window.”

    Should the pilot also keep the cockpit door open so the passengers can see out the front of the plane? If I have the window seat, I’m controlling the blinds.

  26. AegParm Avatar

    Get the window seat then!

  27. kbeckerburbs4 Avatar

    You sound like you clap when the plane lands

  28. here_for_the_tea1 Avatar

    Then buy a window seat.

  29. sunbeatsfog Avatar

    “You’re judging the shit” out of people commuting on a plane probably for work. Relax and mind your own business.

  30. Ancient_Bohemian Avatar

    “anyone who doesn’t love what I love is an asshole”

  31. sneezhousing Avatar

    I’m 45 and been flying since I was toddler. I want to sleep the instant the flight is in the air now. I’m no longer amazed ny it like I was when I was kid.

    I think I still have joy just for other things. I also don’t like to sit by the window if I can help it

  32. LaundryMan2008 Avatar

    I have flown at least 30 – 50 times in my life and now our family only watches the takeoff and landing before closing it

  33. Maniax__ Avatar

    Even on a domestic flight that’s only 2-3 hours are you going to take in the miracle of human flight for the whole time?

    It’s interesting for like 10 minutes especially during take off or landing

  34. gold__blooded Avatar

    I prefer window seats. Seems weird AF to keep the blinds closed during takeoff/landing but ill close once we’re at cruising altitude to nap or avoid glare if i’m watching something on my ipad

  35. InevitableWorth9517 Avatar

    Some of us are just scared to fly and doing everything we can not to panic on the flight. Sounds like you should just buy a window seat. Upvote. 

  36. mandi723 Avatar

    You want it open, you choose the window. I just want to sleep.

  37. Hello_Mimmy Avatar

    Someone hasn’t had the bright sunshine blasting straight into your eyeballs for a whole hour.

  38. elizajaneredux Avatar

    Meh. I get motion sickness easily and the sudden change in the angle of the horizon or wing can make it a lot worse. I also don’t always want harsh sunlight pouring over me if I’m stuck in a window seat. Sorry, but those things matter more to me than my seat mates’ opportunity to look out the window.

  39. stonedtrashbag Avatar

    Nothing like being blinded by sun so someone can stare at an endless canvas of blue walls and cloud carpets…

  40. NotTukTukPirate Avatar

    Usually when I fly, it’s after hours of bus rides and hotels; running on less that 5 hours of sleep, and I usually have a headache when that’s the case.

    First thing I want to do is try to sleep as long as I can. I can’t count how many times I’ve flown, but I still look out to see the view here and there.

    I can see why someone who has never flown much should leave the blinds open though.

  41. Potato2266 Avatar

    In the beginning of the flight or before landing, sure. But during the flight if the sun is in my face, I’m not keeping the windows open. I’m not getting a sunburn on my face just so my row mates can sporadically look out the window.
    If it’s that important to you to feel the joys of life, book a window seat next time.

  42. mickeyanonymousse Avatar

    I really want to open the window shade but dude I’m so badly overheated on planes these days. sweating like a hog from before we taxi. I can’t open the shade because it makes it a million degrees.

  43. Throwawayzzzmdw Avatar

    All I think about are the uv rays when a window is open for the entire flight.

  44. Only-Finish-3497 Avatar

    I fly on average every other week, so about 50-100 total flights a year. I often fly long international flights.

    I love the idea of it all, but I’m tired half the time and just want to sleep. I usually pick aisle, but when the window occupant closes the shade I’m glad because I can just close my eyes and zonk out for five minutes.

  45. beachyvibesss Avatar

    I always pick a window seat because I like the blind open for takeoff/landing but mid-flight I’m trying to catch some shut eye so I close it.

  46. MortemInferri Avatar

    Oh yeah, let’s add more heat to this already inceneration of my body

  47. walkingredflag666 Avatar

    Usually leave the window open. But not if the sun is going right in my face. It hits different above the clouds.

  48. bs-scientist Avatar

    I’m trying to sleep. I do not care what you want, buy the window seat if you have an opinion about it.

  49. Fortestingporpoises Avatar

    I don’t care if someone judges me on the plane for having sensitive eyes and wanting to rest. 

  50. crippled-crippler Avatar

    Do i want some stranger looking in my direction for hours? Not really

  51. Turbulent_Spell3764 Avatar

    Not when its fucking bright as shit and people are trying to sleep

  52. brattysweat Avatar

    You are getting a full blast of UV without the little filtering from the atmosphere. It’s just clouds. You see the sky every day.

  53. natalie_la_la_la Avatar

    I leave it open for takeoff and close it once in the air. I can feel the sun burning my skin… I’m personally just not a fan of the extra radiation exposure while flying. I do it for my skin health since im more prone to melanoma.

  54. side_frog Avatar

    It just seems you haven’t been on plane a lot. People usually use flight time to sleep. Most of the time you don’t see shit while in the air, it’s only interesting when going back down. Also y’know vertigo

  55. CurvePuzzleheaded361 Avatar

    Buy the window seat if it bothers you to that degree. Some people need to sleep!

  56. Crime_Dawg Avatar

    I fly 20-25 times a year, no that shit is closed.

  57. stormcharger Avatar

    Most the time when I fly, I’m flying to another country from New Zealand. Noone wants to look at the ocean and clouds that long

  58. RelyingCactus21 Avatar

    If the row mate wants control of the window they can choose a window seat. I’m always in a window and I usually leave it open unless the sun is in my eyes.

  59. Bongcopter_ Avatar

    Just buy yourself a window seat, if I’m at the window I’ll do whatever I want and if it means closing the curtain to not have sun in my face, so it is

  60. arizonadirtbag12 Avatar

    I remember when I first started riding the ferry in Seattle, taking it to events downtown or the occasional weekend night out. Taking in the scenery along the water, the skyline as you approach, just beautiful. I’d see people sitting in their cars the whole time, reading or sleeping, and think they must be dead inside not to want to enjoy this.

    Then years later I started riding every single day for work. Both ways. I did this for years. Yeah it took a year or so…but then there I was, napping in my car.

    Similarly I wound up in a job that had me flying two or three times a month. With connections, that mean 8-12 flights a month, or over 100 a year. Yeahhhh I don’t need to see out the window anymore. I’m good. You want it open, book the window. I’ll book the aisle. But if I’m in the window? I’m closing it, I’d rather watch my stories than “the miracle of flight.”

    (With rare exceptions for flying over the polar ice, or specific major cities.)

  61. BokChoyFantasy Avatar

    No, if I have the window seat, you can guarantee that I will close it. I’ll open it when we’re landing. I watch movies from take-off to landing and I will not let glare interfere with it if I have the window seat. I don’t sleep even on international flights. Being able to watch movies back to back for hours guilt-free is living for me. I love it. I don’t care about your insignificant judgement.

  62. deltajvliet Avatar

    Unpopular indeed. Takeoff and Landing only. Otherwise 90% of people are watching movies, reading kindles, or napping and don’t need the light/glare.

  63. leg00b Avatar

    I’ve developed anxiety while flying so I tend to close mine.

  64. hauttdawg13 Avatar

    If you are in the window seat, you control the window. If you aren’t in the window seat you can’t see anything anyway.

    I prefer the aisle seat, I would never dream of telling someone what to do with the window.

  65. Empty-Bend8992 Avatar

    after the first 2 hours, the sight of the endless blue or black (depending on the time of the flight) is so boring. i close the blinds as soon as takeoff is over, mostly because im scared of flying, but i have no interest in seeing endless sky

  66. fuandyourusername Avatar

    Im terrified of heights and not trying to have a panic attack sir.

  67. usurperavenger Avatar

    Then purchase a window seat.

  68. Shoddy_Bus4679 Avatar

    First class ticket to skin damage.

  69. Ian_everywhere Avatar

    I can feel the pitch of the airplane. My eyes are telling me that the floor is level, but my ears are telling me that the nose is higher than the tail. It makes me dizzy. By looking out the window, I can see the horizon and I am no longer dizzy. Also it’s frickin cool that I’m sitting in a chair in the sky. For those reasons, I always select a window seat when I buy my tickets

  70. LostinLies1 Avatar

    Judge me. I’m closing that window.

  71. Repossessedbatmobile Avatar

    Or they’re just tired and want to sleep without the sun shining in their eyes.

  72. hedginghedgehog Avatar

    Bright light is damaging to your eyes. Also your skin. Doubly so at high altitudes. Your judgement however is safe for both, so I’m fine with it. Carry on.

  73. Local_Society_4726 Avatar

    I don’t need your face shoved into my seat so you can look out a window

  74. IndianaSucksAzz Avatar

    Fuck my row-mates and fuck you.

  75. anonymousUTguy Avatar

    Nope. It’s so fucking bright and annoying.

  76. Key_Zucchini9764 Avatar

    Look out the window to see the miracle of human flight? LMFAO…it’s just the sky, dude. You can see it from the ground too.

  77. kronosphere Avatar

    shit is bright as fuck yo, lemme be miserable in the tiny ass seats in peace and darkness

  78. Single_Waltz395 Avatar

    I’ve never n my life had a fight where looking out the window was fun for more than a total of 5 minutes.  The vast majority of the time there’s nothing to see.  Meanwhile you may have the sun blasting in your face or on your screen.

  79. woemoejack Avatar

    Or dont wish to be blinded by sunlight

  80. robbadobba Avatar

    Maybe they’ve gained the joy of napping.

  81. AlludedNuance Avatar

    I close the blinds when I’m going to nap. Hard to look out of a window and stay asleep at the same time.

  82. PM-ME-CURSED-PICS Avatar

    getting my eyes blasted by the full concentrated power of the sun hurts

  83. Jibber_Fight Avatar

    The sun can be bright. Depending on what planet you’re on.

  84. Ready_Supermarket_36 Avatar

    Okay , it’s nice to sleep on an airplane if you’re facing jet lag. I fly 20 times a year plus 2 to 4 flights for holidays a year. No f’n way I need to look out the window for more than 30 seconds or when I’m landing somewhere new. Good luck.

  85. Zooperman Avatar

    If you want to keep it open, buy the window seat

  86. Mister_Antropo Avatar

    How about I want to sleep and it is bright out?

  87. Nesefl_44 Avatar

    I would rather not be reminded that a crash is certain death.

  88. subliminalconquest Avatar

    If you want the window shade open you buy the window seat. Otherwise you don’t get a say in ot. Not everything is about you or them. Whoever has the window seat controls the blinds.

  89. tkecanuck341 Avatar

    The person who sits in the window seat controls the window shade. Sometimes I like it closed. Other times I like it open. Sometimes I have to deal with it when I get stuck in an middle seat and the person sitting next to me doesn’t share my opinion on whether it should be open or closed.

    Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part. If you want to control the window shade, pick a window seat next time. That might mean you have to pay extra.

  90. BakedPotato241 Avatar

    If you want the window open, book the window seat. He who sits at the window gets to pick if it’s open or not. Besides, it’s cool the 1st time or near takeoff/landing but most of the view is of nothing

  91. XDVI Avatar

    Thats a you problem