Aeroplane etiquette
I think that aeroplane seat etiquette is simple: if you’re on a flight of four hours or less, and it’s a daytime flight, then there is no need to recline your seat (‘Why aeroplane seats are a pain,’ Gulf News, September 10). I do think that airline companies need to get more creative and flexible with the headrests. Most people would be happier with better head and neck support for short power naps while travelling.
From Ms Gayle Marina McMurdock Smith
Dubai
Facebook comment
Use communication
It all depends on how the situation is dealt with. Why not turn around and ask the person behind you whether it is okay to recline? I wouldn’t have a problem with someone reclining if they had the courtesy to ask, but what does make me angry is when people just recline, and I might actually still have my meal on the table, for instance. This has happened to me in the past. It’s all a matter of how it is done, not if, in my opinion.
From Ms Jessica Welge
UAE
Facebook comment
Ruins flight experience
There is nothing more unpleasant on board a flight when the passenger sitting ahead reclines their seat back to the point that it becomes suffocating and painful. I find that the seats in the aircrafts, especially in economy class, are quite uncomfortable. To add to the misery, some passengers are so inconsiderate that they let their seats go back completely without bothering about their fellow passengers.
Recently, I was traveling and the individual in front of me put his seat back. As a consequence of this, I could not see my television screen properly, nor could I eat in peace. Every now and then he kept pushing his seat back to the point my legs got trapped and started to hurt. It is just sad that the crew members usually fail to rectify such behaviour and even turn a blind eye to it. If only passengers were a bit more responsible and considerate towards each other, instead of being mean and concerned about their own comfort alone, the flying experience would become a lot more pleasant.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
UAE
Facebook comment
I need more space!
Someone definitely needs to talk about and address this issue. Less space between seats is an issue for passengers who care to think of reclining or not. No one wants to torture the fellow passengers.
Planes are growing into double deckers and it’s getting tougher for people sitting in economy class.
From Mr Mafaza Halim
UAE
Facebook comment
Moral fabric
The stabbing at the school last week was so sad. If children are not safe in schools, then they are not safe anywhere (‘Schoolboy, 14, seriously injured in knife attack in Dubai,’ Gulf News, September 10). I think that schools should be held responsible for such incidents; otherwise they will never make extra efforts in keeping children safe.
The other half of the accountability lies with the parents. When children see violent behaviour from their parents, little do they know that there are consequences. I feel every parent knows the behaviour and capabilities of their children and if the child has tendencies of uncontrollable anger, they should make it a point to teach them values.
Parents these days are concentrating on giving the best materialistic things to their children and are forgetting the best and easiest thing you can give a child are values for their betterment and for the betterment of society.
From Ms Mahnaaz Shaikh
UAE
Facebook comment
A concerned parent
Whatever the cause, this is totally unacceptable. Being a father myself, I am shocked to see this kind of violence in children here. The school principal can claim whatever he wants, but how come they even have the nerve to say his school is safe. If it was, then how come this happened? Let’s face it: schools are a business for these people. Educating children and making money will always have two different motives.
From Mr Zeeshan
Dubai
Website comment
Teaching children
This is the main responsibility of parents because of their lack of attention towards their children, their carelessness and their laziness. In my opinion, parents should be punished and be put behind bars or penalised for not paying proper attention towards their child.
Schools also should take responsibility for this act. I think that teachers and principal are the least bothered about the children. But the problem is mainly with the parents who are not taking proper responsibility for the upbringing of their children. I urge parents to give time to their children, teach them how to behave in public and at home and how to be polite and well mannered. Children need to learn from their parents in order to get along with their peers.
From Mr Hamad
Dubai
Website comment
Security claims
The principal said: “We have all the security guards. Everyone is safe. There is no lack of security.” Wherein, nobody checks the bags of the students upon entering the school, students can go directly to their classrooms without checking at a security gate.
From Ms Maria
Dubai
Website comment
Bullying on buses
This is a big concern. How do we protect our children from bullies? My two boys repeatedly complain about two children on their bus who are involved in verbal abuse. They use foul language frequently and then put the blame on other children. Similar incidents occurred before the holidays and the school took no further action.
Our children want to have a safe and peaceful drive home, that’s all. I had to request a second time that these bullies receive punishment. Their parents should be warned and if that doesn’t work, they should be expelled. We are really concerned about the safety of our children. Some of these children coming from violent homes don’t really respect and care about others.
From Mr Yasar Mansour
Dubai
Website comment
Years to decide?
The ban on Saeed Ajmal from bowling by the International Cricket Council (ICC) is not right on their part since they took such a long time to make a decision (‘Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal banned from bowling by ICC,’ Gulf News, September 10). I am an Indian and I love cricket. I don’t see the game based on nationality, but on talent. If it was an illegal move, they should have stopped it immediately, not after all these years. This is a person’s life.
From Mr Reny George
UAE
Facebook comment
Why now?
I don’t understand the fact that a person can play international cricket for so many years and then get banned over his bowling action. I mean, how did he manage to play professional level cricket all this time and was never stopped or banned from the moment he began? Another Gulf News reader aptly commented: “When you have no ways to bring the talent down, you ban them.” Maybe this is true. I find this pathetic, ICC.
From Mr Adnan Rahman
UAE
Facebook comment
Justified ban
I think this is justified by the ICC. He had already been warned by the ICC at an earlier point. So, if the ICC wanted, they could have sacked him before his very first time.
From Mr Saif Hamdan
UAE
Facebook comment
Pushed his luck
He has an action that at times boils down to chucking. At that stage once he saw the heat round the corner he should have done something about it. It’s not that it happened overnight, it is just that he pushed his luck a bit too far this time.
From Mr David Pramotheus
Dubai
Facebook comment
It doesn’t make sense
What is this rubbish? Where was the ICC before? He has taken more than 450 wickets and ICC now releases that his action is illegal? He had a bowling action test in 2011. What’s the difference in his action after that test till now?
From Mr Mohammad Fahim Razza
UAE
Facebook comment
Reducing air pollution
I would like to draw attention to the rising levels of air pollution in the country. We are the ones who are using the air for breathing and we are the ones who are deteriorating its quality. Air pollution is caused due to four main reasons: exhaust from engines of vehicles because each car adds pollution to the environment; emissions from factories and industries; break out of fires due to carelessness or mischief makers; and household and farming chemicals.
We should be conscious of how we can also reduce air pollution. If we start taking some simple measures, we could all make a difference. When waiting for someone we should avoid idling the vehicle, instead we should be turn off the engine. We could reduce the amount of time spent in a vehicle and use the Metro instead of the car. During the summer we should manage the cooling of our homes by turning the room temperature up while we aren’t there.
From Mr Mustafa Indorewala
UAE
Editors’ note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@ gulfnews.com. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet us @GNReaders.
