I've been wondering if there were any children on the United flight who witnessed the assault

[The Blue Flower]

As deeply disturbing as it is to me and appeared to be to the adults on that plane, I can only imagine that a child would be traumatized by seeing this. I'd sue United for that alone if I was a passenger.

[lapucelle]

1. "We screwed up and you have to leave

because members of the United 'family' need your seat."

[Warpy]

2. The kiddies are remarkably resilient.

It's Democratic parents who will have all the problems of explaining it to them.

For the Republican parents, it's easy, "He got what he deserved for not doing what he was told."

[nolabear]

3. I was called by a friend this afternoon who was having a panic attack about flying today.

She's a rather anxious flyer but not by any means unable to fly ordinarily, and she's a professional with her head on straight. But the general stress regarding authorities and the ongoing ramp-up in TSA issues combined with this godawful event turned what should be a simple and pleasant trip to see the relatives into a shaky, tearful, "what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-me?" nightmare.

So yes, there's every chance that kids who witnessed that could be influenced quite badly.

[uppityperson]

9. What?

[nolabear]

13. What'd I miss?

[uppityperson]

17. I think it was a reply on the wrong thread

[nolabear]

18. Ah. Sometimes it's simple. :)

[ProudLib72]

4. Forget kids

Adults should sue for infliction of emotional stress. Put United out of business.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. And put 86,000 people out of work?

Maybe the better thing would be for them to thoroughly revise their policies so nothing like this ever happens again.

[ProudLib72]

10. Something needs to change

Wouldn't you be traumatized if you had witnessed this first hand? I know I would.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Of course, but putting a whole airline out of business isn't the answer.

[ProudLib72]

12. Ok, I admit you're right

I got overly emotional. No, there are people who need to pay dearly, but not every single employee.

[athena]

14. We need a new regulation

that says airlines must offer cash rewards (i.e., not vouchers with strings attached) and increase the reward until enough people volunteer to take the next flight. No one gets bumped involuntarily.

That's the only civilized way to deal with this. Once the airlines start losing money as a result of overbooking, they will stop overbooking so aggressively, and the problem will resolve itself. Currently, they increase their profit by overbooking, so they have every incentive to keep doing it.

[womanofthehills]

16. How about a regulation that seniors can't be kicked off the plane

It's easier for a younger person to change plans. The guy is 69.

[mcar]

6. High school students left the plane

With the chaperone/teacher according to WaPo. Teacher said they didn't need to see this.

This was after the idiots let the poor man back on the plane, then got everyone off, including the victim on a stretcher.

[womanofthehills]

15. Because the injured man was the same age as their grandpas

Why did the airline choose a 69 yr old man and his wife to kick off.

[chelsea0011]

7. Kids seeing this? I was wondering what would have happened had a kid hit the

"get off my plane" lottery United was holding.