I don't want to trivialize the inhumane horrors that African slaves endured on slave ships (above) destined for the Americas. But after a recent airplane trip, sitting tightly next to my neighbor in steerage seats, I feel the discomfort and pain endemic to the current air experience has certain curious similarities.
Ever notice how similar the seating plans of airplanes resemble the more horrific layout (yet efficient design of those slave ships)? Could airplane designers be unconsciously influenced by them?
Yes or no, it was prudent that the airplane designers to use chair icons instead of people icons, no?
(And check out real potty humor here, in the Nightly Daily Heller.)
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Which airline flays open the skin of your bare back, hammers chains around arms and legs, tells you lie down on top of your fellow travelers, and leaves you there in a mix of urine, blood, bile and feces for several weeks?
Well done, Mr. Heller. You've given us a lesson on how to demonstrate ignorance of history, lack of imagination, and a complete lack of human empathy all in one short blog post. How do you score on the Psychopath Test, Mr. Heller?
"He made it clear he wasn’t trying to trivialize it." - Rob
No: he said he wasn't trying to trivialize it. Then he trivialized it. His only poissible excuse is extreme stupidity, as is yours.
"curious similarities" ??? Superficial at best. Very bad analogy here. Your are hip deep is shit Mr. Heller. Pull yourself out!
That is a stupid and disgusting analogy.
Dude you should go hang out with Sarah Palin. I'm half expecting you to trivialise blood libel like she did, with all the (DESERVED)negative comments you're receiving. What an ass.
A curious stupidity. Mr Heller, are you paid to write this sort of tin-eared garbage? Christ, take it down.
If you don't want to trivialise don't.
Apart from other points made a plane flight lasts a few hours. Slave ships took weeks.
Only somebody completely cosseted from reality could think this comparison persuasive. To be fair almost everybody in western society IS completely cosseted from the reality most people throughout history experienced.
This confirms what everyone already knew; Designers are cunts
Question: Exactly how far can Mr. Heller stick his own head up his rectum?
Answer: So far that his head can come out of his own mouth, and be re-inserted into the rectum, thus forming an infinite head in the ass loop.
You aren't too bright are you?
Hmm. I think this was a little distasteful. It seems obvious that efficient transportation necessitates compact arrangements - this is true. Yet, so are lines at the checkout, or seating at the theater or in a sporting arena. Surely, these too must be akin to being trafficked as property... I see the image into which the dots were trying to coalesce, but the point isn't substantial.
You sir, are an arse, a complete waster and a spoiled, whinging, excuse for an adult person for comparing your slight discomfort on a voluntary(!) airplane trip with the horrors experienced by slaves. How self-centred and buffoonish can one get.
Wow, what an tasteless and insensitive post! Yes, modern airline travel is exactly like African slave ships. Except for, you know, the whole slavery and inhumane conditions and racism thing. Just saying you don't mean to trivialize it doesn't mean you're not trivializing it. It's akin to saying "I don't mean to come off like a racist, but I hate black people."
You know, I was cooking a meal on a really hot day in my kitchen with no windows. It got ridiculously uncomfortable and I sweated as I had to keep opening the oven to check on my food. And that made me think back to the Jews getting gassed and burnt up in crematoria. I don't want to trivialize the Holocaust, but I noticed that the situations have certain curious similarities.
"No rich young white guy has ever gotten anywhere with me comparing himself to Rosa Parks. Got it?" --Isaac Jaffe, "Sports Night"
THAT IS SO TRUE. I once had to walk 2 miles down a road at high noon because the LRT train was busted, and I thought, wow, my sweaty walk and the Bataan Death March have certain curious similarities!
Not even remotely funny. Thoroughly inappropriate and stupid on every level.
Too tasteless even for the interweb, that's not easy to do. Stop being such a pussy and suck it up, you're a bigger prick than Anthony Weiner.
It's good that you "don’t want to trivialize the inhumane horrors that African slaves endured on slave ships." Who was it who forced you to do so against your will?
All you commenters are cruel and lack compassion. I can relate - the last time I was on an airplane, I got a drink with TOO FEW ICE CUBES. It was pretty much the worst thing that has ever happened to anyone, anywhere. I don't know how I will even go on after that.
What the fuck is wrong with you? How many people starved to death on your plane ride? You shit yourself with dysentary?
Rot in hell you insensitive bastard.
I do not understand.
Was this post updated with more pictures from the author/website, but NOT updated with an apology for being so off and offensive?!!!!
Y'all are all just a bunch of sanctimonious assholes.. It IS a funny comparison, precisely BECAUSE it is so offensive.
You found two forms of transport that are sort of the same shape and hold a lot of people. Profound.
This was clearly done for shock value. To say that you were not trivialising it or comparing them objectively is laughable. I am embarassed for you.
I'm not trying to "dis" your work but....
In know way would I ever think it ok to trivialize (as you so aptly do) the tragedy that was the slave trade. You compare the crossing to America to a flight in a plane? Maybe if your ancestors had been cramped and chained together under a deck for weeks on end with no fresh air or water-- without a clue of what was happening to them because they didn't speak english, all while watching their friends die around them becaus of the conditions-- then you wouldn't be such a wimp about one uncomfortable plane ride.
While I never have had the experience personally of being tortured in a slave trip, I have flown to over 14 different countries (sometimes at the expense of a 20 hour flight in coach). Let me tell you, thats no where near as frighteneing or painful a journey as what my African ancestors once face.
Grow up, be a real writer, and stop using insensitive if not ill-conceived analogies.
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