Delta and Coca-Cola have apologized for a “creepy” napkin that sparked passenger complaints. I’m failing to see the controversy…
The napkin, pictured below, gave passengers the chance to record their name and phone number and encouraged them to share it with their “crush” onboard.
because you’re on a plane full of interesting people and hey… you never know.
be a little old school, write down our number and give it to your plane crush. you never know…
Hey @Delta and @CocaCola These napkins are creepy AF. Pretty sure no one appreciated unsolicited phone numbers in the ‘good old days’ and they sure as heck don’t want the number of someone who has been gawking at them on a plane for hours today. Not a good look. pic.twitter.com/PJAiurFRMh
— ducksauz (@ducksauz) January 21, 2019
Passengers like the one above took to Twitter and other social media outlets to complain to Delta and Coca-Cola. Delta responded by pulling the napkins from its flights. Both Coca-Cola and Delta ended up issuing apologies.
My Thoughts
Creepy is not the word that comes to mind when I think about these napkins.
Would I be offended if someone handed me a napkin with their telephone number? No. I also wouldn’t be interested…that’s the great thing. If you are happily married or don’t like the look of the person or are not in the mood, you can just (wait for it…) throw away the napkin.
Wow…
When I was in the dating game, I confined my search for a spouse to someone who shared my worldview. Others are looking for different qualities in a partner. But meeting someone on an airplane already at least suggests you have something in common. After all, you’re on that flight for a reason and both flying to the same place…
Oh, and news flash: American Airlines uses the same napkins.
CONCLUSION
I see nothing wrong with these napkins. My goodness, do we really have nothing else to be creeped out about? I think Delta responded far too swiftly and cautiously.
How about you? What do you think about these airline napkins?
Hey, here’s an idea. Use it and throw it away. End of story.
Offended is our default mode these days.
Well spoken.
One more thing for people to whine and complain about. Thanks for giving out a dose of common sense.
Wipe your butt with it and then give it back to them.
The only ones offended are most likely the ones who didn’t get a number.
Yes. In an environment where sexual harassment and assault are too frequent, the idea of *encouraging* more bad behavior (which could be difficult to avoid if seated in close proximity on a full plane) is creepy.
Is it really bad behavior though? It’s not asking them to join the mile high club with you, or even asking for their number; it’s simply offering yours. In terms of undesirable seatmates, I would put this on par with a Chatty Cathy.
Moreover, if someone is going to flirt with someone, they certainly don’t need the napkin as a catalyst for that decision.
Are you actually tossing “giving someone your phone number” in the mix of sexual harassment and assault? I’m shaking my head as to how anyone could make that argument.
American logic at its best! The more silly the matter, the more offensive they found, the more extreme they react….
Exactly, this is TOTAL harassment. There was a time before mobile phones/texting/social apps. that if you saw someone at the bar/grocery store/plane etc. that you were interested in, you’d actually have to write your name/number on a piece of paper and hand it to them. If they call, great! If they don’t, better luck next time. OMG, I once got a phone number from someone I was not interested in and my world totally fell apart, it was truly the end of the world … years of therapy, substance abuse, sleepless nights … .:sarcasm:. It’s a phone number, get over it! #snowflake
Some airlines had ‘phone systems that permitted calls between seats. Mine never rang.
Even today, some ( eg, Jetstar) have a chat function on the IFE system , enabling chat sessions between any seats ( presumably even unsolicited).
Unless you were in the middle seat squished between 2 really fat people and one (or both) of them handed you their napkin. Yeah, that would be fun.
This is a prime example of what is wrong with humor in current age…come on guys this is definitely not creepy but sure is funny…don’t use the napkin & put your phone number if you don’t agree…but this is no creepy for sure
While I think folks are being way too sensitive about this – and I’m as liberal as they come though even I hate most SJWs – this could all be solved is the US3 stopped trying to squeeze every last penny out of flying and stopped fucking selling advert space to companies in the form of cocktail napkins. Delta, you provide Coke products aboard your flights. We get it: you partner with Coca-Cola. I don’t need their (shitty) advertising on everything beverage-related. Take a note from all the airlines that far exceed you in service and comfort and just have your own logo or – and hear me out on this, idiots – just have good quality, blank cocktail napkins, you schmucks.
This passed creepy a long way back. Ask your wife if she’s good with traveling alone and somebody sitting next to her who has been lavishing unwanted attention on her ups the ante by handing her a number.
This is the problem. You are conflating “handing someone a phone number” with “handing someone a phone number AND being an abusive creep.” Most people are the former, not the latter. Only one is inappropriate.
@John S is right. Somehow everyone who thinks this is creepy is conflating creep/abusive person with person handing out their phone number.
Not creepy at all. Being a creep Depends on the character of a person, not the ability to give out their phone number.
Next week’s chapter from the book of modernity will be the howls from twitterati about the ‘transphobic hate crime’ of someone who knocked back a phone number of someone in transition.
We really need to chill more. I think people are genuinely stressed in this country. Yes Harassment is an issue and yes we are fighting to stop it, But do we really think Harassers even use napkins . I dunno I kinda liked the napkins it was a funny joke gone bad I guess.
I wish the cuties in aisle 3 would give me their numbers…….
Lighten up folks there are faaaaaaarrr more serious moral issues plaguing this country
I’m still not sure it would be a majority, but I hypothesize that more women have an issue with this being creepy than men. I’m a man and have never had a random stranger give me their number. My wife on the other hand has to deal with random strangers approaching her, cat calling her and harassing her on a fairly regular basis while out walking or being in public in Manhattan. So, I feel like more women would have an issue with this because they link it to a broader issue of constant unwanted attention.
Unfortunately we are living in a “snowflake generation”. People should get a life and work hard. I would get the napkin, read it, laugh about it and move on. Not a big deal. People are too sensitive these days. Everything now is a big deal. Social media is a bless and a curse at the same time. People should get away from their keyboards and screens and do something productive.
Well…maybe if the restrooms were a bit bigger…..this would be a good introduction for the mile high club !