I was thrilled to read this post on Crooked Timber announcing that the FCC has voted to allow wireless Internet access on airplanes. The more I travel, the more I've been lusting for this very feature. I'll be able to get more work done, entertain myself once I've run out of DVDs to watch, and send Seth an email to come pick me up when we start approaching the airport. Hopefully I'll be able to use the same ridiculously expensive T-Mobile or Waveport all-day pass I get at the airport, too, so I'll finally be able to feel like I'm getting my money's worth.
That said, the introduction of personal entertainment technologies on airplanes raises some questions, especially in terms of etiquette. Most people would probably agree that a person should wear headphones so as not to disturb the people around them, especially if they're listening to something other folks might find offensive. Applying the same courtesy to visual media is more difficult. The Crooked Timber article points out likely concerns from so-called "family advocates" about the viewing of indecent material on planes. Frankly, that one hit a little close to home. I was watching Amélie on a plane just last week when - much to my chagrin - I reached a point in the film where there is a brief, rapid succession of images of couples having sex. My 15" laptop screen has never felt so gigantic.
So, was I wrong to continue watching the movie knowing that there might be other similar scenes? Was watching a rated-R film with nudity really that much different than having someone look at pornography on a plane? I'm not sure. I did some walking around and determined that the only person who could see my screen (without straining to do so) was the woman sitting next to me, sound asleep, and decided to finish out the film. But felt a little guilty about it anyway.
I'm not sure that indecent materials are going to be a big problem on airplanes (have we suffered from a plague of Playboy readers in the past? I doubt it.). That said, maybe there is a second market for "family friendly" versions of films emerging as personal visual media viewers grow in popularity. Although I agree with other folks that the Family Movie Act of 2004 has several serious flaws, it might be nice if studios themselves would consider including edited versions of films on their DVDs.
Am I going too far here? Encouraging censorship? Defending status quo prudish values? I don't want to sit next to some sleazy guy getting his kicks off a Young Hot and Wild video on a plane but, damn it, I want to be able to watch interesting movies just the same. Thoughts?
Update: Pete has more...
Posted by sarah at December 16, 2004 9:52 AM | TrackBack