Comments on: Southwest quickly sizes up situation, ‘Not So Silent Bob’ keeps up substanial pressure

By: Consider these fax: Expedia may have already lost 'Bloody Valentine' battle | Tnooz

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:07:48 +0000

[...] Expedia.com has avoided any social media commentary of its own, @SouthwestAir was practically tweeting apologies to director Kevin Smith [aka Silent Bob] –who was led off a Southwest jet because of his [...]

By: Dennis Schaal

Dennis Schaal — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:37:58 +0000

Joe: He pooh-poohed that argument on Twitter, but sure rings true.

By: Brian Hayashi

Brian Hayashi — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:29:00 +0000

That would make a nice “ambush” on the Daily Show – let Mr Smith sit down, make his point, and then bring in two other people to sit down on either side.

The sooner Southwest Airlines does this, the less time Mr Smith has to lose weight. Corporations typically act at glacial speed. Actors have access to a broad range of trainers whose specialties are sculpting physiques to prepare them for specific roles in a very short time period. These two factors make Mr Smith’s bet a very smart one, unless Southwest Airlines moves quickly.

By: Joe Buhler

Joe Buhler — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:00:06 +0000

Reading the article on this topic on Adotas I came across this paragraph at the end of it:

Smith is still griping and the braindead megaphone known as the mass media is blowing some smoke, but this incident will blow over fast. It may linger a little as Smith has a new movie called “Cop Out” coming out in a few weeks and publicity is publicity, but Southwest has esxemplified how damage control is done in the social mediascape. Hope you other airlines were watching.

Looks to me like a guy trying to get some free PR out of this for his next movie!

By: Dennis Schaal

Dennis Schaal — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:37:55 +0000

Yes, Smith’s podcasts is over the top and not to be taken seriously. He isn’t his own best spokesman on this one and seems out in large measure to keep the buzz going.

Of course, I have no way of knowing — didn’t anyone have a cellphone video camera? — of how Smith was treated when the Southwest crew asked him to leave.

But, I do tend to agree that he appears to be abusing social media and this whole thing may backfire on him.

Southwest appears to be doing everything right — at least as far as its response is concerned.

By: Sam Daams

Sam Daams — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:23:12 +0000

I’m with Southwest on this one. He’s had his winge, Southwest responded very well and now he just needs to let it go. At some point he’s crossing a line legally and I’m sure we’re not far off the first massive internet lynching that backfires.

Maybe I’m just starting to get tired of everyone with enough followers being able to generate a mob on Twitter or their blog (did you see the anti-Expedia rant on Techcrunch yesterday?!), whether they are right or not. In court at least typically people and companies are innocent until proven guilty. That right does not seem to have extended to the internet yet but when it does the libel and slander cases are going to swirl thick and heavy.

By: Me

Me — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:08:12 +0000

How about they take their seats to the show, but more importantly have two people who can sit on either side of the fat guy and honestly say they are comfortable with that.

The policy isn’t just about one fat guy — the policy is about the rights of the people that have to sit on either side of said fat guy.

By: Joe Buhler

Joe Buhler — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:06:24 +0000

My guess is that this guy has taken on the wrong airline! Southwest is not a company to mess with as they do understand social media and the use and “abuse” of it. If the guy does fit into one seat, it begs the question why he purchased two seats on the original flight?

Move on buddy, and as for Southwest. Keep your sensible policy which seems to work for everyone but a tiny minority in place.

By: Alastair McKenzie

Alastair McKenzie — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:27:17 +0000

Dear God! Have you actually listened to the ‘Smodcast’? It sounds like a whiny 13 yr-old complaining to mommy cos somebody might have been nasty to him – and it’s endless. I had to stop listening after 27 mins of sub-clause-riddled whinging.

Jeez. Get a life!

I don’t doubt for a minute that SouthWest Airlines’s normally deft customer relations deserted them, and their fat passenger rules might need looking at… but I won’t be joining any campaigning bandwagon this Vicky Pollard-esque child is on.

By: Sally

Sally — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:13:11 +0000

The question isn’t whether Smith could fit in the seat or not, but why airlines think they can design seats to maximize profits instead of comfortably fit the range of sizes that people come in. I am never comfortable when sitting next to a toddler or infant, yet I respect their right to fly because even annoying children need to be free to travel around the country. Smith has that same right and I am glad he is asserting it, in his inimitable style. Shame on Southwest.

By: G23

G23 — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:14:19 +0000

I would love to see SWA take their seats to the Daily show. If they are confident in their call that Smith could not fit the seat according to their standards this would be a big thing for them with free airtime