# Scrooge is booted off of an American Airlines flight **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 27, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309 "2014-12-27T23:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/1 "2014-12-27T23:11:22Z")
[http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/passenger-loses-cool-after-‘merry-christmas’-greeting-gets-booted-out-of-flight/ar-BBhgbqd](http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/passenger-loses-cool-after-%E2%80%98merry-christmas%E2%80%99-greeting-gets-booted-out-of-flight/ar-BBhgbqd) Story above. The gist is that a passenger got _really_ grumpy when the gate agent wished him a cheery “Merry Christmas” Then he got agressive when the flight attendant inside also said “Merry Christmas.” Screaming, ranting, acting scary. It was decided he wasn’t safe to have aboard so security ushered him off the plane. Sometimes things _ **do** _ have a happy ending!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/2 "2014-12-27T23:21:40Z")
…So does this mean the war on Christmas is over? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/3 "2014-12-27T23:27:10Z")
God bless us, every one!😛 ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/4 "2014-12-27T23:27:21Z")
Well, I for one, don’t care when people wish me a Merry Christmas. There was a time, however, when it irked me, so when a complete stranger said “Marry Christmas” out of the blue… I responded with: “my dog died today.” I just wanted to see what would happen. The gentleman had no idea how to respond. I later regretted telling him that… but I still couldn’t stop laughing at the look on his face when I said that. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/5 "2014-12-27T23:28:01Z")
He would not have been booted off the plane if he’d just said, “Sorry, I don’t celebrate Christmas; not everyone does, you know.” He was booted off for ranting and refusing to take his seat. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/6 "2014-12-27T23:44:12Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > He would not have been booted off the plane if he’d just said, “Sorry, I don’t celebrate Christmas; not everyone does, you know.” He was booted off for ranting and refusing to take his seat. Exactly. Anyone so unhinged as to start screaming about getting a simple greeting is not someone I’d want to travel with. I do celebrate Christmas, so that’s what I say this time of year. But if someone gave me a greeting for another holiday, I’d accept it gladly. It’s the spirit that counts. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/7 "2014-12-28T01:46:22Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Exactly. Anyone so unhinged as to start screaming about getting a simple greeting is not someone I’d want to travel with. > > I do celebrate Christmas, so that’s what I say this time of year. But if someone gave me a greeting for another holiday, I’d accept it gladly. It’s the spirit that counts. The guy was obviously mentally ill. Don’t lump him in with the rest of us who don’t celebrate or enjoy your holiday. This time of year is a massive pain in the ass for some of us with no payoff. Please understand that. If someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, I just smile and say, “thanks. Same to you” or something. I am so glad every year when that shit is over with though. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/8 "2014-12-28T01:55:16Z")
Well, the guy’s an asshole. If someone said Eid Mubarak, for example, to me I’d respond accordingly, likewise for any other religious holiday greeting. I’m as atheist as they come and I still wish people a Merry Christmas. The guy was either mentally unstable, or drunk, or both. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/9 "2014-12-28T02:27:05Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Screaming, ranting, acting scary. It was decided he wasn’t safe to have aboard so security ushered him off the plane. Was it rolling or in flight when they ushered him? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/10 "2014-12-29T08:50:31Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Was it rolling or in flight when they ushered him? They pushed him out the rear exit somewhere over Utah. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/11 "2014-12-29T10:51:20Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > He would not have been booted off the plane if he’d just said, “Sorry, I don’t celebrate Christmas; not everyone does, you know.” I wonder what would have happened if the response would have been “I didn’t demand, recommend, or even ask for you to celebrate Christmas, or any holiday for that matter. It isn’t Christmas every day of the year, you know. I was noting the day as a holiday, which some several hundred million do, and asking you to have a merry one, irregardless of your religion. Stop being a martyr.” ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/12 "2014-12-29T11:26:56Z")
And then there are those jerks that say “Have a nice day!” 🙂 Who the hell do you think you are to tell me what kind of fricking day to have!!! ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/13 "2014-12-29T12:01:04Z")
That’s terrible headline-making. He should have been compared to The Grinch, not Scrooge. Scrooge refused to participate in the festivities, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/14 "2014-12-29T14:40:05Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I wonder what would have happened if the response would have been “I didn’t demand, recommend, or even ask for you to celebrate Christmas, or any holiday for that matter. It isn’t Christmas every day of the year, you know. I was noting the day as a holiday, which some several hundred million do, and asking you to have a merry one, irregardless of your religion. Stop being a martyr.” Probably a rant about irregardless not being a word. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/15 "2014-12-29T19:11:37Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > If someone said Eid Mubarak, for example, to me I’d respond accordingly, likewise for any other religious holiday greeting. If somebody said “Eid Mubarak” to me, my first response would probably be either “Who’s that?” or “Nice to meet you…” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/16 "2014-12-30T14:03:23Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > And then there are those jerks that say “Have a nice day!” 🙂 > > Who the hell do you think you are to tell me what kind of fricking day to have!!! I go with “thanks, but I have other plans”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/17 "2014-12-30T14:32:08Z")
bah, humbug ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/18 "2014-12-30T21:04:11Z")
Eventually Christmas will be a cult, celebrated by a select few traditionalists. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/19 "2015-01-01T01:56:50Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > He would not have been booted off the plane if he’d just said, “Sorry, I don’t celebrate Christmas; not everyone does, you know.” He’d still be in the wrong, though. The proper thing to do is, if you celebrate something else say “happy festivus” or whatever, or else just say “thanks” and go about your day. Giving a lecture to someone just being friendly is assholish whether you then go crazy on them after the lecture or not. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309/20 "2015-01-01T03:50:20Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > They pushed him out the rear exit somewhere over Utah. If he hates having Christmas shoved down his throat, there’s a particular poetic irony in dropping him here. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-is-booted-off-of-an-american-airlines-flight/708309.md?page=2)