# Why are you idiots clapping when the plane lands? (mild)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [October 13, 2010, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975 "2010-10-13T09:03:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 13

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-idiots-clapping-when-the-plane-lands-mild/556975/13 "2010-10-13T11:21:54Z")

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I have no idea why people do this either. One time I accidentally started a round of plane landing applause when I clapped sarcastically to point out the stupidity of doing the same.

> [@What has caused you to laugh the most?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-caused-you-to-laugh-the-most/347672/52):
>
> Near the end of our flight back to New York, I leaned over to my mother and remembered that when I was younger, people used to clap when the plane landed. ‘What a stupid custom,’ I told her. ‘Did these idiots get on the plane, then realize maybe the pilot didn’t know how to land it?’ I railed, quietly, in this fashion for a minute or two and concluded by saying ‘At least I haven’t heard it since September 11th. I guess people decided the possibility that the pilot actually couldn’t land was a little too real and not too funny.’
> 
> A few minutes later, the plane landed on US soil. I sarcastically clapped my hands a few times. And then it happened. A few passengers way in front of me started clapping, and a moment later, the whole plane burst into applause.

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