I recently took a domestic flight to the Yucatan and in the process saw what these days many would see and label "white privilege" (perhaps more appropriately "affluent, good-looking, white American college kid privilege") first-hand on the airplane...but was it? Could it simply have been the privilege that comes with being in your early 20s, in love with the world (now that I think of it, they may have been on Molly), and in this case, physically gorgeous? Or was it because of the happy, loving energy that seemed to flow from them (probably due to the Molly)?
The airline had rules for how to board, disembark, where to put your stuff, when you can stand, what to do in an emergency, etc., and passengers were expected to abide by them. Most did. All in fact except for one couple, an early 20s attractive caucasian seemingly straight guy and gal (who may or may not have been under the influence of Molly). Mind you they were one row ahead of me on the other side of the aisle so I wasn't so much eavesdropping or being nosey, they just happened to be less than a meter away from me and in my line of sight from my aisle seat, but I digress. When they took their seats they started watching a movie on their tablet...without headphones, providing commentary to the movie for the entire plane to hear, with items from their carry on luggage strewn about their seating area and spilling out into the aisle...oh, and they had their shoes and socks off (not bad looking feet at all...clean, well pedicured, good shape, nice toes - I am grateful there were no lingering fungusy aromas which are common on discount airlines and also in gym locker rooms). They just seemed to be in their own little world, comfy as could be and were making the most of their flight in a makeshift love nest.
Good for them, right? Totes. I am right there with you except for the fact, as the lady sitting behind me pointed out, that anytime anyone darker than the 3 gringos on board (of which I was one) did anything that deviated from the rules, the flight attendants would be on you like white on rice. The guy next to me fell asleep and as his head tilted back his mask slipped down his nose a bit and as it did, the flight attendants were quick to arrive to wake him up and at first remind then scold the man to make sure his mask was on properly. Ashley and Kev weren't wearing masks at all, though Kev did have one loop around one ear with the mask hanging down when they were boarding. Truth be told, covering their beautiful faces (or feet) would have been an injustice to society - pandemic or not.
In all likelihood Ashley and Kev weren't maliciously being inconsiderate with their decision to keep their lips ready to be kissed, watch a movie without headphones and make all sorts of random comments and have kissy time like they're alone in their own living room...they were just enjoying themselves and no one told them any different. More likely Ashley and Kev, like most Americans and most humans, only care about Ashley and Kev and are going to do what they want until they are told that they can't. What really would have been the harm in giving everyone on the plane as much leniency as Ashley and Kevin were given? Would it have been a flight of chaos in the sky? Not likely. At most I would have seen more bare feet (some good, some bad), the plane would have smelled a bit footier, and I would have found the same relief from flight, child and human noise with my noise canceling headphones.
So was it really "white privilege" that I witnessed as the lady behind me pointed out to her companion? Was this couple acting if they were entitled to special treatment that no one else was or were they just in their own little bubble and acting in complete disregard of everything around them (as one does when they are in a bubble) and continued to do so because nobody asked them to be quiet, considerate or even to use headphones?
Don't get me wrong, if that guy would have had unattractive feet, or if they smelled or had visible fungus, I would have been the first to get up and go all Frontier Airlines on his ass and duct tape him to his seat and his shoes to his feet.
Is there a moral to this story?
There are many. Firstly, while living in a bubble is not usually the best idea for long-term mental health, if you are young, gorgeous and in love, create your bubble, live in your bubble and enjoy your bubble. Enjoy it with such bliss that nothing else matters. Also, get pedicures and try flying on Molly. Always remember, if you have unattractive feet, wear shoes and understand you will not receive the same leniency which people with nice looking feet get.