A World of Anonymity

The rise of the internet and social networking has given everyone the opportunity to have access to more information and meet more people than perhaps we have ever had in the past.  For 95 percent of the world this is an amazing thing. I have met people that just five or ten years ago I may never have been able to meet.  I have learned things that I may never have known.  It has helped me in my career, it has helped me develop friendships, it has given me a platform that I would have never had.

That said, five percent of the people on the internet decide to use their online anonymity to spread hate in a way they would have never done in the past and still would never consider saying to a person's face.

Why do I say this? Because I've spent the last few years reading hateful and harmful comments on The Sacramento Bee website (and many others) about nonprofits, churches and companies who are doing great things, but for some reason people, seeking anonymity, continue to lash out at them mainly because they are ill informed. Today was the proverbial "straw that broke the camels back," when one of my friends, who is a mom, a blogger and home school teacher was accused of not spending enough time with her kids.  I was shocked, she is an amazing mom, her husband is an amazing dad, they both spend hours upon hours with their children everyday.  The mom, since she home schools is rarely away from her children, in fact, just last week she took them with her on a trip to Southern California.

It is anonymous, hurtful and harmful comments that quickly serve to devalue the positive power that the internet provides.  Yes, everyone has the right to an opinion, but I ask that before you make a negative comment you make sure you have the facts. Most importantly if you wouldn't say it to the individual in person don't say it online. If you're still going to say it, make sure that you are willing to put your real name (and contact information) on the line, don't cowardly hide behind an alias.

I Want to Fly Kulula Airlines

Normally I don't enjoy getting forwarded e-mails, but when I looked at the pictures and noticed that this was a real plane complete with hilarious captions, I had to read on and share it with everyone.  Kulula Airlines is the Southwest of South Africa from what I can tell, but in lieu of the "Shamu planes" or Horizon's "Oregon Duck's plane," they went for comedy.  Below are some quotes from the flight crew.

On a flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."

On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have."

"Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business   as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."

From a Kulula employee: " Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth .  To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."

After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."

Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember,  nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."

"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."

As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"

"Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."

"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."

 And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"

Heard on a Kulula flight. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing. If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."

Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."

Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."

Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."