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Debate Info

4
4
Yes No
Debate Score:8
Arguments:13
Total Votes:9
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Argument Ratio

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 Yes (4)
 
 No (4)

Debate Creator

HoldTheMayo(5913) pic



Should airlines have the right to attack passengers who won't turn off their phones?

Someone is talking on their cell phone as the plane is landing, and this is affecting the pilot's communications with ground control. The passenger is repeatedly asked to put his phone in airline mode, but he just says, "Excuse me! Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Are the flight attendants or the air marshal justified in punching, slashing, or shooting this guy, whatever it takes to get him off the phone?

Yes

Side Score: 4
VS.

No

Side Score: 4
1 point

If any passenger is causing interference with the pilots and their ability to successfully land the plane, then yes the passenger should be expecting any action reasonable required to ensure the safety of others. Reasonable action is defined (by me) as any means needed to either stop, prevent or mitigate the unsafe action the passenger is undertaking. Bodily force can be reasonable, but any use of bodily force should be limited to immobilizing the passenger.

Side: Yes
1 point

This question is poorly worded, because it is highly unlikely that you need to shoot or maim someone to deactivate their phone. In addition, framing the question with extremely violent acts, which may be unnecessary, skews the debate.

'Airlines' should not have the right to attack anyone.

There is no reason why it should be legal to attack someone.

Airline employees should have the right to use force to remove a threat to passengers, either by confiscating property, or by restraining dangerous people.

The safety procedures and requirements should be clearly outlined, and agreed to, for all passengers. If a passenger does not adhere to those procedures, and does not have emergency mitigating circumstance, the employees of that airline are justified in using necessary force to remove a threat. This is also supported, by the terms which the passenger agreed to.

Side: Yes
0 points

maybe not punching slashing or shooting, but they have the right to act aggressively when the person in question does not listen. this person could cause the death of the other hundred people traveling with him on the flight. punching does sound slightly normal when the person goes 'can't you see i'm on the phone.'

Side: Yes

Not at all, but since the costumer refuses to obey their rules, they have the right to deny them their service.

Side: No
Atrag(5666) Disputed
1 point

How do you deny service to someone who is already on the aeroplane as its taking off??

Side: Yes
WeirdooDylan(19) Clarified
1 point

Valid point. I guess that would be a problem, but you could deny them your service in the future.

Side: Yes
Coldthedog(244) Clarified
1 point

What services can the passenger be denied. He's already at the end of his flight and doesn't need anymore services from the airport. I don't believe physical harm is an answer for this problem. This topic all together sounds like some guy thinks self centered jerks should be beat up. While nobody likes people like that, it's just showing a lack of tolerance and restraint. The person is causing a threat so I believe the airport should have the right to confiscate his phone until the plane has landed.

Side: Yes
WeirdooDylan(19) Clarified
1 point

Like I said to atrag, I see how it would be a problem to deny someone your service after completing it. But however, you could of course deny them your service in the future. Very few people fly once in their life.

The only scenario where I find it okay for someone to beat up another person, is a cop beating up an uncooperative criminal.

Random people should not be allowed to beat anyone up for any reason, because they could accidentally really hurt the person.

Side: Yes
1 point

No the effect of a mobile phone is slight beeping sound (like when your phone is close to a speaker). Its annoying for the pilot but doesnt really interfere with communications.

Side: No

In the vast majority of cases, the pilot is all but completely isolated from the passenger compartment. The proposed scenario is fundamentally flawed because of that; even if the passenger was literally screaming into his phone, the pilots would be unlikely to even hear him- much less be distracted by him.

And that's really the only scenario- cell phones don't broadcast or receive within bands that could possibly interfere with radio communications. The 'turn off your cell phone' bit is based off of an extremely rare issue that could potentially affect the aircraft around when cell phones were first introduced and were not regulated the way they are today; there are no longer towers that support these old cell phones, so on the off-chance that a passenger did have one, he or she would not be talking on it. This is quite literally a non-issue today.

I would make an exception for smaller planes where the cockpit isn't isolated and quarters are closer, but for most commercial airlines? No way.

Side: No
1 point

As I told a guy earlier , physical harm just shows a lack of tolerance and restraint. Still, the man is causing a threat to all of the people aboard, so I believe that the airport should have the right to confiscate his mobile device until the plane lands.

Side: No