thoughts on... airports

(Originally written on March 10th, 2007, while sitting by myself in an airport on my way back to Chicago from visiting family in Oregon)

It's interesting to me how waiting for an airplane has a camaraderie effect on the people waiting together. Everyone just sits there together at the gate, mostly in silence, usually, but you feel a sort of comfort with those around you. Unlike most public places, where people are nothing more than strangers, an airport gives everyone a sense of unity. You bond with each other and feel abnormally comfortable with each other, even though you've never met before.

This is especially the case when your flight is delayed. There is a "we're all in this together" mentality that really unifies the group. It's reminiscent of old Hollywood movies to me for some reason. You treat each other like people, instead of ignoring each other. I'm glad this is the standard of etiquette at airports. It's one of the last places like that in America, and it just makes you feel good. Shared experience is one of the best things about being human and living in civilization with each other. Airports take us back to the golden age of the "friendly neighbor" attitude.

The other thing about airports is that the "friendly neighbor" attitude can go even further - by actually progressing into deeper conversation. There are two ways that a person who finds themselves in one of these can feel about it. Either they are excited at the prospect of getting to know someone they enjoy - excited at the possibilities of a new friendship or, perhaps, a new relationship... or, they are not interested in them, and they want out. I saw examples of both of these at the airport last night.

When I first sat down at my gate, I was next to a guy and a girl, mid 20s, who were in conversation. As it progressed, the topics they discussed and the questions they asked revealed that they did not know each other. It also soon became clear that the girl - a somewhat awkward (looking and acting) college student - was struggling to keep the conversation alive. There would be silences, and suddenly she would chime in with a question she clearly had been searching for throughout the duration of the silence. The guy was torn between responding out of politeness and not having any interest in doing so. Finally, after one particularly long silence, he got up and left. It made me feel sad for the girl. But also for the guy. Airports are weird like that.

The other example was less depressing. A somewhat cute and very outgoing girl in her 20s and a shaggy backpacking-type guy found themselves in conversation. It was much less forced, comfortable in the silence, and once the flight left they were both content with knowing they'd probably never see each other again. They'd had a nice shared experience together, and that was that.

All this has taught me a valuable lesson. Airports are not a good place to meet people for long-term relationships.