New Posts! Jet Blew

Wanna be famous? Apparently, all you have to do is be insubordinate, rude, obnoxious and nearly take almost 200 passengers safety for granted.  That's what Steven Slater did when he exploded during a JetBlue flight and cursed out the passengers on the overhead intercom, and opened the plane door and slid down the emergency slide to escape. Yes, he may have been pushed to the edge by nasty and unruly passengers, but does that justify his actions?

By midday Tuesday, when he remained in custody after a judge had set bail at $2,500, more than 30,000 Facebook users had indicated that they “liked” a page apparently set up as a tribute.  Obviously, he has his fans.

More than 30 had rallied around a “Steven Slater defense fund,” and on eBay an artist was selling a portrait of Mr. Slater with the promise that the money, minus eBay’s fees and taxes, would be donated to Mr. Slater. A “Steven Slater for president” group on Facebook had four members, the same number as one headed “Steven Slater is the best flight attendant ever.” Some fans had designed pro-Slater T-shirts. “Free Steven Slater,” one read, while another said, “Take this job and slide it.”

Around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mr. Slater was released on bail amid a crowd of journalists who had gathered outside the jail barge in the South Bronx where he had been held. He appeared to be in good spirits, though dazed by the cameras’ lights. When asked what he thought of the support expressed for him by the public, Mr. Slater said, “Greatly appreciated.” He declined to comment on his time in custody, and made his way to a minivan.

But, although his actions may have been held as surprising, even cause slight jealousy to some of us in the workplace, do you really think his actions should be lauded?  I mean, do you want the people at McDonalds to completely rebel and spit in your frosty?  How about the New York City cab driver who decides he's had enough and plows into a group of innocent street walkers?  Maybe even the pilot of that JetBlue airline could have reached the boiling point and aimed the airplane at the nearest mountain.

We shouldn't crown anyone who defies their job description with unheralded popularity. He should be labeled as what he is: an insubordinate, disobedient and dangerous employee worthy of termination from his job.

On another note: Met's relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez was taken into police custody Wednesday night after allegedly getting into a fight with a relative at Citi Field. He will be charged with third-degree assault for injuries suffered by his father-in-law when the reliever fought with his in law and was taken to a local area hospital with head injuries.

Now this is a guy we can admire.  Who hasn't wanted to really slam their in-laws?   I for one stand firmly behind K-Rod..anyone want to start a Facebook fan page?