There’s been a big bru-ha-ha in the press these past couple of days because of the antics of Steven Slater – a (now ex) flight attendant for JetBlue airways.

I’ll spare you the details as they are easily available. However, I will comment on some of the reaction to the event that sparked Steven’s spectacular “I quit” moment.

On the one side there are those who laugh and proclaim “Nice one son! Stick it to ‘em!” while on the other we find those who tut and shake their heads. They declare that he should have “maintained his professionalism” and “If he didn’t like working with the public then he should have sought a different career”.

To the latter I say fuck that. The guy had worked the airlines for twenty years so no doubt had his fair share of tossers. Every person has their limit. The incident with that awful woman was his, and he went postal. Good. If it makes just one rude, arrogant, selfish arsehole more aware that they make the flying experience unpleasant for the rest of us, then it will have been worth it.

I also hope the passenger that caused the injury to Steven and disobeyed his instructions is charged. They did commit a felony, after all.

We all deserve one “I’m outta here” moment. Mine was in 1999 in a hospital in London. After three weeks of hell, trying to please a woman who would not be pleased, I said enough was enough. I walked out with a flourish…only to reenter the office moments later when I realised I hadn’t taken my jacket. This did, however, allow me to see the look on my boss’s face for a second time – she’d thought I’d come back to say sorry! Not bloody likely.

Unfortunately my exit didn’t involve beer or an escape chute.