travelitis: america's affliction
Claudia Allwood
Account Director : San Francisco
topics: Internet Culture, Art, Barbarian, and Fashion
filed under: Fashion
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I’ve been traveling a lot – hence my temporary absenteeism from blogging. Airport travel is always fascinating. It’s like the Olympics of people watching. There is always a volume of shocking classlessness that overthrows proper decorum. We’ll call this terrible affliction “travelitis.” Here are some symptoms.
- Pajama Pants in Public
Wearing pajama pants in public simply because you are getting on an airplane. This is usually paired with a college t-shirt (preferably with Hawaiian flowers across the center), oversized sweatshirt and New Balances, and is an unacceptable way to travel. Red eye or not.
- Spitting.
Spitting directly into a garbage can. I’ve seen this so many times in airport terminals that I just don’t understand it. Is it a glandular problem? An allergy to airport carpet? Please tell me how to help cure this symptom.
- The Diaper Dilemma.
Diaper changing in mid-terminal. There are bathrooms, people. Bathrooms fully equipped with diaper changing stations. But no. Some would rather pop a squat on a dirty airport terminal floor and change their child’s diapers right then and there. Sanitation and hygiene be damned.
- Styling On-The-Go.
Styling oneself in public. Usually, I’m not horribly bothered by a quick reapplication of powder or lipstick. But the following is a list of crap that need never be done while sitting in front of Gate G34.- Filing or trimming one’s nails (finger or toe; nobody wants your airborne DNA in their mouth as they are taking a quick snooze in the lobby)
- Applying nailpolish
- Flossing
- Zit popping (either on yourself or on a loved one)
- Applying deodorant (yes, we are grateful you’ve done it, but sliding it down your shirt collar is no way to cheat the system)
- And last but not least, straightening one’s hair. Like this lady.
So yes, as I travel throughout the US, I’m startled by the vast amount of bizarre behaviors that seem wrong in the real world but right in airports. It’s like people have checked their class at the gate. Oh travelitis, your contagion spreads like herpes.
video courtesy of Rye, my travel companion. 
Originally posted at http://superficialmom.blogspot.com/2010/08/travelitis-americas-affliction.html
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