This is where I speak to the world.
It was an early Tuesday morning on an 8am flight to Chicago. It seemed like the only people on board were businessmen, and a few tired tourists who just finished their extended dream New York weekend vacation.
Like most of the others, I found my seat and closed my eyes in hope of catching a few more dreams before having to meet clients in Chicago. As the plan took off, without warning, every screen turned on and began blaring an advertisement. I was confused and surprised so I tried turning my screen off, but all controls were locked. United Airlines forced everyone on board to labour through this long, monotonous advertisement for a mid-level hotel chain.
Over the past few years it has been painfully obvious to see how corporations attempt to squeeze as many dollars they can out of the services they offer. A lot of this has been facilitated though ads. Netflix has included ads in its streaming services; Ubers and taxis play ads on an iPad right in your face; and sometimes, to me, it all feels inescapable.
It makes me reminisce, not for the days when capitalism was any different, but for the days when there were moments without the constant stimulation of capitalism. I would be a fool to think that corporations have become less moral. I think instead, it is society that has let in these new forms of capitalism through addicting itself to stimulation.
Maybe this is just another rant against the tictokification of our world or maybe I just want United Airlines to choose better ads. But this was a first for me and I’m sure it won’t be the last.