COP OUT. That is the name of Director,Writer, Producer, Kevin Smith's new film and I plan to go see it, but that is not what this story is about. It is about how I am constantly finding myself shouting out for how the little people are being wronged. Who knew, Kevin Smith would wind up being mistaken as a "nobody, little person" and treated like crap, just like an everyday "nobody, little person" is used to!
As this nonsense around him continues to unfold, the truth of the matter isn't even being reported, according to Smith, and I believe him, I have no reason not to, I am friendly with him on Twitter and have been listening to him talk about this mess Southwest Airlines started with him yesterday since it began. I also am very familiar with Airlines screwing people over, if you have been following my stories lately.
Kevin Smith likes to not be broke. He is a common sense man who chooses to fly Southwest when he can because it is affordable. He even went so far yesterday after being insulted by Southwest Airlines, to tell the entire Twitter World to NOT BOYCOTT Southwest, but to keep using them because "they're so damn cheap!" Which even I have to admit, is true.
So Kevin Smith is setting a great monetary example for the rest of us. He said "Look folks: some people seem to think that because I work in the pictures, I should piss away money on private jets or first class flights. Rest assured: I take LOTS of first class flights. But while I've got some comfortable money, it'd disappear quick if I didn't respect a $."
With all this misrepresentation of what happened, and all the media out there spinning it out and making Kevin Smith look like he did something wrong, here is some truth for you. (I can't help but wonder why one little mommy with a big mouth is the only one screaming truths, but heck I guess that is what I do best these days):
1. Southwest Airlines & media outlets are reporting that Kevin Smith regularly purchases 2 tickets whenever he fly’s SWA. FALSE
The truth: THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME KEVIN SMITH HAS PURCHASED TWO TICKETS FROM SWA, USUALLY HE PURCHASES ONE SEAT.
One Seat for himself. One seat for his wife or whomever is flying with him. One seat for privacy so a stranger is not sitting next to them, as is stated by Kevin Smith and his wife in the SModcast, on www.Smodcast.com
2. The first thing Zone Political did yesterday, was to tell Kevin Smith via Twitter that we here in Las Vegas are so sorry that yet another Airline went above & beyond to cause pain and hurt, but we know Smith loves Las Vegas and Las Vegas loves Kevin Smith too! ZonePolitical believed him, and spoke the truth. Why not? Does he have any reason to not be telling the truth? Believe an airline? Please! Seriously?
3.Kevin Smith told GMA (Good Morning America) no, and who to contact, and GMA showed up at his home. His kid answered the door. Even his kid found it as Kevin Smith put's it, "Tacky".
4.Somehow, in all of this it spinned out into Kevin being too fat to fly. FALSE! He passes all the rules, guidelines, standards, fits in the seats just fine, the seat belt fits just fine, and anyone who calls him fat, well you are just very INCORRECT, (and a name caller!)
So, all you Airlines out there, there is this little thing called CUSTOMER SERVICE! I know some of you are not big on treating your Employees well at all, but if you continue to treat your customers this way, you won't have any customers left. Kevin Smith can afford to find another route, but he is choosing to stay with you. Wise up, and take a lesson. Kevin Smith is admired by many "regular people" who will follow his lead, and many of those people are young. He also loves to come out here to Vegas, and many young people fly your Airline to Vegas! Now with US Airways leaving Las Vegas, the biz is all yours if you want it, so how about admitting the truth! You screwed up, apologize, Kevin Smith did NOTHING WRONG, and he is just another Little Person who was stepped on yet again, even if by an Airline that made a mistake and had a bad day.
It happens. He will understand, we all will. We've all been there before. When you issue apologies, however, you have to tell the WHOLE TRUTH.
Kevin, I hope you have blast next time your in town, and I can't wait to see Cop Out!
Sandra Bonadonna
AllVOICES.com (Sandrabon)
ZonePolitical.com
thepoliticalzone@gmail.com
@zonepolitical on Twitter
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A Comment was posted that I feel deserves to immediately follow this article. I started to post my comment, but out of a great respect for this man I am editing this post to place his comment here in it's entirety, then I will follow up with my comment. Mr. Margulies, I invite you to email me personally at the politicalzone@gmail.com and I will directly post your comments as stand alone articles in the future. I would also like to let you know that I will make sure to post this on the
AllVoices Syndication site so that the story is complete in both places.
Respectfully,
Sandra Bonadonna
Zone Political
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David Margulies
Crisis Expert Asks, 'Was Southwest Airlines Too Polite to Overweight Passenger?'
DALLAS, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Was Southwest Airlines too polite to director Kevin Smith when he posted a profanity-laced Twitter tirade against the airline and its employees on the Internet? Smith was asked to leave a Southwest flight because his weight had him encroaching on the seat next to him. The airline has had a long standing policy that requires passengers who can't lower their armrests between seats purchase a second seat. Smith acknowledged that he was aware of the policy and had in fact purchased two seats but tried to get on an earlier flight as a standby passenger.
"Too many companies back down from reasonable policies because they are afraid of negative publicity," said crisis management expert David Margulies. "We urge our clients to use a devil's advocate approach to avoid problems when possible but to stand up for themselves when their policies are fair and reasonable.
"Southwest certainly took the high road when it posted a strong defense of its policy on its blog," said Margulies. "Southwest's reasoned approach is in sharp contrast to Smith's attitude, allowing consumers to see the difficulty airlines and other service businesses have with unreasonable customers.
"Most large corporations want to be very careful with how they respond to this type of over-the-top reaction by a customer," said Margulies. "In this case, I think the public would have understood if Southwest pointed out that Smith's profanity and overall negative attitude toward the company and its employees would make it a good idea for him to find another mode of travel.
"Southwest has taken a very reasonable and fair approach to dealing with the issue of overweight customers and should be applauded for their actions," said Margulies. "This is the time that customers and employees should take to the Internet in defense of the company."
David Margulies is a former award-winning journalist who covered the aviation industry. He is currently a leading expert on crisis management and crisis prevention. For the past 23 years, The Margulies Communications Group, a leading public relations firm (prexperts.net) has worked with government agencies, corporations and non-profits providing litigation support, crisis management, media training and crisis prevention programs.
SOURCE The Margulies Communications Group
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ZonePolitical Reply
Dear Mr. Margulies:
I admire your work, and respect your opinions greatly. However, in this particular situation the facts, in my opinion, are being misrepresented by Southwest Airlines, not Kevin Smith. I followed every second of that Twitter roll because Kevin Smith is listed on more than one of my many lists, including my private friends list, where I read every word he said.
He continued to update every aspect of his conversations today, and even talked about a call with someone named Linda at Southwest Air. He was quite detailed on all fronts. The problem was not a fat issue, until, and again this is how I see it, and how I am almost certain Mr. Smith may be seeing it if you actually read his words, Southwest & the Media spinned it out that way.
For example: Fox News having a guest on wearing a bright Red T-Shirt that said "NO CHUBBIES" and made statements like, "You eat too much pie, you don't fly!"
We should find this type of behavior, including News Organizations, like GMA who were told "No", and then proceed to go Kevin Smith's home anyway, acceptable?
It is no secret to anyone on this planet, unless the have been living under a rock that Kevin Smith has a potty mouth. Anyone who has seen or heard of any of his films or knows anything about Jay & Silent Bob, Clerks, Mall Rats, or Dogma for a few examples, knows that he is a film maker and a great one, with a potty mouth. He has his own style and appeals to his audience. This is no different than anyone else in this field, some have potty mouths, and some don't. I am certain I don't need to name them for you.
Kevin Smith supports this Airline, and early on made a clear point of stating that he would not boycott, & he even stated he wouldn't sue if they would just be truthful as to what really happened. It is all listed right there from beginning of the Twitter conversation to the end, or you could just ask Mr. Smith. He has been quite honest and vocal about it all, to those who are fair and honest and truthful and choose to listen.
I like Southwest too. If I were treated that way, I would be livid too! Who wouldn't be? What paying customer, who spends money regularly and is loyal enough to frequent this organization, wouldn't be extremely peeved after being treated this way? Why aren't more people defending him?
The fact is he fits into the seat, the arm rest easily went down, and the fact is the seat belt as it is fits him. The fact is he stated all of the above and I have no reason to question him. I saw him on the television today, and the last time I was on a plane there were at least 5 people heavier than Mr. Smith that I can remember, one of which I sat next to. The man was very nice, and I had no problem with his weight. We shared a nice conversation and nice flight.
What I did have an issue with was a Flight Attendant who was wearing an overabundance of perfume. I felt nauseous every time she walked by, along with several other female passengers who felt it necessary to load up on perfume and cologne's or body sprays just before we boarded. I have severe allergies, and in a closed environment like an airplane, it is rude enough for the fellow passengers to do this. With the no smoking rules on planes, and all of our Clean Air Acts, I would think the Flight Attendants would be required to not wear scented anything out of common courtesy to the passengers.
In closing there is so more that could be done to accommodate customers who spend money on Airlines. I do appreciate Southwest Airlines, but I don't appreciate being mistreated by companies I spend my money on loyally year after year, either. I went through this recently with another company I had a major issue with personally, and wrote about them as well. This is what I do.
I very much appreciate you taking the time to visit the Zone, Sir. I have always admired your work and look to some of your studies for research aides and studies of my own, and genuinely respect you. Over the years I feel I have learned a great deal from studying your work. However this does seem an area where I will have to sincerely ask that we respectfully agree to disagree.
Respectfully,
Sandra Bonadonna
AllVoices.com/users/Sandrabon
