Gadget ban is human, forgiving and flying is divine

The ban on larger gadgets in cabins on flights to the US from some Middle East countries has set people talking, literally. Not all’s lost. You could get back the joys of real conversation or watch the sunrise or the sunset from your plane window. Simple pleasures. So sit back and relax. The laptop and iPad have been security checked and stowed away. Your boss will understand; just blame it on the president of the United States. There’s little you can do when the ‘most powerful man’ on the planet suspects you and your devices. There’s a positive side to the ban, you see. Such flights could promote human interaction after our recent obsession with smart devices. So instead of peering into your gadget’s screen and getting work done on long haul flights, you could be making new friends in the pressurised cabin. Talk of networking on flights, or striking up a conversation with a stranger, a co-passenger — flesh, blood and bones, not a bot. If that doesn’t work, simply stare out the window and watch the world go by from 35,000 feet up in the air.

Royal Jordanian, one of the nine airlines from eight Middle East countries and Turkey affected by the ban, in fact, poked fun at the order. The airline has made a habit with humour since President Trump came to office in January. Its latest take was hilarious — and thought-provoking, too. It listed out 12 things to do on flights if you don’t have your gadgets for company. We take the liberty to list them out. Read a book; enjoy a light snack; say hello to the person next to you; meditate; spend an hour deciding what to watch; appreciate the miracle of flight; engage in primitive dialogue from the preinternet era; reclaim territory on armrest; pretend tray table is keyboard; shop on onboard duty free; analyse the meaning of life; think of reasons why you don’t have a laptop or tablet with you. Or, it’s okay to do what we Jordanians do best — stare at each other. Self deprecating humour at its best. To ban is human, to forget and fly is divine.