Seems the only players in this scenerio that took the “high road” were the flight attendants. Someone being rude does not excuse the respondent’s rudeness. Everyone can have a bad day. It’s been my experience that giving the benefit of the doubt and a kind word can change an persons attitude a make for a much nicer day for all involved.

To put this in context, the woman - “Diane” - had been rude to flight attendants (a crime for which, as far as I am aware, the recommended punishment is not sexual harassment within a confined space). During the exchange that ensued, Gale pressured flight attendants to become complicit in his abuse by transferring the notes between him and “Diane” - who, he happened to tweet, was “in her late 40s or early 50s” and was wearing “mom jeans” (hence not only rude but not even shaggable!).

Whether real or imagined, Gale’s behaviour was manipulative, misogynistic and self-aggrandising and yet he deliberately made it public in an effort to gain approval — and, most disturbingly, he got it. His twitter follower count tripled and #TeamElan became the boorish bystander’s hashtag of choice.

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There are plenty of “Dianes” around. By that, I don’t mean women who are rude to flight attendants (although I’m sure there are plenty of those, too). I mean women whom men like Gale — privileged, self-styled men of principle — identify as Women of Privilege and hence suitable targets for all the misogynist shit they’re too inhibited to hurl at the average woman.

More: The ‘Plane Row’ Hero: The Internet Loves to Applaud When a Woman Is Put in Her Place