Matt From Helsinki:
I agree about how ridiculous our nation has become with regards to weight. And I'm not saying Southwest is beyond their bounds to stop people who can't fit comfortably from flying, they're a private company and they have that right. I think the way they went about it seems suspect and arbitrary, the latter being the more condemning.
I worked at Knoebels Amusement Park for the past two summers at the world renowned Phoenix wooden roller coaster. This thing was made in the 70's so the seats are designed for the average American of the time. I see people coming up the ramp and I dread having to be the one to check their lap bars as I have to do one of two things: 1) push really hard so the lap bar can snap into place and lock, which turns it into a spectacle and I feel like a monster or 2) I have to tell men or women that they can't fit and they have to get off and I feel like a monster. I feel bad and have actually have had a number of women cry (not from an insensitivity on my part, but the situation in general). But then I think harder and realize, they are in control of their weight. I'm overweight but I know it's because I don't eat correctly or exercise nearly enough. I try to change that but it's hard, so I'm sympathetic in that regard but if you don't take personal responsibility then no one can help you.
I see this as no different than when we have to turn away people with certain disabilities from the ride. If you don't have at least one leg, you have a very real possibility of falling out of the car, and thus we don't let you ride. If you can't fit into the car and the lap bar won't close properly without being cocked at a suspicious angle, we can't let you ride.
