Item — HN Reader

Noticing that some public seating sucks has opened my eyes to how my municipality regards its residents.

While the sucky seating prevents the behaviour (sleeping) right there, it doesn't address the need/problem at all.

People don't want to sleep in airports, they'd much rather sleep at home, but their connections suck or delays made them miss their connection etc.

So sleeping will happen, but on the floor beside the seats.

3 comments

Sleeping is a lot easier on a comfy padded bench than it is on the floor, so it happens a lot less than it otherwise would. Preventing sleeping isn't just to the advantage of the people who want to sit down without having a sleeping man taking up four seats, it's also to the advantage of the people who would otherwise be tempted to take a nap that they know they shouldn't (because they need to catch their next flight).

Oh, and some people do want to sleep in airports -- cheapskates who don't want to pay for hotel rooms. Check out "The Budget Traveller's Guide To Sleeping In Airports":

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

for far more information than you ever wanted about the best places to sleep at airports all around the world.

I'd also imagine more people would avoid sleeping on the floor for cultural reasons too. We perceive someone sleeping on an airport waiting bench to be a weary traveler. Seeing someone sleep on the floor in a very busy place communicates vagrancy.

In terms of design ethics, the airport seats are different from the other examples. "The suck" is forced upon people without choice.

Also means more shopping at Hudson News, Auntie Anne's, and Au Bon Pain.

And less missed flights from oversleeping.