The chess bot on Delta Air Lines will destroy you (2024) [video]

Post by Ajedi32 » Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 6:06 PM UTC

lostlogin wrote: post #308

Ajedi32 wrote: post #291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that sounds frustrating. Respectfully though, it sounds like you're a special case and that's not a problem which would apply to most people. But maybe in the future I'll make a point of checking whether the person behind me is in the 95th percentile of adult male heights before reclining.

> I agree that sounds frustrating. Respectfully though, it sounds like you're a special case It would be interesting to know the numbers on this. Height is not going to tell the answer though, you as people of the same height have wildly variably limb length. I know half a dozen people who have the same issue and they vary from 1.9-2.1m tall. I don't work in a circus.

Post by Ajedi32 » Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 6:22 PM UTC

lostlogin wrote: post #332

Ajedi32 wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1.9m is 6' 3", already in the 93rd percentile of US adult males according to this chart. https://preview.redd.it/oruqlgczepp91.png?auto=webp&s=cb797f... 2.1m is in the 99th percentile. Maybe you just have a lot of very tall friends.

Maybe. I used to like being tall, but seeing a colleague use a fixed height desk as a standing desk has made me reconsider. Short people would seem likely to be comfortable in more places.

Post by kaffekaka » Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 7:16 PM UTC

Ajedi32 wrote: post #333

lostlogin wrote: post #332

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe. I used to like being tall, but seeing a colleague use a fixed height desk as a standing desk has made me reconsider. Short people would seem likely to be comfortable in more places.

I think once you get past the 95th percentile in any metric like that things start to get more difficult. I'm not even that tall and I sometimes have trouble finding pants that fit me. I imagine there are probably similar difficulties on the other end of the spectrum being below the 5th percentile.

Post by Ajedi32 » Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 8:44 PM UTC

amalcon wrote: post #323

Ajedi32 wrote: post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm also over 6' and I don't understand the problem? The seats only recline a few degrees, it's not like they're laying on my lap! Even fully reclined there's plenty of space in front of my face, and leg room is barely impacted at all. (Like probably an inch max?) Granted, I've only flown American and Delta, maybe other airlines are worse in this respect?

Those few degrees matter if your knees are already brushing the back of the seat in front of you. It matters how tall you are, how much of that is in your legs, how big your feet are (the more you need to bend your knees, the higher they will be), and it also varies depending on seat design and layout. For others like me, one trick is to at most minimally use the under seat storage: small handbags only. No backpacks,…

Post by lostlogin » Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 5:17 AM UTC

Ajedi32 wrote: post #333

lostlogin wrote: post #332

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe. I used to like being tall, but seeing a colleague use a fixed height desk as a standing desk has made me reconsider. Short people would seem likely to be comfortable in more places.

I think once you get past the 95th percentile in any metric like that things start to get more difficult. I'm not even that tall and I sometimes have trouble finding pants that fit me. I imagine there are probably similar difficulties on the other end of the spectrum being below the 5th percentile.