December 10, 2025
Coach smoke meets VIP choke
Very Important People
Smoke in coach, VIP wristbands, and a comment war over envy vs tech
TLDR: An essay on coach-class grit, VIP access, and celebrity envy sparked a heated “is this tech?” debate. Commenters split between dismissal, philosophy, and a goofy “potato equality” meme—showing how status anxiety hijacks even tech forums and why community lines blur between gadgets and the human drama around them.
An essay about flying coach through smoky vents at Sea‑Tac, hustling for VIP wristbands under the Space Needle, and chasing celebrity sightings set off a fiery comments brawl. Half the audience asked, “Is this even tech?” while others argued the real gadget was the human ego. One reader snarled, “What is the point?” calling the headspace “pure misery.” Another groaned that the attitude was “insufferable.” Cue the contrarians: “Excellent read,” cheered a quiet squad, while the philosophers showed up with a think piece in a comment, musing that envy runs the show and turns people into exhibitionists.
The thread’s strangest star? A prankish primal riff about throwing potatoes to reset status: “The potato makes us all the same again,” which instantly became the day’s meme. Meanwhile, the author’s shout‑out that you can play Call of Duty on iPads dragged tech back into the chat, sparking jokes that the real VIP was seat 22B and a free cup of water.
So the community split: therapy session or culture critique? Some felt watched‑potato philosophy was genius; others wanted fewer feelings, more code. But everyone agreed on one thing: fame envy is a bug that keeps reproducing, even on flights with $10 Wi‑Fi.
Key Points
- •A plane at Sea-Tac emitted thin, grey smoke from vents that the author later learned was harmless condensation common on hot runways.
- •The author describes economy-class conditions, including limited complimentary drinks and paid Wi-Fi, and impersonal service focused on seat numbers.
- •The author recently experienced VIP and backstage access at a Seattle music festival beneath the Space Needle, arranged by a booking agent friend.
- •The essay centers on the drive to see celebrities, recounting attempts and family anecdotes of encounters with actors such as John Goodman, Howard Keel, and Martin Sheen.
- •A notable anecdote includes John Goodman joking about the film King Ralph during a chance meeting outside a 7-Eleven.