Man called ‘uncivilized’, ‘monkey’ for sleeping on Delhi airport bench; Internet Strikes Back: ‘Have Some Empathy’ | Today’s news
A social media post showing a passenger sleeping on a bench at the Delhi airport sparked an online debate, with many users criticizing the individual who shared the image rather than the passenger who was seen resting.
The controversy started when X (formerly Twitter) user Pulkit Sharma posted a photo of an unsuspecting passenger sleeping on an airport bench. In the image, the traveler appears to be resting with a cabin bag placed under his head as a pillow.
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Sharma used the photo to criticize what he described as a lack of civic sense among Indians, arguing that such behavior reflected poorly in public spaces.
A social media user criticizes passengers
In his post, Sharma wrote, “No government can bring civic sense to Indians. Utterly pathetic and shameful, this fool has occupied this public space (which is meant to be shared) as if he owns it.”
He also flagged the Delhi airport and suggested that a dedicated police force should be deployed in the airport premises to deal with such situations.
Expanding his criticism, Sharma wrote: “Most uncivilized people. There are 100s of such dirty examples. Some sit with bare feet on racks with complete disregard for public hygiene, some eat like the lowest vermin and leave the debris there themselves.”
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He further added, “Even an average bus stand in the west looks cleaner and more civil than India’s biggest airport. Full marks to the authorities for providing many modern facilities, but it has been provided to a lot of monkeys.”
The post quickly gained attention on social media and generated a large number of reactions and comments.
The Internet comes to the defense of travelers
However, most users who responded to the post disagreed with Sharma’s assessment. Many have claimed that passengers often spend long hours waiting for connecting flights and that sleeping in airport terminals is a common occurrence around the world.
Several users said the criticism lacked empathy, especially considering the physical strain associated with air travel and long layovers.
One user wrote: “There’s nothing wrong with sleeping on benches and seats at the airport as people can be tired so please have some empathy. At least you opened your shoes, in the US I’ve seen most people don’t open their shoes when sleeping on airport benches.”
Another commented: “Welcome aboard the civic sensory outrage train, where complex issues are reduced to lazy stereotypes because they’re great for ventilation and even better for social media traction.”
Users say that sleeping in airports is common around the world
Others have pointed out that airport terminals are designed to accommodate passengers who may have to wait longer between flights.
“It’s Delhi airport, you’ll find hundreds of seats. But you want to sit exactly where he sleeps because he’s tired. Maybe he’s waiting for a connecting flight. Sleeping at the airport is not a civility issue,” wrote one user.
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Another person commented: “Nothing wrong here. Humans can only do so much with infrared and traveling is tiring and one might need to stretch. Get off your high horse.”
A fifth user echoed similar sentiments, writing: “What’s the point.. He took his shoes off, looks rich, has to pay millions/millions in taxes so poor low IQ people can live for free. Just resting in decent posture. You’d find them in 1st world white majority countries too.”
