and engage in a conversation.

That's pretty lofty. And while that would be perfect in a perfect world, this ain't that.

She is a public person in a public place. She transitioned to public servant when she got on the campaign trail. Was that guy perfect? Nope. But she's a public servant now in a public place and that comes with the territory.

But in this situation, there is an opportunity to say something to her, even if very briefly. It's not a perfect world, but it IS an airplane, and while there may not be a lengthy conversation (although, depending on the circusmtances, there could be), there can be a brief dialogue.

If you have the time to yell at her, you have the time to talk to her.

Being a public person does not mean that people now should scream at you in public. Certainly, they have a right to do it. But it's non-productive and stupid.

the guy was able to say all that he did *because* he confronted her...not because they were engaged with one another.

You make a stretch in this regard...and it imposes an impossible standard.

It is *easy* to armchair quarterback. It is not so easy to do that in the moment...and considering the uptick the president elect had made in nuclear armament, it is certainly understandable that these things could happen. Ask yourself when there has ever been an example of a first family elect flying on a public flight?

You wanna know *why* you don't hear of stuff like that?

Because it doesn't happen.

Until now.

Again...public person in a public place. Not my favorite type of behavior, but, again, it goes with the territory. I can only *imagine* what would have been said the Malia or Sasha. Oh, but *that's* right. You wouldn't hear of these things because they would never be *bait* like that.

As I said, I've been in this situation many times and it IS possible to say more than "hi" - IF you're respectful and not rude or disruptive. I've never been on a flight with the family of a president-elect - although, unless they charter their own plane at their own expense, they do fly commercial since they can't use government aircraft for their personal travel (except for the First Lady). But I HAVE been on flights with senators, congresspersons, cabinet secretaries, a UN ambassador, the family of a vice president and others. And while I didn't interact with them every time, I often have and even when I didn't, someone on the flight did go over to speak with them and the communications were always cordial, even when they disagreed.

I'm not "armchair quarterbacking" - I'm speaking from experience.

And that guy didn't accomplish anything. He just yelled at Ivanka and got his ass thrown off the plane. Period. No policy was changed. He didn't influence her or anyone else. He got nothing but 15 minutes of fame.

But if some of y'all want to do your advacy by yelling on and then getting thrown off of airplanes, be my guest. I'll handle my business in a more productive manner.

And a airline is not a public place. It is no more public than any office. Airlines will tell you that you have no right to engage in conversation with any passenger that does not want it. And they have the legal right to put you off the aircraft if you do.

for kids to work for the administration, but she is, so nice try. No dice.

And no one has the right to accost a passenger or force them into encounters they don't want to have.

I would like to see what would happen if someone tried to accost Michelle Obama on a plane.

Not the logistics of accosting her.

Or laugh at her and say "how's your dad in bed"?

Other than maybe the person sitting immediately next to you on the plane, I highly doubt that anyone is going to engage in a political discussion with some stranger who approaches them from more than 2 feet away. "Hey, do you wanna talk politics with me?" I don't think so. The best you could hope for would be a smile and a "No thanks."

You are dreaming if you think she (or practically any bigwig) would exchange their contact information with you for the purpose of discussing some political issue with you at a later date over email or snail mail. All they would do with your card is toss it in the trash or hand it over to their security person to keep on their "stalker alert" file.

And public figures usually do share contact information - often it's their staff person's information, which is why I always try to get the contact information for people who are with them, and they will readily give it to you.

As I said, I've done this kind of thing many times, so I know that the "don't bother, don't waste your time, it doesn't work, they won't listen, you can't talk to them, so it's better to just stand in the aisle and yell insults at them" argument doesn't work on me.

But you do it your way and I'll continue to follow my approach.

I've honestly been shocked at some of the things I've read on here on this subject.

Behaving like an obnoxious thug does nothing to advance our goals.