http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacy

If we're meant to be debating against an assertion that, because wrapping yourself in bubble tape would be silly, inconvenient, and not that much safer (an unproven and hyperbolic assumption) airplane customers ought to be able to lean their seats back, as it is also inconvenient, silly and and not much safer (which again, is an assertion that is provided without any further scientific backing or reasoning on the part of the quote you opened with;) then the first thing to do is explore the premise. Which is inherently flawed as far as logic goes.

The original assertion which you supplied provides no hard evidence or logic on it's own - and yet you are now demanding a burden of proof from any who would disagree with you.
Well, I rather think Mythbusters does use hard science. That was a shortened clip from the full episode - but they worked out how to simulate a terminal velocity, created a rig which would accomplish that, and then rode said device using the crash position. Pretty solid science I think. But we can go another route if you want:

http://www.airspacemag.com/need-to-know/NEED-seatbacks.html?c=y&page=1 pretty well explains it, I think. And http://flightsafety.org/ccs/ccs_jan-feb88.pdf is a verifiable study on the brace position, complete with references.

Your quote speaks only of the requirement to place your seat in an upright position during take-off and landing. These are not only the most likely times for an accident - it is also during these moments when the plane is more likely to be at a survivable height. (And this backed up in the links I already provided.)

Edit - Hmm... I just read the comments section of that smithsonian article, and realized that's where the quote you supplied came from. Well, if that article didn't explain it you sufficiently, then I'm certainly not going to be able to offer any further education - because it looked pretty cut-and-dry to me.

Wow. Talk about getting peeved over insignificant things.

What will you make a thread about next? The fact that beard clippers tend to go dull after a while?

If you run your disposable razor (going with the slant of the blades, so the opposite way to shaving) down a pair of jeans about 10 times, it sharpens it and you won't need to by as many blades.

This right here.

Although I will admit that constant sitting upright is not healthy for the back and legs in a plane. They hurt after awhile.. must be maddening for the elderly.

Fight Club myth.

I've never been in turbulence, but I was wondering if they require the seats to be upright just in case it gets really jerky - maybe having the seat in front of you fully reclined means you might be more at risk of accidentally being knocked into it and hurting yourself? Not life saving maybe, but could save someone a broken nose if turbulence gets that bad.

True, but with the price of disposable razors as cheap as it is (not to mention that if you buy them in bulk, you have a ton of them), it seems somewhat pointless to sharpen it.

Regardless, it makes me so angry I want to make a thread about it!

Also beard clippers aren't razors

I've been in turbulence, which was pretty much the entire flight to Holland in a Fokker Friendship (basically a minibus with wings nailed to it). Based upon that experience, I'd say the main reason you're asked to put your seat up is so that the person behind isn't sick in your hair.

This.


This to a degree. I may have heard it once, but if someone's head is in your lap when you hit turbulence you're more likely to injure them and yourself than if their seat is upright.

It was in a movie? Must be true then....lol

You broke the first rule.

THIS!
Also if you don't like having to sit upright then buy your own plane.

There's nothing ridiculous about the request. How are the people behind you supposed to get in the "safe" position while your chair is impeding them? I mean if you're a totally selfish [censored] I suppose it might be a tiny bit inconvenient, but they do ask you to do it for a perfectly valid reason, so instead of acting like a fool, you should probably just do it.