People talk on planes... People talk on phones. So long as they mind their volume nothing will be different.
I get a bit paranoid about what is going on in the world around me, especially on 12 hour flights, so it would be nice to stay in touch with people back home. I probably wouldn't phone anyone unless I had to, but an internet connection or something would be nice. I really hate leaving my friends or family on the ground where anything could happen to them... So a status check or a message every so often would be nice on a long flight.
Can I kill you, if I have to sit next to you?...

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Paul....

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You'd kill someone who cares for their friends and thinks they mean the world to him and would occasionally check up on them? Go right ahead if that's what you think's best.
...a bad day at the Office?, ......again?....

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Paul....

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You'll be the first to know when I have a bad day. In fact I got a job today, so no, it has been a rather good day. But that doesn't change the fact that I care more for the people back home than the people around me on a plane (who I may annoy for a matter of minutes in total on a long flight). Really, what is the concern they'd have with me going on the internet on a plane for 5-10 minutes then putting on a movie? They're probably asleep or watching something themselves.
Even if I can't get back home to them, that doesn't mean they're not a part of my life any more and if something happened I would want to be able to talk to them. It has happened before, so I'll continue to take good care of them.