So there would have been no '96 Olympics without your timely intervention.
Since you ask Jay, actually probably not. The '96 Olympics were the first to be carried worldwide over SLC2000 channel bank and the card we designed for it wasn't syncing up with the master clock. Two of us flew down and found the problem and it actually was an issue on the other end, but if you want to take the ordinary passing details of my life as sounding like trumpeting to you, I frankly couldn't give a shit. Doesn't say much for your life obviously. Happy trolling.
Sure, most people would have complied, but as Cosmic pointed out, we don't know that guy's situation. What I have found out is that the airline offered people $800 for their seats. The other three takers were NOT happy giving them up because that meant an almost 24 hour layover delay. What isn't widely known is that the airline has the authority to offer up to $1350 a seat for continental flights and up to $5000 for international flights. Also, they DO have the capacity written into the regs to simply ASK SOMEONE ELSE!
The guy did put up a big fuss and was actually pacing the aisle waving his arms; was he really a doctor on a life-saving mission? Was he a mental patient? Whatever the case, it all seems to come down to the fact that as written, the airline has total, absolute, autocratic authority in these matters and the passenger has almost none. The statement was made that you are entering a militarized zone I think is a very accurate one. You have no rights, or at least LOSE many of your rights and at the airport, you must comply without question least be treated like a police occupation, and when you give someone absolute power you end up with situations like this.
The matter has grown so far out of hand that there are actually organizations fighting to make changes and better protect passengers. If you are a flyer, here is one of the better of those to check out:
Rights
Jackswilling of course states several highly relevant facts.
Whatever your take, I think the guy whether intentionally or not was a hero/martyr of sorts. He took a stand for what has become an intolerable situation. This incident has brought the plight of the passenger and to what ridiculous lengths it has become to the public eye in a big way now and not only will United lose a lot of money over this but I think the chances good that finally, congress will be forced to take a new look at this and reassess their laws.