Minor Reflections on the Number 13
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While on a plane last week, returning from Chicago to Houston, one of my fellow travelers leaned over to me and commented, “Hey, I just noticed something – there’s no row 13 on this plane!”
For some reason, this kinda caught my attention (mainly because it doesn’t take much to keep me entertained) and I began to reflect about that statement a bit. Actually, I don’t think there is a row 13 on any airplane.
This quirk isn’t limited to airplanes, either. In fact, there are very few buildings in North America with a 13th floor (assuming, of course, they’re tall enough to need one.)
I wonder; is it the same in the rest of the world? Oh, not necessarily the specific number; but are there similar “leftover” phenomena in other cultures?
So what’s with that? I assume the origin of this particular custom came from times past, when people understood less about the universe, and tended to be more, well, superstitious. But why is that tradition still prolonged today, in these supposedly more enlightened times? Will society always continue to be enslaved by the past?
There is absolutely no basis in fact for the belief that the number 13 is unlucky, is there? I mean, think about it: in fact there really is a 13th row on the plane – it’s just labeled “14”, that’s all. Can calling it by another name really make a difference?
So here’s a thought question for you: If you were assigned a seat in the 13th row of a plane, would you:
- Be afraid to take it
- Maybe take note of it, but not be concerned
- Never give it a second thought
Just wondering…
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11 responses so far
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Korea: #4 is bad… something to do with it looking like the Chinese character of death.
A seat in the 13th row? Wouldn’t bother me. Really what they should do is actually have a row 13, discount the tickets, and watch people overcome their stupidity the sake of a few bucks… You know they’d be fighting for that row!
Yeah, I’d heard that about the #4 and some Asian cultures, T.
Actually, now that I think about it - on the plane I was on (a 737) the 13th row is an “exit row” - one of my favorite spots, and one I always TRY to book.
It provides lots of extra legroom, plus we get out first! (Er, assuming the standard rule about landings still applies - “any landing you can walk away from, etc.”)
I can’t begin to tell you how little this matters to me.
But Jon - um, I don’t know how to tell you this… but you, uh, just did (begin, that is)!
When travelling recently we had exactly this discussion.In the UK the number 13 is also considered unlucky by some people. We were in a hotel where there was no 13th floor - 12th and 14th - hmmm who’s fooling who. And yes most of the planes I travel on row 13 is at the exit with all of the related space benefits. It does not bother me one little bit - but lots of people have beliefs and rituals which are important to them…so…as long as it does not have a negative impact on me that’s fine!
The converse of course is what is considered “lucky”…our guide on a recent trip to Hong Kong told us about massive amounts of money paid for car number plates including the number 8!
Jackie, you make an interesting point. But what if others’ superstitions DO affect you? I know, we can play “what if” scenarios all day, but it can happen. Wouldn’t we be better off as a whole if people could leave these silly things behind? (A thought exercise, I know - it’ll never happen in real life.)
But I also like your point about “lucky”, too. I think the Lottery folks play that up to the hilt - and plenty of otherwise sane people fall for it, hook, line and sinker!
Just my opinion, though - :-\
Hi Bob,
Airlines and office buildings should take a page out of the NASA playbook and use 41C! Space shuttle missions all were sequentially numbered up through 12, and then all the old Apollo engineers suggested that perhaps fate shouldn’t be tempted again…those superstitious rocket scientists!
Mike
So… I could have had row 41C? How cool is that? And in an aircraft with only 28 rows, yet!
Probably wouldn’t even notice… in fact, I fly a lot, so it’s likely I’ve sat in row 13 and not noticed.
Silly people, numbers aren’t magic.
I guess I’m superstitious until it becomes inconvenient. For example. I’d take an aisle seat in 13 over a middle seat in 12. I’d take a middle seat in 13 over an aisle seat in 32. However, I’d take an aisle seat in 14 - 20 over an aisle seat in 13. Is this crazier than just being flat out superstitious?
Brad, it sounds like you’re more practical than superstitious on the first two examples. But… then it starts to show on the last one. Oh, well.