While on the Road, I Realized the Rise of Online Anonymity and Name Calling
Deep in my brain and soul, I heard my mother on my last trip and when writing this blog post… loudly and clearly.
The internet has changed how we communicate. One of the more troubling shifts has been the increase in name-calling, often fueled by the anonymity that online platforms provide. Nowhere is this more evident than in the discourse around travel frustrations.
And then I actually heard at a gate in Charlotte. I normally board first because I travel more often than most. As I boarded a plane recently, I heard “it”…someone said “it”…. “gate lice” — a term used to describe people who crowd the boarding gate long before their group is called.
I had read about this… in different online stories. What started as a light jab by someone, somewhere has evolved into a shorthand insult used across forums, social media posts, and comment threads. And it's not alone. The travel experience has spawned an entire lexicon of name-calling:
“Aisle lice” refers to those who immediately stand up and block the aisle as soon as the plane lands, often before the seatbelt sign is off.
“Check-in chickens” are those seen anxiously hovering near counters or kiosks, repeatedly checking in or asking questions despite clear signage.
“Raw dogging a flight” — a newer phrase — mocks passengers who fly without any personal entertainment, headphones, or even a water bottle, as if they’re suffering through air travel unprepared.
While each term is rooted in a recognizable travel behavior, the trend of labeling fellow passengers has become more aggressive — and more public. Anonymity on platforms like Reddit, X/Twitter, and even TikTok encourages this. With no real consequences and no social cues to moderate tone, people are more willing to turn a minor annoyance into an outright insult.
It’s no longer just about venting frustration. The framing is often condescending or shaming, stripping people of context and painting them as caricatures. Someone “raw dogging” a flight might be on their first trip, overwhelmed, or simply forgot their headphones. The “aisle lice” may have a tight connection or a back issue. But in the online discourse, nuance takes a back seat to snark.
Travel is inherently stressful. Systems aren’t always efficient. Passengers don’t always behave well. But turning every misstep into a meme or insult contributes to a culture where frustration becomes hostility. The anonymity of the internet lowers the bar for civility and raises the volume on judgment.
And back to my Mother… I can hear her ask a simple question to anyone with this type of vernacular. “Would you call someone that name (any of them) to their face? And if not, then why is it appropriate to do it anonymously?”
Never question or argue with Mom.
