Whenever I can I choose window seat in order to enjoy the flight. No reason to close the shades as far as I can see

I do with it what I want. Which, 99% of the time, is stare out it at the beauty of the world. The joy on my partner’s face as we flew over the Alps is something I shall never forget- he’d never seen them from above; and I love following the Thames as I’m returning from a trip.

People need to a) get off socials and touch grass; and b) bring an eye mask.

He was fascinated looking at everything below. One of the most memorable sites I remember seeing from the air was crater lake in Oregon.

To this day, I’m still amazed every time we lift off the ground. I cannot imagine what someone transported from another historical period would think of air travel.

As in, we (people) were not built to fly - pause from the goddamned screens and take a peak at the world below as you fly over it from 7 miles in the air.

You're basically riding in a 'submarine' now with all the shades pulled.

I can assure you that’s dead.

Assignments that required them to physically interact with others and the outside world.

It took some creative thinking to create the assignments, but they were hands-on and required without exception. No excuses.

The best part was grading them.

Like geology--from above you can see obvious old riverbeds and such and I wonder if being up in the air was revelatory in some way.

Like most things in life, when you change perspective and have another vantage point, you can think and consider the item in new ways (and see new connections)!

...because I like to look out the window, especially during takeoffs and landings.

Oddly enough, when I flew I preferred the window seat. I think the beauty of the earth below overcame the fear I otherwise would've felt.

...and while I haven't gotten over it...the one place it doesn't affect me is on an airplane. I can sit at the window and look out and have no fear. I can't say the same for standing at window on a very high floor of a building.

My 2 cents

I always fly window seat and I have only ever been requested to close the shade after landing in very hot weather.

I like to gawk out the window and have window seats on both legs of a trip today. But the glare, oh my. I keep the shade down to minimize the glare of daylight. The glare comes at you from the side and not from above which is why I prefer the shades down too. One more reason for those redeye flights, no glare from the windows.

I hate when people aren’t aware of that.
If you can’t see land, close the friggin’ blinds.

If the sun is glaring in I’ll shut it.
Other than that if someone asks politely I try and be pleasant.
If you tell me what to do I’ll stare into your soul and leave it.

There's too much to look at out there from that rare perspective and I soak in my plane tickets worth. I've flown over 500 times in my life and the things I've seen out that window. Nope, ain't happening. Sorry if anyone thinks it's rude. Like I said if it's gonna bother someone that much they shoulda bought their own window seat. I can't put a pillow over that baby's head so my window shades staying open

For very personal reasons. And then decline the request.

8, or 9 into a flight. At maximum altitude there is very little to look at.

I hesitate to call anything within the US a flight. They are so short. Pretty much do what you want then

Long haul international...? These are NOT the same.

My wife sits in the aisle seat in that row. I have the window shade up so i can watch the passing scenery. Unless the sun is coming in the window. Then I close it.

I'd object to being forced to close that shade. These days, you pay extra for window seats. They have windows. Use them if you pay for them.

Social media is full of bullshit posts. I have never heard airline staff telling passengers to close those shades.

My architect daughter tells me that over and over. Lots of studies showing that fact. Getting natural light into built structures is a major consideration these days.

That full spectrum of light frequency coming through the window is far better than any artificial lighting from the plane.

Keep the shade up if you want.

If people want to watch a movie, they can up the brightness on their mobile screens.

If people want to sleep, they can bring an eye mask. I wonder if there are eye masks available on a plane if you ask?

Personally, if I am reading a book on a plane, I far prefer the natural light from a window over the artificial lighting.

Lowering the shade on the tarmac to help prevent heat from coming into the cabin makes perfect sense too.

I've been discouraged from climbing out on the wing. What can a guy do for a little excitement these days???

and I alwys take a window seat, when it’s available. And it nearly always is.

I will always open the window. I like knowing where I am, plus I do like looking out the window.

If bright sunlight is beaming through the window, I will close the shade part-way or completely. It just depends on the situation.

But, at the end of the day, as the window seat occupier, I decide when to open and close (except when the flight attendant instructs me otherwise). But, I’m alwys considerate of my fellow passengers. In 30+ years of frequent flying, I’ve never had a problem with anyone.

If I'm in a window seat, I will close it a little but not all the way. I'm not giving into entitled people who cry that they can't see the content on their phones if the shades are up.

I love looking out the window when flying. If a passenger wants to "rest," let them wear an eye mask.