I cannot see how it is impolite to carry on quietly with one's own business. In my experience only about 10-20% of the pax watch the brief. Are we all being rude?
And just how is listening to the brief for the thousandth time going to help me find the exit or get the mask down?
If I am sitting by an emergency exit I read the instructions or, on the rare occasion when one is given, I listen to the personal brief given to pax sitting in these rows.
I can see this touches a nerve with some who need to fling insults. Why does my not listening to the briefing imply that "I would not know what to do?"
I have been a professional pilot for 35 years, I probably have a reasonable idea of what to do!
I say again: Just how is listening to the brief for the thousandth time going to help me find the exit or get the mask down?