That surgeon thing is a good analogy. Having every Tom, Dick and Harry blunder in with a opinion on what was going on in that aeroplane and how inter crew relationships should be conducted is akin to me going into a medical forum, not reading the threads, and passing an opinion on the operating theatre surgeon's relationship with the staff and how he speaks to them and what his personality is! I don't do that, why do non aviation professionals feel they can come in here and give us the benefit of their (zero) experience, and have the arrogance to start criticising a captain's alleged conduct?
That seat can be very isolated sometimes. Low fuel, bad weather, technical faults.....add on prima donna crew- it can be very difficult sometimes. If an experienced captain makes a decision, his motives should be listened to. He can conduct himself, within reason, how he likes, as long as he does the job right. So all the 'shoot from the hip' judgements about his alleged conduct are worthless. It is not a popularity contest. Like the surgeon in an operation, he has the ultimate authority to conduct it as he sees fit, and if the surgeon cancels out during the procedure, he's doing it from the basis of his experience. Some of you should remember that. It is not a home judgement of his decision on your remote control: 'press red button if you think he was right, blue button if you think he was wrong!' If United decide his decision was not valid, they will handle it. We don't need idiot laymen here ponderously deciding the outcome on minimal information. We all know most surgeons probably have buried a few of their poor decisions, but somehow some of you are looking (and hoping!) at this as a career termination matter. A safety decision was made, nobody was hurt, and the passengers continued with minimal delay. On that plane it might have felt serious, though safety was not compromised. Off that plane, it was a storm in a teacup, nothing more.
Some of you need to keep out of this matter!