# Going to the movies on Christmas or other big holidays makes you an asshole. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 5, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871 "2007-01-05T22:03:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/161 "2007-01-10T20:21:46Z")
[QUOTE=whole bean] Nah. Not wrong. I was told I would work when scheduled and they would try to accommodate things, but their schedule was the trump. [/quote] Did they really try to accommodate or just give it lip service? If they didn’t really try, then fuck them, they didn’t keep the agreement. > [@](#): > > I guess it would fall into your “meh” category, but in my opinion so does a movie theatre position in an at-will environment. If you work in an “at will” situation, where you can get fired/laid off/down-sized whenever management wants/needs to for whatever reason or no reason at all, the flip-side is you can quit whenever you deem it necessary - no explanation, no notice required – regardless of any “representation” you made in the past, promises are cheap. I understand about the concept of at-will. I agree with it. Both ways. I have no problem in general with an employee leaving because he got a better deal somewhere else. I think the employee should be professional about it but that’s my opinion on the morality of the situation. I don’t think notices or any other convention like that should be enforced through legislation. You’ve done a good job describing the what the legalities are but that isn’t my issue here. Just because the employer can legally be an asshole and because the employee can legally be an asshole, doesn’t mean that it’s ok from a moral point of view to be an asshole. If the time came and he had a change of heart and decided to quit because he missed his family so much, I might have some minor issues with it if it was at the very last minute, but I would have been understanding. If the theater told him that he could have the day off and then re-scheduled him to work, even if it was for legitimate unforeseen circumstances, I would sympathize with the employee if he was angry. My main issue as far as that goes is that **VC03** agreed to something, knew it was coming for months, and then threw a hissy fit because he had to do it. Furthermore, he’s such an entitled ass that he thinks that all of us should have to stop our lives because of his particular family traditions. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/162 "2007-01-10T20:53:04Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] Did they really try to accommodate or just give it lip service? If they didn’t really try, then fuck them, they didn’t keep the agreement. [/QUOTE] Who’s to say. The schedule was posted in the break room. I looked at it on Tuesday and there I am, scheduled to work on my birthday. I needed every cent I could earn till then as well (college). I went to my manager (the prick who had laid me off earlier in the year – did it at the end of my shift on a (I think) Friday, good luck with a weekend job search) and asked to be rescheduled. He said he couldn’t (and, yes I had requested the day off). So I worked up to then and on my brithday, on the way to the party to be exact, I dropped off my uni’s, apron, etc. in his office. “NO NOTICE!” he said. I looked at my watch and said, “eh, I think you’ve got a good fifteen minutes till my shift starts,” and walked out. Reep what you sow and all that. [QUOTE=hajario] Just because the employer can legally be an asshole and because the employee can legally be an asshole, doesn’t mean that it’s ok from a moral point of view to be an asshole. [/QUOTE] What’s “Ok.”? You’d be surprised to know that I defend mangement’s position in the reverse situation constantly to my friends and family. Without any extra good-will, the employee/employer relationship doesn’t create the moral issues for me as it appears to for you. After all, it’s just business. The same “reep what you sow” caveat obviously applies. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/163 "2007-01-10T22:55:19Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] I calls 'em as I sees 'em. It was not meant as an insult. I figured you were worth a wake-up call. I tend to ignore most bad behavior on the board because it’s really none of my business, but when someone who’s made some decent contributions starts showing signs of trouble, I’ll on occasion point out that their behavior (not them, but their behavior) is problematic. Y’see, in the past I benefitted greatly (in real life) when folks who had credibility with me pointed out that my actions were not that of the sort of person I wanted to be. YMMV and all that. [/QUOTE] Seriously, **VCO3**. You don’t know me from Adam, but your postings in this thread seem really out of character for you. Are you ok? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/164 "2007-01-10T22:56:23Z")
[QUOTE=whole bean] Who’s to say. The schedule was posted in the break room. I looked at it on Tuesday and there I am, scheduled to work on my birthday. I needed every cent I could earn till then as well (college). I went to my manager (the prick who had laid me off earlier in the year – did it at the end of my shift on a (I think) Friday, good luck with a weekend job search) and asked to be rescheduled. He said he couldn’t (and, yes I had requested the day off). So I worked up to then and on my brithday, on the way to the party to be exact, I dropped off my uni’s, apron, etc. in his office. “NO NOTICE!” he said. I looked at my watch and said, “eh, I think you’ve got a good fifteen minutes till my shift starts,” and walked out. Reep what you sow and all that. [/quote] I tend to look at things like this on a case by case basis. Based on what you’ve told me, I agree with your actions. > [@](#): > > What’s “Ok.”? You’d be surprised to know that I defend mangement’s position in the reverse situation constantly to my friends and family. Without any extra good-will, the employee/employer relationship doesn’t create the moral issues for me as it appears to for you. After all, it’s just business. The same “reep what you sow” caveat obviously applies. You’d be surprised to know that I’m not surprised and that we’re probably very close to agreement on this issue. There obviously has to be good will both ways. ---
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/165 "2007-01-11T03:30:13Z")
Actually… to bring up something entirely different… I think that going to the movies on Christmas literally saves lives. Because if some people had to spend the ENTIRE day with their families, homicides would ensue. It’s a public service. That being said, I sincerely would love to have a job next Christmas where I have to work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Since I know I won’t, I plan to spend those three days volunteering at nursing homes and hospitals. I am not going through the ordeal of a family Christmas again. ---
**Author:** ![sci\_girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@sci\_girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sci_girl)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/166 "2007-01-11T06:56:30Z")
eh, I’ll take the extra $1 or 2 per hour very happily. But then again, I’m an atheist with half my small family in another country. I’m still a little pissed I got screwed out of so many hours this Christmas week due to slow business. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/167 "2007-01-11T07:08:00Z")
Obviously, **VCO3** has uncovered a nest of atheists willing to perpetuate the War On Christmas in their slavish desire for a buck. I’m sure his masters are commending him on a job well done - you may all report for “family-values training” in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/168 "2007-01-11T07:31:59Z")
[QUOTE=Anise] Actually… to bring up something entirely different… I think that going to the movies on Christmas literally saves lives. Because if some people had to spend the ENTIRE day with their families, homicides would ensue. It’s a public service. [/QUOTE] That’s a damned good point, although not quite the way you meant it. How many more people would kill themselves every year if they couldn’t at least go out to the movies on Christmas, and be around other people, instead of staying home alone? Going to the movies might be a convenience for people who don’t care about Christmas, but it could be a life-saver for someone who _does_ care, but doesn’t have anyone to spend it with. ---
**Author:** ![The\_The](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@The\_The](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_The)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/169 "2007-01-11T08:10:35Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Life sucks, get a helmet. [/QUOTE] Take your own advice, you contrary fuckwit. If ppl don’t want to deal with you on their holiday, move to a country that has less of them. Predominantly Christian country here, so put your helmet on, asshat. Asshat, hmm, you’re already wearing your protective headgear, aren’t you Hollywood? I suggest organizing a Doper pity party for your suffering do to Christmas. Really, how old are you that you’re crying that something very important might interfere with a childish whim to be entertained? Going to the theater just to piss off the OP, that’s mature, level-headed behavior. There are pushy, asshole religious ppl, but they sure don’t have a corner on the market, as you so ably prove. Wait, since you like to do the opposite of what others would ask. . . why don’t you continue to be an self-important ass, and be sure to go to a movie every holiday! There, THAT should work on your infantile mentality. I’m telling you ppl, I don’t go to church or anything, but the way you jackasses are jumping on the OP just because he or she wants to spend one day away from HIS MINIMUM FUCKING WAGE JOB (on what has been for centuries a day many, many people in YOUR country consider very important) AND BE WITH HIS FAMILY, I HAVE to defend their right not to kiss your privileged, rich-bitch asses just because you’ve got a 10-spot, and don’t have enough wits to occupy yourself for one day. Here’s a thought, spend that tenner on a viagra and spank it on Christmas. . .but plan ahead, because PHARMACIES aren’t open! Hmm, all those other things you post about, and pharmacies aren’t open? Gee, people might want to LIVE on Christmas, might want to get pills that are vital to their well-being, but yet a vital health-related service is closed for the holiday. Might be other businesses and services could safely do the same. . . No wonder I fucking hate people. They deserve it. Merry Christmas!!! Merry Christmas!!! Merry Christmas!!! ---
**Author:** ![The\_The](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@The\_The](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_The)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/170 "2007-01-11T08:22:13Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Shut up, peon. [/QUOTE] Wow, I believe the vernacular you kiddies use is, “pwned.” You is L33t. ---
**Author:** ![The\_The](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@The\_The](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_The)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/171 "2007-01-11T08:31:00Z")
Ok, I should revise something that omitted part of in my previous msg. Changes the meaning quite a bit. “Really, how old are you that you’re crying that something very important TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE might interfere with a childish whim to be entertained?” Using my words. . . ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/172 "2007-01-11T16:21:19Z")
[QUOTE=lisacurl] Seriously, **VCO3**. You don’t know me from Adam, but your postings in this thread seem really out of character for you. Are you ok? [/QUOTE] +1 I almost never post in the Pit - just not my nature, but between the subject matter of this thread and the nature of your comments, **VC03** , things don’t seem okay. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871/173 "2007-01-11T16:55:22Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m telling you ppl, I don’t go to church or anything, but the way you jackasses are jumping on the OP just because he or she wants to spend one day away from HIS MINIMUM FUCKING WAGE JOB (on what has been for centuries a day many, many people in YOUR country consider very important) AND BE WITH HIS FAMILY, I HAVE to defend their right not to kiss your privileged, rich-bitch asses just because you’ve got a 10-spot, and don’t have enough wits to occupy yourself for one day. You need to learn to read. The OP is complaining, not because s/he was to work on Christmas day, but that the OP’s own family wanted to leave the house on Christmas day and go to the movies. In other words, the OP’s anger was directed at _their very own family_, not at some “boss” who made them work that day. At best, one could claim that the OP’s anger is directed at those people who provided his family with the option of leaving the house… but the original anger was in fact directed at the OP’s own family, who then had to stay at home to coddle the OP and help him get over his anger. The dickwit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-the-movies-on-christmas-or-other-big-holidays-makes-you-an-asshole/386871.md?page=8)