# Was I out of line here? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 27, 2002, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898 "2002-09-27T17:21:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/21 "2002-09-28T00:00:04Z")
This is why I never go to the theater. Unfortunately, these are the jackasses who end up behind me at concerts. If you don’t want to watch the opening act (which was quite good) go out in the hallway until the act you’re there to see comes on. **Gomez** you were only too patient. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/22 "2002-09-28T01:27:03Z")
The only thing you did wrong was not telling those idiots to shut the fuck up sooner. Deaf or not, courtesy is courtesy ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/23 "2002-09-28T02:03:48Z")
A couple of years ago, I would have “Shhhh’d” or “Shut the fuck up!” 'd them. But now, I’m not certain anymore. Even as much of a cast-iron bitch as I am, something happens to people in movie theatres - teenagers become suddenly full of malicious bravery, and start harassing you like pack animals. Parents of screaming children who run wild in the seats, or who sit there **kicking the back of your seat once a second for an entire hour** , threaten to “slap you around” in front of their children. People throw drinks, popcorn, and even “Mike and Ike’s” at you. Getting the manager also causes problems. As soon as they realize who “narced” on them, the teens start screaming “You fucking cunt! You’re dead! We’re going to kill you!” One time, the Alpha Male of a family, who I griped about because of their wild children, waited outside the theatre for me for the rest of the movie, pacing like a caged animal (the manager told me, thank God he saw trouble, and he intercepted me as the movie was ending, and took me to a side door). I don’t say anything anymore. I just sit there and pray for concealed carry to pass in Kansas. Some days I just feel old, and scared to go out in public. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/24 "2002-09-28T02:21:51Z")
After the old man called you a fucking idiot, you should have gone and gotten the fire extinguisher and hosed them down. Seriously. **That** would have shut them up. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/25 "2002-09-28T04:25:30Z")
Living in the South, I can turn and say sweetly, “Could y’all talk a little bit quieter?” It always works, and nobody gets angry. Years ago I went to a symphony concert with a friend who was just a bit psycho. The couple behind us were talking during the concert, so my friend wadded up her program, turned around and threw it at them. The woman jumped up and screeched, “You’ve ruined the concert for us”. Then the couple got up and left. It couldn’t have worked out better, ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/26 "2002-09-28T04:25:42Z")
Living in the South, I can turn and say sweetly, “Could y’all talk a little bit quieter?” It always works, and nobody gets angry. Years ago I went to a symphony concert with a friend who was just a bit psycho. The couple behind us were talking during the concert, so my friend wadded up her program, turned around and threw it at them. The woman jumped up and screeched, “You’ve ruined the concert for us”. Then the couple stormed out. It couldn’t have worked out better, ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/27 "2002-09-28T04:59:12Z")
With the number of these posts appearing in the pit, it makes me wonder if there might be some anthropological/sociological importance here? Here is what I mean: We enter a theater to watch and hopefully enjoy the film. We **know** that in order to do this we must be quiet, but for some reason we thumb our noses at civility and create a little “war”. Has anyone ever written a paper on this? **Gomez** , you were completely in the right to do what you did. I applaud you and everyone else who won’t put up with that shit. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Magic8ball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Miss\_Magic8ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Magic8ball)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/28 "2002-09-28T05:01:08Z")
I’da thrown popcorn at them. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/29 "2002-09-28T07:22:10Z")
Once I was in a cinema, and about halfway through the movie, a couple sat down in the row in front of me, a few seats to the left. I soon figured out why they’d changed seats: the guy was MSTing constantly. In this case, though, I didn’t mind; the movie was on the sucky side, and his comments were actually more entertaining. That’s the one exception, though. I posted [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=130055) a while back. It’s not always strangers! ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/30 "2002-09-28T07:59:15Z")
I agree with others that she may not have even been deaf. If she was, that is sad, but if she said that only to guilt you and could hear fine, that seems a little more sad. ---
**Author:** ![Henry\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Henry\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henry_B)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/31 "2002-09-28T10:10:04Z")
“Can You please speak a little bit louder and repeat what’s going on? This guy on the screen is disturbing by talking all the time, I could not hear You.”🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skid\_Row](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@Skid\_Row](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skid_Row)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/32 "2002-09-30T01:07:06Z")
You were dead-on right. I would have embarassed them sooner. Deaf or not deaf, NO ONE has the right to screw up your movie viewing experience. Although alerting the manager is a great altruistic response, its unrealistic for all of the reasons cited. Shred 'em. Make them leave the cinema and, I just betcha, the remainder of the audience applauds you. ---
**Author:** ![PotLuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@PotLuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PotLuck)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/33 "2002-09-30T01:54:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by burundi \* > **Debaser** , it is extra trouble to find the manager, but I find it more effective than repeated shushing. For one thing, it humilates the rude moviegoers, thus hopefully teaching them a lesson. True, but the downside is that you have to miss the beginning of the movie to do so, which sucks almost as much as having The Loud Family sitting behind you. Can someone who’s had an obnoxious patron ejected from a theatre describe the experience (for of us who fume until the movie’s almost over and then explode)? Surely someone’s had better luck than **Anthracite** and **Dooku**. **CRorex** , you said something about getting free tickets – personal experience? The cynic in me thinks the manager would greet my request with “Hey, _I_ didn’t put the chair kickers/loud talkers behind you” or “It’s not my fault there’s nowhere else for you to sit – just tune them out” or something. ---
**Author:** ![Lab2490](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Lab2490](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lab2490)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/34 "2002-09-30T02:11:29Z")
A few years ago. I saw Halloween H20 in the theaters with a few friends. Now scary movies tend to give people a little more freedom when it comes to being loud . But in my case it was horrible, in the back of the theater there was a whole group of 16 year old kids who didnt just talk, they yelled at the friggin screen like we were at the RHPS or somethin. needless to say they all but got kicked out of the theater. IMHO those people should be turned into the stuff that makes the floor sticky. Dont ya hate the people that bring a little baby into movies like Jurassic Park, Where every other scene has a loud noise that makes them cry for the whole thing? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/35 "2002-09-30T02:15:51Z")
This type of thing is one of the main reasons why I no longer like going out to the movies. First you have to drive to the show, then try to find a place to park, stand in line, buy tickets at ten bucks a pop, stand in line again for popcorn, get your seat kicked by little Timmy who’s sitting behind you, listen to Fred and Wilma chatter, try not to listen as Barney (who’s seen the flick already) keeps shouting, “Oh, this part’s good. Watch what happens”, while Betty crunches her Werther’s candies. I kinda like choosing my own start time, sitting in my favorite chair, and watching the movie in a nice quiet environment. Unless the film is a “spectacular” that needs a big screen, I’ll settle for my living room anyday. ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/36 "2002-09-30T05:45:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cajo \* > The cynic in me thinks the manager would greet my request with “Hey, _I_ didn’t put the chair kickers/loud talkers behind you” or “It’s not my fault there’s nowhere else for you to sit – just tune them out” or something. Any manager who would do that shouldn’t be in charge, and if that happens you should complain to _the manager’s_ manager (go up the corporate ladder–they’re required to tell you who their superior is). It’s the theater manager’s duty to maintain quiet and civility in the auditoriums. There are even some hilarious NATO (National Alliance of Theater Owners, I think) training tapes on how to get people to shut up. And theater managers are also supposed to notice things like potential violence from customers or other deviant behavior. Either there is some kind of on-premesis security or they can easily call the police. Usually just threatening to get the authorities takes care of the problem, but I’ve seen unruly patrons manhandled out of the theater by security guards. I secretly think ushers and managers get excited when this stuff happens, because their jobs are usually so annoying. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/37 "2002-09-30T18:53:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lainaf \* > \*\*Living in the South, I can turn and say sweetly, “Could y’all talk a little bit quieter?” It always works, and nobody gets angry. > > Years ago I went to a symphony concert with a friend who was just a bit psycho. The couple behind us were talking during the concert, so my friend wadded up her program, turned around and threw it at them. The woman jumped up and screeched, “You’ve ruined the concert for us”. Then the couple stormed out. It couldn’t have worked out better, \*\* Except that the concert was still ruined for you. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/38 "2002-09-30T20:30:20Z")
**Cajo** , the manager I talked to was very nice. He was in his early 20s and obviously a little bit bored. When I told him that this group of folks was talking and taking cell phone calls, his eyes lit up. It was obvious that telling off jackasses like that was the most exciting part of his job. ---
**Author:** ![l1I235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@l1I235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l1I235)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/39 "2002-09-30T20:54:47Z")
A few years back, I went to see the Parent trap (remake) with an aunt - lo & behold, two crazed moms got into a physical fight in the theater in the middle of the film. My guess is that someone was kicking a seat, talking etc. And had be confronted. **Gomez** , you were in the right. I hate it when people talk during movies. Unfortunatly for me, I’m not too assertive. I usually will silently look straight at them for a few seconds; that sometime works. ---
**Author:** ![PotLuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@PotLuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PotLuck)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898/40 "2002-10-03T22:10:54Z")
Thanks for the feedback, guys. I always figured the theatre manager would be unwilling to help but you’re right **burundi** – why _wouldn’t_ they want to opportunity to shake up yet another average workday? And as **lard2000** notes, if the manager can’t/won’t handle the sitaution I should persist until I find someone who can. I’ve rarely had success with asking people to whisper or control their Rockette-in-training children (in fact, it usually makes things worse) but I’ve never considered getting the manager. My days of “sitting and fuming” over chair-kickers and loud talkers are **over**. _::Oprah audience bursts into applause over my bravery::_ 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-out-of-line-here/129898.md?page=1)