I should just stay out of movie theaters

[Missy Vixen]

We went to a showing of "Brokeback Mountain" earlier this evening. What a great movie. Unfortunately for us, we had what I would call a scary incident with another audience member before the movie started.

The woman sitting next to us was alone. She politely asked the twentysomething women behind us to please stop talking, the movie was starting. The twentysomethings actually kicked the back of her seat, tried to physically intimidate her, etcetera. I was looking around for an usher and wondering if I should just run for one when another patron also told them to shut up. I turned to the woman next to me and quietly said, "Are you okay?" She nodded. We watched the movie. Mr. JulieRB and I made sure that we engaged her in conversation afterwards, and waited till the spoiled brats who essentially assaulted her left the theater and weren't waiting for her in the parking lot.

We rarely go to the movie theater anymore because of this kind of crap. If I'd been alone and had something like this happen to me, it would have scared the hell out of me. I was thankful to read that some first-run movies are now going to be released on DVD the same day they hit the theaters; I'd rather stay home than go through this kind of stuff with others in the theater.

Question: Have you seen stuff like this in public? How did you handle it when it happened?

Julie

[AmyDeLune]

1. Nothing that bad...

the last time someone was chattering away obliviously I loudly said to them, "WE'RE NOT BOTHERING YOU ARE WE?" and they shut up. :shrug:

[Missy Vixen]

2. The woman behind us

was aching for some kind of physical confrontation with someone. The theater was full. Evidently, everyone was trying to see the movie before tonight's Oscar telecast. She had her coat, purse, etc. spread across two empty seats; when people asked if they could sit there, she didn't even bother to be polite, or even civil. She kicked the woman next to us's seat so hard I could feel it.

Julie

[thefool_wa]

3. Wow that sucks

It is amazing how intollerable some people can be.

I have not had that kind of physical confrontation (in public with someone I don't know) since high school (many many years ago). Do you mind if I ask what city you live in?

on edit: post 420! Sweet!

[Missy Vixen]

4. Yeah, it was scary

>Do you mind if I ask what city you live in?<

We live in Duvall. The movie theater in question is the Bella Bottega in Redmond.

Julie

[thefool_wa]

5. Wow, that's my neck of the woods

Well, at least in that I live across the sound in Bremerton.

I know it sounds cliche anymore, but I really blame this type of thing on the way our country is being run. Those who should be setting the example when it comes to decency, honesty, and compassion have, for too many years now, been sitting the exact opposite example. I truly believe that this has a "trickle down" effect that, at least on a subconscious level, tells us it is ok to treat those around us with contempt, despise, and even violence.

I'm not saying this type of thing is new or didn't happen 10 years ago. All I'm saying is it seems to be increasing both in frequency and severity.

unrelated: lots of Washingtonians posting today, weird. This is like the 4th discussion today I've had with someone from the NW.

[misanthrope]

6. I blame it on television...

...and the fact that people just don't seem as concerned with common courtesy anymore. It started long before the current bunch of clowns were in Washington.

[thefool_wa]

8. True

Like I said, its not new, and TV plays a HUMONGOUS role in what I am talking about. It is a degenerative trend that has been going on for decades. Our entire society is enamored of violence and it gets worse every day.

The only thing we can do is try to teach our kids differently and turn the TV off every once in a while.

[Minnesota Libra]

7. OMG YES, and I NEVER go to the theater because of it, I get.........

....DVD's and stay home.:grr: