Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (Full Version)

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solomonsprayer -> Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (6/27/2009 11:20:13 PM)

How have you dealt with annoying folks in public movie theatre showings you've gone to?



solomonsprayer -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (6/27/2009 11:36:56 PM)

I once went with my dad to watch a movie in a "bad" part of town (cheaper tickets and convenient show time) and the theatre had this one woman who had a cell phone on and was talking to her boyfriend for like 20-30 minutes during the movie...she was approx. 3 rows above me, but I could hear here. She was describing the movie to her boyfriend and talking about when to pick her son up and what to get when she goes shopping and how her friends were doing, etc. etc. etc.

It wasn't ultra loud, but loud enough for me to hear. I didn't say anything and no one else did. There was another woman too that seemed to be chatting with someone in a group. Not sure if they were on phone or what, but it was kind of a ghetto and very bad theatre. I didn't go out of my way to cause problems, but if I could go back in time I'd have asked for assistance from the supervisor to get them to be quiet. .....It seemed like there were all these "ghetto mommas" and gangster type guys all in the theatre and they seemed like it was even normal to be talking - even on a cell - during the movie. People just randomly talked during the movie - loud enough to hear and to know it wasn't about the movie. ....Two women seemed to do it more consistently, but I also heard others do it. ....I remembered at the time a friend telling me that African American "ghetto" culture does allow people to talk during movies.......Proably sounds a bit racist or stereotypical, but he used to say it was true. This was a very ghetto-y type of movie theatre with about 90% African Americans in the crowd and except for me, my dad, and like two other groups. No one complained it was just ended up that people randomly chatted all throughout the movie like it was normal and that one woman on her cell had an extended conversation with her boyfriend for like 30 minutes straight.... [sm=aside.gif] I thought it was annoying, but partially funny too. I've never been in a situation where someone just talks 30 mniutes or so on their cell in a movie theatre and no one cares or wants to do anything. [:D]

Second situation was at a mega-theatre in a relatively new and nice theatre. This whole family came in and brought their kids and it was the previews. There were about 20 kids between 5 and 16 years old. Like four adults with them. One kid was really young about 5 or 6 years old and was randomly talking and it seemed to bother this one 25 year old male (he was with 2 girls seated a few rows above the family/kids). The 25-ish male yelled multiple times "Shut up" at the kids and the mom or grandma got mad. I got mad too, because that same 25-ish guy was making racial slurs/jokes earlier at someone and I heard it and then telling that young boy to shut up and it was just the previews and advertisements and he yelled in a loud and mean way. It was not just a normal shut up but like a vicious loud one. The guy himself was talking, so why yell at some poor kid? .....It felt like he just wanted to yell at someone and abuse his "power." As talkative as the 5 year old boy was I was so mad I had to restrain myself from confronting the older guy in an altercation. He was like a big jerk. The poor 5 year old didnt' even know what was going on when he grandma tried to find out who yelled at her kid/grandkid.

.....A third situation.....I saw a woman take her shoes off and put her feet on the back of someone's chair and this was funny. The ushers came in and informed the woman her feet were stinking the place up and she had to put her shoes back on and not put her feet on the back of the chair. That woman was in her 30's and it was hilarious and embarassing for her. People everywhere laughed.



heathjack -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (6/29/2009 12:19:42 AM)

I went and saw night at the musmen 2. this lady had 5 year oldgirl. she keepeed screaming thur the whloe moive. then last week i went to see trasnfomers and these to people were talking all the way thur the moive. they were in there 20 or 30 too. i rember going to see indpencday andthis kid keep on talking about whats going to happen the guy in front of me toldthem to shut up. i though that was funny. i don't really mind people talking as long as you can hear the moive. i couldn't hardly enjoy transfomers casue they were talking just about all the way thur the moive.



solomonsprayer -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (6/29/2009 7:32:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: heathjack

I went and saw night at the musmen 2. this lady had 5 year oldgirl. she keepeed screaming thur the whloe moive. then last week i went to see trasnfomers and these to people were talking all the way thur the moive. they were in there 20 or 30 too. i rember going to see indpencday andthis kid keep on talking about whats going to happen the guy in front of me toldthem to shut up. i though that was funny. i don't really mind people talking as long as you can hear the moive. i couldn't hardly enjoy transfomers casue they were talking just about all the way thur the moive.



I guess I tend to excuse little kids a bit more, because some of them may not know any better and genuinely have a hard time controlling emotions when they see something funny or scary or exciting on screen. It's the parents' job to keep them under control and also to teach them manners/etiquette, but at a very young age it may not be possible. So I tend to be more understanding and not make a big deal with kids.

With GROWN adults, it's a bit more annoying. If you're 20 years old and talking loudly on your cell phone durnig a movie for a long time it's not excusable. You should have the courtesy to know at that age that it's not polite to others and should take a call outside. People pay money to watch and listen to a movie and not have to hear people talking in the audience having private conversations. Those people who are adults who talk in movie theatres are just plain rude and selfish. I don't think it's ignorance, because at that age you KNOW it's annoying and rude to talk out loud like that in a movie. So I think it's more like they don't care and don't have respect for others. At worst, it could be some kind of anit-social, subversive behavior.

Another one that is kind of annoying is when people put their foot over the top of my seat and their shoe is like a few inches from my head. I have put my feet up before, but ONLY if there is not someone sitting in front of me or even a few seats to the left/right of the one in front of me. ...Those are some things that I just figured were normal courtesies.

I guess some people treat movie theatres as their own little home theatre and feel free to do what they would do at home (maybe thinking that they have the right since they paid to see the movie) and maybe don't care about the fact that there are other people in the theatre too who might take offense to their actions. Or again, maybe some just flat out don't care and/or do it to annoy others. Can't know for sure with each person whether they honestly don't know the etiquette and/or don't care.



PHmosh1 -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/1/2009 7:51:30 AM)

I like to stand up, turn around and throw a fistful of popcorn in the person's face. That usually shuts them up.[8D]

Only kidding.

I can't recall ever having to deal with any annoying people in theaters. I guess I've been lucky.



jodavi -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/1/2009 9:59:17 AM)

If it's a family movie...I do expect the noise level to be higher.
I can't remember what we went to see one time...there was a family behind us and the tween/teen boy had his foot behind my seat. It's a stadium seating with like a seat that kinda swing type. And he kept kicking the seat...well like rocking his foot so my seat kept swinging. I turned around and told him 'do you mind not doing that unless you want me to sit the row behind you and do the same thing to your seat?" The Mom smacked the kid...well not really smacked hard and told him to stop and Mom apologized.



poetessfree -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/1/2009 12:13:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: solomonsprayer

I once went with my dad to watch a movie in a "bad" part of town (cheaper tickets and convenient show time) and the theatre had this one woman who had a cell phone on and was talking to her boyfriend for like 20-30 minutes during the movie...she was approx. 3 rows above me, but I could hear here. She was describing the movie to her boyfriend and talking about when to pick her son up and what to get when she goes shopping and how her friends were doing, etc. etc. etc.

It wasn't ultra loud, but loud enough for me to hear. I didn't say anything and no one else did. There was another woman too that seemed to be chatting with someone in a group. Not sure if they were on phone or what, but it was kind of a ghetto and very bad theatre. I didn't go out of my way to cause problems, but if I could go back in time I'd have asked for assistance from the supervisor to get them to be quiet. .....It seemed like there were all these "ghetto mommas" and gangster type guys all in the theatre and they seemed like it was even normal to be talking - even on a cell - during the movie. People just randomly talked during the movie - loud enough to hear and to know it wasn't about the movie. ....Two women seemed to do it more consistently, but I also heard others do it. ....I remembered at the time a friend telling me that African American "ghetto" culture does allow people to talk during movies.......Proably sounds a bit racist or stereotypical, but he used to say it was true. This was a very ghetto-y type of movie theatre with about 90% African Americans in the crowd and except for me, my dad, and like two other groups. No one complained it was just ended up that people randomly chatted all throughout the movie like it was normal and that one woman on her cell had an extended conversation with her boyfriend for like 30 minutes straight.... [sm=aside.gif] I thought it was annoying, but partially funny too. I've never been in a situation where someone just talks 30 mniutes or so on their cell in a movie theatre and no one cares or wants to do anything. [:D]

Second situation was at a mega-theatre in a relatively new and nice theatre. This whole family came in and brought their kids and it was the previews. There were about 20 kids between 5 and 16 years old. Like four adults with them. One kid was really young about 5 or 6 years old and was randomly talking and it seemed to bother this one 25 year old male (he was with 2 girls seated a few rows above the family/kids). The 25-ish male yelled multiple times "Shut up" at the kids and the mom or grandma got mad. I got mad too, because that same 25-ish guy was making racial slurs/jokes earlier at someone and I heard it and then telling that young boy to shut up and it was just the previews and advertisements and he yelled in a loud and mean way. It was not just a normal shut up but like a vicious loud one. The guy himself was talking, so why yell at some poor kid? .....It felt like he just wanted to yell at someone and abuse his "power." As talkative as the 5 year old boy was I was so mad I had to restrain myself from confronting the older guy in an altercation. He was like a big jerk. The poor 5 year old didnt' even know what was going on when he grandma tried to find out who yelled at her kid/grandkid.

.....A third situation.....I saw a woman take her shoes off and put her feet on the back of someone's chair and this was funny. The ushers came in and informed the woman her feet were stinking the place up and she had to put her shoes back on and not put her feet on the back of the chair. That woman was in her 30's and it was hilarious and embarassing for her. People everywhere laughed.


Is your friend who told you about the AA culture black? I ask because as a black person, that was the most ridiculous & stupidest thing I have ever heard, we are "allowed" to talk during movies?[8|]. I don't think anyone is really "allowed" to talk during movies. I am not directing my response specifically towards you, you are curious and I like that. It's just that when people try to learn cultures and ask just 1 person and then base that 1 answer on a whole culture, it just creates more stereotypes. I find that it is good to get mutiple answers from different people and then make up one's mind based on the multiple answers instead of just 1. No friend, what you will find is that its teenagers that will go to these cheap shows because it is what they can afford and because its cheap, the service, the seats, the whole theater is just pitiful( I speak about the cheap theater near me). It is rundown, stinks like feet and musty underarms. Gum is a part of the flooring decor and trash litters the whole place. It is filthy and trifling but teenagers love it because it is that place where they "talk back to the screen". Like "girl, you better run" type thing. It is not a "black thing", it is a teenager thing. And I don't think it's cute, funny, charming, innocent or respectful. It is rude, ill-mannered, disrespectful, stupid, ignorant. People throw around the word "ghetto" all too often. To me ghetto is not just limited to black folk but any one person who acts immature, disrespectful, rude, ignorant & stupid. And anybody can fall into that category from the teen in the surburb(eminem wannabees) to the teen in the housing project(50 cent idolizers). So, no the $1.00 shows and $1.50 shows I avoid at all costs because I know that I would have to deal with "baby mama's and their "boo", their 10 children & cousins because there is no babysitter, so we get to smell the dirty diapers, sour baby bottles, all the crying and "shut ups" from older siblings, the fighting among younger siblings, the texting, and incessant talking on cell phones. And no body says a word, (unless I was in there) because they are all "ghetto" including the movie ushers & managers[&:] and the gangsta looking guys intimidate the ushers from speaking anyway. When you think about it, it is a little funny. But only a little. So no, I don't go to those shows, when I pay a price for a ticket, I expect to enjoy the show with little talking and distraction so I drive to the "nicer" theatres. Even though in the nice ones, talkers prevail, I would ask them politely to please keep it down, if not then I will go to the manager. And really, I don't care how they take it. I am not one to scare easily. No, I won't disrespect my Christian walk but I will speak up for what is right: I am a paying customer and I expect service to be satisfactory. But I don't really run into that problem too often. [;)]. So my advice, if you want funny go to the ghetto show, if you want peace, go to the nicer show, simple enough.

God bless,



solomonsprayer -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/1/2009 1:44:18 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: poetessfree
Is your friend who told you about the AA culture black? I ask because as a black person, that was the most ridiculous & stupidest thing I have ever heard, we are "allowed" to talk during movies?[8|]. I don't think anyone is really "allowed" to talk during movies. I am not directing my response specifically towards you, you are curious and I like that.


No, he was a Filipino friend from my high school days and it was in h.s (well summer directly after actually) that I remember the conversation. We were in a group talking during a work break and one of my black co-workers randomly was joking that everytime he sees a movie at a particular theatre that he knew the "black folks are gonna be talking the whole time...." He laughed about it, but also said it was annoying. The other co-workers jumped in and discussed it and the Filipino guy said that he heard about how in black "ghetto" culture that it was very common and even normal for African Americans to talk openly during a movie. I VAGUELY remember some of the chat, but I don't remember it being intentionally offensive or racist. I think we were trying to understand the phenomenon and also found it kind of funny back then. It must admit that while it is annoying to have someone talk during a movie theatre screening that is slightly humorous to me that someone would think it was OK to talk for 20-30 minutes on their cell phone. Part of me that day wanted to NOT say anything just to see how long the woman above me would continue to talk on her cell. It was almost kind of surreal for me. .....I do, however, take your point to heart and don't stereotype or hold it against anyone, nor do I automatically believe the first thing I hear about someone who is of another culture and/or ethnic/racial background. I think it's usually disrespectful or ignorant to make racially stereotypical remarks. On the other hand, I do think there is often some amount of truth to those stereotypes that may be common, but not all-encompassing of all people of a certain gender, race, religion, creed, etc. Stereotypes - good and/or bad ones - are kind of the brain's lazy way of processing information and making broad sweeping generalizations about things that are not universally true and kind of unfair in many ways.

I did make a point not to attend that theatre again, but I also had a really bad incident happen to me at a NICE theatre too, LOL. This was a new theatre in a decent part of town that had equal numbers of every racial/ethnic group and socio-economic class and I was the victim of an attempted robbery in the parking lot there on a Thursday night not too long ago. [sm=aside.gif] Makes me sometimes just want to RENT DVD's [8D]



poetessfree -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/1/2009 1:58:57 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: solomonsprayer

quote:

ORIGINAL: poetessfree
Is your friend who told you about the AA culture black? I ask because as a black person, that was the most ridiculous & stupidest thing I have ever heard, we are "allowed" to talk during movies?[8|]. I don't think anyone is really "allowed" to talk during movies. I am not directing my response specifically towards you, you are curious and I like that.


No, he was a Filipino friend from my high school days and it was in h.s (well summer directly after actually) that I remember the conversation. We were in a group talking during a work break and one of my black co-workers randomly was joking that everytime he sees a movie at a particular theatre that he knew the "black folks are gonna be talking the whole time...." He laughed about it, but also said it was annoying. The other co-workers jumped in and discussed it and the Filipino guy said that he heard about how in black "ghetto" culture that it was very common and even normal for African Americans to talk openly during a movie. I VAGUELY remember some of the chat, but I don't remember it being intentionally offensive or racist. I think we were trying to understand the phenomenon and also found it kind of funny back then. It must admit that while it is annoying to have someone talk during a movie theatre screening that is slightly humorous to me that someone would think it was OK to talk for 20-30 minutes on their cell phone. Part of me that day wanted to NOT say anything just to see how long the woman above me would continue to talk on her cell. It was almost kind of surreal for me. .....I do, however, take your point to heart and don't stereotype or hold it against anyone, nor do I automatically believe the first thing I hear about someone who is of another culture and/or ethnic/racial background. I think it's usually disrespectful or ignorant to make racially stereotypical remarks. On the other hand, I do think there is often some amount of truth to those stereotypes that may be common, but not all-encompassing of all people of a certain gender, race, religion, creed, etc. Stereotypes - good and/or bad ones - are kind of the brain's lazy way of processing information and making broad sweeping generalizations about things that are not universally true and kind of unfair in many ways.

I did make a point not to attend that theatre again, but I also had a really bad incident happen to me at a NICE theatre too, LOL. This was a new theatre in a decent part of town that had equal numbers of every racial/ethnic group and socio-economic class and I was the victim of an attempted robbery in the parking lot there on a Thursday night not too long ago. [sm=aside.gif] Makes me sometimes just want to RENT DVD's [8D]


Good grief said Charlie Brown! You can't win for losing, dude [;)] You have a good head on your shoulders young man. Truly the Lord is with you, I can tell. Mayhap the DVD is not a bad idea. The Lord bless you and keep you now and forever!



SuspenseWriter -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/1/2009 2:11:42 PM)

My wife and I handle the "annoying people" scenario simply by not going to the movies anymore (the last show we attended was The Passion of the Christ, and it didn't lend itself to a lot of yakking). If there's something we really want to see, we wait for the DVD to come out and then rent it. Much more enjoyable.



rgod -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/2/2009 12:18:27 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: poetessfree

Is your friend who told you about the AA culture black? I ask because as a black person, that was the most ridiculous & stupidest thing I have ever heard, we are "allowed" to talk during movies?[8|]. I don't think anyone is really "allowed" to talk during movies. I am not directing my response specifically towards you, you are curious and I like that. It's just that when people try to learn cultures and ask just 1 person and then base that 1 answer on a whole culture, it just creates more stereotypes. I find that it is good to get mutiple answers from different people and then make up one's mind based on the multiple answers instead of just 1. No friend, what you will find is that its teenagers that will go to these cheap shows because it is what they can afford and because its cheap, the service, the seats, the whole theater is just pitiful( I speak about the cheap theater near me). It is rundown, stinks like feet and musty underarms. Gum is a part of the flooring decor and trash litters the whole place. It is filthy and trifling but teenagers love it because it is that place where they "talk back to the screen". Like "girl, you better run" type thing. It is not a "black thing", it is a teenager thing. And I don't think it's cute, funny, charming, innocent or respectful. It is rude, ill-mannered, disrespectful, stupid, ignorant. People throw around the word "ghetto" all too often. To me ghetto is not just limited to black folk but any one person who acts immature, disrespectful, rude, ignorant & stupid. And anybody can fall into that category from the teen in the surburb(eminem wannabees) to the teen in the housing project(50 cent idolizers). So, no the $1.00 shows and $1.50 shows I avoid at all costs because I know that I would have to deal with "baby mama's and their "boo", their 10 children & cousins because there is no babysitter, so we get to smell the dirty diapers, sour baby bottles, all the crying and "shut ups" from older siblings, the fighting among younger siblings, the texting, and incessant talking on cell phones. And no body says a word, (unless I was in there) because they are all "ghetto" including the movie ushers & managers[&:] and the gangsta looking guys intimidate the ushers from speaking anyway. When you think about it, it is a little funny. But only a little. So no, I don't go to those shows, when I pay a price for a ticket, I expect to enjoy the show with little talking and distraction so I drive to the "nicer" theatres. Even though in the nice ones, talkers prevail, I would ask them politely to please keep it down, if not then I will go to the manager. And really, I don't care how they take it. I am not one to scare easily. No, I won't disrespect my Christian walk but I will speak up for what is right: I am a paying customer and I expect service to be satisfactory. But I don't really run into that problem too often. [;)]. So my advice, if you want funny go to the ghetto show, if you want peace, go to the nicer show, simple enough.

God bless,



Poetessfree - great response - I was thinking some of these same things.

quote:

On the other hand, I do think there is often some amount of truth to those stereotypes that may be common, but not all-encompassing of all people of a certain gender, race, religion, creed, etc.


I disagree with this (but agree with your statement that follows the one I quoted). I think this line of reasoning (which I've heard many times before) along with many stereotypes are huge lies that divide people and cause us to look at people who are different through a distorted lens. Sometimes we look at ourselves or people who look like us through a distorted lens. So the guys with the saggy pants are automatically "thugs" - not kids who might just be wearing the clothing that is "in" now. If you see someone who looks young and is pushing a stroller with two kids, she is "ghetto" single mom - even if you don't know her marital status - or if she might be watching her sister's kids. In a way, stereotypes become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy and cause blindness. For example, if you think that all hispanic teenagers with tattoos who wear large saggy pants are thugs, then you tend to not even "see" all of the teens who wear saggy pants, and are good students and nice guys. (I know lots of guys who fall into this category.)

Personally, I think that we are bombarded with so many lies that we are told from the time we are born to the time we accept Christ (and even afterwards) - that this, coupled with a subjective experience that confirms the stereotype colors the way we see one another. I think it is hard to even recognize that certain views are lies because they are so pervasive. The way I see it is that our challenge as believers is to be able to recognize lies and apply truth. This is hard to do. I have to do this on a regular basis and might have to do it until the day I die. I think it is part of the process of renewing the mind. Just tonight I had to do this - I was confronted with a sterotype about homeless people (that they are dangerous) twice now in the past couple of weeks. Now, I've got to deal with this - ask God how I should be reacting to the people I meet - how should I be thinking about them and how practically can I help? This is hard to recognize though because the world is all about outward appearances.

And, as you have probably guessed by now, I am African American. I have gone to all kinds of movie theatres, all across the country (different countries even), with all sorts of people. I've experienced this scenario only one time - I was in the city, it was the matinee, and most of the movie goers were teens (it was a movie popular among teenagers). But, I've also been to the exact same movie theatre in the evening when they were playing a movie more palatable to adults. They charged more and it was much, much quieter. And I've been to movies with primarily teens in other places and it has been quiet (maybe a little talking, but nothing that was prolonged that disturbed my experience.) In my experience, the less you pay, the more talking you tend to hear and the more people tend to do things like bring their own food into the movie theatre so they can save on snacks.

Basically, if I have a problem with someone in the theatre - I'll either change my seat if I can, or go and talk to the usher. I see most movies on DVD or online. If I go to the movie theatre, I tend to avoid cheap theatres and crowds. My work schedule allows me to go in the middle of a week day sometimes, so I'll go by myself then. It is usually me and 7 other people - so there is very little noise. If I have to go to a dollar theatre because my friends have dragged me to go there, I generally don't say anything to anyone because I figure that you get what you pay for. Plus the people who work there just seem so sad usually. So, when I'm in the dollar theatre (which is not often), I'm usually concentrating on not touching anything that I don't have to, seeing the movie - which is often out of focus or poorly lit - and getting out of there without getting ringworm or some other sort of disease (those places are usually not very clean - ewwwww!)



solomonsprayer -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/2/2009 4:18:37 PM)

Hi rgod, [sm=wave.gif]

I won't make this one too long, so as to not get too far off the topic of the OP, but just wanted to elaborate on what I meant in the quote of mine you referenced.

When I said that there is usually some truth to stereotypes, I meant to say that they are based on specific re-occurring observations that are then unfairly generalized to entire large populations of people. I don't think we're in disagreement actually and definitely nothing I say is meant to be personally offensive. [:)]

With stereotypes, they are very harmful and unfair, because they don't allow a person to see another as they are, but instead lump people into categories that may or may not fit with who they are. But the basis for those stereotypes have some truth at a specific localized level of a population sample....the problem is when the specific truth is generalized unfairly to label a larger population and thus becomes a universal "truth."

An example might be that I see a very smart Asian American student in my 10th Grade science class in high school. They get the top grades. Then I see a few other Asian American students in 11th adn 12th grade science classes who are the top of the class as well. I later learn that the top academic achievers in my school as Asian Americans. I see the same in my undergraduate college and the same in graduate school. I then might talk to friends who say they've seen the same things. ...We might then begin to stereotype and generalize a specific factual truth that Asian Americans in these re-occuring incidents have excelled academically and were good at science to becoming a universal label that all Asians/Asian Americans are good at school and excel in science. ....While the smaller localized sample produces such a truth, it would be inaccurate, unfair, and even harmful to generalize that finding to a larger/entire population of people. I think most realize this and know it to be the case. We all have stereotypes and we all usually know why they are wrong, but our brains can be lazy and/or immoral and not fight to correct that image of things that are not true. Some, however, may literally be ignorant and not even understand stereotypes. But I think most people realize them for what they are. I hope my posts haven't misrepresented that in anyway and I regret it if they have.

To return to the Asian American academic excellence example, we do know that they are the highest acheivers in terms of rates of graduation from secondary, college, and graduate school levels of education in the U.S. and also that they dominant the science fields and have been recruited from overseas as part of the U.S. brain drain for math and sciences, yet there are many who do not fit that mold whatsoever and it would be unfair and inaccurate to label all Asian Americans as being academically smart of good at science, etc. based on statistical regularities or small localized sample population observations. Plus, these observations do not even factor in historical and cultural influences on such behavior. ....If you study East Asian history, it was regularly known that the path to social advancement in that society (and out of massive poverty) was through government service and that in order to entire into a government position people had to pass very rigorous exams. But those positions were seen as highly valued and people all over competed highly for them. This produced a long-lasting pervasive culture of valuing and rigorously preparing for academic exams - not necessarily for learning's sake, but for social and economic advancement. It wasn't through military or arts, etc. that was the path to advancement, but government service and therefore people highly valued academics to prepare for the entrance exams into such positions. ....That culture has carried over in East Asian culture for thousands of years even into the modern day. And so there is, in fact, a cultural-historical factor that impacts Asian/Asian American academic success rates...It also heavily influences parental attiudes about the role of education - even to the detriment of children at times (being too strict on them). And so the end result may produce some of the stereotypes of what we see in Asian/Asian American academic success, but not without its costs, nor without exceptions. Not all are that smart or successful, etc. It'd be unfair to say that.

Likewise, you mention that African Americans who wear their pants in a baggy/sagging way may be unfairly labeled "thugs" or gangsters (who may commonly wear their clothing in such a way), while in fact they are possibly doing it as a part of their sense of style (possibly learned from others and considered appealing in that localized culture). And so to say that those youth are thugs or gangsters would not be accurate and an unfair stereotype about their internal character and motives. I would agree.

I think to return to the theatre portion of the OP question, LOL, [8D]...I can agree that not all poor African Americans have a culture of open talking during movie theatre showings. And secondly, non-African Americans may have the exact same proclivity towards speaking at/yelling at the screen and/or talking on their phones or engaging in otherwise less socially-acceptable behavior in movie theaters. I've seen a group of white teens laughing, joking, yelling, talking, etc. during a movie that I found was highly annoying and unruly. I also mentioned in my second example of the OP that there was this young white 25-yr. old-ish male who was literally maknig racist remarks/slurs at others in the theatre and was nastily shouting at a 5-yr. old boy to "Shut up" during the previews (when he HIMSELF was talking out loud), who I honestly wanted to go and punch in the face, LOL. That guy was so annoying and rude and certainly race was not the issue, but behavior and individual morality.

I regret using the example of the crowd of rowdy African Americans and the woman who talked for 20-30 minutes on her cell phone in my OP if it gave off all the wrong impressions. I would only hope that those who know me know that I never mean anything offensive in what I say, but try to speak openly and honestly - sort of off the cuff at times (which can sometimes lead to wrong ideas, unfortunately). I am not a racist in anyway!, LOL. But am aware of the impact and sensitivity it has for many. I have also found myself having to fight racial stereotypes at times, because many of them are so prevalent. It takes a lot of brain work to do, but I am glad when people encourage me and correct me in places I may not be aware of. I am open to correction or clarification of things at any point too. I hope that Christ's heart and view of things in this world is the one I can hold in my heart. [:)]

But you know...I was just thinking about the $1.00 movie stereotype and I actually did find a very nice one recently. It was in a nice area and catered mostly to families. The seats and floors weren't stereotypically bad at all and the clientele was mostly parents with their kids. This does go against most of my experiences with cheap movie theatres, however. Most tend to have had an unkempt look and feel to them and have had unruly clientele.



solomonsprayer -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/2/2009 5:04:58 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SuspenseWriter

My wife and I handle the "annoying people" scenario simply by not going to the movies anymore (the last show we attended was The Passion of the Christ, and it didn't lend itself to a lot of yakking). If there's something we really want to see, we wait for the DVD to come out and then rent it. Much more enjoyable.



That's true. I tend to avoid opening night showings myself, because the theatres are so packed and often more rowdy than a movie showing several weeks later. DVD isn't bad either for cost purposes and also when it's a non-action movie that wouldn't benefit as much from being seen on a big screen.

I still see action movies in actual theatres, despite the annoying people I run into, but have already been waiting for non-action movies to hit DVD's for some time now. It is another good compromise. If only I had a better entertainment system, it might even reduce my theatre visits even more.....I have kind of an older model TV.

Still, I do like to watch movies out not solely for entertainmetn purposes but for social outings just to be with freinds/family. So they still do serve a good purpose for me. [:)]



rgod -> RE: Dealing with Annoying People in Theatres.....(Stories, Solutions, and Advice) (7/2/2009 8:17:43 PM)

Hi Solomonsprayer

I don't think that you are prejudiced and I'm sorry if I conveyed that in my post. I feel strongly about stereotypes, because I'm often the target of negative ones - until I open my mouth - and that frustration came through in my post. I meant no offense to you personally. I think we are more closely in agreement than I realized and I thank you for the clarification.

Your reply got me thinking about cultural impacts on behavior - particularly because of the example you used. I'm a little familiar with the Chinese educational system and know that national tests are vitally important to upward social mobility (in China)- I can see how this value might impact some Asians of Chinese descent - particularly those who were born or grew up in China. Of course, not every single Asian is great a test taking and I would think that this stereotype is tough for an Asian person who is not academically gifted. But beyond this, I was thinking a lot about stereotypes as lazy/immoral thoughts (trying to paraphrase the idea that you introduced) are juxtaposed with the admonition to renew the mind - and how prone we are in our natural selves to make errors in judgement about other people. I agree with you that as believers we have to challenge this when we see it in ourselves - and I do agree that it can be incredibly hard to do. And the criticism comes from everywhere - even from other christians of every color and ethnicity. I think there is such a battle with this because it is effective - to react to people fairly and honestly - to not be prejudiced - is one way that we can be salt. This is exactly what Jesus did. He did not discriminate or treat people differently based on outward appearance. Samaritan, Jew, Man, Woman, Child, Adult, Gentile, Clergy (Pharisees), Laypeople - if they had a heart for God, then He accepted them. People had a really hard time with this - including his own disciples. People still have a hard time with it. The bible says they will know that we are Christians by our love - you know? But let me get off of the soap box. I don't want to take this thread away from the OP or keep talking about this tangent.

So to get back on track, I want to thank you for pointing out the irony that I was stereotyping dollar theatres LOL. I'm glad you found a clean one. I haven't been to that many, so it is possible that I've just been in ones that were more run down. Maybe that might be the theatre to go to for your outings - there might be less talking and disruption.

Hope you can find a solution to your movie theatre issues!

rgod



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