I went to see Up in 3D yesterday which I assumed would be a delightful experience. I did enjoy the movie a lot and seeing it in the third dimension was quite a treat. Pixar did it again providing some great visuals, endearing characters, and a funny as well as touching script. I highly recommend it.But...
The theatre was fairly empty for a Monday night, but a couple decided to take their two year old and sit in the row behind us. The kid was not used to theatre etiquette and obviously neither were the parents. The child was confused by many of the visuals and kept saying in a nasally, whiny tone 'what is it?' over and over again until the folks answered.
I kept looking back and making comments and others did as well, but the parents didn't feel the need to respond nor even acknowledge our presence. What's worse is that they kept the conversation going at times. They simply didn't care that their little brat was destroying some really touching moments in the movie.
Now this just pissed me off. People who believe that they can be noisy during a film is jackassery of the highest order. The film ended and my friend and I walked out of the theatre discussing the movie. I was thinking about following the couple to their car yelling 'what is it, what is it' over and over again. Once they arrived to their vehicle I would then ask them for twelve dollars.
I'd follow them to dinner and just kneel down at their table screaming 'what is it' until violence ensued.
Then the couple finally walked out of the theatre. The kid was screaming his lungs out unhappy with something. The dad and his troll of a wife were not pleased with their child's vocal ability. My friend and I started laughing while adding a few 'what is it' loud enough for them to hear. They ignored us as they waddled to their mini-van. They took forever getting the kid to calm down as they were attempting to place him in his car seat. My friend and I continued our laughter as they looked so miserable.
And I normally don't believe in karma.
"Familiarity breeds contempt - and children." - Mark Twain
9 comments:
When will parents of today learn. You're kid isn't cute, he's a brat and is not capable of social interaction. If you can't teach your child that, then you suck and get the eff outta my way.
There is nothing more embarrassing to a parent, than a kid who has a tantrum in the middle of a public forum. Except, when people mock those parents. Especially when they don't have children of their own. I agree they should have kept their child quite during the movie. But, you could have switched seats. You also said it was a Monday evening... generally, most movie goers don't flock to the theaters on Monday. So, it stands to reason they tried to go when they knew it would be less crowded.
Studies show that children who show curiosity (i.e., "What is it?") grow up to be more intelligent than the average person. It seems you base a lot of your opinions on appearances. That, my friend, is what's wrong with this world.
Laughing at their misery was horrible.
As for Karma... I think you are gonna get a heapin' helpin' of it when you have kids.
Kelli - I usually don't respond to comments, but I think I should clarify some points.
a) You state we could've moved to a different seat. Yes we could've, but we would've given up great ones and it wouldn't have mattered anyways. The kid was so loud it echoed throughout the auditorium. It's especially worse that the parents chose to come in late and sit in the most crowded part of the theatre. Even after people commented to them on how annoying the child was and asked them to show some restraint they did nothing to stop it. Nothing. As I stated in the post they even encouraged it by carrying a conversation with him. He made noise throught the entire film. Not just bits here and there. He might as well have been part of the soundtrack.
I used to work in a theatre and when people had noisy children more often than not they took them outside so not to disturb others. It's simple respect. My parents did that with me and I assume you'd do that with your child.
Mondays are the busiest weeknight (sans Friday) for a theatre business as often they employ discounts. If they were concerned about the noise level of their child they could've done it on a Wednesday.
b) I see that studies show inquisitive children are usually more intelligent, although that's common sense, but I don't see where I made any assumptions on their intellect based on any outward appearances. No judgements were made of how smart the child or the parents were in fact. It was about their manners and it was all based on their behavior.
c) Maybe laughing at their misery was low, but I don't feel bad. If they simply listened to Miss Manners I would've felt sorry for them, but since they decided to ruin the experience for my friend and I and every other patron in there I won't. They could've at least tried.
d) I imagine I'll have kids that scream in the grocery store and whatnot and embarassing things will happen to me a lot. I will have to apologize to others on a plane or in a resteraunt. It's just polite. I will not sit idly by and do nothing if my child is upsetting others in a theatre and I certainly wouldn't add to it. I don't think that's unreasonable to ask someone if they have a loud as hell kid to take them outside or at least make an effort to shut them up.
I have to agree with Kelly a little and you a little. I do believe you were overly condescending for someone who doesn't have children...
I understand the points you made and agree that at least one of the parents should have exited the theater. I imagine they didn't want to lose out on their $12 either.
Unlike you, I've never worked in a movie house. So, I was unaware that Monday was boomin' for the industry ... that being said, I doubt they did either.
As for the intelligence thing.. I made an assumption that you thought them unintelligent because it seems (from most of your postings) you believe most people are beneath you in that area. What do you always call them? Oh, yes, Simpletons.
I agree with Kelli.
They went during a less crowded time and you went to a KIDS movie. What do you expect? The kid didn't know movie etiquette, uh he is a kid. Sorry he ruined such a touching scene.
Every parent should be aware of what their child is or is not capable of behaving through. If it was an experiment or an anomaly, one of the parents should have taken the child out of the theater. When my kid was in the "can't sit still/be quiet in the theater" phase, I didn't take him to movies. That simple.
I don't usually post when I disagree with somebody, but in this instance I must point something out to those of you who weren't there: you have no idea how obnoxious this scene was. Had it been one screech- hell even ten screeches, or had the child been simply inquisitive, the scenario would not have been the same.
As for the "kids movie" point- I certainly agree. One can expect there to be loud children in a theater- and honestly the laughter and jubilance of those kids can certainly contribute to the experience. Again, had you been there, you would certainly have seen/heard/experienced exactly how out-of-the-ordinary this scenario was, even for children attending a kids movie.
There isn't a person in the world who would be so condescending as to assume that kids won't be kids- but it seems a little trite to assume that, by the same token, parents shouldn't be expected to parent.
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