I have decided that there is a definite lack of….. Well what do you call it? Why can I not go to a movie or theatre type experience and not be bothered by inconsiderate yahoos? The usual theatre (cinema or actual drama theatre, and even music concerts) experience consists of the following: 1) talking – the running commentary guy just always sits behind me, 2) another person, sitting adjacent to the loud-talker, will usually have a disease that causes intense spasms in the foot which can only be alleviated by kicking the back of the chair in which I sit, 3) the person sitting next to them will have some sort of nasal, respiratory problem that causes intense coughing and hacking up phlegm the size of alley cats, 4) the person sitting with all three of the aforementioned will have supplied everyone in the area with food materials (bought at exorbitant prices from the concessions) that are, by definition, composed mostly (by weight) of crinkly, plastic-like materials that make the utmost amount of noise possible. I guess the word that I was looking for was respect, or maybe consideration? I just do not know why this is not something that most people seem to exhibit while in public. I am not saying that nobody has consideration for others these days, just that the amount of people that do not show such things are becoming higher profile and even more annoying. This does not just exhibit itself in terms of a movie theatre (or other place). This happens everywhere. I see it everywhere, in the checkout line at the grocer (the stories I could tell), driving to school (ever been cut off and then they slow right……….d……o………….w……………………n), at the bank, just about everywhere that people can interact with each other, the incidence of disrespect for others is escalating. Its not like i am some old fart who is complaining about “kids these days….!!”, I happen to be 23, and while that may seem old to the 19 year old people I know, its just over the hill just yet.
So what do you do to the obnoxious ones out there? I once spoke up in a movie theatre and addressed the crowd behind me (of whom exhibited most of the 1-4 things listed above). I said something like :
Will you please be quiet? I mean saying the odd sarcastic or funny comment is something
that is most of us are guilty but do you have to be so continuous about it ? And you – over
there… do you have some sort of spasm problem? The back of my seat looks like an aluminium
cup that has been beaten with a bat. And you – give me that chocolate bar – I’ll open it myself
and I will take under 5 minutes which is half as long as you took for your last one!!!
Well, I said something like that anyway. I really did! I swear that I am not making this up. This was all, of course, much to the chagrin of my girlfriend who was usually embarrassed to be seen with me anyway (or acted like it….) and this was just not a good thing to do to begin changing that. Wow. Actually, while my little outburst created much attention – and ultimately got two of the four knuckleheads behind me kicked out of the movie, but only after the head knucklehead threatened somewhat of a violent action against the usher (who looked like she was 12). To her credit (the usher) I thought she was going to kick his ass, not the other way around!
Anyway, my overall point is that actually doing something about this will possible give a favourable response. Don’t put up with it, thought I might avoid confronting that biker guy at the grocery store no matter how annoying he becomes (not that I know anything about that). I don’t, however, know what to do about the traffic altercations that occur. Calgary, Alberta has an interesting thing that I wish was present here. They have a number that people can call if they witness a traffic transgression. The police may even follow up on it, and will keep track of how many complains a certain person gets called in. Sure, a great idea. What about the guy who crosses the center lane, who is too busy calling this line on his cell phone?
But that is enough complaining for now.