How to tell if you’re the problem at the Movies

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that most people don’t realize that they’re the one that’s causing a problem in a movie theatre.  You could always go by the saying “If everyone else around you is normal, then you’re the weird neighbor.”  Well, in the best interest of you and the people around you, here are some quick ways you can tell if you’re the problem:

People are Looking at You

The telltale sign that you’re the one causing the problem.  If the people around you are constantly turning to look at you, either you are:

• Very Attractive
• Smell Bad
• Causing a disruption

In any case, you’re doing something to distract people.  I wouldn’t put too much to mind if you fall into the first category though, I understand how difficult that can be.  :-P  Just think about what the people around you might be thinking.  If you can’t hear anyone else talking, and people keep turning around, odds are… it’s you that’s being a problem.

You’re on your Cell Phone

Surprisingly, a lot of people don’t realize that even if you’re not talking on your phone, you could still be ruining someone’s experience.  While you’re not talking, the bright lights, constant clicking and vibrating can all be distracting to the people around you, especially if you’re in front of them and it’s fairly quiet otherwise.  Take a quick look around… how many phones can you see?  Are they distracting you now?  Yeah, that’s what you just did to someone else.

If you’ve got to use it, just take it outside.  But beware not to fall into the next category….

Getting Up, Moving Around, Leaving and Coming Back

I’d say that this is probably one of the top complaints I get at the theatre.  Teenagers are definitely guilty of this a lot more than regular guests.  For some reason, paying $10 or more to see a movie isn’t enough to keep them glued to their seats. I know that I won’t leave a movie to do anything unless I’ve already seen it, and I don’t even have to pay!

Some tips to help you get around this:

• Empty the tank before going into the movie.  It’ll make your experience that much more enjoyable, and clear the way for the gallon of soda you’re about to chug.
• Come early, and get concessions then if you want to.  This will give you time to get settled and be more comfortable.

A lot of times what causes this is that kids (teenagers) have gotten tickets to a movie that they don’t actually want to see, and are leaving to check if they can sneak into movies.  I’ll talk more about this later, but even though you might not want to, simply telling a manager will often alleviate the problem.  I’ve got no problem removing kids that are just waiting to sneak into a movie!

Basically, once you’re in a movie, there should be little reason to get up.  You know how distracting and annoying it is to have this happen to you… so why do it to anyone else?  I’m not saying that this is all-encompassing, but just thinking about these things before you go can save you a lot of trouble!

Talking Point:  What do you find annoying at theatres, and how do you deal with it?  Discuss in the comments below!

Bonus:

Check out what people in the UK find most annoying!

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