Alas, sometimes I feel like people are losing their sense of decency and lack the ability to show even the smallest consideration for others. Simply smiling at a counter - whether you are the customer or the shop assistant - can make both people's day a little easier.
But instead we do not even make eye contact, we do not hold the door open for others, we text during the movie. That last act is often mentioned as the worst of theatre-going faux pas. But today I have experienced the absolute worst and the ultimate in rudeness and disrespect for other people's enjoyment of movies. In fact, I would go so far to say that it is not just a faux pas, but a movie-going and perhaps even parenting sin (yes a sin I say!) which can be summed up in the following questions:
What kind of a moron takes a baby to Thor: The Dark World? How inconsiderate and stupid do you have to be to think that kind of behaviour is in any way acceptable?
I have done my time at the baby-on-board movie sessions. My husband and I used to go with the twins every Tuesday and we have very fond memories of those times. They are such a great idea because everyone is expecting the same experience. Every now and then babies will be crying, the older ones may run around a bit, the lights won't be completely dim and the sound won't be as loud - but everyone is there with those same expectations.
To some extent, I expect babies crying and kids running around during kids movies as well - because that is what they are. Movies for kids. If you get upset at kids during the latest Smurfs movie then you just should not pay to see any kids movies. (I do feel your pain if you get upset about having to see a Smurfs movie though. They suck.)
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| Cute on a baby blanket. Hideous in a movie theatre. |
Even though my kids-movie days are still with me, my baby-on-board movie-going days are long gone! So the above mentioned experience is not what I am expecting when I go to the movies any more. In fact, part of the fun of going to the movies is to escape from life, which includes my children. Otherwise I would just wait until my dad buys the movie on DVD so I can watch it at home in between telling my kids to go to bed. When I spend the money to go the theatre I want to be transported to another world. I want to forget about my life.
So when someone brings their crying baby along, they completely ruin that for me. I am awoken from my fantasy and reminded that I am not Lady Sif, kicking ass while secretly pining for Thor. I am actually a working mum who in a couple of hours has to go home to four older versions of that screaming baby!
Some may say that I am being unfair. What if those parents work during the times that the baby-on-board movie sessions are on? What if they can't get babysitters? What if they are tired parents needing to get out of the house and just thought they'd give it a go?
Well I am sorry but that is what I like to call 'doing your time'. All parents go through their children's childhood knowing that life as you knew it is over and the freedom you had will not come back for years.
I am doing hard time. I deserve to see Thor: The Dark World in a childless environment. Not just me, but every other parent in that theatre deserves it. What about those parents who are only going to baby-on-board movies and this is the one time they managed to get a babysitter so they thought they'd enjoy a movie at the normal volume, with the lights down, not having to worry that your now crawling baby will roll down the stairs. (Yes, one of the twins did do that once. I don't remember which. Probably the crazy one.)
This does not have to be like this though. Why do theatres even allow people with babies into movies? I believe that if a movie is not rated G, children under 4 should NOT be allowed into it. And if some sneaky parent happens to smuggle a baby in, as if they were a Samoan smuggling in a KFC bargain bucket, all the other theatre goers need to take action. Alert the staff! Spill their popcorn! Stand on the seats so they can't see! These people have brought an end to politeness so it is time for us to respond in kind!
This madness can and must end! The revolution begins now people!
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| You think Loki is crazy? Just try sitting next to me with a baby when the next Avengers movie comes out! |
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