Boorish theatre behavior.

**lucidinnature** · 10-15-2012, 08:09 PM

Jesus on the cross violates the Vatican's dress code. If he comes back in a loin cloth, will they let him in?! WWJD?

**Jayfar** · 10-15-2012, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by lucidinnature

Jesus on the cross violates the Vatican's dress code. If he comes back in a loin cloth, will they let him in?! WWJD?

As if he'd go near that place, except maybe to overturn a few more tables.

**raider.adam** · 10-15-2012, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by OffenseTaken

The FCC won't allow signal-jamming right now.

Signal-blocking, as with stealth wallpaper or copper mesh in the walls, is legal, but then there would be an army of drama queens going ape**** with their what-if stories (what if my house is burning down, what if the babysitter dies of a brain aneurysm, etc.). This is exactly what happened in France a few years ago, when parliament briefly allowed theaters to jam signals.

Yeah, I'm not saying they can just do it, but I wouldn't be against the government letting certain performance businesses (like theaters) enforce a cell phone ban policy.

As for the "what if" scenarios, I wonder how society managed 10 years ago.

Originally Posted by OffenseTaken

The erosion of the public/private boundary is a huge problem. Some people just act as if they're still just farting around in their living rooms, no matter where they are. It's like they don't see their behavior as occurring in space where others can see it; they're just in this cocoon where only their sensations exist.

I really wish I could just ask people: when you're looking down at your cell phone and the screen is lighting up your face with this bluish glow, do you really not think the players in the orchestra can't see you? They can. And paying $26.50 for your ticket does not buy you the right to say "f*ck you" to people who have rehearsed for months to perfect every detail of the performance.

When you show up at the Vatican Museums in a promotional t-shirt for a 5K run from 2002, sweatpants, and flip-flops, it doesn't matter how hot the weather forecast for Rome is: don't you care about how much of a dick move that is? Why can't you show Michelangelo the same respect that the Vatican showed you when they let your fat ass in for a measly 15 euros?

Do they recognize this and just not care? Or are they just thoroughly oblivious?

This is similar to what I said in response to someone defending Honey Boo Boo. They said the negativity about the family is unfair and that we need to realize that this is a poor southern family and even though they have certain mannerisms (apparently things like constant farting, wiping their nose with their hands, language, drinking, etc.) we shouldn't be critical of it.

My response was that it isn't necessarily that people are being hypocritical, but that a lot of people don't do certain things in public that they do in private. It's the breakdown of the public/private wall that has become the issue.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 10-15-2012, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

Yeah, I'm not saying they can just do it, but I wouldn't be against the government letting certain performance businesses (like theaters) enforce a cell phone ban policy.

As for the "what if" scenarios, I wonder how society managed 10 years ago.

This is similar to what I said in response to someone defending Honey Boo Boo. They said the negativity about the family is unfair and that we need to realize that this is a poor southern family and even though they have certain mannerisms (apparently things like constant farting, wiping their nose with their hands, language, drinking, etc.) we shouldn't be critical of it.

My response was that it isn't necessarily that people are being hypocritical, but that a lot of people don't do certain things in public that they do in private. It's the breakdown of the public/private wall that has become the issue.

As much as I think "smart"phones tends to make people enveloped in a bubble of oblivious--those awful, contrived-situation, reality-based shows have done equal or more damage in terms of what is and isn't acceptable behavior. Apparently it's ok to be the Bride from Hell, and the Wedding or Party Guest who's as low or lower; it's fine to have a tv crew follow you and let the world see your behaviors that should be private. It's ok to be a snotty, demanding 15 or 16 year old who is *entitled* dammit to have whatever she wants for her paaaaarrrty...waah. Or to be a "housewife" who lives off of her husband's whatever, and tries to outawful her frenemies.

**lucidinnature** · 10-16-2012, 02:13 AM

Give me a break. The theatre brought the theater crowd. It fills their seats. He'll, they're the ones who turned movies and comic strips into playwrights. Cans of diet coke sold at every wing, t-shirts for sale at every event? And I'd bet a million that the kid flipping pages was some rich kid while 'lesser' people were enjoying the show.

**raider.adam** · 10-16-2012, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by lucidinnature

Give me a break. The theatre brought the theater crowd. It fills their seats. He'll, they're the ones who turned movies and comic strips into playwrights. Cans of diet coke sold at every wing, t-shirts for sale at every event? And I'd bet a million that the kid flipping pages was some rich kid while 'lesser' people were enjoying the show.

I agree it isn't a rich/poor upscale/downscale issue. It's just people acting appropriately in public. It's the same rules at a live theater as a movie theater. They know them, they just don't follow them.

**seand** · 10-16-2012, 10:34 AM

Oh but rules are for other people, I just really have to update my facebook status right now.

**Sean** · 10-16-2012, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

I agree it isn't a rich/poor upscale/downscale issue. It's just people acting appropriately in public. It's the same rules at a live theater as a movie theater. They know them, they just don't follow them.

Have you ever watched a movie at the UA Riverview theater? There are no rules there...

**OffenseTaken** · 10-16-2012, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

Yeah, I'm not saying they can just do it, but I wouldn't be against the government letting certain performance businesses (like theaters) enforce a cell phone ban policy.

As for the "what if" scenarios, I wonder how society managed 10 years ago.

Oh, it would be fantastic if they could do that. I just wouldn't keep my hopes up.

It's one of those situations where the you could have 90% in favor, but if the 10% against are all a bunch of Helen Lovejoys, they will get their way.

Originally Posted by raider.adam

This is similar to what I said in response to someone defending Honey Boo Boo. They said the negativity about the family is unfair and that we need to realize that this is a poor southern family and even though they have certain mannerisms (apparently things like constant farting, wiping their nose with their hands, language, drinking, etc.) we shouldn't be critical of it.

My response was that it isn't necessarily that people are being hypocritical, but that a lot of people don't do certain things in public that they do in private. It's the breakdown of the public/private wall that has become the issue.

Whomever you were arguing with sounds like a real tool. That's almost as ridiculous as saying "Of course the black guy stole your bicycle. Do you not respect African-American culture?"

**OffenseTaken** · 10-16-2012, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

As much as I think "smart"phones tends to make people enveloped in a bubble of oblivious--those awful, contrived-situation, reality-based shows have done equal or more damage in terms of what is and isn't acceptable behavior. Apparently it's ok to be the Bride from Hell, and the Wedding or Party Guest who's as low or lower; it's fine to have a tv crew follow you and let the world see your behaviors that should be private. It's ok to be a snotty, demanding 15 or 16 year old who is *entitled* dammit to have whatever she wants for her paaaaarrrty...waah. Or to be a "housewife" who lives off of her husband's whatever, and tries to outawful her frenemies.

Well I think this problem is a few decades old, but I think you are onto something: this has made it worse. I mean, we're monkeys: we imitate the examples of behavior we see every day.

Just look at "vocal fry" speech. It started with maybe just a few thousand girls in Southern California and spread via the Bravo Network (and a few pop stars, like Britney Spears and Ke$ha), so that it's pretty much ubiquitous now. If people's speech patterns are that malleable by cheesy TV shows, why not other aspects of behavior?

**Volanova** · 10-16-2012, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by OffenseTaken

The FCC won't allow signal-jamming right now.

Signal-blocking, as with stealth wallpaper or copper mesh in the walls, is legal, but then there would be an army of drama queens going ape**** with their what-if stories (what if my house is burning down, what if the babysitter dies of a brain aneurysm, etc.). This is exactly what happened in France a few years ago, when parliament briefly allowed theaters to jam signals.

This is why you give the number of the theater to the babysitter/responsible neighbor/friend and have them call if there's an emergency. If it's truly life threatening, then you will be notified.

But that requires common sense, which the biggest offenders don't seem to possess much of.

**Volanova** · 10-16-2012, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

This is similar to what I said in response to someone defending Honey Boo Boo. They said the negativity about the family is unfair and that we need to realize that this is a poor southern family and even though they have certain mannerisms (apparently things like constant farting, wiping their nose with their hands, language, drinking, etc.) we shouldn't be critical of it.

I'm from one of the poorest parts of the south. My home county has consistently been ranked as one of the highest for unemployment in the country, and the percentage of the population under the poverty line is one of the highest in rural Tennessee. Admittedly, I wasn't from one of the families that had unemployed parents or was below the poverty level, but I had plenty of close friends throughout my childhood who were. And I can tell you right now that if their mother ever caught them farting at the dinner table for giggles, they would have been slapped up side the head and sent to their room or off to do menial chores without dinner.

So in short, in my opinion, those who defend such willfully ignorant behavior are cretins of the lowest order.

**lucidinnature** · 10-16-2012, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

I agree it isn't a rich/poor upscale/downscale issue. It's just people acting appropriately in public. It's the same rules at a live theater as a movie theater. They know them, they just don't follow them.

I went to the walnut street theatre to see HairSpray. During intermission, some idiot brought his two daughters to sit next to me to get better seats. When I pointed out that those were not his seats, he instantly wanted to fight in front of his daughters. He's begging me to punch him, saying that he's a lawyer and will sue me into bankruptcy, yada yada-it was ridiculous. I had to go get an attendant and the guy still wouldn't shut his mouth while his poor daughters were more than embarrassed. Meanwhile, I was in the suit and tie while mr. attorney and his paris hilton wannabe's looked like they just stepped out of a couch potato version of the jersey shore.

**BarryG** · 10-16-2012, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by lucidinnature

I went to the walnut street theatre to see HairSpray. During intermission, some idiot brought his two daughters to sit next to me to get better seats. When I pointed out that those were not his seats, he instantly wanted to fight in front of his daughters. He's begging me to punch him, saying that he's a lawyer and will sue me into bankruptcy, yada yada-it was ridiculous. I had to go get an attendant and the guy still wouldn't shut his mouth while his poor daughters were more than embarrassed. Meanwhile, I was in the suit and tie while mr. attorney and his paris hilton wannabe's looked like they just stepped out of a couch potato version of the jersey shore.

You do have a knack for getting threatened with lawsuits, dont' you.

**OldMama** · 10-16-2012, 08:32 PM

You know, I agree with much is what has been said here about our constantly plugged in world, reality TV, and children not being taught proper behavior. But what really floors me is that the people heading for the exits before the lights came up were not young, not badly dressed, and probably not plugged in. They were OLD. Expensive clothes, good jewelry, town cars kind of OLD. What does that mean??? Did these people ever have manners? I think they probably did. What happened to them???

**lucidinnature** · 10-19-2012, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by OldMama

You know, I agree with much is what has been said here about our constantly plugged in world, reality TV, and children not being taught proper behavior. But what really floors me is that the people heading for the exits before the lights came up were not young, not badly dressed, and probably not plugged in. They were OLD. Expensive clothes, good jewelry, town cars kind of OLD. What does that mean??? Did these people ever have manners? I think they probably did. What happened to them???

I described a similar situation from when I went to The Fountain in The Four Seasons to eat. In casual wear I look a tad rough since I'm covered in tattoos, wear mostly black, etc. The lady with me had a few tattoos, but relatively normal looking. The waiter was thanking us for our etiquette, and kept commenting on how outrageous the other patrons were acting. We watched older and certainly more well to do folks act like animals. Spreading themselves through multiple tables, moving tables to suit themselves, propping their feet on nearby seats, etc. It was insane.

**RittenhouseGirl** · 10-21-2012, 01:45 PM

People are becoming more and more oblivious to others around them. A lot of people aren't taught general manners and civility anymore.

**RittenhouseGirl** · 10-21-2012, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by OldMama

You know, I agree with much is what has been said here about our constantly plugged in world, reality TV, and children not being taught proper behavior. But what really floors me is that the people heading for the exits before the lights came up were not young, not badly dressed, and probably not plugged in. They were OLD. Expensive clothes, good jewelry, town cars kind of OLD. What does that mean??? Did these people ever have manners? I think they probably did. What happened to them???

I think they are doing as the Romans do at this point.

**toxigal** · 10-22-2012, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by lucidinnature

I went to the walnut street theatre to see HairSpray. During intermission, some idiot brought his two daughters to sit next to me to get better seats. When I pointed out that those were not his seats, he instantly wanted to fight in front of his daughters. He's begging me to punch him, saying that he's a lawyer and will sue me into bankruptcy, yada yada-it was ridiculous. I had to go get an attendant and the guy still wouldn't shut his mouth while his poor daughters were more than embarrassed. Meanwhile, I was in the suit and tie while mr. attorney and his paris hilton wannabe's looked like they just stepped out of a couch potato version of the jersey shore.

had the seats been occupied by someone else during the first half? I have been a season ticket holder for quite a few theaters over the years, and in all of them it was considered perfectly acceptable to move to closer seats once it was confirmed that they were going to remain empty during the show. if the seats had been empty, what was the big deal with his daughters sitting there?

**toxigal** · 10-22-2012, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by OldMama

I did not see this behavior in London a few years ago. I haven't been to Broadway in five years so I can't say what's happening there. But I've seen it all over Philadelphia and it makes us look like a bunch of rubes.

it is not unique to philadelphia. i've seen it in New York, Washington DC and Baltimore.