The Movie is Showing; Please Be Quiet!

The Split Second-In Consideration of Others in These Trying Times

I thank all of you who have been so supportive as I try to get support for my unpublished book The Split Second:  In Consideration of Others or Look Up from the Phone and How to Deal with Rudeness in Others. I still have faith that I can have the experience of having it published. I need to find ways to “get the word out,” and that is what is difficult for me right now. If any of you want to “spread the word,” I would be very grateful. My website is: rwblakeauthor.com

I have several blogs to write about going to a legitimate and/or movie theatre. I also have several future blogs about being in a restaurant. I shall discuss the theatre concerns first. I went to a movie three days ago. I go usually in the early afternoon as prices are cheaper and there are fewer folks in the theatre. On this occasion, there were many more people in the theatre than I had seen in this house. However, the people were talking, and when they should not have been talking. This frustrates me greatly. I do not want to hear other patrons’ opinions, explanations, or guesses at what is going to happen next in the story. Despite several warnings before each film showing, there are those who will just chat away and often talk loudly enough to disturb others. In short, these people probably are not thinking of others in the theatre. I think often that these folks feel they are sitting in their living rooms. It’s frustrating! At this last film showing, the “talkers” were mostly older folks (yes, older than I), so we cannot state that it is always young people who are committing these theatrical indiscretions. I remember well those days when an usher would shine a light on a theatre patron’s face and say, “shhh.” Those days are long gone.

One easy solution is to move to another seat which I have done in a theatre many times. This can be done if there are available seats in a section far enough away from the talkers. One can also turn around and look the talker(s) in the eye and ask he/she/them to keep down as kindly as possible. There will be those fellow patrons who will be offended that they are being “shushed.” However, I still maintain that people should consider that wonderful Dr. Phil quote, “Never miss an opportunity to shut up.” The theatre is a wonderful place to heed that advice.