Cell Phones Ring...Are You Listening?
Today at lunch I went to see Brynn's school Christmas program. In spite of my regular irritation at being subjected to a birthday celebration for a mythical man I don't even respect, the kids were great. Unfortunately, many of their parents were unforgivably obnoxious.
As I sat in the second row, I could barely hear the teacher over the parents talking. Cell phones went off. Younger kids in the audience were screaming while people were getting up and walking around during the show. Suddenly I was overcome by a sickening wave of memories—I felt like I was back in church!
I glared in disgust at the inconsiderate freak behind me as her cell phone went off at concert volume for the second time. It's called SILENT mode you moron. If you're too damn stupid to figure it out, then you're too DAMN STUPID to own the phone. How many emergency calls can stay-at-home mom need to take during my kid's lines before she turns the damn thing off or leaves the room?
Hey you're back!
Crazy, isn't it?
I worked at a theater for a kids show when I lived in Orlando. Lets call the show, "Blarney, the Purple Prehistoric Creature." We did 5 live shows a day, and I saw some very stupid people.
Firstly, the cell phone thing (as you mentioned). It's a live show, and people pay a pretty penny to see a man in a suit sing and dance. Don't ruin it for everyone else. It never failed that some a-hole would not only GET a phone call, but would carry on a whole conversation.
We also had people who would wave us over to their seat like they were having major problems with something only to hand us their trash so that we could throw it away for them.
My favorite is when people change diapers in the middle of the theater for everyone to see... and smell. Ick.
I have always been a firm believer that you should have to pass a manners test to be allowed to watch things with the general public. No test, no show.
I haven't seen the diaper trick since my old church days, and I'll be just fine if I never do. I like the test idea, but if we can't get that, I'd be just as happy if the rest of the audience openly and loudly mocked them until the pressure drove them out.