By nature, I do not usually complain over trivial things. However, I will not hesitate to express my concerns over an injustice or something serious or dangerous. I am not a pushover by any means. This is NOT one of those times.
Yesterday afternoon DS, BIL, and I went to the movies. I insisted it be my treat since they had driven 45 minutes to come to my house. We got to the local theater early enough to get a cup of coffee before going in and getting three good seats. After a while the theater filled up and soon the previews started.
About five minutes into the featured movie, a little boy of about 4 who was seated behind us began to yell...very loud... every few minutes. Then he alternated with kicks to the back of our seats. His baby sibling also joined in from time to time with loud, fussy cries.
What AMAZED me is that the parents never tried to quiet their child. A woman sitting next to me kept mumbling under her breath about the x!@# kids and this was almost as annoying. Finally, I turned around and asked politely, “Excuse me sir, can you please keep your child quiet? We are trying to enjoy the movie.” The man just looked right through me, did not say a word, and said nothing to his child. He ignored all the people who kept glaring, especially after particularly loud shrieks. Not once did he attempt to quiet his child.
The movie was crowded and there were no other seats available or we would have moved. The flow of the movie was interrupted not only by this child, but by the obvious annoyance of those around us. Sadly, with the exception of my comment to the father, no one said or did a thing. We suffered in silence… well not in silence, but we suffered.
I don’t get it… why do parents of small children bring them to a movie that is not appropriate? Why are they so insensitive to the other patrons? When the movie ended, this family almost flew out of the theater. Maybe it was because they knew people around them were upset, but who knows?
On the way out, I looked for the manager, and finally found him. I asked him (calmly and politely) to provide me with an address because I wanted to lodge a complaint about our experience. He said his company’s policy was that they do not turn anyone away just because they have small children, even if the movie was clearly not G rated. He asked why I had not sought his help during the movie.
I explained that I had not because I didn’t want to miss any more of the movie than I already had, nor did I want to cause a commotion that would further impact the enjoyment of the patrons. I personally do not think people should be turned away just because they have children, but if those children are ruining the experience for the rest, then they should be asked to leave.
After explaining myself, the manager offered me three free tickets if I would forget the complaint. I was only too happy to take them because the reality is that my complaint would likely not change a thing. We will probably go back to see the movie again, but definitely not to a matinee.
Sometimes It Pays to Complain
June 1st, 2008 at 03:42 pm
June 1st, 2008 at 04:30 pm 1212337809
June 1st, 2008 at 04:41 pm 1212338498
June 1st, 2008 at 04:49 pm 1212338975
We took the kids to see a Disney movie and LM got fussy about an hour in to it (honestly I wouldn't have brought him if I knew it was over TWO hours. I assumed a kid movie would have been an appropriate length).
I took him on a walk after his restlessness started to bother other people, and it was obvious anyway he no longer cared for the movie (so why stay?). I don't think it had gotten to loud noises and kicking, but I am sure it would have progressed to that rather quickly.
Shame on those parents. How Rude!
June 1st, 2008 at 05:50 pm 1212342628
And the parents need to be a little smarter too. They give them a car to play with and then the rolling wheels or the kid banging the car on the pew is too loud so they have to take it away. So the kid cries. Or the kid starts wandering up and down the pew and then starts running. Or they start banging their feet on the pews quietly, then louder and louder until it is finally too much for the parents.
I don't have kids, but I can see why the kids are doing these things...the parents allow a little, then a little more, then a little more, and it is finally too much and the poor kid gets in trouble.
June 1st, 2008 at 06:07 pm 1212343654
I love a good movie at the theater, but don't go very often...and I am respectful of others when I am there. But I don't hesitate to speak up when it is clear someone is disrespectful of others in the room.
As bad as the experience sounded, I probably would have opted to leave and insist on a refund...A good manager should have offered you complimentary snacks as well as the tickets in my opinion...