So, if I sidle up next to you in the theater and scream directly into your ear for 2 hours, it would be selfish of you to expect me to stop?
Major, I'm a relatively new parent and I think there's a big difference between not taking my kids to see a particular movie and being a hermit. I think it's a totally reasonable expectation be able to go see a movie like, I don't know, Schindler's List (or any non-kid kind of movie) and not be distracted by a screaming baby. It has more to do with common sense and consideration for other people than anyone infringing on my rights. What's wrong with just getting a babysitter and enjoying the movie without the kids?
Is the basic arguement is . .. I want to goto a movie and feel like I am at home alone . . . except with a big *ss screen and great sound that I cannot afford at home? Sounds like a great social Experiment. . . . goto a movie . .and everytime ANYONE makes ANY SOUND scream at them to shut up! Let the hilarity ensue . . . Rocket River
do you think these theaters are ok with the baby screaming for an extended duration without the parents taking them out of the theater? do you think they are ok with somebody screaming on their cell phone throughout the movie just because they allow cell phones? of course they aren't. do they have to put disclaimers next to the concession stand that says "you are not allowed to pour these drinks or spit this food onto the faces of other patrons inside the theater"? "other theaters don't allow babies at all. this one does, so that also means that it's permissible for them to scream and cry throughout the movie". SMDH
Perhaps but I think it would be interesting to see how many folx here have kids I think someone asked this earlier Rocket River
Wanna watch a movie with your kids? Go to a drive-in theater and keep the windows up. I don't need to hear your kid's soundtrack.
I don't think the theater or patron really expects that going to a theater. You DO expect children and babies at movie theaters that allow babies and children and movies like Batman that are going to visually appeal to younger people, and, as we've seen in this thread, everyone regularly experiences them. It's not a surprise that a kid is in a theater, and the theater has no issue with it. Of course not - that's why security will come in and remove them. If the person causes problems, it's inconsiderate of them not to deal with that problem. But you're pre-judging them before that happens and saying they shouldn't even go to a theater because it's somehow selfish of them. That's the part I disagree with. Absolutely - it would be inconsiderate of you to take a baby and have it screaming in the theater. I have said that numerous times. But I don't think it would be selfish of you to say "we've been stuck at home a while, we don't want to spent $40 on a babysitter, but really want to see this movie, so let's go and try and see what happens. If the baby starts screaming, we can step out."
Want to watch a movie without kids around? You can go to a drive-in theater, the Alamo, or watch at home on Netflix. It works both ways.
I saw TDKR at a 10pm Saturday night showing with two other friends. The only area that had three seats next to each other also had a couple with a 1 year old baby. The mom had to keep getting up to take the kid out every 15 minutes that it started screaming and balling at the loud action scenes. The dad just didn't even pay attention to the kid because he clearly wanted to stay and watch the movie. I was a little ticked that the kid was right there screaming at such a late movie. I was more ticked in the fact that the dad just didn't have the wisdom not to take a kid to the movie when clearly the kid or mom didn't get to watch most of it (not that the kid would understand anyway). He might as well have just seen it by himself and let her stay at home with the kid and saved them a few bucks. At a midnight showing you should not take small children there. I can understand a matinee when no one else is really there. It is just discourteous to those around you.
Of course, the situation is not black and white. I saw Brave last night. There were a lot of kids, many of whom talked or cried during the film, but that's to be expected at a Pixar film. The bar's a lot lower. What's downright moronic is when you bring a kid who can't sit still for 5 minutes or whisper to an adult targeted movie that's nearly 3 hours long. You're either going to waste your money by having to leave the theatre every other scene or ruin it for everyone else.
Most of you have sat through countless movies with infants, toddlers, and other children and never knew it, nor were bothered. Why? Because the child was asleep or quiet, if not, a responsible parent removed a fidgety child out of consideration for others. If the parent did not do this, then you have every right to be upset. Otherwise, you have no reason to complain.
Just know this, parents: At the moment you walk into a theatre with a baby, every other person in that theatre prepares to have a crappy time and curses their bad luck for choosing the same showing you did. Many in the theatre will question your judgment for bringing your small child to a movie that will undoubtedly frighten them as TDKR would any small child. If you can afford a movie, you can afford a sitter. If you bring a baby or small child to a loud, intense movie that your child could not possibly follow, you're not doing it for your child; you're doing it to save a few bucks on a sitter. And you are more than likely ruining the good time that everyone else spent their money to have. As to the arguments of wanting a silent movie experience without noise from the crowd, nobody is asking for that. We are asking that the noises made in the theatre are indeed in response to the movie. "Ooh's, aah's, no-he-didn't's, girl get out of that house there's a killer in there..." are exempted from the basic complaint. We go to movies in the theatre to watch them together, in a group, usually with a lot of strangers. We get upset when that experience is marred by people having loud conversations that have nothing to do with the movie, people talking loudly on cell phones, cell phones ringing loudly and for long periods of time, and people that have the gall to bring babies and toddlers that don't know any better than to cry when they're frightened which, in a modern Batman movie, they 100% definitely will be.
There are no winners when you take your kids to the movie that's not really set up for infants and toddlers (like a violent adult one btw midnight and 3 AM when they shoudl be in bed and are at their crankiest...rather than the matinee showing of Toy Story...). The no winners include you, who has to mind a kid the whole time if you're considerate and keep taking him out of the movie; your kid who can't understand a darned thing and everybody around you who is there to see the movie. Conversely, when you either employ a sitter and leave the kid at home, or pick some alternative family entertainment venue and watch the movie on DVD, there are 3 winners, you, the kids, and the other people in the theater. 3 winners > No winners
I promise you the theater prefers you leave small children at home for certain movies. Very rarely do I go to a movie, and see small children. I certainly do not expect them. Earlier showings and children's movies I probably would, but not at night. I've got 2 kids, 2 & 5, but I've never taken them to the movie theater. They have been without me, but to Cars 2, and some other animated movie. The same thing generally applies to a restaurant. I understand if I go to Applebees, that there will be children. If I go to a 5-star place, I don't expect to deal with children. I usually don't take my kids out to eat unless I have to because they usually make our meal less enjoyable, and bother other patrons.
of course everything you say is correct, just understand that there is no teaching and mind-changing possible with the breed that does this and doesn't think or understand that there's anything wrong with it.
I don't expect to change anyone's mind here ever, about anything. And I am not presumptuous enough to believe myself a capable teacher. I just come here to express my opinions.
