Why would a person go to a play or concert, and chew gum? Why not respect the performer instead?

[Rabrrrrrr]

I just don't get it - maybe it's because I'm a performer at times and one who has spent time on stage, but I don't think so; it seems to me that the human thing to do when going to a live performance is to show respect for the time and effort and skill of the performer(s). I don't see how you can do that while chewing gum, texting on the cell phone, stuffing your face full of whatever food the theater shouldn't allow you to bring into the theater, or talking.

All of those are obvious attention-distractors.

Come on, people - artists are far more important than the disposable commodities that American Idol has made you believe they are. That means that when you go to a concert you should do the following:

1. Shut the fuck up. Absolutely. Even a rock concert - if you're talking, you're actually yelling at about 120 dB, which means you're annoying your neighbors. Shut the fuck up.

2. Don't eat and don't chew gum. It's just common courtesy. If you're eating, you're not totally focused on the performance. If you're chewing gum, you're not totally focused. And you're likely annoying everyone around you. leave the gum at home, where it belongs. Chewing gum outside your home is for the rank of humanity that resides at the lower end of the spectrum.

All of which is to say: as you go through life, you have the choice of succeeding and moving ahead by showing etiquette abd joining the ranks of the higher-ups, or you can spend your life chewing gum, thinking American Idol is about finding artists, and praying to God you can get a spot on Real Housewives of Orange County.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. A friend once shared a "dressing down" Robert Fripp gave an audience...

...at a King Crimson show.

Some dweeb was yelling "L-O-U-D-E-R" repeatedly and Fripp eventually responded by saying "If you want hear loud music I suggest you get a transistor radio, hold it directly up to your ear, and turn the volume all the way up."

:rofl:

[Bossy Monkey]

7. I think he more usually went with "Listen more intently." n/t

[Amerigo Vespucci]

12. You may be right...

...I wasn't sure about that last part. Everything up to the point of holding the radio up, yes.

[quakerboy]

2. I am of divided mind

I mean, I don't want to annoy you. But why would I want any of those other things? No interest in American Idol, or joining the ranks of the higher ups. All I want is the pure hedonistic pleasure of experiencing some chill music whilst munching some nacho's to stimulate my taste buds and simultaneously squirming around in my seat to fully appreciate the feel of my full silk body suit and watching old rocky and bullwinkle cartoons on my internet enabled mobile device so that my eyes have something to do. Why is that such a problem for everyone?

[Kali]

3. if they aren't chomping with an open mouth like Palin's kid

it might be a small positive that they aren't hacking and coughing and clearing their throat constantly...???

[grace0418]

4. I get the yelling and the eating (depending on the venue) but chewing gum? Really?

I think that may be a particular annoyance to you but I couldn't care less if someone is chewing gum in the audience unless they're popping bubbles and smacking–and even then that would only be annoying during a play or mellow music performance, not a rock concert. I'd rather my neighbor be chewing gum than have dragon breath. And I'm pretty sure they'd say the same about me. Especially in the close quarters of a sold out general admission show. I'm also pretty sure that someone of average intelligence or better can manage to chew gum and pay attention to a concert without compromising the performance whatsoever. I'm guessing they might even be able to blink, breath, pump blood through their circulatory system, swallow, digest food and even sway a little bit to the music. Sounds crazy, I know, but I believe this.

I don't know where you equate chewing gum with being at the "lower end of the spectrum" but what a weird generalization to make. I come from a family of highly educated people, several of whom are serious performers (musicians and/or actors). All of us chew gum. None of us think American Idol is anything more than silly entertainment, and most of my family doesn't even know what "Real Housewives of Wherever" is. I'm probably the most interested in pop culture out of my whole family and I've never seen one episode.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. So you probably think it's rude to roll a joint

or open a bottle of Boone's Farm wine when the band is playing.

I think you're disrespecting my entire college education.

:rofl:

[pintobean]

6. I suggest you perform a

benefit for halitosis victims.

[rug]

8. When did you move to Singapore?

[seabeyond]

9. +1. i thought the post a joke. nt

[hippywife]

10. I've lost all hope for

humankind in the areas of etiquette, respect and courtesy. They have become so insular and selfish with regard to their behaviours towards and around others, some of them shouldn't be allowed out in public.

I hate to feel that way about people, I try not to, but I do.

[Orrex]

11. I'm so glad that somebody posted this. There's only one way that performances should be viewed:

Actually, the viewer should be forced to wear a ball-gag in order to prevent accidental enunciation.


Thank god for some sense at long last!