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In reply to the discussion: Prosecutors: This wasn't the first blow-up for Florida theater shooter Curtis Reeves [View all]magical thyme
(14,881 posts)I still have distinct memories of being able to go to a movie and watch the movie. There might be some whispering, then somebody would give the whisperers a look and they'd get the message. Everybody could watch the movie and enjoy it.
I stopped going to the movies about 10 years ago. I had waited for a big, period, epic type movie to come out so I could get "lost" in it. Part of escapism of being at the big screen, versus the little, at home screen. Well, after several years of waiting for that type, one finally came out. I didn't go to the opening because I figured it would be crowded and noisy. Instead, on a midweek matinee when the kids would be in school. Except a group of teens skipped school for the movies and then jumped up and ran up and down the aisles, rode down the bannister (ultimately breaking it) and interrupted and disrupted the movie at every, single climax point. They deliberately ruined the movie for everybody who had gone to actually watch it, for their own form of "entertainment."
It seems to me, the majority of people used to have show some basic consideration for others, in exchange for the same directed toward them. Now I would say the majority of people have zero consideration for others and seem surprised that there are others out there somewhere, whether they are texting at a meal, on a date, in the middle of a conversation, driving, walking down the street, or whatever.
There has been a distinct decline in simple decency, respect and courtesy toward others. I usually laugh when such narcissists are then surprised to occasionally get some blowback, except when it turns tragic. I do find it interesting how many people make their judgements on who engaged in the "worse" behavior. It is all just bullying others.
In this case, the ultimate victim instigated the situation by breaking a rule, which rule is intended to ensure that all moviegoers get equal access to the movie. Asked 3 times to follow the rule, the victim refused to comply. When the disrespected person left and returned, the victim further escalated the situation by asking the disrespected person if he'd gone to get management. And then further escalated the situation by throwing popcorn at the disrespected person.
I look at this situation and what is see is a stupid, rude bully who met up with an equally stupid, but armed bully who wasn't going to take being bullied any more.
A nonbully would have left the theater and texted his daughter outside the theater, both out of consideration of the other person's rights and out of consideration for his wife and daughter. A nonbully would have left the theater, asked for his money back for the ticket and tried again later or waited for it to come out on dvd.
Personally, I have zero tolerance for bullying. Young bully had no manners because he's learned he can get his own way by being a bully. Well it's too bad his parents didn't bother to teach him basic manners when he was still young enough to learn them from his parents, because then he would still be alive. Now he's dead, and his wife and daughter are mourning. Old bully will probably be doing some jail time and then off to nursing home.
Bullies. They shit on everything.