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AIBU?

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Teenager at cinema

196 replies

Mryjkf · 10/04/2024 18:32

So yesterday I took the kids to the cinema. I was awaiting an important phone call so about 15 minutes into the film I quickly checked my phone to see if I'd missed it. Girl behind, about 12-13, tapped me on the shoulder and told me to put my phone away.

I didn't know whether to applaud her guts or call her a CF. I know the rules but it was a quick glance and I'm a grown adult!!?

OP posts:
Laserwho · 10/04/2024 19:04

My son would have done the same thing. The rules also apply to grown ups.

Mouk · 10/04/2024 19:02

YABU. Good for her for asking you to put your phone away. You're the adult and should know better.

I hate it when people have their phones out during a film. Surely you would have felt the phone vibrate if the call came through. I have a watch that will display the caller or texter without me even needing to look at the phone unless I want to take the call.

peppermintsforall · 10/04/2024 19:02

I'm not sure why you think she's possibly in the wrong, OP. Phones aren't allowed in cinema screens for a reason. You can sort your hearing aid out during the 30mins of trailers and adverts.
I'm pleased it was a teen girls telling someone to stop rather than being the one on her phone. There is hope for our phone addicted younger generation!

Medschoolmum · 10/04/2024 19:02

I get it, OP. It's a bit humiliating to be told off by a 12 yo. Even more so when you realise that you don't have a leg to stand on because she is completely in the right!

The days of children being seen and not heard are long since gone, thankfully, and honestly, I admire her assertiveness. It is annoying when people use their phones in the cinema, and they shouldn't do it because it spoils the experience for other paying customers.

I reckon you'll think twice about whipping your phone out next time. Good on that girl, I say!Grin

Summerdew · 10/04/2024 19:02

SantaBarbaraMonica · 10/04/2024 18:55

I think she was a pain in the hole. I don’t love people looking at phones in cinema but would not pull anyone up for a quick glance. There’s many reasons someone might need to check a phone very quickly. I’d be pretty tolerant of a quick check. I also think a child chastising an adult is not a good sign regarding the type of person she is and will be.

I think she’s going to grow up in to an adult who doesn’t tolerate any crap and hope my DDs do too. Children should feel able to complain no matter who is doing the twatty behaviour. Perhaps it was a quick glance and I would have tolerated it too, but I also think it’s great that she felt able to speak out.

LadyKenya · 10/04/2024 19:01

I wonder if she would have done that if her Dad was not with her. I would not want any teenager of mine to challenge an adult in those circumstances.

Topseyt123 · 10/04/2024 19:00

The usual rule is that you should not have your phone out during the film. It applies to all. I don't know if cinemas have any exceptions for people with hearing aids or diabetics who need to monitor their blood glucose. I presume they do have to, as long as people don't take the piss.

She had a point. The light from a phone screen is bright and distracting. If you had been using it to adjust your hearing aids then that's potentially different and could have been explained to her because so many things work via Bluetooth or an app now.

ManchesterBeatrice · 10/04/2024 19:00

Legend!

Mryjkf · 10/04/2024 19:00

SantaBarbaraMonica · 10/04/2024 18:55

I think she was a pain in the hole. I don’t love people looking at phones in cinema but would not pull anyone up for a quick glance. There’s many reasons someone might need to check a phone very quickly. I’d be pretty tolerant of a quick check. I also think a child chastising an adult is not a good sign regarding the type of person she is and will be.

She was pissing me off with the constant rustling of food bags!

I take it on the chin but it's not like I was constantly on the bloody thing. I had a legitimate reason and it was a two second glance.

OP posts:
HamAlive · 10/04/2024 19:00

If it was a teenager getting their phone out and an adult asking them to put it away, I don't think this would even be a question. As you say, that's the rule. So she did nothing wrong, regardless of either of your ages. I think it's great that a teenager isn't being a pain in the cinema as I see most times I go.

TheUndoing · 10/04/2024 18:59

Good for her!

You weren’t adjusting your hearing aids though, you were just on your phone so your “whatabout”ing is a bit irritating to be honest. My mum has phone controlled hearing aids and she’s conscientious about making any adjustments needed during the trailers.

christmaspudding43 · 10/04/2024 18:59

I love her. You absolutely sound like you think she shouldn't have said anything because she's not a "grown adult". You were out of order, not her. It's really irritating seeing multiple people "just quickly check their phones" throughout a film.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/04/2024 18:58

Update
Teenager in cinema = 29
Poster = 1

I'm not going to continue with another update, I think I can see where it's going.

NeverEnoughPants · 10/04/2024 18:57

She's not the one that has 'more front than Brighton'. She's 100% in the right.

You are the CF. The fact that you are a 'grown adult' doesn't change that.

Mryjkf · 10/04/2024 18:55

StormySpanielz · 10/04/2024 18:52

Depends on the movie tbh. If it’s a shit cartoon then plenty of parents will check their phone and the kids (ie the actual target audience) don’t give a shit.

if it’s a more grown up movie then phones are not acceptable

It was Kung Fu panda!

Those people re. hearing aids, why should I move to the back of the room? The sound fluctuates and this is part of the hearing deficit I have.

OP posts:
SantaBarbaraMonica · 10/04/2024 18:55

I think she was a pain in the hole. I don’t love people looking at phones in cinema but would not pull anyone up for a quick glance. There’s many reasons someone might need to check a phone very quickly. I’d be pretty tolerant of a quick check. I also think a child chastising an adult is not a good sign regarding the type of person she is and will be.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/04/2024 18:55

So far....
Teenager at cinema = 18
Poster. = 0

Justcallmebebes · 10/04/2024 18:55

Good for her. I took a coupe of my grandsons to the pics over Easter and a woman next to us was constantly on her phone. Really annoying and distracting

EmmaEmerald · 10/04/2024 18:54

Screamingabdabz · 10/04/2024 18:46

People who ‘check’ their phone in the cinema make me murderous. I say this as someone who ignored multiple buzzes and texts through a crappy film - it was my DH telling me my son was in emergency surgery. Seeing a phone screen in the dark is so distracting and ruins the whole point of paying for a ticket.

YABU and well done that girl!

So you didn't mute the buzzes?

am I the only person who switches off the phone or puts it in airplane mode? And silences it?!

Pepsiisbetterthancoke · 10/04/2024 18:53

The adults are the ones wrong in this scenario. OP for even considering she was wrong in the first place and her dad for trying to stop her

Mapletreelane · 10/04/2024 18:53

I was at the school performance of a classic musical . All dark in the seats....Lady next to me started reading on her phone using her kindle app About 10 mins into the I politely asked her to read elsewhere as the light was really distracting. She apologised but really....reading during a show? The mind boggles! Was a fabulous performance too from the kids..

StormySpanielz · 10/04/2024 18:52

Depends on the movie tbh. If it’s a shit cartoon then plenty of parents will check their phone and the kids (ie the actual target audience) don’t give a shit.

if it’s a more grown up movie then phones are not acceptable

takealettermsjones · 10/04/2024 18:52

Mryjkf · 10/04/2024 18:50

Jesus! Not if I don't know how loud the fucking film will be!!!!

But you'd sort them during the adverts/previews etc?

Honestly it just sounds like you think she was impertinent because she's a teenager and you're an adult 😆

IAmAnIdiot123 · 10/04/2024 18:52

Mryjkf · 10/04/2024 18:47

I thought the same tbh.

I normally wear hearing aids and they are controlled via my phone, in terms of sensitivity and sound dynamics. I wasn't wearing them as I had a battery issue with one. If I'd been sorting the hearing aids I would not have been happy.

Surely you would go out to sort out your hearing aid settings? Or if you needed the sound of the movie to do this, you would just stand by the door at the back to not disrupt others viewing experience with a bright screen.

Soubriquet · 10/04/2024 18:52

Yabu!! Why arrange a phone call for when the film was on?

Good on her for telling you