About unruly teens and that mum at theatre

And you'd probably have had your head completely caved in in return by some of the most gentle, unassuming looking women I've known from my martial arts club over the decades. 😂

Why on earth would you think punching someone in the face is the appropriate response to being tapped on the shoulder?!

Still... live by the sword, and all that... 😂

I hate it when people quote "their culture" as an excuse for unethical, violent, abusive and criminal actions. Do better.

I have teens around the same age - if this had been my kids - well first of all it wouldn't because I would have reprimanded and removed them before allowing them to behave like this - I would have been offering sincere apologies and asking my kids to apologise too.

Protecting our offspring from any and all negative interaction, especially ones that are their fault is the worst thing we can do. Children need to learn how to act in a civilised society, and if they are never challenged on bad behaviour, they never DO learn that! This is how you get the multitudes of shit-stirring influencer-types playing 'pranks' or demanding free food, or simply behaving badly and never taking responsibility!

And those of you berating OP for tapping a teenager on the shoulder - seriously have a word with yourself. Any and all physical contact isn't illegal. And those of you that would punch someone in the face for being tapped in the shoulder are tapped in the fucking head.

Oh wow. People often tap me on the shoulder to get my attention ( I can't hear them if they approach me from behind. I fear id be in prison by now if I punched everyone who wanted to get past, tell me id dropped something etc

I can lean just one seat over and say loud enough 'can you please stop talking' for him to hear me without the need for physical contact. Even if doing so I disrupt the performance myself, I am still drawing attention to him and letting other people know he was causing a problem by messing around. I don't need to touch people to make that point. How is my way what's wrong with society but OPs way which caused a confrontation right?

Perhaps a little context of what a 'sharp tap' is might help. That to me would be more an aggressive jab rather than just gently touching my shoulder to get my attention.

In years gone by this 'child' would have received a clip around the ear from OP, and when they went crying to their mother they'd have had the other ear smacked by her for disturbing OP to the extent she whacked him one. Well, either that or this 6 foot 16 year old child would have been working there and been responsible for bringing home money to the family. No fan have corporal punishment in all seriousness, but all this "tapping someone on the shoulder is assault" stuff is far too far in the other direction.

More people should do what you did. I would have done the same.

This is exactly why her perfect cherub doesn't know at 16 how to behave in public.

You did nothing wrong. Personally, I would have spoken to an usher/theatre employee and asked to be moved. I bet it annoyed the cast as well.

Ignore OP. Her child and his mates are little gits and probably because he was embarrassed he ran to mummy.

All you people moaning that a tap on the shoulder to get someone's attention is unacceptable or "touching someone" or that under 18s shouldnt be pulled up for behaviour etc, YOU are whats wrong with younger generations today. YOU are the reason that so many of them think they can get away with anything then cry victimisation, assault, trauma, anxiety, being "triggered" when it happens, because YOU facilitate it!

Indeed.

@TiredHippo you should probably stay at home if you honestly think "you should never touch people".

“Common assault or battery normally involves the unlawful touching of a person (where they have not ‘silently’ consented, i.e. if jolted during a concert) but does not require there to have been any injury.
By the letter of the law, common assault or battery is occasioned where there is more than merely transient or trifling contact. It is not necessary for the police or prosecution to prove injury. Normally – subject to some exceptions – the prosecution will choose not to prosecute a case in court if there are no injuries at all as it would not be in the interests of justice to do so.
In general, most minor assaults which have caused minor injuries or passing discomfort or pain will be prosecuted as common assault.”

from https://www.lawtonslaw.co.uk/resources/varying-degrees-of-assault/

Retaliation has to be proportionate. Retaliating to a light touch on the shoulder by a punch in the face is not proportionate.

People don’t tap on the shoulder when they could “use their words”. Running after someone to say they dropped their phone, but they’re deep in conversation and you can’t get ahead of them. Commuter fast asleep as train reaches final destination and not responding to words. Noisy crowd and you can’t make yourself heard. To take it to extremes - first aider if you’re not conscious and able to consent.

And the tapée was causing a disturbance in a public place and interfering with the experience which other people had paid to witness.

The barbarians are inside the gates , as the poet Cafavy says.

Also I tend to find going shhhh very loudly tends to work and embarrass them in these situations. I have done it a few times 😬🙈

When I have had this in cinema, I have gone to a staff member. When some young teens were running around got them thrown out. Not paying good money to have my visit ruined.. My teens at the time were mortified though.

I wouldn't have been happy if you have tapped my child. I would have told my children to have been quieter before it had gotten to that point. I wouldn't have threatened the police but would have politely told you not to touch my child and that it wasn't appropriate. I would have apologised for the noise level however.

I don't think munching on popcorn would have been an issue.

And I would block it and karate chop you before you knew what day it was.

FFS, what a stupid comment. Tap, tap, excuse me?!?? Punch. That's how you respond? I don't think earth is the planet for you.

You did absolutely the right thing. The mother, rightly so should be very embarrassed and she's projecting her embarrassment onto you by being angry that someone dared tell her little angel to be quiet. Diddums 😡

It's fine what you did.

Your post sums up what is wrong with many youngsters in the country. They don't behave because they've not been parented properly, someone else gets frustrated by the poor behaviour in a public place and says something. Then the parent appears out of nowhere and kicks off for all the wrong reasons rather than back up the original complaint.

There's a lot of truth in the saying it takes a village to raise a child.

I had it happen to me years ago at a kids playground in Spain. One older child of this really really rough British family was dropping F bombs all over the place and I didn't really want my 4 and 5 year olds hearing that whilst they were playing on the swings. So I told the boy to stop swearing, I could understand everything he was saying and it was inappropriate. Then his mother identified herself from all the parents sitting around on benches, OMG well it was almost funny she was clearly some gangsters wife, probably out there to lie low for a bit. Made a total exhibition of herself whilst I icily told her what the behaviour norms in that area were and how they were drawing attention to themselves for all the wrong reasons whilst no doubt they were meant to be keeping a low profile. I was surprisingly never scared at all. I've never ever come across anyone as rough as they were before or since (thank goodness).

But it's not just rough people are like this as you've found out. It's such a shame. If only they used their energy to get the kids to behave in the first place.

@dapsnotplimsolls @Gettingonmygoat . I will say it once more and then leave because it is obvious this discussion is just going in a circle.

The OP should have used her words not hands but@Gettingonmygoat your version is assault as you are using threatening language .

It isn't that difficult to ask or ask staff there is no need to touch another person or threaten.

Sorry can't delete your name from the post ditalini.
@ditalini

"should have used her words" Seriously ! But then i suppose "shut the fuck up you bratty little twat before i knock you out" would have been ok.

No I wouldn't. In fact our children are usually extremely well behaved because they are brought up with respect and discipline, not gentle parenting.