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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Man on WhatsApp next to me in Theatre?

65 replies

PassingStranger · 23/03/2025 16:03

Can't people just put their phones away and switch them off for once.🤫

Man using WhatsApp in the performance and kept checking to see if he had a reply.
How can you concentrate what is going on if your mind is on the phone.

It should be off in the theatre also.
Why cant people switch off from their phones and talking to people for a while.
No consideration for others either it's distracting.
😫

OP posts:
ERthree · 23/03/2025 16:41

Cucy · 23/03/2025 16:39

I voted YABU

Even though my mum does this and it drives me mad because it’s only an hour of your life, so just put it away!

However, (as long as it was on silent) then you don’t know the reasons of why he needed to use his phone and it may have been something quite serious.

Stop making excuses for poor behaviour. If he had something serious going on why the heck was he in the theatre in the first place?

ERthree · 23/03/2025 16:39

Phones are dummies for grown adults, they can't even walk down the street without having their face in a screen. Crikey you can even buy toilet roll holders with a shelf for phone's! You should have told him to turn it off.

Cucy · 23/03/2025 16:39

I voted YABU

Even though my mum does this and it drives me mad because it’s only an hour of your life, so just put it away!

However, (as long as it was on silent) then you don’t know the reasons of why he needed to use his phone and it may have been something quite serious.

pinkdelight · 23/03/2025 16:39

Theatre’s way too expensive to put up with it being ruined by ignorant gits on phones. Tell them to put it away and tell the ushers as a next step. It’s completely untenable.

Nightjar33 · 23/03/2025 16:33

It happened to m too.
the person infront kept taking photos to post on Facebook. When the phone lit up it distracted many behind and beside her.

StuH1 · 23/03/2025 16:30

Phone addiction is a real thing and I can be just as guilty of spending too much time on mine but I am making a conscious effort to reduce the time I'm on it.

I really don't understand why some people think this is acceptable though, we go to the theatre a lot an I always switch mine off, it's actually quite liberating

Original poster
PassingStranger · 23/03/2025 16:29

Offtobuttonmoontovisitmrspoon · 23/03/2025 16:27

Is he on his own?

Obviously still not ok but thinking about why…..
Maybe they are just rude but my brother has ASD and Tourette’s. He’s trying out things that he’s not done before. He recently went to see wicked on his own (bugger as I want to go). I would imagine him using his phone as a kind of comfort blanket/tool if he became overwhelmed. Obviously he should leave but I’m not sure that he would be brave enough too! (I don’t know that he does do this but might ask off the back of this as it’s not a ‘rule’ that I have thought to mention).

No he was with a woman

OP posts:
Offtobuttonmoontovisitmrspoon · 23/03/2025 16:27

Is he on his own?

Obviously still not ok but thinking about why…..
Maybe they are just rude but my brother has ASD and Tourette’s. He’s trying out things that he’s not done before. He recently went to see wicked on his own (bugger as I want to go). I would imagine him using his phone as a kind of comfort blanket/tool if he became overwhelmed. Obviously he should leave but I’m not sure that he would be brave enough too! (I don’t know that he does do this but might ask off the back of this as it’s not a ‘rule’ that I have thought to mention).

PloughedMeadowG · 23/03/2025 16:24

Happened to me a couple of times. Ruined very expensive concerts - had to travel and stay over as live far away. Not gone to a live event since. Why don't theatres and other venues stop it?

Original poster
PassingStranger · 23/03/2025 16:21

No I didn't.
I hoped he would just stop....
I find it awkward if you have to sit next to someone after having words.

Just can't understand why they feel the need to do it.
They should be immersed in what's going on on the stage.

OP posts:
skyeisthelimit · 23/03/2025 16:21

There are so many selfish twats out there now. I have asked kids and adults in both the theatre and the cinema to turn their phones off. It is hugely distracting.

Years ago, a friend was drunk at the theatre and sat a few rows ahead of me. She kept texting her bloke and was almost thrown out by the staff for using her phone during the show as the people around her complained.

I put my phone on silent and check it during the break if I remember.

Some people are just so obsessed by their phones that they can't leave them alone for a minute. It is sad.

TimeForTeaAndToast · 23/03/2025 16:09

I've told people to turn off their phones before. It's better than silently fuming.
There was a guy at an opera, who clearly didn't want to be there and checked the time on his phone every five minutes. I told him to stop it. Afterwards the woman next to me thanked me.

Sprig1 · 23/03/2025 16:08

Very rude. Did you ask him to stop it? I would have done, and gone to get an usher if he continued.

Redpeach · 23/03/2025 16:06

I would have said something to the idiot

IdaGlossop · 23/03/2025 16:05

Very witty!