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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

You're in a cinema and your kid starts kicking the back of the chair in front .....

118 replies

Lorenz · 02/06/2011 16:03

Do you make them stop it or assume the people in front don't mind??

Or do you think if the people in front DO mind, they should move?

OP posts:
greencolorpack · 03/06/2011 09:33

I like to sit next to my ds, because if anyone kicks his chair he turns round and tells them to stop it, while if it happens to me I get all anxious and do nothing. But my ds is brave!

Having said that, I often end up telling people off for having their phones on. A phone display in a darkened cinema is like a bloody torch in your eyes. SWITCH IT OFF!

greencolorpack · 03/06/2011 09:36

Poopnscoop, although you dislike the foul language, you do realise that every time you post on a thread you put the image of a dog orduring into my head? Did I want to see that? No. Cannot understand why anyone has usernames that call to mind Bms or sht or anything to do with faecal matter.

But that's just me!

bupcakesandcunting · 03/06/2011 09:36

Zero tolerance. Yes.

poopnscoop · 03/06/2011 09:38

haha I have been on MN for years.... and won't be going anywhere.

Twice I have got up and left the cinema to call a steward, when there have been misbehaving teens... both times they were ushered out. My DH prefers not to make a fuss, I don't agree with him.

poopnscoop · 03/06/2011 09:41

I have seen far worse names than mine greencolorpack ... (have you seen the one below your post? Wink)

greencolorpack · 03/06/2011 09:44

I know. I'm not having a go. I agree, actually, I hate swearing, although blasphemy is what really offends, I don't mind f words as much as I mind people saying "Jesus Christ!" in vain. His name is a not a swearword.

I just think certain names limit what you can post on without looking incongruous. Like, on a thread about bereavement, do you want a name that calls to mind blow jobs?? Some silly names work in certain threads well, like say a thread about sex, but you need a name that works in all formats.

I borrowed some dogs last year to dogsit, and I did my fair share of pooping and scooping, it was unpleasant, thus, it has negative connotations for me. Does it have cute and fun connotations for you?

yukoncher · 03/06/2011 09:45

Oh my gosh!
I would be FUMING if someone was kicking my chair repeatedly, with their parents not stopping them. After paying all that money and planning for a very rare treat.
What kinda lazy parents would ignore that.

I understand telling DC to stop could cause them to get worse and have a tantrum, because my DC might do that. But I have to expect that, and be ready and willing to take my DC out if needed.
How bone idle it would be to ignore DC bad behaviour, just avoid risking having to leave.

bupcakesandcunting · 03/06/2011 09:47

Don't start on my name :(

TheLadyEvenstar · 03/06/2011 09:47

Last summer I took DS1 -12, DN1 10, DN2 6, and DS2 2 to the cinema to see Megamind. It was DS2's first trip and I was worried he would play up so I took a few treats, to save rustling wrappers I put them all in a container.
The cinema has booster seats for smaller children to use - great idea for littluns.

Anyway DS2 was an angel sat and watched the film with no problems until the little shit about 7yrs old behind kept kicking his seat, after a few deadly stares I thought that was that and he stopped only for him to lean forwards and pull DS2's hair. I, at that moment I shouted at him as DS2 was then crying and the mother - who was listening to her fucking ipod was unaware of what was happening - until i shouted at her precious little shit boy then she started making excuses for him "he's only a baby he is just 7". They were removed from the cinema by the manager who came to see what the problem was.

poopnscoop · 03/06/2011 09:49

'Don't start on my name' bupcakesandcnting I won't, no need... just using you as an example... Wink

TheLadyEvenstar · 03/06/2011 09:50

I love BupcakesandCuntings name

Hammy02 · 03/06/2011 09:54

I'd love to know where these people are that think it is acceptable to have their phones on/talk in cinemas are? There is never a poster that comes on saying 'well actually I do that and the reason is....'. We know they exist so where are these people?!

vintageteacups · 03/06/2011 09:55

I agree the chair kicking thing is annoying and she should have stopped them as soon as but YABU about the loo thing.

The end of the row thing is fine for the people who manage to get those seats but for everyone else, who sits elsewhere, you cannot moan that they need the loo.

poopnscoop · 03/06/2011 09:57

We saw Thor in 3D last Friday... and our friends kept texting on their phone... to their babysitter. The kids were fine, if they weren't they would have left immediately (they've left twice in the past)... but they overdid it, continually through the movie. DH was sitting next to the wife and it was irritating him... he of course said nothing. I was at the end so didn't see this (he told me about it afterwards), just as well, as I would have said something. It wouldn't have gone down too well I don't think tbh.

ClaireDeLoon · 03/06/2011 09:58

I also love bupcakesandcuntings name.

I had someone's child kicking the back of my seat on the train yesterday I ended up getting up and moving because parent clearly wasn't interested in teaching good manners.

JunoWatt · 03/06/2011 09:59

i once heard of a FULL SCALE brawl in a cinema over talking during a movie.
women, men, kids all on the floor.

the police were called

QueenofDreams · 03/06/2011 09:59

Not quite relevant, but when DP and I first got together we went to the theatre to see The Woman in Black. A play that relies heavily on creating an atmosphere of tension. Unfortunately just down the row from us were a group of people talking, looking at their mobiles and GUFFAWING extremely loudly. ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PLAY. Entire play was entirely ruined by the idiots. Some other people pulled them up on it afterwards, and their response was 'we've got a right to have a laugh with our mates'. Surely if you want to go out and have a laugh you go to the pub not the theatre?

I also once endured an entire transatlantic flight with a kid kicking the back of my seat. The mother gave me such evils for daring to ask him to stop. Unfortunately he only stopped for about half an hour.

Original poster
Lorenz · 03/06/2011 10:01

To be fair, if they're bog hoarders they should get there arses there early enough to get the end row seats. It's bloody annoying having to scrape together all your shit and stand up every few minutes.

Another one that pisses me off is people coming in late and then stand there looking gormless with their huge buckets of popcorn and king size drinks deliberating where to sit - its distracting. Just sit the fuck down and shut up.

OP posts:
HeidiKat · 03/06/2011 10:19

I hate inconsiderate parents, I was at a concert a few months ago and was sitting on the aisle in the front row of the balcony. At one point in the concert two young girls accompanied by their mother decided that they wanted to stand and stood right beside me hitting me in the head with their elbows. The mother just stood there smiling at them, it's not the kids I blame it's her, how are they supposed to learn consideration for others if it's not taught by their parents?

GandTiceandaslice · 03/06/2011 10:25

I'm taking my children to the cinema today. I have blocked out the dreadful behaviour of others. But now I am reminded. Gah.
I always sit on the end of rows just incase mine need the loo. They never have. But they are made to go before the film starts.
They like to have sweets, so they're brought from home & already decanted into a freezer bag before we get there.
I am seeing the 1250 diary of a wimpy kids at Southend today. If anyone wants to be noisy, do so at your own peril.

Original poster
Lorenz · 03/06/2011 11:18

DS went to see Diary of a wimpy kid on wednesday, he said it's good :)

OP posts:
Suncottage · 03/06/2011 11:26

Wasn't there a thread once on silent cinema snacks. Seemed to involve bowls of mash in a variety of flavours.............

AmazingBouncingFerret · 03/06/2011 12:14

ahhh yes the famous 'Tub o' mash' Grin

mrsbiscuits · 03/06/2011 12:17

My absolute pet hate this one. Even it is not deliberate and just due to the person behind me being particularly tall it does my head in. I usually move of try to find a seat with no one behind me. My kids would be marched out of the cinema if they did it to someone on purpose.

thumbwitch · 03/06/2011 12:29

Agree with everyone else - children should not be allowed to kick the back of the seat in front of them, not in the cinema, the car, the plane - anywhere.

Mind you - give the parent a chance to tell them to stop it - on the plane back to the UK this time around DS (3.6) kicked the back of the seat in front once and before I even had a chance to say anything the bloke turned round and said "can you stop your child from kicking my seat" - I admit I gave him a very frosty look and said "I was just about to tell him off, actually". He didn't do it again the whole 24h flight but I was still cross at the premature response.

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