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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be pissed off at the woman in the cinema?

99 replies

Bingdweller · 09/08/2012 22:19

I took my DC (5 & 2.5) to a Kids am film this morning. DS sat beautifully and was really enjoying the film, DD (the youngest) did so well for the first 45 minutes before running out of food getting a bit bored.

The cinema was about 1/3 full so plenty of empty seats. A woman with her 2 DC - I'm guessing about 8 & 10 years old sat behind us then loudly commented to her kids about having chosen "the wrong seats". This was before the film had even started.

Anyhow, 45 minutes in, my LO decided to sit on the step. She just didn't want to be in her seat but was at my feet. She then sat on my knee for a bit, then back on the step after about 20 mins. There was no shouting or loud talking at all from my two.

The woman tapped my shoulder and asked me to take her out as she was ruining her DC enjoyment of the film (one which has been out on DVD for several months). I stayed in my seat with LO on my knee for the remainder of the film.

I totally get that taking a 2.5 year old to the cinema might not end well, had she been shouting etc. I would have taken her out. AIBU to suggest that taking older children to a Kids am viewing then expecting perfect silence/no moving from younger children for the whole 90mins isn't realistic? I wouldnt dream of taking DD to a full price showing waste of money for a start. Is this not the point of Kids am, to expect some disruption hence the low ticket price?

thank goodness horrible woman wasn't sitting at the other side of the cinema next to the unaccompanied popcorn throwing kids!

I glared at the cow on the way out as I think she ruined our enjoyment of the film more than her viewing was disrupted by us......

OP posts:

Needstotidyup · 09/08/2012 22:21

Yanbu

exexpat · 09/08/2012 22:22

Yes, I think she is being unreasonable - your DD sounds pretty well-behaved for a 2yo, and yes, you can't expect a silent, motionless cinema for a cheap children's morning showing.

Tangointhenight · 09/08/2012 22:26

I would have pointed to a row of empty seats and told her to move if it was annoying her precious dcs, the cow bag!!

YANBU

PooPooInMyToes · 09/08/2012 22:26

Yanbu. She's sounds like a twat.

What did you say to her when she asked you to take your dc out?

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 09/08/2012 22:27

Why didn't you say something to her at the time? Just point at all the empty seats and say "well move then" I would have, and quite probably followed it with "you snotty cow" but I lost patience with stupid and annoying people a long long time ago and am now prepared to stand up for myself rude/mean to anyone who pisses me off

MrsKeithRichards · 09/08/2012 22:28

If that's really all you done then yanbu however I don't think just because it's a cheap show and it's already on DVD is an excuse for allowing unacceptable behaviour. It doesn't sound like you were doing that but I've seen it so often at the kids showings it does my head in!

Original poster

Bingdweller · 09/08/2012 22:30

Thanks all. I snarled at her that I would be staying put then raged for the rest of the bloody film! DS enjoyed it though!

OP posts:

Olympia2012 · 09/08/2012 22:31

Yanbu. She probably enjoyed telling you off though.

Original poster

Bingdweller · 09/08/2012 22:37

mrskeithrichards I was trying to make the point badly that it was not a new release.

I do think a certain amount of disruption is to be tolerated when it's tickets for £1.50 though, the whole point of these sessions is to appeal to families with any age of child. They are marketed heavily as being for young children and all are welcome. A certain level of disruption goes with that territory.

I can honestly say I would have taken my kids out if they were running around, climbing on seats or shouting. Part of that is due to the fact I would not have wasted £20 taking them and feel obliged to stay and get my money's worth.

OP posts:

SoleSource · 09/08/2012 23:13

Hmmmmm, I guess you were being more annoying than you want to admit.

lovesmellingthecoffee · 09/08/2012 23:19

Sounds like your child wasn't enjoying the film. Not talking loudly means that she was talking and you describe a fair bit of movement. and the cheap price of the tickets doesn't mean the other punters have to put up with low level disruption. those cheap tickets might have been all they could afford and they have to put up with someone who thinks because they didn't pay much they do what they want

workshy · 09/08/2012 23:19

I'm the first one to complain about problem children in the cinema -I have started a number of threads about it

however, what you describe, at a morning family screening would be perfectly acceptable and she was a snotty cow!

that's what the morning screenings are for

PooPooInMyToes · 09/08/2012 23:22

But that's the whole point of those cheap sessions, its accepted that with the children being so young there will be a little bit of disruption.

If the other woman couldn't afford to go at another time but couldn't bear any sort or disruption then her money would have been better spent elsewhere. Its not the ops fault if the woman is skint!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/08/2012 23:22

When I take my DC to a Children's Film there is usually-
children getting up to go to the toilet, usually asking the parent to take them, so 2 people getting up

the child behind kicking my seat (accidently or otherwise)

chattering and food rustling noise

putting a child on your lap does not block the view of the person behind you unless your DD is an Amazon

all the DC in the cinema ran down to the front of the screen to dance in the final credits

It's part of children cinema.

And yes, she could have moved.

PooPooInMyToes · 09/08/2012 23:25

they have to put up with someone who thinks because they didn't pay much they do what they want

Really! The op thinks that does she?

I suspect someone has pissed you off in the cinema before and THAT'S what you are talking about, because nothing the op has said implies that at all.

greenwichgroove · 09/08/2012 23:30

Our local cinemas version of this has notes that its for children who may not sit sill/be quiet.

I've been to these screenings, kids talk, move about, need the loo.

zippey · 09/08/2012 23:31

An early morning kids showing, you expect a bit of fidgeting and noise. You'll get that if you go to most showings, believe me. I dont think you are being unreasonable, good for you standing your ground.

Tidybush · 09/08/2012 23:33

Wait until you go to films that appeal to teenagers.

I am that boring old fart who loudly tells the chattering/mobile ringing/swearing/seat-moving teens to sit down and shut up as "I've paid to see the film not listen to you being stupid"

My DDs hate it and die of embarrasment are so proud

mummymacbeth · 09/08/2012 23:34

God that woman sounds a nightmare! Your dd behaved perfectly well for her age and the woman and her kids could have moved if they were so bothered! Yanbu!

Viviennemary · 09/08/2012 23:39

Personally, I think 2.5 years old is too young to go to the cinema. Your DC didn't want to sit in her seat, didn't want to watch the film. So what was the point in her being there. So I think you were being a bit U.

Shullbit · 09/08/2012 23:39

Just because the OP said her DD was talking a bit, doesn't mean at all that it would distract anybody else. Come on, who has seriously NEVER talked throughout a film? There have been many a times I have asked who I am with whether they want another drink, ask what the time is, if I didn't grasp what was said in the film, ask "what the Jeff did the bloke with the suitcase just say?", or "can you budge so I can pop the loo?" I mean, who doesn't?

I always see people talking, but a cinema is that loud, you would have to be talking pretty loud for anyone to hear. When others talk low, I never hear a word they are saying.

If the DD was being loud enough to disturb others, the woman could easily have moved to a spot further away so she couldn't hear the OP's DD. But seems to me she was adamant to have an issue with it from the moment she sat down.

Original poster

Bingdweller · 10/08/2012 00:14

viviennemary I agree 2.5 is young to take a small child - don't want to drip-feed, but DH works away 6 weeks at a time and I really wanted to take my 5 year old to the cinema in the school holidays.

I try not to rely too much on family to babysit as I often need them to do it out of necessity (am having hospital treatment at the mo). Anyhow, getting sidetracked! I decided to take a chance on taking my wee one today and I thought she did brilliantly. Pity a lot of the other kids didn't but they werent asked to leave by the woman behind me.

solesource no bending of the truth, or downplaying what happened. Sorry to disappoint!

Also, ironically I went to this showing as I'm totally skint! I made no assumptions about anybody else's finances.

Thank you for a balanced viewpoint, I think I'll wait for DH to return home before treating DS to the cinema again.

OP posts:

amck5700 · 10/08/2012 00:14

I have often taken my boys to kids am films at age 9/10/11 - though there are not many now that they want to see :(. I expect it to be packed with kids, and expect a bit of disruption. If someone had an upset crying child I would expect them to take them out, but not just general enjoyment or fidgetness. that's what little kids do and it is a special kids showing!!! Th ething that does annoy me is when they stand forward in their seat holding onto the seat in front, cos they don't need to be very tall to block the person behinds view. I will also point out to a parent if the child is continually (deliberately) kicking the back of the seat as they need to know that that isn't acceptable.

However, the only time we have ever been really disturbed at a kids showing was by a couple of mothers who felt that they were in a cafe and could continue to talk loudly to each other about all sorts of shit while everyone was trying to watch the movie - they weren't best pleased when I asked them to be quiet!!

WorraLiberty · 10/08/2012 00:19

To be honest I blame the cinemas

I really don't think they should allow toddlers in...or anyone under the age of 4.

But that's just my opinion because I've had many a film spoilt by toddlers who can't sit in their seats quietly.

And why would they? It's dark, loud and probable extremely boring for most of them.

trixymalixy · 10/08/2012 00:19

It was a kids showing, she was being unreasonable.

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