To think this man at the cinema was plain nasty?

[WombatCat]

Dh and I watched a film at the cinema on Saturday night.

There was a young man a few rows back from us with very vocal Tourette's. Obviously it was distracting to most people around him, but once the film started I didn't find it an issue. However, one man decided to tell him to shut up and "isn't there a special showing you could go to?"

Quite a few people appeared to be in agreement with him. I now wish I said something.

Well unfortunately 2ndry, I'm not prepared to segregate my child because he has a disability that may annoy others.

Heaven forbid they'd ever have to walk a mile in my little boys shoes.

le sigh again

Your argument makes no sense. A baby can be soothed, although I'm not sure why someone would take a young baby to a cinema

A disability is not something that can ever go away. Tourette's is involuntary and uncontrollable.

If they don't get it ,fanjo, they don't get it.

You can try and educate politely or otherwise , won't make any difference.

The excuses just keep on coming.

so true usual. I have run out of words to say to them lol

Have to say though usual, it's giving me a whole new level of education in ignorance

just hope they are showing themselves up without any help from us

Well.... I do think some of the posters on here have done a stirling job of showing why the campaign was so badly needed, intentionally or not

I was simply stating that any kind of persistant noise in an enviroment where it is customary and expected to sit in near-silence is distracting. Kids screenings you expect a fair amount of noise, but for adult or late night screenings you just dont. It's not about being intolerant, its about having your enjoyment of a film spoilt through distraction, be it from a person with or without a disability, makes no differntce to the the distraction it creates. It's not being intolerant, you can be the most tolerant person in the world, but the cinema is a place where noise is not acceptable.

I guarantee you that because of the bizarre reactions and unreasonable expectations of some people on this thread, there will be some who are decidedly LESS tolerant than they were before reading it. Myself included.

You are doing your cause no favours at all. But Im not sure if you genuinely care about attitudes, or just love an excuse to feel self righteous/hard done by.

Fanjo...weren't you going to... go??

i did go, and do other stuff, for several hours, strokey, but thanks for asking

wow, you will be LESS tolerant. wow.

Ahhh I see

So people who munch away on food loudly, use their mobiles, teenagers chattering, someone with an uncontrollable cough or sneezing fit, or someone with a disability that may have verbal tics/ make noises all need to just not go then?

Gosh, you'd almost be better off just staying at home..

maybe next time strokey will act like the guy in the OP, rather than just leaving in disgust and/or asking for a refund, just because we asked people to stop making people with disabilities feel unwelcome in the cinema.

Oh no, what have we done.

I am so glad I have brought my DC up to be considerate and tolerant human beings.

I dread to think what some of you are teaching your children. Do any of them have children with special needs in their classes? Are you teaching them that it's OK to be intolerant of them too?

Ahhh Strokey how will the world manage now that you've announced you're going to be even more intolerant of disabilities?

Such a logical, reasoned response, that the angry replies from parents of disabled children would naturally cause a person to become even more intolerant of disabilities.

Best not upset Strokey anymore ladies

2ndry the 'special' screenings are not a segregation tool they are they so people with ASD can watch a film with quieter soundtrack and in a lighter theatre. This can help reduce their anxiety. With their anxiety reduced they are more likely to enjoy the film. It is in no way intended to be so their behaviour doesn't impair others enjoyment of the cinema.

Also special screenings are usually day time so an adult with Tourette's out with a group of friends may not be able to access them

Well unfortunately for you 2ndry, and luckily for my son, there is such a thing called the Equality Act that protects my child from disablist attitudes like that.

bingo, 2ndry just said people with disabilities shouldnt go to cinema out of consideration for others. I do believe that meets MNHQs new stringent definition of disablism and should now be deleted.

On the flip side surely if no one leaves or complains then that's worse? I'm not talking about complaining about people im talking about complaining how things were (or werent) handled.

No one removed the abusive customer. Surely he should have at very least been asked to be quiet and apologise.

No one did anything to help the Tourette's guy. They left him in the same seat/next to or near the guy who had yelled at him. Cinemas are rarely that full. Half the sears have bags or rubbish dumped on them. Him and his family could have been given better seats with more leg room so he could be more comfortable. Or given free tickets etc by way of an apology.

Gotta love 'em, haven't you Fanjo?

Or maybe just show them the pity we feel?

yes..a few posts ago 2ndry was advocating tolerance and compassion..such a rapid turnaround.