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.

I just think that as non-disabled people should be courteous of people with disabilities, people with disabilities should be courteous of others. It is a two way street.

I think in the past this is what institutions where used for. I would never be able to leave the house if I had to consider that my child will not have some effect on others. This is awful reading

It must be really hard when the disability is hidden, like Autism and aspergers etc. My friends daughter is 7 and she is on the spectrum and when we are out in her public although her behaviour to us in now perfectly understandable we see other people looking, rolling their eyes etc and it is difficult. We know that all they see is a 'naughty child' and my friend tries to shrug it off but can see it upsets her.

I think what is needed is more education,even in schools, about disabilities and how they affect the person physically but also how it can affect their experience of life.

Did anyone here watch Channel 4's series last year called "The Undateables" which was basically about people with disabilities. I'm surprised they were allowed to show it actually, it didn't sit very comfortably with me. However, it was also really interesting to get a true picture of how their disability affects their life and the prejudices they come across. It was quite an eye opener.

Sorry Weller - it wasn't meant to read as awful, so sorry if it did. I probably sounded like a generalisation when I just meant that I wouldn't want to think my disability was affecting others. Sorry if any offence was caused.

The lad would of relaxed as the film went on and his tourettes would of calmed down. He was probably nervous about making a noise, which in some cases makes it worse. What that man did would of made it worse. How did the poor guy react? I am very angry we live in a world where some people think its ok to treat people with disabilities like this.

Put it this way. If you were say, on the bus and someone on a wheelchair was getting on, which does tend to slow the journey while they are being assisted on/off would you find it acceptable to have a go at them? Even if you were in a rush?

For all those who cannot watch a film without grazing like cows-

Your eating noises disturb other people far more to be honest.

Please lets have special screenings for people who want to stuff their faces w/ junk food at a cinema so the rest of us can watch a film without a slobbering ,slurping, crunching, rustling additional soundtrack.

You're right mignonette - that's why I always make sure I shovel my popcorn down at an alarming rate whilst the adverts are on!! Everyone thinks I'm just being greedy but really it's because I know how annoying it is when people have to listen others eating during the film And I always find the more quiet you try to be the more louder you think you are.

I have never had my cinema or theatre experiences disturbed by someone with Tourette's or tics. I go fairly regularly so it must be pretty rare.

If on the odd occasion my viewing was disturbed by someone with a DISABILITY I would be thankful that it was only a few hours of my life, and not my ENTIRE life that is disrupted by involuntary tics.

I cannot believe the attitudes on this thread. I would have asked the cinema to remove the man harassing the disabled person. His shouting harassment at someone woukd spoil my enjoyment of the evening.

Ah, another thread to highlight the amount of twats on here. The joys.

Just a little pointer to those of you who think how much you paid for your cinema ticket is more important than being inclusive and non discriminatory.

The screenings for those with ASD are for them to enjoy a film without being judged and discriminated against not so you can have your popcorn in peace

Of course there should be special screenings, it's about increasing access.

Too many people feel like they can't take their children with disabilities anywhere.

And that's not to say that people who have disabilities shouldn't be 'allowed' to go at normal times - it's just that there should be more accessible activities, not less.

It's also perfectly okay if you can't hear the film for whatever reason to leave and get a refund. (Without causing a fuss or being a twat)

The man was rude and hurtful. He has the right to be annoyed at unwanted noise spoiling his cinema experience, but should have approached the cinema to ask for a refund or free tickets for another showing, rather than being unpleasant to the man with Tourette's.

Pag, 'It's funny how they never get shouted at.' They do if they have the misfortune to be at the cinema with me. I'm the first to tell talking/phone reading arseholes to shut up/switch it off

Writer

If someone wants to go anywhere where other members of the general public go then they have to accept that some members of the general public have disabilities that may have symptoms that could potentially disturb others its a fact of life and you just have to cope with it.

This does not change just because you have paid to go there.

some very calm, interesting comments from Writer, thank you.

I notice that no-one has answered a pp's conundrum over one person's disability (a man with vocal tics) trumping another's (elderly man listening via a hearing loop).

Can I ask a genuine question, and not be screeched at in reply? A disabled person, whatever their disability, should be able to go to any public place, such as the cinema, pay their money, watch the film - exactly as anyone else can. Right. If someone is being disturbing in the cinema, yapping into their phone or to their mates or whatever - I will go and ask them to be quiet or take it outside. In the spirit of treating a disabled person as any other member of the paying public, could I do the same if they are making a disturbance?

I don't think I could. I agree with the theory that a person with Tourette's should be able to do exactly as anyone else does and go to the cinema - but I can't behave exactly as I would to any one else making a disturbance. They are not the same. They just aren't. And that to me is the conundrum and one I don't know the answer to.

I would very interested to hear what people think about this.

I would feel like a total cunt saying to the cinema staff

"Oh there's a disabled bloke in there making noises,I want my money back"

Really? You'd rather sit there & seethe?

I'd quite happily do it & come back at a later date.

Mrs Oakenshield, your comparison is ridiculous. Someone with vocal tics has no choice and no control - they are involuntary. Someone talking to their mates or playing on their phone has complete control and could choose not to be a rude arsehole.

Do you see the difference? Neurological condition which causes involuntary vocal tics vs rudeness.

Has anybody considered the fact that the supposed"rude man" also had a disability

Maybe he had problems with auditory perception,ASD or a learning disability

Maybe he did, or maybe he was just an intolerant Twat like some of the people replying here?

MrsO.

No one persons disability does not trump another's both have to just get on with it and accept that sometimes another persons disability may make there's harder to manage in a particular situation.

As to the disabled person creating a disturbance it very much depends what you mean as to it being acceptable to tell them to stop symptoms of that disability or things beyond there control then no you can't,and if you do then as well as being a wanker you could potentially be breaking the law.

Its not a conundrum its quite an obvious really.

I agree with you comingalongnicely - I would accept and understand that the guys tics were not his fault, but I wouldn't be prepared to sit through a film I couldn't hear or was constantly being disturbed. I would also go and ask for a refund and return at another date.

I wish all the vile people would leave the planet.

*"Really? You'd rather sit there & seethe?

I'd quite happily do it & come back at a later date."*

Why would being in the vicinity of someone with a disability make you "seethe"?

If someone is being disturbing in the cinema, yapping into their phone or to their mates or whatever - I will go and ask them to be quiet or take it outside. In the spirit of treating a disabled person as any other member of the paying public, could I do the same if they are making a disturbance

Do you understand that the disabled person making a disturbance doesn't necessarily have any control over what they are doing?

It really isn't a fair comparison to make.

Really? You'd rather sit there & seethe?

No I wouldn't seethe at all. But then when I go out in public I accept before doing so that other members of the public will also be there and some of those may have a disability that has involuntary noises as a symptom.

So it would not bother me in the slightest.

You would ask for a refund because someone in the cinema had a disability?

Have I read that right?

I've read some nasty stuff on MN but fucking hell that takes the biscuit.

Scenario A; people chattering disturbing you = they have choice and control, so fair to ask them to shush.

Scenario B; man with vocal tics disturbing you = he can't control it so has no choice, this is where you should offer acceptance of that fact and put yourself out a bit.