To Find this Woman in the Cinema Rude

[LessMissAbs]

Me and my friend were watching a film in the cinema tonight. She doesn't wear a watch and must have been checking her phone for the time - its a habit of hers to do this, or to ask people the time. I was sitting next to her and I didn't notice it.

There was an empty seat to her other side between her and a woman. The woman suddenly boomed out in the middle of the film, "If you want to play your phone, you can go outside and do it instead of in here".

It was mortifying, and she interrupted the film for me. I was really embarrassed for my friend, but we didn't say anything.

At the end of the film, as we were standing up to leave, I said to the woman "I don't really care if you were disturbed by a light during the film or not, I don't want to have to the film interrupted by your booming voice". She then started arguing back (she said something like "Oh you'd like to be a cheeky one, wouldn't you, and some other stuff) but we turned our backs towards her and her husband so that she was talking to ourselves, put on our coats and left.

Kind of ruined the film for both of us. Normally I find going to the cinema relaxing!

The light of a phone is like the distraction you used to get when someone lit a fag in the old days. There would be brief flames all over the cinema and it would remind you that you needed to light up as well. I think when one person checks their phone it reminds others to check theirs. If you're easily distracted it's best to sit at the front!

I go to the cinema a lot. I would happily camp out there if I could. It's a biggish one but I very rarely see anyone so much as glance at their phone during the actual film.

Maybe us Northerners have better manners or something.

Suelford She should be upset and embarrassed at having to be told this in the first place

She wasn't playing with her phone though. She is an adult woman and, I think, incapable of playing with a phone. Its disrespectful of the complaining woman to mention playing with a phone. All she needed to say was that the light or whatever was annoying her.

I'm actually only assuming there was a light involved. It might have been the mere movement of my friend's fingers in touching the phone or something.

caitlin either or both of my children might have a meltdown (being autistic) and while the sitter is suitable there are some things that its just easier for all concerned if I go home and deal with it. My cinema is 12 minutes walk from my house, I never go further away than that.

I will totally admit to doing it, I leave my phone in my bag and give it a poke just to make sure nothing has come in.

My DC are very young and I don't think it makes me a paranoid wreck to do it.

Of all the things in the world to concern yourself with, most of you are bothered by a light in a dark room of mostly flashing lights? This is one of those threads that makes me think some people really need to get a life and that is exactly what I'd say if somebody had the cheek to interrupt me because of THEIR issue! And yes looking for a reason to moan such as this is you having an issue! I will never bother myself with such ridiculous etiquettes, more so because I know how annoyed people actually get about it, in fact I quite enjoy winding up no lifers

Harpy is in your terminally offended of middle England camp

How very dare you. I'm from Glasgow.

Reminds me of my MIL when I was searching for my phone when DS was a baby and ill in hospital and I was on my way to sit with him for 12 hours with that being my way to update family and friends said disdainfully "we didn't have toys in my day"

Arrrghahaghaga.

Harold why would they not be ok? You really think you have to check on them hourly

Are you seriously saying you sit in a cinema and send texts?
That's even more rude than the OP's friend.

it doesn't make anyone a paranoid wreck, you're entitled to check that your kids are okay! no need to justify it :)

hmc Surely the candidate for the rudest person on the thread was Harpyfishwifetwat who suggested that the OP "needs help" - and Harpy is in your terminally offended of middle England camp

It is actually a town (not in England) that in the past was well known for its fishwives, of a particularly harpyish persuasion. I can just imagine the complaining cinema woman coming out with an equally clichéd passive aggressive phrase such as "needing help" in the cinema itself, to anyone who got in her way or mildly offended her.

Where has harpyfishwifetwat gone? She is actually the cinema-woman, isn't she?

For one thing I didn't say I sent texts. I said I kept an eye on my phone to make sure no one had contacted me.

For another, if I want to check my phone a couple of times when I am out to make sure nothing has happened they are asleep, etc then that's my prerogative and totally bloody normal!

playing with a phone = checking messages, swiping around screens, updating Facebook, etc.

But I thought you didn't even notice your friend doing anything, so how do you know what she was doing?

Harpy you say you are from Glasgow, but you might not actually be in Glasgow.

However I admit the accent would be wrong.

I would certainly have noticed if she was sending texts Suelford. Or typing on a screen. She was right next to me.

You've clearly gone all soft and southern Harpy

I was babysitting my niece once and needed to check something with her mum about her medication. Her mum text back. That in my opinion was a valid reason.

Vampyre let's be MN Mates! We seem to agree on everything on the threads we are on .

caitlin who the hell are you to tell someone they shouldn't be checking on their kids? you've got absolutely zero idea of their circumstances or reasons so maybe it's time to stop with that particular pointless argument?

Harold your first post refers to "check my phone... and like to text"

Am bloody embarrassed anyway by the behaviour of people in my home town. Friend is Greek, and works for the EU. She was visiting me for a short time as we both currently work in Belgium. What an impression she has got of it.

haha my first mn friend

Vampyre if you genuinely believe or there is a genuine reason your children can't be left with a sitter for a very small period of time then maybe cinemas,theatres or concerts aren't for you.

There is an etiquette in attending public performances.

I didn't say I text in the cinema. I said I have checked my phone.

You asked why people check on their children. I always do, and I think that's pretty normal.