To go to the theatre/cinema on my own?

[Cooki3Monst3r]

I actually think I'm not in anyway BU but I my best friends thinks it's really odd! I suspect she feels sorry for me that I have to go on my own (I don't have to, I just do).

I'd love to get the general consensus on this.

AIBU can be a one-sentence question, echt! This is pretty straighforward, don't see that any further explanation is necessary.

Oh, and you don't get to say whether or not 'we' reply, either!

I was just lurking, but I'm going to answer on principle now . It's a straightforward enough question; doesn't need any additional detail or explanation.

YANBU. I started going to the theatre on my own when I was about 15. Love it.

RiverTam

1. The OP was at some pains detail the imagined reasons for her friends' reservations about attending cinema/theatre events alone.
2. None of these reasons were given, just imagined.
3. I meant "we" in the most generous sense, thinking that most readers of this thread would have been as curious as I was as to the reasons for the OP's friend(s) reservations.

I go to the theatre on my own as DH doesn't usually want to come and we don't get enough child free nights to force my choice on him (we quite happily go for dinner, or the cinema, together). I generally manage to go once a year, maybe twice if I am lucky.

While DH was away for 3.5 years (2 weeks away, 2 weeks here in a regular cycle) - he went to the cinema a LOT. And as he also saw almost everything else on the plane journey (12 hr flt each way, so once every fortnight), he didn't want to go to the cinema for a while either here. And au pair babysitting rarely worked out so I saw very little in that period, except a few kids movies.

But I did get there a couple of times alone.

I LIKE the theatre, so I will usually prioritise that over cinema, as movies will eventually be on tv or Netflix.

Solo cinema trips are one of my favourite things.

1. Afternoon off
2. Empty cinema
3. Good film
4. Good snacks
5. M&S Vodka and Tonic in a tin

Heaven.

Anyone who gives you a sadface is clearly a Victorian miss who can't go anywhere unchaperoned.

YANBU. Enjoy seeing the things you want to see and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

You can get some great tickets at the last minute if you need just one seat.

well, it seems that most readers of this thread (i.e. everyone but you) are happy to respond without knowing any more detail. Because it's a 'yes' or 'no' question, isn't it? What her friend's thinking is might be interesting but doesn't (and indeed hasn't) stop anyone from answering the question, 'AIBU to go to the cinema/theatre on my own?'. To which I'm pleased that the OP has got a resounding 'no!'. One of life's little pleasures.

Was before DW and DS but liked going to midnight / very late shows. One time I was only person in cinema, was like a private screening

Thanks, RiverTam.

I'd interpreted the OP as being an opening to the particular arguments made by the OP's friends as to why it was weird to go to cinemas/theatres on your own. This was reinforced by later posts by the OP.

By persisting, mistakenly it appears, I'd hoped to open up discussion about ( possibly) women going out alone to cinemas/art galleries/theatres/concerts, etc. I'm glad the answer has a been "no", but do not think it is simple "yes" or "no" for many women.

My error.

I go to the theatre and cinema on my own a least once a month because then I can choose when I go, what to see and how much to pay without having to confer with others.

My friends wouldn't dream of doing this, consequently I have seen loads of fabulous, interesting things and they haven't.

I do go with other people as well sometimes but these trips usually have to be planned well in advance to fit in with everyone's circumstances.

My friends that wouldn't go alone think it's a bit sad, or a sign of having no friends.

Oh god theatre / cinema. I bloody love it on my own. I can get a decent seat without anyone wanting to go cheaper. I can enjoy my snack guilt free. I feel much more involved in the experience on my own because I am not distracted by social obligations.

YANBU.

The cinema is something you should do on your own imo. I've been on cinema dates before and been with a group (adults) and its so unsociable. You can't talk to whoever you are with?

I hate the cinema anyway though.

I go during the day quite often. For me it is a way of seeing films I wouldn't see otherwise and is a bit of a treat . Our local cinema does a showing (aimed at the older customer admittedly) for £3.50 including coffee and biscuits. It is a bargain.

YANBU. I used to do it frequently when working away or on training courses. I saw Joseph on the West End that way, Lewis Bradley was playing the lead that night, loved it. But then, I have no problem with eating alone in a restaurant either, for the same reason.

YANBU. I do it reasonably often these days. The first few times I felt a bit self-conscious and imagined everyone else was looking at me thinking I was johnny-no-mates. But of course they weren't - or if they were, so what?

When I go to see films on my own it takes very little to get me wallowing in weepiness. If I'm with someone else I just don't get into the same space at all. In fact just yesterday I had a good old boo-hoo at Paddington. It was wonderful!

I love teh cinema on my own.Its great you can see what you want and nobody talking all the way through it.

I don't have lots of friends and the ones I do aren't big movie fans. I did join one of those meet-up groups but found most people talked through movies or if they didn't the hassle of getting everyone together to sit in a room and not talk just to be seen as part of a group felt stupid to me.

I go all the time (cineworld cardholder here) and I love it! YANBU.

I go to the O2 cineworld alot when films are shown in the Sky superscreen and go VIP (only costs me 2 on top of my monthly subscription) and there are times I have been there all by mself a true VIP experience haha with my popcorn and drink and no noise.

I don't care if people stare or judge me because quite frankly if I stopped doing things because there is only me then I would have a crap life. I even go on holidays by myself as I am not much of a drinker and can't stand sitting on a beach all day (like most of my friends do) I find I can do lots of activities when I like. I went on a road trip in America, I camped all my stops and was able to get up at 6am and do some lovely trails in the national parks (you do have to start early!) MY friends would never do this and to be honest it was the best thing I ever did - no moaning and griping to put up with. Fellow campers just happy to chat to you I met lots of different people. Sorry went off topic! lol

YA so NBU.

A love a trip to the pictures on my own, even better if it's a weekday afternoon .

I always go alone. Prefer it.

Thanks RiverTam I didn't have the energy for that today!

Peachandblack yes, the conferring and negotiating and planning that's needed to go to these things with friends can really kill the experience for me. My friend I'm talking about would happily go with me (we do sometimes go together) if I asked but then it turns in to some mammoth trip out involving dinner, and the necessary discussions on where to eat etc. Sometimes I just can't be doing with that.

Squoosh M&S gin & tonic... genius!!!

Sunnymeg when my children leave home (they're preschool so quite a way to go) this is something I will definitely be doing - daytime cinema. So civilised.

shadowfax now eating on my own isn't something I've done. About from a sarnie in M&S/Pret. Does that count? I don't think I could do a meal involving cutlery on my own. I'd wonder what to do with myself. Where to look. Where to put my hands. What sort of expression to have on. I know that's daft.

So, it's concluded then. It is NOT strange to go to the cinema / theatre / whatever on your own. Especially if it involves sitting in the dark. YAY!!!