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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask your views on noise in the cinema

147 replies

missbonita · 30/04/2018 15:39

I have been discussing this with friends today after DS was incredibly angry that 2 young children talked loudly throughout the Avengers last night.

There is also a story in some of the papers today about a woman with Aspergers being 'dragged' out of the cinema for laughing loudly during The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

On the one hand it seems discriminatory to restrict access to people with certain disabilities from the cinema, on the other the people who have paid should be able to enjoy the film.

WIBU the noisy person, even if it is beyond their control, or the intolerant person even if the noise is spoiling their viewing.

OP posts:
SharronNeedles · 30/04/2018 18:04

I used to work in a cinema and when I went on my days off (as you do) I would get so frustrated by people chatting etc. I have, on occasions, text the manager on duty to ask for back up when it's been bad though. Had a couple sitting behind me once who were getting a bit too intimate...and loud. He looked like he was about to punch me when I told him to take his fingers out and shut up

HeyMicky · 30/04/2018 18:06

Another one here who asks people to be quiet directly. "Could you stop speaking, please? It's not your sitting room" People either quieten with a sheepish look or are so gobsmacked anyone dared to speak to them about their appalling behaviour that they are shocked into silence

Adayindisney67 · 30/04/2018 18:16

I don't paticulary hear a lot of noise unless it's quite loud, because the film itself is very loud so it drowns out quite a bit.
I like laughing, I love when everyone laughs at a scene together I've never been in a film where people were massively rude.

I don't mind talking and phones before the film starts because people tend to be discussing what they're about to see and taking selfies as a family. Which I find nice and not annoying in the slightest. I think they would have to be making a big scene for me to notice.

WipsGlitter · 30/04/2018 18:23

I can't stand it. Or excessive sweet rustling particularly when people try to do it slowly to make less noise 

@Cliveybaby a severe SN girl - it's best to put the person first so, a girl with special needs.

Original poster
missbonita · 30/04/2018 18:29

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/boy-remanded-over-bleach-attack-1766658.html

This happened not far from me - it had an impact on my willingness to take matters into my own hands, dependant on the culprit.

OP posts:
Gilead · 30/04/2018 18:32

The report I read said that the woman removed from the cinema was only laughing when appropriate but it was a little loud.
Just out of interest, it's very hard to go to an autism friendly screening as an adult. Sometimes we too would like to go to the cinema without children running about but I usually find that the autism friendly showings are for children. Very few autism friendly screenings of adult films.

Kettlan · 30/04/2018 18:35

Redandwhiteteacher
It seriously irritates me how kids misbehave at the cinema. Also are kids not able to sit through a film without getting up to go the loo?

Didn't get the loo stories you were hoping for on your other thread?

TSSDNCOP · 30/04/2018 18:35

I like the sniper idea very much. I would apply for that job.

Kids at kid rated films: kid noise to be expected but with every effort to restrain

Kids at Pg/12: would expect appropriate audience reactions but talking about a scene to be discouraged

Persons with disabilities are a different matter. There should be more appropriate screenings in my opinion. These are a genius idea, a place where you’re allowed to react and not be judged. Are they at times when it’s convenient for friends to accompany?

As to the lady that was in the screening of the GTBATU, whilst it’s really poor in the way the matter was handled, she obviously knew her ability to participate in a viewing would be compromised. It’s awfully unfair on the hundred or so other paying participants to distract from their enjoyment.

GorgonLondon · 30/04/2018 18:40

Spikeyball Autism friendly screenings aren't for NT children who are too young to sit through a film. I wish people wouldn't lump them together with kid's screenings.

Actually lots of relaxed performances/screenings are for anyone who finds a standard performance challenging for whatever reason - so greater tolerance of noise, house lights kept up, no complaints if people move around or go out/come back in.

Why would you object to other people being present at these relaxed screenings/performances? As long as they are welcoming and tolerant of everyone else.

imweirdandcool · 30/04/2018 18:46

absolutely hate it

crunchymint · 30/04/2018 18:46

I tell people to shut up. And as a kid when I was taken to the cinema, it didn't matter if I couldn't follow the story, I had to be quiet. But then we sued to have ushers whose job it was to throw anyone out who was disruptive.

ginghamstarfish · 30/04/2018 18:52

Haven't been for years, it's vile, people stuffing their faces, with of course only food that is crunchy/has very rustly packaging. Talking, phones going, don't know why they bother really. Just stay at home if you don't actually want to see (and hear) the film. Am amazed that cinemas still exist.

Spikeyball · 30/04/2018 18:57

GorgonLondon the local autism friendly screenings are so full of young children running around and shouting ( with their parents making no attempt to stop them) that no children with autism want to go to them.

GorgonLondon · 30/04/2018 19:10

Spikey in that case I can understand why you feel the way you do.

FrangipaniBlue · 30/04/2018 19:13

At my local cinema any films starting after 8pm don't have child prices, you have to buy an adult ticket.

On the face of it this seems really unfair but actually what it does is put larger families with really young children off going to the late showings - we've been to some 12 rated films that start at 8pm and DS(10) has been the only child there!

Genius.

Ucantarguewistupid · 30/04/2018 19:21

I think any child talking before an 8pm viewing is something you should suck up. Plot lines can be difficukt to follow for an adult never mind a child. Excitement is also harder for a child to contain. Want to avoid that then go at 8 onwards for adult time. As for the laughing thing how bloody ridiculous and intolerant. I don't have autism and when I find something really funny I laugh loud and it's not a conscious decision. Going to something that may cause laughter? Expect noise!!

RamsayBoltonsConscience · 30/04/2018 19:22

My local cinema isn't too bad, although having said that when my ds and I went to see the first Deathly Hallows film, there were about 7 girls (of about 11/12) who shouted, giggled and screeched through the whole film (they were with two adults). After putting up with it for about the first 15 minutes, I got staff who came and told them to be quiet but it didn't last long and within 15minutes they were doing it again. I gritted my teeth and seethed through the whole film and at the end went over and told the adults they were to be congratulated for spoiling the enjoyment of everyone in the cinema and told the girls that if they couldn't behave appropriately then they shouldn't be in the cinema (it's the teacher in me, I can't help it!). Then I complained to management and got a refund.

Sunshinedaze · 30/04/2018 19:24

I haven’t encountered young kids yet ( unless I’ve just not noticed them being there). It’s eeither a group of teen girls ( wtf are you at the movies for, if you rather chat instead?) or middle aged talkers. If they are behind me, I turn around and glare - I have been known to ask people to be quite. So many of are on their phones throughout the movie. It’s quite pathetic they can’t take an hour and half out from fb and texting. Speaking of the woman laughing. There was this couple in their late 50s behind me, once. The woman when not coughing loudly,blowing her nose constantly, would laugh out loud loudly like it was the funniest thing ever, all the way through the film. It was Dr Strange. Anyone would have thought it was a comedy...

throwcushions · 30/04/2018 19:27

I would ask someone very disruptive to be quiet or simply be annoyed if I wasn't near enough. But if she was laughing a bit too loudly at the funny bits - which is what it sounds like although one can never tell really unless there - I think that the reaction was unpleasant and heavy handed. The cinema in question though is quite a serious one and attracts quite a serious, cinema loving crowd so I am not that surprised. Suspect people there have a lower threshold for what is too loud than at other cinemas. But the implication from some of the comments is that someone with autism can make as much noise as they like at a showing. That doesn't seem right either.

TheDowagerCuntess · 30/04/2018 19:31

I don't think I've ever been really annoyed at the cinema by other people's noise.

If it was bad, I'd go out and ask a staff member to intervene.

throwcushions · 30/04/2018 19:32

Oh and those saying they'd like to go to a cinema where people don't eat loudly etc - the BFI is like that.

LegallyBrunet · 30/04/2018 19:38

@Cliveybaby Did you ever to stop to think that this girl with severe SN could have been somebody’s sister? My little brother has severe special needs and when I was heavily involved in musical theatre I used to love being able to hear his happy shouting while I was on the stage. That’s just how he reacts to music.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 30/04/2018 19:43

Day time showings, i think a bit of noise is to be expected. But evenings showings absolutely not. It’s why I’m happy to take my daughter to the cinema, but not the gib on legs that is my son.
When pregnant and less patient than usual, I did turn around and tell two teenagers to shut the fuck up or they will give me the money back for my ticket.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 30/04/2018 19:44

Gob*

crunchymint · 30/04/2018 19:45

ucant No we should not just suck it up. If kids cant be quiet at a screening, then they are not ready to go to the cinema.