View Full Version : Disabled kid gets booted from movie for laughing
eyez0nme
03-04-2006, 05:34 AM
OK, I looked around to see if anyone else has posted this, so if they have, sorry, I couldn't find it. So here's the scoop, a mentally disabled teen is taken to the movie by his mom (The Pink Panther) and he laughs excessively loud and disturbs several members in the audience. They the mom and son to leave because he can't keep the volume down. She gets offended because he's disabled and says it is unfair. That's the short story, if you want to read the whole story, here's one link:
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/APN/602280775
OK, so the point of this thread is to open discussion on whether or not the theater was justified in kicking him out.
My personal opinion is that they were because if she knew that he couldn't control himself and/or his volume levels then why should she be allowed to disturb the entire theater? Obviously it would be nice to take him to the movies sometimes, no questions there, but not at the expense of everyone around them. I personally think it is the most inconsiderate thing in the world when people have paid for a movie and other people want to talk on their cell phones, to their friends, out loud, or whatever and disrupt the movie experience. I think it was selfish of her NOT to call attention to the fact that he was annoying the sh** out of the other movie goers and just let everyone deal with it. That's pathetic IMO. I think I would have done the exact same thing had I been the manager of the theater.
Duke Luke of Juke
03-04-2006, 05:40 AM
Aren't you supposed to laugh? I mean, maybe Steve Martin isn't as funny as he used to be, but still...
...Seriously though, I'm sure the movie-goers wouldn't have complained had they known he was mentally disabled, if they did, then they're assholes. Why shouldn't he be able to enjoy the theatre experience? Because he's disabled, and not in control of his facilities, he's not allowed to go to the movie theatre like everyone else? Fuck that. Keep on laughing Billy, and keep on enjoying life!
:rofl:
Kou123
03-04-2006, 05:46 AM
I agree, he's not a second-class citizen so he shouldn't have to skip out on experiences. And it's a COMEDY!!!! ur supposed to laugh. If the people there don't like other people laughing maybe they should leave
I'm not going to take the side of "OMG he's just a disabled boy leave the poor disabled boy alone because he's disabled so we shouldn't pick on him because he's disabled!" stance, because if you cause an annoyance in a public place then you're quite entitled to be kicked out, no matter if you're one of these members or Magic Johnson himself.
Even if it's laughing a bit too hard and long at a comedy.
Simple as that.
Although I will concede that you're also entitled to be asked to stop making such noise once or twice, and if the noise continues then the public place in question is well within their rights to boot the disturbance maker out.
I'm with Jay. I'm one of the people who cannot tolerate people making noise while I'm trying to watch a movie, and I believe the general movie-goers have a similar mindset when they walk into the theater.
It's not gonna be 'awwww, he's disabled, let him laugh out loud and bother everyone else in the theater', but, 'ma'am, I'm sorry, but can you leave the theater with your son, his behavior is bothering other audience members who paid to see this movie'.
I've worked at a theater before, and I know the management will ask anyone who is bothering the audience to leave, disabled or not. Simple as that.
I'm one of the people who cannot tolerate people making noise while I'm trying to watch a movie
You'll hate my movie theater then. People come in with those lasers and point them at the screen, at other people, etc; and they talk when they want, and no one even says boo.
Aside from me, that is.
Citizen
03-04-2006, 07:45 AM
Disabled people have legal guardians for life for a reason. A diasabled person's guardian takes on the responsibilities and choices that the disabled person cannot.
Being disabled is no free ticket, nor is it an excuse. The mother should have taken care of the situation herself, because she's the one with the responsibility.
Taking your disabled son who cannot control himself to the theatre is the same as going to the theatre and causing a disturbance yourself. The other movie goes should not have to suffer because of it, nor should they be guilt-tripped into thinking otherwise.
A theatre can and should kick out anyone who causes a disturbance, no matter who they are.
Mockguy
03-04-2006, 08:42 AM
But again, it's MR. Steve Martin, the kid knows quality comedy when he sees it! xp
On the real subject at hand, we all share the same rights, and democracy my friend, says that the will of the mayority, overrules the minority
Example: If half the US went on strike and the rest was discontent, the bush administration would reconsider the war, however, there is only a few thousands citizens out of hundreds of millions protesting, then they are a minority that disagrees with the mayority and thus the war has green light by the USA population.
Same thing with a movie theather, you make a loud noise for too long, then you're disrespecting the rights of the majority, and you get kicked out and ignored.
IF you get told your kid is laughing too hard, take the front seats and at a side near the speaker (unless the kid has a hearing problem as well), instead of the center seats that are up, were the speaker sound is less strong and were the most people are, also there are matinees if you still want to insist on letting the kid to be enjoy it as much as he/she wants (normally in a matinee there are less people, and those that are in the theatre are more calm and won't mind himl).
Most parents that have kids with a special necesity and that care for their kids will come with some smart simple trick to help their kids, in the case of *this* kid, not only I would do what I mentioned earlier, but also I would use one of those scream balls (those that are stress relievers, I've seen them once or twice in walmart or someplace else), normallly they are made bigger than your mouth, with sound absorving materials, and tell the kid to use it when he is laughing at a closed space, like the movie theather.
after all, tell me what would the theather prefer? one pair, a mother and a child that may not come the next week or next time they choose to see a movie, or a full room of regular clients? I know the answer as a theather must be a tight business that depends on the word of mouth publicity.
You'll hate my movie theater then. People come in with those lasers and point them at the screen, at other people, etc; and they talk when they want, and no one even says boo.
Aside from me, that is.
That sorta thing doesn't really happen here in the States, unless it was a horror/comed film, or the theater was in the bad neighborhood. The audience is generally expected to be quiet, though the reaction from the crowd is not frowned upon as long as it is appropriate and the audience is not bothered by that.
Laser pointers? They went out of fashion like five years ago.
Zensouken
03-06-2006, 08:17 PM
Disabled people have legal guardians for life for a reason. A diasabled person's guardian takes on the responsibilities and choices that the disabled person cannot.
Being disabled is no free ticket, nor is it an excuse. The mother should have taken care of the situation herself, because she's the one with the responsibility.
Taking your disabled son who cannot control himself to the theatre is the same as going to the theatre and causing a disturbance yourself. The other movie goes should not have to suffer because of it, nor should they be guilt-tripped into thinking otherwise.
A theatre can and should kick out anyone who causes a disturbance, no matter who they are.
I'm gonna use this quote as an example but I want people to re-read it and replace "disabled kid" with "infant" and see the similarity of the situation.
If you are a mother and you have an infant who is obviously going to cause a loud disturbance, but you still bring the infant to the theatre you should be asked to leave.
Since the infant CANNOT consciously control the levels of voice randomly spit out much like a disabled person can't should they receive special treatment, no.
Because it's on the shoulders of the guardian.
Balain
03-06-2006, 08:30 PM
Well the kid has a right to see the movie in the theatre. Just like everyone else has the right to enjoy the movie with out being disturb. Yes laugh some at a comedy is fine, lots of people do, excesive isn't. The Guardian shouldn't have taken him to that shown of the movie though [I'm asuming it was a regular showing]. Granted they may not have these everywhere, but here in this city, the major theatres all have a shown just for parents to bring their noisey kids so everyone can enjoy the movie in a theatre.
Why does everyone assume the excessive laughing was during the funny bits? If he was causing a problem he was probably laughing straight through or at random intervals not related to the funny material. Because even if somebody has an annoying laugh or laughs too much, they won't do anything so long as other people are laughing. Right?
Idlethought
03-06-2006, 11:09 PM
That's good for his ass. If one thing pisses me off to no end its people who are obnoxious during movies, disabled or no. It's my personal opinion that those who interrupt movies should be shot. Except my mom, she should just get a stern talking to cause she does it all the time.
MNJetter
03-06-2006, 11:20 PM
That bit about infants a couple of posts ago made me think of something. Don't most theatres have "crying infant" rooms nowadays? I know most of the ones in my area do, and if one theatre doesn't have it, it's not too much of a stretch to another theatre. Unless they lived in a really tiny town, I think the mother should have tried to use that room, if she knew her son was going to be a bother. Even if it's not customary, if she explained the situation to a manager, I'm sure they'd be fine with it. It's sad that she would have to share the experience with screaming babies and probably not enjoy the movie as much, but better just her and her son than the entire theatre. It's the same theory with the screaming babies.
Psychochink
03-07-2006, 01:36 AM
People being noisy during movies is a particular pet hate of mine. I didn't pay $15 to listen to you talk to your friends or have your bloody kids' attention span be all used up and need outside input. If I'm in a kids movie, that's one thing, but if you're stupid enough to bring your spawn into anything rated M15+ or up, then you take full responsibility for me harassing you to get them to shut the hell up, and intimidating them into doing so myself if you refuse.
[Note: This is a fine line to tread, because if you've been sitting on your anger for too long, you can sometimes go overboard and make them cry. Then you feel guilty, which also disrupts your movie experience. But I digress.]
Causing a disruption is causing a disruption. Being disabled, young, drunk or high and therefore having lowered behavioural inhibitors does not mean that other people should have to put up with you. All of these states may engender more (or less) tolerance due to a recognition that they exist, but enough has to be enough at some point.
The guy was laughing loudly and excessively. They waited for several complaints and an hour before they were asked to leave. Thats 2/3rds of the movie. Personally, I would have been a seething ball of rage by that point.
Zensouken
03-07-2006, 01:38 AM
That bit about infants a couple of posts ago made me think of something. Don't most theatres have "crying infant" rooms nowadays? I know most of the ones in my area do, and if one theatre doesn't have it, it's not too much of a stretch to another theatre. Unless they lived in a really tiny town, I think the mother should have tried to use that room, if she knew her son was going to be a bother. Even if it's not customary, if she explained the situation to a manager, I'm sure they'd be fine with it. It's sad that she would have to share the experience with screaming babies and probably not enjoy the movie as much, but better just her and her son than the entire theatre. It's the same theory with the screaming babies.
Thank YOU! Hand this man a pretzel...
CrazyAce86
03-07-2006, 01:58 AM
The kid had the right to see the movie.
The mother had the right to take him to see the movie.
The manager had the right to ask them to leave.
The problem? Everyone has the right, but their rights conflict with each other. Who's right? Well, technically, they all are, so any legal battle would be messy and I certainly would not want to be the judge or the jury.
What I think is that yes, disabled children and adults should be able to see forms of entertainment-- movies, for example. Now, I think to avoid situations such as these they should have a special time or screening of the movie for people with infants, children, disabled children and adults, and so on. Is that segregating them? Well, yeah, in a way it is, but if all can agree to it, then I think it could work. That way people are not bothered and everyone can enjoy the show.
That's my two cents.
PopCulturePooka
03-07-2006, 06:29 AM
On a related topic, food in cinemas should be banned.
MNJetter
03-07-2006, 07:03 AM
Hand this man a pretzel...
Dude, does my avatar make it look like I'm a man?
:box:
On a related topic, food in cinemas should be banned.
Are you kidding? That's how movie theaters make money!
Though few food items should be banned. Like Starbursts- the candy sticks on the floor and has similar properties as a piece of gum. The wrappers make a mess too. Simply a headache. And nachos. Mix broken pieces of nacho with jalapeņos, salsa and melted cheese, oh boy.
Oh yeah, Sakura is very manly. XP
And I can't enjoy a movie without Popcorn. D:
eyez0nme
03-07-2006, 07:45 AM
What do you guys hate most about movie theaters?
Zensouken
03-07-2006, 08:47 AM
Dude, does my avatar make it look like I'm a man?
:box:
A. All the Avatars are offline.
B. It's a catchphrase...
C. Gimme that damn pretzel!
PopCulturePooka
03-07-2006, 09:04 AM
Are you kidding? That's how movie theaters make money!
Though few food items should be banned. Like Starbursts- the candy sticks on the floor and has similar properties as a piece of gum. The wrappers make a mess too. Simply a headache. And nachos. Mix broken pieces of nacho with jalapeņos, salsa and melted cheese, oh boy.
Nosiy foods.
Like crisps, potato chips, bags of lollies/candies etc.
Things that mother fuckers need to crinkle when getting food.
Popcorn is silent, its ok. Drinks... some fuckers slurp, which is annoying.
But things in plastic/foil bags?
BAN!
yao_yao
03-07-2006, 09:13 AM
I agree the boy had a right to see the movie, but when he disturbed other people he forfeited it. when otherppl disturb the audience, they are asked to control themselves or leave. thus, we are treating him like a normal person when he was asked to control himself or leave. So maybe he couldn't control himself.. that's too bad. I had a disabled friend, and when he laughed uncontrollably he left hte classroom himself (unless it was too hard), and came back when he calmed down. Ignoring him because u were annoyed with him was considered okay. Ignoring him because he's "aww the disabled kid who cant do any better" was not. Giving him certain types of preferential treatment was pity adn condescending to him.
In certain instances, special treatment couldnt be avoided, such as a special desk for him because his wheelchair was higher than the chairs, but other things pissed him off. Bringing his lunchbox, which was on a high shelf, was okay. But laying everything out for him was not: he was perfectly capable of opening his own lunchbox and getting out his stuff. If he needed help, he'd ask for it. Otherwise, its plain pity or thinking he was dumber or incapable of such things.
kyaa the catlord
03-07-2006, 09:32 AM
If you disturb me in the theatre, I have a god given right to kill you and bathe in your blood.
This will be your only warning. :D
Ether_Elemental
03-07-2006, 01:06 PM
whaddya mean ban food with noisy wrappers? seriously who here DOESN'T finish their wrapped snack (drinks and popcorn don't count) before the previews are done? :boggled:
People who eat really slow?
...People who have to gum their food? XD
MNJetter
03-08-2006, 05:34 AM
A. All the Avatars are offline.
B. It's a catchphrase...
C. Gimme that damn pretzel!
A. Oops, didn't know that. Thanks to a lot of peoples' work-inappopriate avatars, I have them hidden anyway, so I didn't know they went offline.
B. Really? That makes more sense, then. I never heard that one before.
C. Heehee.
:bubbles:
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