Moviegoer shushes others, is beaten

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | December 26, 2004 | Joe Hughes

[jrfaug06]

My weirdest experience in a movie was a couple years ago. I was sitting first row in second section which is "ground level" when you walk in the door. I swear I smelled someone smoking a cigar. (This is California). Soon me and "everyone" sitting around me was swiveling their head to find the person that was smoking. I went to get the usher, he smelled it but no one could find the person. At that moment the back exit door opens and a retarded downs syndrome "man" is standing in the door puffing his ass off on a HUGE cigar. Apparently he was standing there opening and closing the door in between puffs to listen the movie. Finally his mother called to him and told him to put the cigar out and "come watch the movie". He stomped the cigar out and came in to watch the show. John

[winodog]

Chances are there is more to the story then we are told. I am always suspicious when the reporter does not give a description of the people involved.

[TheDon]

"No concealed carry in California."

Actually, there is.

http://www.moccw.org/map.html

[skepsel]

And on local editorial policy and local politics. More than 10 years ago we had a Miami politician (mayor) declare "Yaweh ben Yaweh Day", in recognition of the efforts the group had made to clean up their neighborhoods, build parks, community centers, feeding programs, etc.
The same week the leader and top followers were taken down in a wave of arrests for murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, racketeering, obstruction of justice, witness intimidatiion, etc.
They were a sucessful local cult with a charasmatic leader, robes, turban, subservient status for the women and children, and an inner circle that had iniates prove the loyalty and worth by doing things like bring the leader the ears of a white man!
No lie, it was common knowledge they were an "out there", scary as hell cult, cue theme from "Twilight Zone" group, but political corrrectness rules the day. The mayor was only slightly embarrassed and everyone moved on to the next local scandal involving pay-offs, etc.
One nice thing about S. Florida politics is that we're eqaul opportunity, everyone's a crook or a nut job! Every year or two the FBI, Customs, INS, the FDLE (Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement), you name it, takes down another batch of crooks. I'm starting to believe (with Mark Twain) that we should recruit our political class fromn the prisons and return them there every night so as to remove any ligering doubts as to the quality of our public servants!
Well that was off topic of me...sorry. How did your dinner with the Clinton worshipper go?

[nuconvert]

I doubt it was The Polar Express

[fullchroma]

Shirlington Village is wonderful -- lovely 50's (or 40's?) architecture thoughtfully rehabed. Years ago, after dinner at Bistro, we'd spy on Lorena Bobbitt giving manicures at one of the little shops on our walk to the theatre!

[Springman]

Bump for later.

[cyborg]

Yahweh Ben Yahweh??? I remember him from years ago! Wow... anyway dinner went well. No fights.

[connectthedots]

So, when are you going to upgrade to a decent system? ;-)

[LoudRepublicangirl]

This is another reason why I do not go to movie theatres on a regular basis. I always have to sit by someone who has to give their own text and commentary of the film while it is being shown.

[bert]

Rocky Horror Picture Show :}

[Caipirabob]

Toshiba 65" stocking stuffer bump!

[anniegetyourgun]

I know that site...I think Mr. Gun spends much of his time there!

[Scarchin]

Hmmmmmm. What group of folks are loud in movie theaters? Am I allowed to ask?

[derllak]

My sister went to a movie (in California), sat down in her seat and was told to "move it, bi***!" What is wrong with those people? I guess that Hollywood "I'm better than you attitude" is like a disease out there!

[Tunehead54]

So what do you want me to bring on SuperBowl Sunday?

---

;-)

[Libertina]

My first job was to usher at a movie theatre. Yes, employees were actually asked to keep an eye on & walk through with a flashlight to quiet any loud persons (usually kids.) Now our fancy-priced movie tickets pay for the young employess to chat and crack jokes with each other at the counters, never checking on the customers inside the viewing area. Then we "tip" this poor excuse for a busines model by plunking down $4.00 for a small popcorn, $2.50 for a piece of candy, and if we are lucky try to sneak in a can of coke from home. Perhaps this is a business opportunity ripe for the picking. A high class, private "movie club" where service and manners is back in style. It might prompt me to go to the theatre more often.

[Clemenza]

Back home in New York, I knew which theatres to avoid, as such places attracted a "youthful, ethnic" audience that made attending movies an unpleasent experience. Anyway, such people tend to be attracted to films like "Anaconda" and "Twister" which I avoid like the plague anyway.

[robertpaulsen]

And I should be able to walk the streets on the South side of Chicago late at night, too.

"Carrying should be a shield, not a sword."

Well, that's a fine line, isn't it? I mean, a concealed carry person may tell a group in a theater to shut up, knowing he's safe from retribution. So, who started the confrontation?

[robertpaulsen]

Yes, according to California law, the state may issue you a permit.

Similarly in my state, Illinois, the local 7-11 may issue you a winning lottery ticket.

I think the odds of those things happening are about the same in both states.