The Aussie looks like a man in drag. Perhaps it's just a bad pic.
A few weeks ago, there was a post regarding cellphone use in movie theaters.
Posted on 02/11/2006 9:05:58 PM PST by FreedomCalls
AN Australian tourist has been charged with assault after telling a Texas woman to stop talking on her mobile phone at the movies.
Pauline Clayton was enjoying a matinee screening of Brokeback Mountain in a Texas cinema when her day suddenly turned ugly.
The former Sunshine Coast councillor said about halfway through the movie, a mobile phone started ringing nearby, a woman answered it and started talking.
"I put one finger up to my mouth to shoosh her," Ms Clayton said.
"She ignored me - I then leaned across and touched her with three or four fingers on the top of her arm."
When the "very large" woman failed to end her call, Ms Clayton again touched her on the shoulder and that was when the woman exploded.
Ms Clayton said the woman stood up over her, started shouting expletives at her and then stormed out of the cinema, in the town of Webster, just outside Houston.
A short time later two Texas police officers walked into the cinema and escorted Ms Clayton out.
She said the police took her to the food bar and explained that the woman had accused Ms Clayton of "invading her private space". The woman had made a complaint of assault because Ms Clayton had touched her.
"They were very apologetic," Ms Clayton said.
"They were very uncomfortable."
Ms Clayton said the officers had tried to dissuade the woman from making a complaint and had even told the woman that if she did make the complaint, police would charge the woman with disorderly conduct and using a profanity for her outburst in the cinema.
The woman refused to back down and not only was Ms Clayton charged, but the woman is now also due in court after being charged over her behaviour.
Ms Clayton was issued a citation and will appear in a Texas court next week to answer the charge.
With the help of an off-duty police officer who saw the fracas, she is hoping to escape with only a fine.
In the meantime Ms Clayton said she was hoping to get back to see the second half of Brokeback Mountain.
If convicted, Ms Clayton who grew up in Victoria and once worked as a journalist for The Sun newspaper in Brisbane, faces a fine of up to $675.
She said she had been told a conviction would not affect her chances of re-entering the US. Police said it was a "little matter" and they would not be notifying US immigration authorities about any conviction.
My advice to the woman who filed the charges is to pull out now before she gets in too deep. This is sticky situation can blow up in her face.
Yep. Time was when no one would have seen a thing, didn't know how they got that busted nose, 'cause we were all just shooting the breeze over there. Mebbe they fell down...
Hey! We had a five party line and that was our number, too. I don't remember seeing you around though. Are you the one who took my Fess Parker coonskin cap?
We only use cell phones for emergencies, not as a chit-chat platform.
That sounds like a reasonable solution if and when the technology is perfected.
"Under what set of laws is "invading one's private space" illegal?"
Under Texas law, Chapter 4892, one's private space is the length of one's arm plus 12" and when someone violates your space, you have the right, and indeed the duty, to teach him manners by decking him. Of course, if that someone is female, then your duty is to kiss them (but then she can deck you for violating her space, LOL). /humor
"While I am against illegal jamming, I am also against assholes."
hmm - considering the movie under discussion, you might want to rephrase that, lol.
I don't really believe that the state will acquire that label, BUT Austin, TX is another matter. Take my word for it, Austin is San Francisco East!
Austin is getting to be a large city.
Actually we look at it in revulsion. To see two men doing that is like watching someone mutilate themselves, it's abnormal and revolting.
You'll definately want to read post #48 before leaving for Texas.
I know it is today, but when did touching become assault?
It wasn't always that way?
The Aussie looks like a man in drag. Perhaps it's just a bad pic.
A few weeks ago, there was a post regarding cellphone use in movie theaters.
A few people have mentioned the "peace and love" crowd and how movies like this bring out the best in all of us. Here's a picture of the peace and love crowd at work in DC lately:
Actually, that's called battery.
In the words of my late mother-in-law, "Those people make my ass tired!"
You have a point....lol
Getting someone's attention by lightly touching them is not the same as poking someone in the chest or grabbing their arm. No judge in his right mind would apply the statute to this case.
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