Interested in seeing people's take on this

JaJae · 01-06-2007, 04:14 PM

To me this situation can be broken down into a conservative/liberal mindset and I'm interested in seeing how people respond to this.

Basically I run a movie theater, last night we had a bunch of kids come in. We're a local theater, privately owned. On Friday's we get a bunch of kids dropped off here. We can literally have 100 unsupervised kids a single auditorium. By kids I mean 12-16 year olds. Needless to say, as a whole they're loud, rude and obnoxious.

We had a number of complaints in a theater last night about the noise from the kids. Basically what I did was I asked the kids to put a row between their seats. In other words they could all sit together in the same row still, but they needed a row in front of them and in back of them to prevent the turning around and talking to each other in huddles during the movie. I asked a few kids a couple times and they refused. I wasn't rude and we didn't have an altercation. Everyone else complied except for about 4 girls who wanted to sit in front of their 6 other friends. I casually asked them a couple times to change their seats as I was running up and down dealing with all the other kids. One of the kids copped an attitude and left. Apparently her mother was in another theater. Now I had about thirteen 12 year olds and this mother complaining about me reseating them. For the record, they were not behaving themselves. They weren't as bad as some of the other kids, but they were talking back and forth across the seats.

The mother starts complaining outside the auditorium. I'm listening to her argument and the girls started talking. And one after another they all started talking over each other until they were all shouting at me. I asked them politely to please quiet their voices because they're outside the doors and the people in the theater could hear them.

At this point the mother started screaming at the top of her lungs and went into a hissy fit saying "No, WE WILL NOT BE QUIET UNTIL YOU LISTEN TO US!!!! blah blah blah"

At which point I told her to leave the theater. She refused. I told her I would call the police if she didn't quiet down and talk to me outside the theater where she couldn't disrupt the people watching their movies. We were currently in the theater hallway, not in an auditorium, but she was screaming loud enough to where even in most of the lobby people in some theaters would still be able to hear her.

She flatly refused. I called the police. I know my rights and the laws for my state regarding this issue. It's not the first time I've had to call the police over a parent dispute, advertising complaints, etc. In fact, it happens far more often than you'd think. So leaving the story there and without giving away the ending I'm asking what people's opinions are on this.

Keep in mind, the kids were allowed to watch their movie. They just all couldn't sit where they wanted to. I did offer them refunds if they did not wish to change their seats.

Her stance was basically that we shouldn't "kick children out into the parking lot", and we shouldn't sell them tickets if we're not going to let them sit where they want. To clarify this as well, at no point did we kick any children out of the building... just her.

So what do you guys think? Who's right, who's wrong in terms of morals, ethics and legality.

Diamond Cross · 01-06-2007, 04:20 PM

It's your business you have the right to refuse it to anyone.

They were only arguing because they were spoiled brats who wanted to get their way, regardless of the consequences.

Thorgrim · 01-06-2007, 04:23 PM

I don't see this is being divided by politics...

As long as she and whoever she was involved with were offered a refund if they refused to comply, I don't see how anyone could have any problem...usually there is a tiny micro-contract on a movie ticket that gives you certain rights, although this is a local matter and I don't know the statutes

However I am sure the cops don't want to spend their time dealing a mother yelling at a movie theater full of kids, I imagine either they instantly sympathized with you or were annoyed they were there to begin with

The only out is that if the community banded together prior to this and established the local laws in such a way that would give them extraordinary rights, or a local case did the same

kinggovernor · 01-06-2007, 04:24 PM

you were right and she is a dumb bitch

Thorgrim · 01-06-2007, 04:26 PM

Normally I'd be like "well thats how you saw it, who knows what the real truth is as people like to portray themselves in the most positive light" (notice how you repeat your strong points) but you have so much leeway in this area I can't imagine anything you could have reasonably done that could result in you being "wrong"

Pro Street · 01-06-2007, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

you were right and she is a dumb bitch

agreed

JaJae · 01-06-2007, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

I don't see this is being divided by politics...

As long as she and whoever she was involved with were offered a refund if they refused to comply, I don't see how anyone could have any problem...usually there is a tiny micro-contract on a movie ticket that gives you certain rights, although this is a local matter and I don't know the statutes

However I am sure the cops don't want to spend their time dealing a mother yelling at a movie theater full of kids, I imagine either they instantly sympathized with you or were annoyed they were there to begin with

The only out is that if the community banded together prior to this and established the local laws in such a way that would give them extraordinary rights, or a local case did the same

Our tickets don't have anything on the back saying "we reserve the rights to reseat." I'll leave it at that.

Oh and the police don't mind. I'm friends with half of them and it's a small upscale town. They don't mind us calling when we have a problem. They were a bit annoyed with her though.

JaJae · 01-06-2007, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Normally I'd be like "well thats how you saw it, who knows what the real truth is as people like to portray themselves in the most positive light" (notice how you repeat your strong points) but you have so much leeway in this area I can't imagine anything you could have reasonably done that could result in you being "wrong"

I told you what I did. What could I have done to have changed the situation?

To get her outside I did have to ask her repeatedly to leave. I slowly escalated my voice, but didn't want to shout because I didn't want to make more of a scene. I don't really know what else to tell you that could be considered at all a negative on my behavior. What finally got her out was that she called 911 from her cell phone (when I went into my office to call the Police operator #) to which the operator told her to wait outside until the car arrived.

Scrum · 01-06-2007, 04:31 PM

If the kids can't respect the wishes of the buisness owner or their representitive, they should be out on their ass. They do not have the right to do whatever they want, whereever they want due to the fact that they purchased a ticket. They are still guests there and the buisness has the right to refuse service to anyone. The mother should have been dragged away in cuffs for the outburst.

I'm not so sure 12 year old should be going into the theaters in groups with no supervision. If I were the owner of the theater I would hang a sign up to that effect unless there are any local laws already in place to handle this.

I would say you did the right thing.

On a side note: I'm extremely disturbed by the lack of manners people teach their children nowadays. I was taught to be respectful to people when you are in their home/buisness/land. Nothing drive me more nuts that going out ot a store where rude kids are running around everywhere and the parents just don't even care. I had this pounded into my head to not get in peoples way in public. I still drive my wife crazy because I end up stearing her around in crowded stores becuase she is constantly getting in the way.

Every time I see a kid wearing those rollerskate shoes i want to trip them. Your kids are already totally unaware of their surroundings. Let's put wheels on their shoes!

Scrum · 01-06-2007, 04:35 PM

And I think it was a courtesy that you even offered a refund. They didn't deserve that much.

illavbill · 01-06-2007, 04:36 PM

I would have kicked her ass out too. I would have offered a refund just as you did. I'm sure it wasn't the first time the police have had to remove her from places. Good job man. But I really don't see this being divided on partisan lines at all. Maybe between crazy people like the stupid lady in your story and sane people?

illavbill · 01-06-2007, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

On a side note: I'm extremely disturbed by the lack of manners people teach their children nowadays. I was taught to be respectful to people when you are in their home/buisness/land. Nothing drive me more nuts that going out ot a store where rude kids are running around everywhere and the parents just don't even care. I had this pounded into my head to not get in peoples way in public. I still drive my wife crazy because I end up stearing her around in crowded stores becuase she is constantly getting in the way.

Every time I see a kid wearing those rollerskate shoes i want to trip them. Your kids are already totally unaware of their surroundings. Let's put wheels on their shoes!

When I was a kid I always stayed by my mom's side in stores or she'd bitch at me right away to knock it off or i'd "get it". Hell i'm only 23 and i cant stand how little manners peoples kids have these days.

RMNIXON · 01-06-2007, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

On a side note: I'm extremely disturbed by the lack of manners people teach their children nowadays. I was taught to be respectful to people when you are in their home/buisness/land. Nothing drive me more nuts that going out ot a store where rude kids are running around everywhere and the parents just don't even care. I had this pounded into my head to not get in peoples way in public. I still drive my wife crazy because I end up stearing her around in crowded stores becuase she is constantly getting in the way.

Now you have done it! I am forced to agree with scrotumvent (type-O)!
Let us just say that when I was a kid way back in the middle ages I was not the best behaved in public. But both mom and dad had a 100% it is your fault attitude. They did not blame other adults or other kids I was with for "my" bad behavior! If you upset an adult you needed to learn some respect. I find it repulsive that some of the "it is all about me" parents are so protective of their kids that everything they do wrong is somebody elses fault! A great way to produce asshole adults!

imind · 01-06-2007, 04:43 PM

hahaha, i'm acutally more interested to hear how this is a conservative/liberal issue than i am to hear the tail end of it.

assuming everything played out the way you said it did, and i have no reason to think it didn't, you handled it the same way i would have. though i would have offered the lady a pile driver or two.

do tell, how did it end?

ibshessuingthetheaterandathreadisstickiedseekingfu lfillmentofyourlegaldefensefund

RMNIXON · 01-06-2007, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by illavbill

When I was a kid I always stayed by my mom's side in stores or she'd bitch at me right away to knock it off or i'd "get it". Hell i'm only 23 and i cant stand how little manners peoples kids have these days.

Hit your 40's and the teenages start to look like assholes too!

imind · 01-06-2007, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

Hit your 40's and the teenages start to look like assholes too!

JaJae · 01-06-2007, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

If the kids can't respect the wishes of the buisness owner or their representitive, they should be out on their ass. They do not have the right to do whatever they want, whereever they want due to the fact that they purchased a ticket. They are still guests there and the buisness has the right to refuse service to anyone. The mother should have been dragged away in cuffs for the outburst.

We have had to kick children out before. In fact it happens quite often on Fridays. As you said we have the right to refuse service. And the owner was upset I didn't file a complaint against her or press charges for disorderly persons. But I refuse to press charges against someone for a complaint against the business. If he wants it done he put the charge in his name.

I'm not so sure 12 year old should be going into the theaters in groups with no supervision. If I were the owner of the theater I would hang a sign up to that effect unless there are any local laws already in place to handle this.

She complained about a sign as well. The problem is we only have so much box office window space. And we hang our showtimes in the window. We have a refund policy posted which basically states we don't give refunds to minors unless they have an adult present. The reason for this is the large amounts of refunds from kids causing problems. The parents drop em off. We want to speak to their parents before they get refunds. Typically won't don't follow the policy unless the kid was a disruption. We also have an antipiracy sign, a help wanted sign, handicap sign, hearing impaired sign, pricing, etc etc.
We can't have a sign up for everything that could come about. And our ticketing system doesn't allow for a ticket stock that can be bought preprinted with general theater policies on the back. We use rolled thermal paper on a thermal printer, not the hefty BOCA printers most theaters use.

On a side note: I'm extremely disturbed by the lack of manners people teach their children nowadays. I was taught to be respectful to people when you are in their home/buisness/land. Nothing drive me more nuts that going out ot a store where rude kids are running around everywhere and the parents just don't even care. I had this pounded into my head to not get in peoples way in public. I still drive my wife crazy because I end up stearing her around in crowded stores becuase she is constantly getting in the way.

It's very upper class out here. Parents are very distant from the kids. Both parents work. Kids are left to their own accord quite a bit. When we throw kids out and such most parents out here come back yelling at me instead of their kid. It's why they act so out of hand. They know that if we do something, the parents will back them up and come down to the theater making a scene.

Some older people out here agree with mother, that we shouldn't sell the tickets if we're not going to let the children sit together. They paid for their tickets and should have the 'right' to sit where they want like the adults in the theater could do.

JaJae · 01-06-2007, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

And I think it was a courtesy that you even offered a refund. They didn't deserve that much.

I agree, but most people would disagree with that I think. Three of the kids even lost their stubs and I gave them passes to come back (which I shouldn't have done, but I didn't want to be a prick). Cause then I'd have to deal with 3 more parents complaining about wanting their money back and we'd be at square one again.

JaJae · 01-06-2007, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by illavbill

I would have kicked her ass out too. I would have offered a refund just as you did. I'm sure it wasn't the first time the police have had to remove her from places. Good job man. But I really don't see this being divided on partisan lines at all. Maybe between crazy people like the stupid lady in your story and sane people?

Aside from her causing a scene and refusing to leave. Remove that and just hear her argument. Everyone I've talked to disagreed with her behavior, but many have agreed with her argument.

I've only talked to about 5-6 people about this so far and the ones who tend to be more liberal on political views have been more sympathetic to the lady. So I was interested in seeing how it would pan out here.