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Email Jury

Bad behaviour leads to 
multiplex madness

By Rob McLaren

ON page 13 we reveal that a new initiative to teach youngsters how to behave at the cinema is being launched. 

The charity Film Education is to issue more than 400,000 pupils with a filmgoers’ Code of Conduct later this year. So we asked our Email Jury to tell us what irritates them most at the multiplex. 

“The people who can’t sit still. They shuffle their feet, bang their knees into the back of your seat and keep changing position which shakes everyone around them.” — Elizabeth O’Regan, Lincoln. 

“Some people are there for a carry on and have no regard for anyone else. People talking and going in and out of their seats incessantly drives me mad! Surely sitting in the one place for 90 minutes isn’t too big an ask?” — Lesley McKergan, Coleraine. 

“I don’t go that often but when I do I’ve never come across bad behaviour.” — Jim Delahay, Dundee. 

“The film maybe lasts about two hours so why do they have to eat massive amounts of popcorn, hot dogs and drink buckets of cola? Then there are the people who talk through the film, speak on their phones or kick the back of your seat. The best cinemas are the independent ones with no food on sale.”— Heather Peterson, Longniddry. 

“I believe the director of Film Education has this wrong. Children are being made the scapegoats but I think behaviour by adults is extremely irritating, especially when they start shouting and you can’t hear the film.” — William McLaughlin, Preston. 

“The one thing that annoyed me more than anything was people moving from their seats to go to the toilet. I found a way to solve that problem, though. We sit in the front row!” — Curtis McCraw, Dumfries. 

“Give pensioners free entry. They’ll soon box the ears of any unruly kids!”— Alan McFarlane, Paisley. 

“I hate it when a person has seen the film before and can’t stop themselves telling their friend what’s about to happen.”— David Simpson, Perth. 

“Why do people bother going to the cinema if they’re just going to chat? They’d be better off in the pub. Also, why do people make such a mess with popcorn? They wouldn’t do that in their living rooms.” — Dawn Hume, Galashiels. 

“Teaching children to behave is something parents should be doing from birth. It’s high time some people realised they’ve produced this kid so it’s their responsibility, not yours, mine, teachers’ or police.” — Davie Kerr, Onich. 

“My generation was taught silence was required in the cinema.” — Judi Martin, Maryculter.

“Hearing popcorn crunching doesn’t make for an enjoyable movie. Perhaps education is the answer.” — Hugh Ritchie, Aberdeen. 

“I hate when people sit and play with their phone during a film. They may think they are being discreet, but you still see the light out the corner of your eye.”— Paula Ramsay, Forfar. 

“People in front moving from side to side and spoiling my view.” — David Foulis, Liverpool. 

“Films today are far too loud which means we rarely go to the cinema. Must be getting old!” — Bill Bell, Margate. 

“I usually go in the morning and have no issues. My wife and I usually have the cinema to ourselves! The odd evening I’ve attended there have been no problems. I didn’t mind cinema-goers of all ages dancing in the aisles during Mamma Mia!”— Tom Johnston, Beith. 

“A lot of people treat the cinema like home. They talk through the film, leave their phones on and lounge over the seats. I used to work in cinemas and it was the job of the usherette to prevent all these things. Very seldom do you see an usher or usherette in modern cinemas.” — Mary Marks, Irvine.

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