Movie Theater Almost Altercation

[Dean C.]

So gentlemen I had an interesting situation last night at the Traders Point AMC on 86th street. Went to see the early screening of the new Joker movie because why not? Get to the movie and sit in the very back row like always so I have a good vantage point in the theater.

Some guy a few seats in front of me and to the left has his phone out about 70% of the movie just texting away. I do my usual and ignore it until about halfway through the movie when the guy turned his volume on his phone. You could even hear when he was texting he was that much of a douche canoe.

At this point due to the noise other movie theater patrons start to ask this guy to please silence his phone. So after another couple minutes of this increasingly inconsiderate behavior I got up and sat directly behind Mr.Douch Canoe and asked him to “put his ****ing phone away so I can watch the movie”.

The guy then stands up tells everyone in the theater “everyone needs to leave him alone”, the rest of the movie goes in relative peace. But once the film finished he stands up to leave and points to myself and the other gentlemen who asked him to put his phone up and says “he will meet us in the parking lot”.

Keep in mind he is three rows in front of me so he is more than welcome to try and attack me as I have time and space. The guy leaves the theater and I am thinking “**** that’s an ambush” but I was not going to let this guy get behind me under any circumstances.

Just to set up physical force disparity I am 170# and 5’8 , this douche canoe was 6’+ Black and every bit of 300 pounds if he lays hands on I am having a rough day.

The other guy that the douche canoe yelled at approached me after the Douche Canoe left and he was freaked out as most people are not really comfortable with threats of physical violence. I asked him where his car was and we went out the side entrance to avoid confrontation I got him to his car then I went to mine. Once I was pulling out of the parking lot I saw the Douche Canoe came out the front doors of the theater obviously looking for us (or at least that’s what I thought).

So honest question what could I have done better? My comment was definitely less than nice but TBH I don’t care I hate people like Douche Canoe. I did not feel calling the police would be effective due to response times as my priority was extracting myself as fast as possible. Keep in mind I am carrying my Staccato P with a Surefire X300 on it as I want a light in a movie theater.

 

[Creedmoor]

The theater manager should have escorted the bad patron off of the premises to begin with.

 

[bobzilla]

Don't engage. That's the thing you could have done better. The best way to avoid silly confrontations with worthless people is to just not engage.

 

[Dean C.]

The theater manager should have escorted the bad patron off of the premises to begin with.

No one was dealing with that gun unfortunately

Don't engage. That's the thing you could have done better. The best way to avoid silly confrontations with worthless people is to just not engage.

This is unfortunately correct I feel, people like this have ruined the last 3 movies I have tried to go see and I hate it, my emotions definitely had a bit of a factor.

 

[printcraft]

SSS

 

[Dean C.]

SSS

Need to start carrying a Wellrod apparently

 

[Wolfhound]

I am convinced there are people who go to movie theaters just to annoy people and try to start fights. Then there are others who are completely unaware that there are other people in their world.

I gave up on the movies. Just wait a bit longer and watch it on digital.

 

[Ziggidy]

SO, how was the movie?

 

[Expat]

Rear naked choke

 

[indyblue]

Don't engage. That's the thing you could have done better. The best way to avoid silly confrontations with worthless people is to just not engage.

Wait, what? When you just spent 30+ bucks per person on a movie and some munchies and you would just sit there and take that crap? No effing way. I would have gone to the lobby and found the manager on duty and had them dealt with through proper channels to have them thrown out.

I wouldn’t even bother to ask him to turn his phone down. I would’ve just gone to management and he would’ve never been any wiser who reported him.

Edit: ok, technically that’s not direct engagement

 

[printcraft]

Rear naked choke

My favorite type.

 

[Cameramonkey]

My favorite type.

I aint pulling that move in a theater. First, getting my clothes to stay on those seats that auto fold up is sketch. And I dont need my clothes all sticky from falling on the ground.

Second, yes get management involved. if they refuse, demand a FULL refund so you can come back later and watch it in peace. Not just your tix but your concessions too. And demand a refund, not a credit. Hit them where it hurts.

And good job avoiding the fallout. Be smarter than the tool.

 

[Cavman]

Definitely sounds like that guy was out fishing for trouble.

 

[flatlander]

*uck him. Most big guys like that are bullies. If I'm pursued and avoiding after pointing out he's an a$$hole then its on him.
Tired of bullies and all this pc bullcrap. Drop the knees and they aren't mobile and now you have the height advantage. Did it many times in my other life with younger. bigger bullies.

 

[MCgrease08]

I agree with others that telling the management is the right play. Let them, or the police deal with it.

If you do ever need to engage someone in a situation like that, then killing them with kindness is a better approach. Something like, "hey man, I hate to be 'that guy' but would you mind turning the sound or brightness level down on your phone a little?"

Coming in hot like you did is going to be seen as a challenge to his ego. That's never a good approach to deescalate.

 

[firecadet613]

And now you know why it's been 10+ years since I've been to a movie theater.

Aside from watching Top Gun 2, but South Haven, Michigan is a pretty low key place...

 

[Creedmoor]

No one was dealing with that gun unfortunately

This is unfortunately correct I feel, people like this have ruined the last 3 movies I have tried to go see and I hate it, my emotions definitely had a bit of a factor.

If the manager didn't have the stones he could have called a State Trooper.

 

[Ingomike]

And now you know why it's been 10+ years since I've been to a movie theater.

Aside from watching Top Gun 2, but South Haven, Michigan is a pretty low key place...

Ha? Got you beat, I went to see Traffic in 2000, before that Titanic in 1997. Apparently had a thing for T movies.

 

[bobzilla]

We go to Saturday morning matinees in Lebanon as often as we can. It’s cheaper and quieter. Many times we may be the only people watching it at 10am.

 

[bobzilla]

I agree with others that telling the management is the right play. Let them, or the police deal with it.

If you do ever need to engage someone in a situation like that, then killing them with kindness is a better approach. Something like, "hey man, I hate to be 'that guy' but would you mind turning the sound or brightness level down on your phone a little?"

Coming in hot like you did is going to be seen as a challenge to his ego. That's never a good approach to deescalate.

That area, ego and image have become more important than breathing. “It’s a culture thing” is the excuse given. What it really means is they’re feral animals that can’t behave like adults in public.