Theatergoer praised as hero for smashing woman's cellphone

[Liberal_in_LA]

"It was bad enough that I seriously considered leaving during the intermission, something I’ve not done before. The main offenders were two parties of women of a certain age, the sad sort with too much makeup and too-high heels, and insufficient attention span for following a two-hour musical."

He said his date spoke with theater management during intermission, but the situation wasn't remedied when the play resumed:

"The lady seated to my immediate right (very close quarters on bench seating) was fairly insistent about using her phone. I asked her to turn it off. She answered: 'So don’t look.' I asked her whether I had missed something during the very pointed announcements to please turn off your phones, perhaps a special exemption granted for her. She suggested that I should mind my own business."

THE CONFRONTATION

That got Williamson's blood boiling. He said he proceeded to use "my famously feline agility" to snatch the phone from the woman's hands and toss it across the room, "where it would do no more damage."

Williamson said the woman slapped him before storming off to notify management.

Williamson told Gothamist the show's security director confronted him and said the woman was talking about pursuing criminal charges.

"He did try to physically keep me in, and was standing in the door blocking me, telling me I couldn't leave. I inquired as to whether he was a police officer and I was under arrest, and since I wasn't, I left," Williamson told Gothamist.

Asked if the woman's phone was damaged, Williamson said, "It had to be; I threw it a pretty good distance."

http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/theatergoer-praised-as-hero-for-smashing-womans-cellphone?ocid=OBTAP

[Enrique]

1. cool story, bro

addressed to Kevin Williamson, not to you OP.

[Tien1985]

76. Ya know,

All the arguing on this thread aside, I think you're probably the one who nailed it.

[Arkana]

126. Took the words right out of my mouth.

All that's missing is "And then everyone stood up and clapped".

[backscatter712]

185. This.

Two words about the bro telling the cool story: National Review.

Any questions?

And if you're still not doubting his story, three words: "famously feline agility."

[Tien1985]

2. He could have gone to the

Theatre manager. He sounds like an arrogant asshole to me. There are people who see red whenever a person using a cell/tablet etc. Encouraging those people is bad, IMO.

Mind you, the group talking should have been kicked out of the theatre immediately. He should be charged with damaging private property, she should be charged with battery and hopefully they'll both stop being stupid, but I won't hold my breath.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. he did go to management, before taking action

[Tien1985]

9. He said his date did. But if it bothered

Him so much, he really should have spoken to them himself.

Even still, if I go to a business and their service is lacking (like a theatre that won't stop people from ruining a show) I leave and give my money to a better business.

He could have asked for his money back, and having such a big audience, he could have written a scathing review of the venue that probably would have helped make sure the theatre took such complaints more seriously. Instead he choose to use his self-described "feline" like agility to take someone else's property and destroy it. Not okay, not laudable. Both he and the talking woman sound like they have boundary and entitlement issues.

[AverageJoe90]

19. Yeah. Neither of these two are innocent.....

[CBHagman]

65. Oh, for heaven's sake.

Last edited Mon May 20, 2013, 11:40 PM - Edit history (1)

People pay to see a performance, not some narcissist play with her device. Anyone can be a Monday morning quarterback and say what he should have done, but frankly I'm sick of the narcissists who decide it's a great idea to answer their phones (or just leave the ringer on and check caller ID) during the movie, the play, whatever. Anyone who deals with said narcissist is already having to expend the time and energy to attempt to get the narcissist to observe even basic human courtesy.

[Tien1985]

72. Still not an excuse

to physically grab something from someone and destroy it.

I don't need to play Monday morning quarterback about a situation I've been in. I'm not an asshole unable to control myself when someone pisses me off. This guy is. So, apparently, is the woman who was speaking during a show.

It is idiotic and disturbing to lose control over a cellphone at a theatre. These people have the self-control of a tired three year old. I expect more control from my third grader than they collectively showed here.

I am not defending the cell phone user. She should be banned and should have been escorted out immediately. Or better, had the spot light dropped on her and been publicly shamed by the theatre. As it stands she should be charged with assault.

That doesn't excuse his lack of self control.

[pansypoo53219]

177. he should have sat on it or taken it to the manager.

SHE should have been refunded + kicked out.

[AverageJoe90]

73. Yeah, well, I'm also sick of narcissists like Kevin Williamson who think they can do whatever.......

and expect to be praised for it. He acted just as bad as she did, not just in his initial actions, but even more so after the fact. Fuck him, too.

[Mr Dixon]

105. Agreed

[Silent3]

101. How much more of the show should the guy miss while leaving to find the management...

...which had already once before proved ineffective and unresponsive?

While the man's response might not be totally justifiable, I find it very understandable. People who create nuisances and distractions like this in theaters, who won't respond to polite requests to do the right thing and shut up (or stop some other distracting and possible noisy activity) put other people in the bind of having to incur an even greater loss of their enjoyment of the performance by getting up, probably disturbing a lot of other seated people on the way out of their row, then walking out and completely missing whatever portion of the performance that continues on without pause while they seek out management and explain the problem.

[Tien1985]

122. He had a few options

that he choose not to take. He could have gone during intermission, he could have toughed it out and made a stink about it after the show, he could have left and gotten a refund and spent the rest of his night having a good time. Instead, he missed the rest of the show, got himself in trouble and feels hard done by because not everyone thinks he was totally in the right. And it's highly doubtful that the woman with the phone is suddenly going to change her ways because of this incident.

I would've been completely behind him, had he not lost control of himself. I would've even thrown him a buck towards seeing another show out of commiseration. To me, destroying someone's property is not understandable. At best it's immature, at worse, a sign of a much more serious problem.

Chances are, just his arguing with the person probably was irritating to those around him, too. Have you ever been at a show where, not only is some jerk talking and playing with a phone, but another person has deemed themselves the the outrage brigade and is sighing dramatically, and getting into whispered arguments with the phone person? I've been there. Generally, everyone around them wants to kill them both. But I've never seen someone break into physical aggression over it. That's a line that should not be crossed, and they both did.

I have zero pity for either of them.

[AverageJoe90]

4. I wouldn't like being interrupted during my movie, either, but Williamson should've been detained.

If the lady was causing that many problems, he SHOULD have gone to management first, and then they could have dealt with her. But he was the one who started the fight and the fact that people are praising him, is really goddamn disturbing(how many of these losers are Rethugs, I wonder?). And the fact that the security director didn't do his job the whole way pisses me off, too.

This guy isn't a fucking hero, he's a goddamn asshole, and frankly, so are the people praising him. Fuck you, Kevin Williamson.

[oldhippie]

7. Did you read the OP? They did go to management ....

... and they did nothing.

[liberalhistorian]

8. Are people lacking in reading comprehension tonight?

He DID go to management first, but they didn't do anything; that's typical nowadays, they're too scared of one person's reaction so they make things miserable for a hundred other people.

Look, I agree that he had no right to grab the phone and destroy it since it wasn't his property and he's certainly not a "hero." But I have zero, zippo, zilch, NADA sympathy for the woman. Not one single drop. SHE brought it all on herself, period. She knew that the rule was no cell phones or other e-devices during the performance but, like too many other entitled idiots today, considered that rule to apply only to other people and not her. It is VERY VERY distracting when people are using their phones in a theater, so much so that it can ruin a performance you spend good money to see. If an idiot wants to waste their money and not pay attention to something they've paid to see, fine, but they have no right to ruin it for everyone else. I've been tempted to do the very same thing he did several times while in theaters or other public performances, but, of course, I don't have the right to touch the private property of others no matter how much of an asshole they're being. And she was, indeed, a complete and utter asshole. NO sympathy for her at all. And none for the lily-livered management, either, who should have done something when the guy first brought it to their attention.

[AverageJoe90]

16. Well, I wasn't excusing her behavior, either.

And frankly, she shouldn't have slapped him. BUT, had he not destroyed her phone, she wouldn't have done that, I don't think.

Too many self-entitled morons like Mr. Williamson here still seem to think that any reaction to a relatively minor(if perhaps irritating, too) annoyance is somehow justifiable.
If he was that annoyed, he could have just left the theater. And that's it, and that way, the lady would have been the only one at fault.

[lynne]

20. Not a movie. The Theater - a musical in NYC -

- I imagine he had more invested than the price of a movie ticket and they usually play a pre-show announcement asking that cell phones be turned off.

His response was over-the-top but he did what a great many of us have wanted to do during plays and concerts. It's bad enough when a phone accidentally rings but to sit and talk on the phone during a performance is outrageous. As outrageous as his response.

If his reaction makes other "theater cell phone talkers" turn off their phone before the performance, then it was worth it.

[PeaceNikki]

21. I don't think she was talking in it. she said, "then don't look"

She was probably texting or on Facebook, Twitter or.DU.

[RudynJack]

51. Still rude, distracting, annoying and against "the rules".

I had a couple of blue-hairs behind me years ago who simply would not shut up during a movie. They were discussing their hair, their grandkids... whatever. I repeatedly shhhed them and directly asked them to be quiet. Their response was "turn around and ignore us". So I yelled VERY loudly "SO YOU THINK IT'S OK TO TALK THROUGHOUT A MOVIE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE PAID TO SEE?!" and the other patrons applauded. That embarrassed them enough that they shut up.

Some people need to be shamed.

[PeaceNikki]

56. agreed, and saying something is justified. leaving and asking for refund, justified.

Complaining to management, justified.

physically taking something from someone and destroying someone's property, criminal.

Sorry for typos, posting from my phone. While at theater watching Gatsby.

[RudynJack]

66. But they did complain

and nothing was done. And that they HAD to go complain already causes them to miss part of the show.

This wasn't a movie. It was a New York play, and the cheap seats are $175 per person. That's an evening that people planned for, got dressed up, and showed up and followed the rules, to have it ruined by self-centered harridans who have no business going to the theater.

Sorry, but I applaud him. It may not be the RIGHT thing to do, but I want people to FEAR that such behavior will be punished harshly.

[PeaceNikki]

120. he's a writer/critic for NRO and I'll eat my hat if he paid a dime for those tickets.

Also, his bigger beef should be with the venue who chooses not to enforce its rules. If they did complain and management chose to do nothing, either he was making much ado about nothing or they don't take their own rules seriously. The fact he appointed himself the 'enforcer' is ridiculous. If there's one takeaway, it's that Williamson knows how to drum up publicity for his book

Wait for for the sudden we see an influx of folk heroism among soon-to-be authors, ripping the batteries out of mobile devices during takeoffs, body-checking shoppers exiting through the entrance, and chucking canned goods across the supermarket so that the person in front of them in the fast lane has only 12 items or less. Nothing straightens up a saloon like a pundit with a book contract.

"hero" my ass.

ETA:

[aquart]

96. So you obviously miss the point.

Moviegoers really don't understand live theater. Not that using a cell phone in a movie is less disgusting. But the movie can always be seen again and it will be exactly the same. A live performance, never.

And you actually seem to be bragging about this appalling, gross, selfish, ill-mannered behavior.

[PeaceNikki]

98. You're wrong.

The end.

[aquart]

100. So you were not bragging about being rude in a theater?

[PeaceNikki]

102. I was kidding.

I was posting from my couch. My cat wasn't bothered, I assure you.

[RudynJack]

123. Maybe your cat

complained to management, but they did nothing.

[PeaceNikki]

135. I told him to mind his own business.

[RudynJack]

136. Cats mind nothing but their own business

did you see this?

[PeaceNikki]

138. .

[aquart]

168. So someone who doesn't go to the theater thinks it's funny to make a fuss about ...

Appropriate behavior in a theater.

I don't.

[PeaceNikki]

170. Correction: Someone who wasn't *at* the theater made a joke on the internet.

Lighten up, Francis. Go find someone else with whom to pick a fight.

[Matariki]

142. lol! Does Gatsby die in the end?

[PeaceNikki]

145. Don't know, I was busy beating the shit out of a person who was in a handicapped seat who didn't

appear to be handicapped at all. Cuz, FREEDUMN!

[Incitatus]

172. It's common practice now for employees to not forcibly detain anyone, even for most 'security'.

There are too many liability issues and it's not worth the risk of the suspect pulling a knife, gun, running someone over in their escape ,etc. etc.

[AverageJoe90]

173. Yeah, there's a good point there.

Still sucks he got away with trashing someone else's property for no reason, though, even if his date DID go to security.....they could have just left, IMHO.

[lunasun]

5. my fantasy at a ballet a few yeas ago!!!!

why do they even go to musicals or ballets??
My abuser was there alone
no date was forcing her or anything
so why not just stay home with the phone- ?

[Liberal_in_LA]

22. last week at college music recital, guy rattled candy wrapper for eternity

Long after candy was in his mouth, kept twisting celephane wrapper. Professor had to get up, verbally whispered to him, had to return and touch him to get him to stop

[aquart]

97. Been there. All my sympathies.

I kinda miss the days when the Delacorte sold bags of deliciously ripe fruit, and the ill-mannered...who fail to understand that there could be anybody ruder than they are...so often felt the juicy joys of plum down the back, in the lap...oh, oops.

[Loup Garou]

6. Sarah Palin was there in her FMPs?

"The main offenders were two parties of women of a certain age, the sad sort with too much makeup and too-high heels, and insufficient attention span for following a two-hour musical."

?12

[SQUEE]

94. Not to flegellate a deceased equine

BUT ... FMP?
on this board? I find the idea that some have that woman dress merely to attract you and others to fuck them horribly sexist, even when used in jest.
Seriously, It is a thought that is worthy of the cavemen on other boards, not this one.

[RudynJack]

139. Lighten up Francis

[PeaceNikki]

10. destructive asshole.

Yeah, maybe she was annoying him, but that was a violent and aggressive move and I would have pressed charges.

[HiPointDem]

23. hers were also aggressive moves. very aggressive to 1) break rule that has just been announced

and 2) when called on it, act like it's the other person who has the problem.

[PeaceNikki]

24. Not physically aggressive and not violently destructive.

Fuck that asshole.

[Trajan]

36. The world isn't a school playground ...

Talking in a show is rude, but not a violation of the law ...

Taking an object from someone and destroying it ? .... THAT is a violation of the law ....

Case solved, without the finger pointing next to the jungle gym ....

[HiPointDem]

40. talking on a cell phone and having your cell phone on violates the rule the establishment set,

as well as common courtesy.

refusing to abide by the rule when called on it is worse, and even worse is trying to make out it's the other person who has the problem.

throwing the phone is a dumb but completely understandable reaction, and it's the reaction such passive agressive types want to provoke, so they can say LOOK WHAT HE DID TO *ME* and never have to answer for their low-life trashy anti-social behavior.

I despise those kinds of people, they have a fucking mental problem, and are commonly found at high levels in the business community.

psychopathic imo.

[Trajan]

42. common decency

does NOT equal law ...

We are done

[HiPointDem]

70. so what? common decency is more important than law.

[defacto7]

82. I agree with your assesment and reaction to that woman of privilege.

But I think the real problem is the responsibility or lack of it displayed by the management. They should have prevented this by upholding some semblance of common sense. Instead, they wimped out and didn't protect the investment of their audience in the entertainment they sold, in essence inhibiting it.

The establishment is more at fault in my book by not enforcing a standard which would protect everyone from a nuisance and teach the source of the problem that they are indeed not better than the rest of civilization. Now, there's are 2 more rabble-rousers and a host of new converts to defend both immature species.

BTW, don't you just hate armchair psychologists? JK

[HiPointDem]

89. agreed. if you're not going to enforce the rule, don't pretend you have a rule. i abhor armchair

psychologists.

[cui bono]

87. But you know what? His theater tickets probably cost more than her phone.

So while I agree he shouldn't have gotten physical, I'm not worried about her phone being destroyed as far as the cost of the property. She's already effectively ruined the theater experience. That sort of thing is so annoying.

Too bad management didn't kick her out as they should have. And he should have demanded a refund and discount for tix to another performance.

But really, people need to learn to stop using their damn phones while at events for fuck's sake.

[dsc]

29. and she was stealing from everyone around her and should have theft charges pressed against her

She stole the enjoyment of the theater from those around her. Frankly I am beyond sick of self entitled jerks who think they have the right to behave in such self absorbed ways.

[PeaceNikki]

32. violent, destructive attention-seeking, lying asshole writers for the National Review.

Nah, not buying his "victim turned hero" bullshit.

[dsc]

33. As someone who performs in a chorus

and has performed for several years in choruses and plays I have nothing but utter contempt for people who refuse to obey simple, upfront, stated rules at the beginning of a show. I have literally sat next to people who listen to a ten minute request from a choral director not to use phones during a concert that they have spent hours and hours preparing for only to see them use their mf phones non stop during the concert, It ruins the experience for the audience, it is utterly disrespectful to the performers, and is part and parcel of the utter narcissism that many people have imbibed in far too long. Way too many people get raised with the idea that the universe revolves about them and their and only their opinion, entertainment, and comfort matter. Frankly I wish he had stomped the phone to dust in front of her face.

[PeaceNikki]

35. and I hope he's arrested and charged.

[dsc]

38. and I hope he gets a jury of performers

I don't think you understand just how rude that behavior is, or more likely you just don't give a damn. Most performers don't get paid, we do it because we love what we do, and wish to entertain. I realize this was a paid professional performance, but the same behavior happens at school concerts, regional theater, and other such places. It is just plain vile behavior.

[PeaceNikki]

39. I have less tolerance for violent destructive behavior.

You're looking at it through your eyes, but I see it through the eyes of someone on the shit end of physical abuse.

Perspective. We all have or own.

[dsc]

41. the only physical abuse was by her

he only took her phone and threw it, she slapped him.

[PeaceNikki]

43. he physically took. it. from. her.

And proceeded to violently destroy her property and could have hurt someone in the process. If you fall to see the physical aggression in that, you're being willfully ignorant.

Besides, I repeat, he's a writer for the National Review, I don't buy his version.

[HiPointDem]

90. and.she.slapped.him.i.e.actually.did.hurt.him.

is she a friend of yours or something?

[Tien1985]

49. I'm a performer

I sing in a choir and I spent 5 years performing in a drum corps. I also have some experience in theatre, both plays and musicals. I have plenty of experience with rude and obnoxious audience members. And no, I don't think his actions were justified. He behaved abominately, as did the woman talking through the performance.

That they both erupted into physically violence is downright disturbing.

She should be held accountable for her actions and for hitting him. He should be held accountable for taking and destroying property.

[SamReynolds]

45. Bull.

The writing of the article is clever, but it doesn't lie. It suggests she was talking, but she was not.

If someone is quietly texting in a theater, the only way it can 'steal' from you is if you're too nosy to simply watch the show. If you choose to monitor what the person next to you is doing, that's YOUR problem.

This writer is a self-righteous douchebag.

[PeaceNikki]

47. thank you

Agreed

[dsc]

54. most phones make noises when they get and send texts

I know mine does. They also shine light, which is visually distracting, which is why performers ask, in very clear and unambiguous terms, that people don't text or otherwise use their phones during a performance. If she wanted to text, then she should have waited until this play became a film, rented the dvd, and then texted from the comfort of her own couch, in her own apartment or house, and then life would be good. But no, this woman, around whom the whole earth revolves, decided that she must see the play but then decides to text during it making it hard for others to pay attention.

[SamReynolds]

189. Was hers?

If this self-righteous douche was looking for justification, he would, as any writer would, include those small details so that his readers would have the same certainty of his righteousness.

While I agree that what the woman was doing can be rude, if the play does not capture your attention from something quiet going on in the seat next to you (lights don't make noise and sound is easily turned off), then there is either something wrong with the show, or with you.

Using it as an excuse to destroy someone's property only means you can't control your attention or your actions.


Now... if the writer were to say.... start making wild (but quiet) gesticulations with his hands everytime the woman used her phone, he could then tell her to 'mind her own business' when she asked him to stop.

[GoneOffShore]

62. Have you ever sat next to or behind someone using a tablet or smart phone during a performance?

There is no such thing as

quietly texting in a theater

. Texting during a performance is disruptive, no ifs, ands or buts.
The glow from the screen, the click from the "keys", all distract at least 5 people and possibly more. The people either side of the person texting, the three people behind the text-er, and anyone whose eyes are drawn to the glowing screen.

It it indeed, stealing enjoyment of the performance from the other audience members and possibly distracting the performers themselves.

Ms Texter is lucky that someone from onstage didn't stop the show, get a spotlight turned on her and publicly shamed by the entire cast.

[RudynJack]

63. Yes, very much so.

The audience paid to focus on the stage, not to be distracted by the people around them.

[MadrasT]

106. The glow from the screen is intensely annoying.

If people can't disconnect from their devices for a couple hours, they really don't have the time or interest to go to the theater.

[SamReynolds]

191. I agree that people should cut the shit and enjoy the show.

Two things:

-It didn't give the writer an excuse to destroy her phone.
-It doesn't mean there aren't perfectly legitimate reasons for people to send texts even during a show.


He could have done SO many other things to shut her down. His response was wrong.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

180. In what legal jurisdiction do you live?

Fantasyland?

[dsc]

181. she was stealing the play that they bought the right to hear

they weren't there to listen to her texting.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

182. Yeah, that's hardly a prosecutable offense.

Maybe someone could file a small claims lawsuit, but that's about it.

[dsc]

184. it should be

theater tickets are quite expensive. On the rare occasion that I can afford such a pleasure, I shouldn't have it ruined by a self important ass who won't leave their phone at home. The world ran perfectly fine with no phones in theaters for thousands of years, it could have continued that way quite fine thank you.

[GiaGiovanni]

150. PeaceNikki, I am surprised that they didn't press charges. The man's real problem was the theater

The employees of the theater should have enforced their cell phone rules. When they did not, the man should have asked for his money back, left, and contacted the corporate office the next day.

Being overly aggressive and destroying the property of others is an invitation for arrest. The man is very lucky the cell phone users did not press charges. He could have easily found himself tased and handcuffed. Talking on the cell phone in a theater is rude but not a crime; however destroying property of others and acting in a threatening manner toward them is.

[smirkymonkey]

11. Well, this was in New York.

People take their theater pretty seriously. Personally, I don't know why people can't stay off their damn phones during performances. It's extremely rude to the rest of the audience.

[AverageJoe90]

17. Can't disagree with that.

And I wouldn't blame Kevin for being annoyed. Most of us would have been, too. My problem is, he escalated the problem by trashing the phone. Should have had better self-control than that.

[Marr]

12. Wow, nice work. Way to strike a blow for umm... civility?

Her behavior was rude, certainly. But his outburst, and especially his after-the-fact braggadocio is far more uncouth.

[HiPointDem]

25. her behavior was more than rude. it was trashy & aggressive.

[PeaceNikki]

26. he's a violent asshole writer for the national review

[HiPointDem]

28. and her behavior was trashy and aggressive. nothing he is changes her behavior, which was

trashy and aggressive.

people who conspicuously break rules then try to make out that it's your problem when you call them on it are hostile assholes of the worst type.

[Pelican]

58. He is mildly violent at best...

She is a rude self entitleted ass...

[Marr]

59. Absolutely-- but he comes off no better.

Considerably worse, in fact-- in my humble opinion.

[HiPointDem]

68. i think she actually comes off worse. because she started it and escalated it.

he did one thing wrong; took her phone & threw it.

she 1) kept using her cell after the announcement was made; 2) kept using it after being asked by a patron to stop; 3) more or less told the patron to stuff it; and 4) slapped him after he threw her phone.

she wanted her way no matter what. there's nothing you can do with people who insist they don't have to follow the rules other people do. she's a fucking trashy low-life who acts exactly like the crackheads in my neighborhood do.

force is all people like that understand. they want their way & won't cede to commonly accepted rules of behavior unless forced to.

[distantearlywarning]

13. Sick to death of self-entitled people and their cell phones in theaters

I have no sympathy for the woman at all. Good for him.

[AverageJoe90]

18. You think they're self-entitled? Williamson ended up being way worse!(no duh).

[Shankapotomus]

14. He could have left and requested a refund

But he blew it. Now he still missed the show, might be sued and everyone thinks he's a misogynistic ass. Epic fail.

[olddots]

15. Noone gives a shit

nobody wins even the special people who are above having manners or social graces .

[Politicalboi]

27. Theaters should have something

That doesn't allow phones to work while the show is playing. You really need to use it, go to the lobby, or outside.

[HiPointDem]

30. good idea.

[Posteritatis]

31. Actively jamming them's frowned upon for emergency reasons

Telling people not to be colossal assholes with their phones in a theatre - and enforcing it - shouldn't be that challenging.

[Blue_Tires]

111. +1

I know some college professors who would move heaven and earth for that kind of technology...

[KurtNYC]

176. Jammers were/are legal in other countries in certain places (funeral parlors) but not here

Many motels have been accused of using jammers to force guests to use the house phone system and pay $$$$. Not sure that any were ever proven or charged.

These guys have been selling in the UK for 14 years:
http://www.phonejammer.com/home.php?cat=249

[Trajan]

34. Simple ...

They talked in a theater .... He committed theft ...

He violated the law, and should be arrested for theft and ordered to pay restitution ....

[SamReynolds]

48. The woman in question was not talking.

The article insinuates it, but see how carefully it dances around the truth; She was texting.

Either way, you're right.

[KittyWampus]

116. then she should also be arrested for assault.

[Trajan]

37. Oh .. and the slapping part ?

Assault ... Book them BOTH, Danno ...

[petronius]

46. My sense of schoolyard justice tells me that the slapping produces offsetting penalties:

she gets the slap or the arrest, but not both. He should replace the phone, regardless.

But in the non-schoolyard-world you're correct - he committed theft (? robbery? vandalism?) plus assault and she committed assault (unless she can spin it as some sort of instinctive but slow-moving self-defense reaction, I guess). I'd probably charge them at the lowest possible end of the infraction scale. (Although returning to the schoolyard, my opinion of him will plummet much further if he asks to have her charged.)

The theater management really screwed up here, IMO - they need to be more active in addressing disruptive audience members...

[mythology]

75. I don't believe he should pay for the phone

If the description is correct, she caused the incident by refusing to follow basic civility. She choose to make everybody else suffer for her petulance. I firmly believe that the reason that society has gotten to the point that it has, is because there are no consequences for being stupid and selfish.

If she had learned earlier in life that she doesn't have the right to impede everybody else's enjoyment of something they've paid for, then she wouldn't have lost her phone. It will do her some good to realize that she can put the damn thing down for a few hours and the world won't end because she can't check her facebook account.

[Apophis]

44. I wish more people would do this.

I'm tired of paying $12 for a ticket, only having my experience ruined by some asshole on his/her phone.

[GoneOffShore]

143. Twelve dollars? I wish I could get theatre tickets for that.

Even with a senior discount the lowest theatre ticket I can find is $40.

[KingFlorez]

50. He should be charged with destruction of property

That is not being a hero, that is being a bully. Even if phone calls are annoying during a movie, you don't go off in a rage and destroy someone's property. Take it up with the management is someone is breaking the rules.

[Nye Bevan]

67. She slapped him. That's assault. (nt)

[KingFlorez]

69. He still destroyed her property

If the police choose to charge her, they have grounds, but he needs to go to jail too. The slap doesn't negate his property destruction.

[lumberjack_jeff]

78. Offsetting penalties.

King Solomon sez: He should buy her a new phone after returning her favor.

[Nye Bevan]

84. After she writes a letter of apology to every other audience member (nt)

[WinkyDink]

192. Yeah, well, I think her spontaneous reaction to HIS THEFT will get HER off that hook.

[msongs]

52. a new class of people - cellholes nt

[flamingdem]

61. +1 exactly

[Initech]

85. Ha ha ha ha, I like that term!

[HappyMe]

95. lol! Exactly.

An apt term for the self-involved phone fools.

[Deep13]

53. It would probably be a better argument...

...with the misogynist observations at the beginning. "A certain age" is code for middle age or late middle age. And all that crap about make-up and heels--and being too old for it--makes him look like an asshole.

Beyond that, I fully sympathize. There is a special place in hell for people who talk in the theater and live performance is no exception.

[newmember]

55. Reminds me of that Star Trek episode with Spock on the bus

taking out the obnoxious punk rocker with the radio blaring.

They also all clapped for Spock.




She sounds like a rude obnoxious self centered ( fill in the blank)

[Egalitarian Thug]

86. Bit 'o trivia; The asshole punk with the boombox was played by Kirk Thatcher an AP that

also wrote the song playing on his boombox when Spock nerve pinched him.

[backscatter712]

183. Star Trek IV

[Nye Bevan]

57. She slapped him. Arrest her for assault.

And ban her for life from New York theaters.

[Pragdem]

60. Good. Going to the movies costs almost as much as a new phone.

She destroyed multiple people's movie experience and he destroyed her phone.

Quid pro quo.

[RudynJack]

64. This wasn't a movie

it was a play. The "cheap seats" are $175 a pop.

[LittleBlue]

71. Good

Was at a movie with my date. A woman in back brought her INFANT to the theater. I can't believe they let a baby into the theater. Isn't there a minimum age at movie theaters?

The baby cried until halfway through the movie. Everyone around me was groaning. Finally someone must have forced her out, because we heard arguing and then she left. Whoever it was, they were a hero. But not until half the movie was ruined. But a musical? That's a far worse transgression, she's bothering the actors and the musicians as well.

Some people have zero respect for others. The rules don't apply because it's all about them. Hopefully the woman with the phone will think twice next time, she got what she deserved here.

[KG]

74. ...

[Manifestor_of_Light]

77. I once sat next to a heckler at an Arthur Rubinstein piano recital!!

Yes. Its unbelievable. I sat next to a guy heckling the legendary Arthur Rubinstein.
Mr. Rubinstein was EIGHTY-TWO years old at the time.

This was in 1970.

Three thousand seats in Jones Hall, and I sit next to an asshole yelling "Grieg Concerto!"



I'm a musician and actress, and it is particularly rude and disrespectful to use a cell phone or yak at a LIVE performance, which this was.

[KittyWampus]

117. May also add >

truly bizarre.

Like a high brow version of beavus & butthead.

[catchnrelease]

79. Hugh Jackman's method

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

131. The whole time Hugh was yelling, 007 had already double tapped the guy(n/m)

[X_Digger]

80. A trio of assholes.

The texter for ruining folks enjoyment, then committing assault (you can argue provocation); management for being spineless; and the "hero" for committing theft and destruction of property (and where did the phone land, did anyone get hit by it?)

[mindwalker_i]

81. This illustrates the problem with cellphones and other electronics

meaning small, handheld electronic. There are people who can't stop using them, not while in theaters where they ruin someone's very hard work to put on a performance, not while driving where they could very easily kill someone, or several someones. Can't people stop talking/texting for an hour or two? Can't they just shut the fuck up for a short time?

Aw, poor person got her property destroyed after inflicting said property on a whole bunch of other people, all of which paid a bunch of money to see someone's hard work and performance. Breaks my fucking heart. It should be legal to destroy said property in instances like this.

Her comments - just don't look - say "Fuck you, I'll do what I want and you can just fucking deal with it. I don't care whose experience I fuck up." It's like those people changing their kid in a starbucks - fuck everyone else, I'm doing what I need to do right here and everyone else be damned.

[smirkymonkey]

146. Thank YOU!

Theater in NYC is incredibly expensive. I am so tired of these narcissists w/ iPhones/cell phones who can't disconnect for a damn hours.

Personally, I think she should have been thrown out of the theater, but I can understand the rage of the theater-goer who was paying big money and expecting an enjoyable night at the theater. I don't really blame him.

[Lizzie Poppet]

153. "Can't they just shut the fuck up for a short time?"

[defacto7]

83. The fault is with the theater.

They sold a product they could not deliver as offered. They did not defend their audience by removing the disturbance who was clearly outside of the rules of conduct that are well known the world over. If there was violence, it was the theaters fault for taking remuneration for something they could not deliver and exasperating a situation.

The woman should be prosecuted.
Mr. Williamson should be prosecuted.
The theater should be sued by the audience patrons and the production owners.
The security of the theater should be fired.

from an earlier post:
The theater did not enforce a standard which would protect everyone from a nuisance and teach the source of the problem that they are indeed not better than the rest of civilization. Now, there's are 2 more (jerks running wild) and a host of new converts to defend both immature species.

[RudynJack]

88. Why should anyone

have to leave their seats during a performance to complain to management? That already disrupts the entire experience.

These seats were at least $175 per person. Plus it was a dinner theater, so add at least another $100 for food and drink.

ALL theaters should have a simple rule - use your phone and you will be promptly escorted outside, with no refund. And they should have ushers who enforce it - the audience shouldn't have to police the place.

[PeaceNikki]

91. If there's one takeaway, it's that Williamson knows how to drum up publicity for his book

Wait for for the sudden we see an influx of folk heroism among soon-to-be authors, ripping the batteries out of mobile devices during takeoffs, body-checking shoppers exiting through the entrance, and chucking canned goods across the supermarket so that the person in front of them in the fast lane has only 12 items or less. Nothing straightens up a saloon like a pundit with a book contract.

"hero" my ass.

[aquart]

92. May his days be blessed and his name heaped with praise.

May she and her kind be forever fearful of reaction to their indecent selfishness. And let it happen again and again till repetition gives them the manners their parents neglected to teach.

NOTHING justifies a cell phone call in a theater.

[PeaceNikki]

93. Yes, the charming conservative writer who trashes Gabby Giffords and praises Rand Paul.

[CTyankee]

107. He's an editor at the National Review. And a big asshole. He was on Morning Joe bragging

about his feat.

Yes, I nearly threw up too.

PEOPLE, read the story at the link. He's NO hero for DU!

[RudynJack]

125. Nikki

Pretend it was someone other than this writer you hate. The discussion is about how to respond to idiots who use their cellphones in the theater. Just because you don't like this guy doesn't mean he's entirely in the wrong.

[PeaceNikki]

134. I don't think he was wrong for being pissed, but definitely in the way he acted.

[Marrah_G]

99. He should have gone to management instead of assaulting the woman

That's what we do in a civilized society. We don't assault people who annoy us. And by grabbing her phone from her... he is a little more then a common thief.

[Shrek]

103. Excellent

I hope this practice becomes widespread.

[woo me with science]

104. I think this was a "Frasier" episode.

Frasier gains instant admiration in Seattle when he, in frustration, physically assaults a rude patron of his local coffeeshop.

He is then horrified when his radio talk show listeners start copying him with vigilante "etiquette lessons."

[Blue_Tires]

110. That's exactly what I thought of, too

[badtoworse]

108. Should have gotten a standing ovation

[HughBeaumont]

109. Hey, DU has got a new shiny object du jour!

Next to Olive Garden, circumcision, pitbulls, holding the door open and porno!

[KittyWampus]

118. except EVERYONE hates people who talk on cells during performances.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

129. I don't know

There seem to be a few here who think it's cool....live and let live....guess we know what group they fall into.

[Warren DeMontague]

162. You know, buddy, you could be a little more considerate when you write posts like that.

You COMPLETELY left out the parents who changed the diaper in starbucks.



That was practically moon-bombing shiny object du jour level.

[HughBeaumont]

165. I must have been out those days . . . a rarity.

I imagine it was sit-back-and-scarf-popcorn-worthy though!

Looking back, I should have included plane-seat recliners . . . .

[simpify]

112. Snatching someones property is robbery

I would have defended myself using every possible option including lethal force on this violent thief posing as a hero.

[KittyWampus]

119. lethal force? OMG! You'd escalate this to DEATH SENTENCE! This thread is now classic.

[backscatter712]

186. YEAH! MURICA FUCK YEAH! STAND YOUR GROUND!!! n/t

[stevenleser]

113. Everyone who goes to a movie or theatre knows the rules by the time they own a phone

I have no sympathy for anyone entitled enough to believe that those rules that are spoken or displayed in advance of each and every performance or screening are not for them.

This guy will no doubt be regarded as a hero here in NYC and if the woman is dumb enough to press charges, the jury will promptly nullify and vote not guilty.

I dont think she will fare as well with the assault charge if he goes forward with that. I advise her to drop her charges.

[Dash87]

114. Riveting tale, champ.

1000 cookies for him.

[randome]

115. I could see grabbing the phone but not throwing it. He should have taken it to management.

Or he should have simply gone to management in the first place.

He reacted poorly.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[BuelahWitch]

159. He did go to management, they did nothing. n/t

[Gidney N Cloyd]

121. I know we shouldn't behave like Williamson but part of me wishes more cellholes factored it in.

[Xithras]

124. When my daughter was performing with a local troupe...

... they had a standing and rigorously enforced anti-callphone policy. Once the cellphone warning was issued, any hint of cellphone usage during the performance led to immediate ejection. No warnings, no exceptions, no refunds. The ushers at the back of the theatre had sharp eyes too, and usually spotted them before anyone could even complain.

They typically ejected at least two people EVERY PERFORMANCE. A few idiots would try to make a scene (at which point the plays would stop and everyone on stage would start mocking the idiot with the phone to shame them out of the room), but most people just sheepishly left after realizing they'd been caught.

If all theatres operated this way, patrons wouldn't NEED to confront each other like this. I place the blame 100% on the theatre operators.

[cynatnite]

127. I think I probably would have left and asked for my money back...

There is no sense acting like that. She wasn't right either and the management should have insisted she stopped using her phone. If she didn't, she should have been asked to leave.

Neither party was right, IMO.

[joeybee12]

128. Good for him...rudeness like that should be dealt with appropriately...

And it was.

[GiaGiovanni]

149. Physical aggression is overkill here. He was lucky he wasn't arrested.

Don't get me wrong: I would feel like smashing that cell phone too. But you never know what people will do when you display that kind of aggression. He could have found himself facing charges, and with post 9/11 policing methods, the man could have found himself tasered, handcuffed, and dragged off to a jail cell.

The man's real beef is with the theater, whose employees refused to admonish the women about their cell phone use and, if necessary, escort them out. If I were in his position, I would have asked for my money back since I could not enjoy the show. I would also make sure they got a few nasty internet reviews (on sites like Yelp). Certainly, the man could have also called the corporate office and demanded that the theater enforce its no cell phone policy.

[joeybee12]

167. Maybe he wanted to enjoy the show? Why should he have been the one

to have to leave?

He did go overboard blocking her, but someone else might have slugged her, and she should be grateful for that.

[GiaGiovanni]

171. Because that is what mature adults do, especially if they wanted to avoid assault charges

Sometimes, what seems fair is not what happens in life. Sometimes, we are forced to do a quick calculation: do we want to fight to win at all costs or do we want to retreat and live to fight another day?

Think of it this way. You're at an arcade with some friends. Two guys who are bigger and tougher than you are decide they want to use your arcade machine. Do you and your friends take them on, possibly get badly hurt or arrested? Or do you leave and let them have the machine? The first option would make you feel more pride and it would feel more "fair", like you were fighting for justice. On the other hand, you might end up with a broken jaw, damaged internal organs, or, if the police are called, you could end up with an arrest for assault. Let's say you have a job you want to keep, but the job requires you to not have an arrest on your record. Is it worth it to lose your job to make things feel fair?

Sometimes in life, we have to bend. We have to think of the long term ramifications, even when every cell in our body wants to demand justice and clobber the unjust. If the situation is dire enough or the cause important enough, we might take that kind of risk. But fighting over a theatrical show? You don't want to die on that hill. Let it go.

As far as the woman being grateful that she was physically approached and had her cell phone grabbed out of her hand and smashed to the ground, I think you're stretching it. No one would have taken the risk of slugging her over a cell phone. The legal costs of defending yourself alone make such an action not worth it. You don't die on a stupid hill. You wait until something is truly worth the risk of arrest.

[joeybee12]

174. Oh boy are you so far off base on this...amazing...

I bet you're yelling on your cell phone right now.

No, you don't have to just take it, you don't have to put up with people's rudeness...you clearly think anonoying other people is your God-give right...it's not, and if someone was being as rude as that woman was, she needed to be put in her place...end of discussion, you are wrong, wrong, wrong.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

130. Should have gone to Alamo Drafthouse

[npk]

132. WOW just WOW

I can't believe so many people in this thread are so concerned about a woman's phone possibly being damaged. Talk about being materialistic.

[RudynJack]

140. +1

If the OP had merely said "a Republican woman"... everyone would be applauding his actions. But regardless of her politics, she deserved what she got. If you go out in public, there are certain rules. Not strenuous ones. Learn them, live by them, and nobody will grab your phone and throw it away.

[smirkymonkey]

147. +1000

[GiaGiovanni]

152. It's not about the phone. It's about the violent outburst. Not smart these days.

The man could easily have found himself tased, handcuffed, and arrested, if the cell phone users had called the police. Don't get me wrong: cell phones are profoundly irritating and all of us have fantasized about feeding some rude user his cell phone for lunch. But actually doing something physically aggressive is not smart, especially now that the police overreact. We see stories all the time about domestic disputes in which the police taser everyone involved or shoot at one of the people involved over some small infraction. The guy in the story is really taking a huge risk, and over something very small.

[npk]

155. While I don't condone what the man did...

The lady with the phone was asked several times to turn off her phone, and according to the article she became very rude and basically told the man to f-off. The lady should have put her phone away, but she kept on talking on it anyway. The manager refused to do anything about it and it sounds like the man became frustrated and threw the phone to the side. The man could have handled the situation better, but he was being ignored by every other remedy that was available to him. I don't believe the woman was actually assaulted. Yes having a phone taken from you can be more than a little jarring, probably more humiliating than anything else. but it sounds like this lady kept on pushing this man further and further, and he reacted. They are equally to blame, but the concern about her phone being damaged is just silly.

[GiaGiovanni]

160. When you escalate from verbal argument to physical action, you don't know how it will be interpreted

Your personal interpretation ("a little jarring," "more humiliating than anything else&quot is certainly a possible one, but there are others possible, including the interpretation of the man's actions as a physical threat. And the police, if they had been called, would have had to respond to the man's actual crime (grabbing and damaging someone else's property) as well as to the perceived crime of physically threat, if the women had claimed this. Remember, talking on your cell phone is not a crime. Taking someone's property, damaging it, and acting in a physically threatening manner is. The man here was in the wrong legally and was more than a little foolish.

Your argument defending the man is that the woman verbally bothered him. She "pushed him" verbally by not getting off her cell phone and telling him that she didn't have to. This behavior is definitely rude, presumptuous, and narcissistic. It's bound to cause irritation, frustration, and rage. It's what we call "pushing your buttons." Some people are amazingly talented at pushing your buttons. However, the right behavior in this situation is to walk away, to disengage. If you allow it to escalate, you could be the one in trouble.

In the case of the theater-goer, his real issue was not with the cell phone user but with the theater. The theater clearly had a "no cell phone" policy, but they were not willing to enforce it. That is the crux of the problem. The theater is taking your money for a product, but if they don't enforce their rules, you can't enjoy their product. It was the theater that was remiss in its duties. The theater manager should have spoken to the woman, and if that didn't work, the security guard should have escorted the woman out. If the woman had refused to leave, the police should have been called.

Unfortunately, the theater staff did nothing. At that point, the man should have demanded his money back and taken his girlfriend somewhere else. If he couldn't get his money back, they should have left anyway, and he should have called the theater's corporate office in the morning to get satisfaction. And in the days of the internet, there is nothing to prevent him from leaving a scathing review on Yelp or some other site. All of these actions would have been legal and appropriate.

He may get lucky this time and the woman won't file charges. But there will come a time when he tries this kind of thing again, and, then, he might not be so lucky. If you overreact physically, it will come back to bite you eventually. It's only a matter of time.

[ecstatic]

188. Many phones cost over $600. The woman was rude, but surely

there had to be another way. Why didn't management assign them new seats?

[Buns_of_Fire]

133. Absolutely uncalled for on his part.

Especially now that small, hand-held tasers are readily available on the Internet. (They work in the 10-Items-or-Less line at the supermarket, too!)

No, I'm just kidding. I'm more the sneaky type who'd use a portable cell-phone jammer with a range of about 100 feet (of which plans and even complete units are also readily available on the Internet, but I won't tell anyone where, since they're illegal!).

[Donald Ian Rankin]

137. Sounds like she has a pretty unshakeable case against him. N.T.

[Matariki]

141. What's with the sexist drivel when he describes the women?

"The main offenders were two parties of women of a certain age, the sad sort with too much makeup and too-high heels, and insufficient attention span for following a two-hour musical."

What does their age have to do with any of this? Or their makeup and shoes? Why does he call them 'sad', because he doesn't find them attractive or thinks 'a certain age' is 'sad'? What an asshole. What a total loser asshole.

[PeaceNikki]

144. He's a bloviating conservative asshole.

OK, I will report myself to the Department of Redundancy Department now.

[npk]

156. I agree he most likely is a conservative, but...

The lady with the phone played as much of a role in instigating the situation as the National Review writer.

Then again maybe he deserved to be slapped. I don't know anymore. I just know that some people can be rude when they are talking on the phone during a play, movie, musical, or what have you.

[GiaGiovanni]

148. Cell phones are insanely annoying, but those women could have filed criminal charges

If this guy uses physical aggression to solve disputes, he will eventually either be arrested or bite off a lot more than he planned on chewing.

The manager of the theater was, of course, at fault. Those cell phone users needed to be escorted out of the theater by security. If they refused to leave, the police should have been called.

[Kurska]

151. Good on him, I wouldn't do the same but good on him. n/t

[Warpy]

154. This is what happens

when management can't be bothered to do their jobs. Either the phone addict should have been escorted out or her phone should have been confiscated and held at the ticket office for her to pick up on her way home.

Williamson will probably have to buy her a new phone if she makes good on her threats.

And I hope people boycott that theater until they get a few managers who will stand up to cell phone clods who ignore the whole world in favor of irritating everybody close by with their fucking phones.

[alp227]

157. My thoughts...

1. Does that woman not understand it is fuckin' ANNOYING to use mobile device during live theater, movie presentation, speech, or basically any presentation type of event?

2. Williamson's vigilantism is questionable but should be anticipated for breaking the rules of the real world. But I think Williamson handled this situation in an immature, Jerry Springer Show level.

[customerserviceguy]

158. In my mind, he's a hero

Too many people are addicted to their electronic toys. Just to make it good and clear, I usually pack around TWO smartphones. But both of them have the power absolutely turned off when I'm in the cinema or attending live theatre. Hell, I'll mute the damned ringers in any situation (work, restaurant, grocery shopping) when I'm "in public" in a place where people don't normally want to see someone gabbing away on a cellphone.

If I'm on this guy's jury, not only will I work feverishly to acquit him, I would shake his hand after the trial in full view of news cameras.

[cliffordu]

161. This was during a LIVE theatrical performance?

If I'd been onstage, I'd have gone into the audience and taken it back onstage and killed it with my heel right there.

Some fucking people don't deserve what really is a labor of love.

[NuttyFluffers]

163. world needs more faraday shields.

and

[XVI_Eyes]

164. Hero my ass.

He sounds like a dick.

I doubt he would have "heroically" stolen and destroyed that phone if another man had been holding it.

Bully.

[Douglas Carpenter]

166. although a natural strong opponent of the death penalty - I do believe an exception should be made

ONLY for crimes of genocide and for using the cell phone during theatrical performances

[rucky]

169. This is a story of asshole vs. asshole.

[hamsterjill]

175. I would probably have stood up and clapped.

I despise situations where one person intrudes on everyone else. It's not about "putting up" with it either because it's become so commonplace that other people just expect to have to "put up" with it. It's time people start standing up for what they've paid to enjoy.

It's also about common courtesy on the part of the phone user. When Williamson asked the women to stop using her phone, she should have been kind enough to either stop or go out into the lobby. She was in a situation where the use of a cell phone would normally not be tolerated. SHE was the problem.

The attitude that *I* am more important is rampant. Why would someone like this woman go to a theater and not expect to have the decency to act appropriately?

[sibelian]

178. Excellent bad behaviour.

I am, somewhat regrettably, delighted.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

179. "Hero" is a huge stretch.

Heroes do things classified as heroic.


This wasn't heroic in any way.

Did he live out the fantasy that some people have when they see people using cellphones in inappropriate places? Absolutely.

But hero? Nope. Not in the least.

[backscatter712]

187. ALL HAIL HIS FAMOUSLY FELINE AGILITY!!!

[WinkyDink]

190. Sorry, but this guy was an equal moron and now criminal! He should've notified ushers//Security.