Infants in Movie Theaters
Am I the only person who finds it incredibly rude for people to bring infants into movie theaters? The baby is not going to watch the damn movie, and is more than likely to cry, So why the hell would you bring it in there with you? That's pretty much saying you WANT to ruin the movie for the other people who are paying good money to see it. There shoudl definately be a rule in place stating that you cannot bring children under a certain age in there. Is it normal that I hate people who bring their babies into movie theaters and expect them not to cry?
Let's start a revolution and take back out right to watch the newest "Shrek" movie!!
(Runs out door, flailing arms and carrying flag) "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
You can afford to see a movie and pay for the travel and food costs but not for a babysitter?! How bizarre!
All they want is to be fed, cleaned up and given some lovin'. Babies don't want to go to movies!
So it stands to reason that they should be allowed :)
Enough said.
If I pay $7.75 to go see Superman, I expect to be able to get away from my life for 2 hours and lose myself in the movie experience. That's what the movies are all about! Great storytelling, or fantastic worlds to let the world, your job, and everything else melt away, if only for a little bit.
Little things like a hot theater, bad speaker placement, lousy projection, and even uncomfortable seating can jar you away from that experience and bring you back to "reality". A screaming child, even if only for a minute while mommy or daddy have to take them out for a little bit (only to bring them back in to do it over again), can completely ruin the experience for everyone in the theater.
How self centered do you have to be to shove everyone elses experience aside so you can go see a movie yourself? Can't find a baby sitter? Tough. That's one of thousands of sacrifices you'll make, and you should happily make for your children. Want to see a movie? Rent one. When baby cries there's a great button labeled "pause" just for you.
To every mother and father that thinks it's fine to bring little one into the theater, think about your baby's hearing too. I calibrate and design home theater systems, and know that some reference levels I set for a customer's theater for THX is 105 decibels. In real theaters it can peak at 112 decibels. That's equal to being right next to a jackhammer. OSHA won't even allow hardened construction workers to be exposed to 2 decibels below that for more than 30 minutes. You're not only ruining everyone elses' experience by being selfish, you're sacrificing your baby's hearing.
And do you think the majority of parents are considerate, well the reality is, they are not, and what is so selfish about wanting a time where adults can go out and enjoy a movie without being around other peoples crying babies? That is why we hired a baby sitter in the first place, to get away from our children for a while, and what do we get in return for planning our time and arranging a sitter? We get to pay to hear your child cry because you are too inconsiderate to do the same.
MOST OF THE PARENTS THAT ARE CONSIDERATE GET A BABY SITTER AND THEN GO TO THE MOVIES. The ones that bring the whole family the baby in the stroller their 2 year old and their 5 year old DO NOT consider the other 300 or so people in the theatre and just a small distraction, maybe a ten to 20 seconds crying session does not bother the parents, but it does change the whole mood of the theatre and causes to movie to be less enjoyable. I really don't understand "The considerate parent" that takes the child out of the seat but remains in the theatre in the isle so she/he can keep watching the movie and doesn't understand that sound travels and we can still hear the baby even though we can't see the baby, its just amazing.
The theatre is NOT a baby sitter and if you want to spend some quality time with them only a moron would think a theatre is a good place.
A theater is not a good place for interaction between a parent and a small child. Here are a few suggestions if you can't think of any besides a graphically violent movie. You did go to the movies for them right? It wasn't just because didn't think to get a baby sitter? Right?
Some quality common sense things to do with children
1. The zoo
2. Have the child help you read a book.
3. Watch a video at home together where they can get up to go to the bathroom.
4. Play a game with them.
5. Play make believe (a favorite among 5 and under).
Do you see what I am trying to say? IT IS INTERACTION not sitting in a dark place without talking to them for two hours.
Please leave the children at home it is better for the children and the adults