Free Cinema Tickets - Discussion thread

Poochface

thefrenzexperiment wrote: »

Unbelievably selfish and typical of modern ignorance to be honest. For a start we're not talking about people arriving LATE, we're talking about people who often arrive in perfectly good time!! I've been at plenty of showings where there have only been pairs or singles seats left a good twenty minutes before the showing (Captain America last week and 8mm this week being just two examples) - are you saying that if a family of four arrives, perhaps with young children, then they should be split up rather than you or your ilk getting off your selfish !!!!!! and moving up to utilise your "special" space you left so you don't have to be too close to anyone else??? Pathetic.

I'm utterly gobsmacked by that attitude.

To play the Devil's Advocate, your attitude is equally as selfish expecting the whole cinema to revolve round you. Why should you automatically assume that people should move so that your family of four can sit together? You well know that it's first come first served at previews.

You don't have any right to expect people to move and if they don't, to say they have a selfish attitude. It's a matter of choice surely!

Poochface

thefrenzexperiment wrote: »

I think perhaps you didn't read a post or are confused? The point was that people HAVE been turned away from such screenings - that was what the posts were saying? People were also turned away from Gnomeo and Juliet in Mansfield a while back when there were dozens of seats left.

And while some cinema staff do do what you describe, many don't, and therefore it is left to the goodwill of people attending, and when you're dealing with people who have the selfish attitude of the two posters on the previous page, then there will be problems fitting everyone in.

Maybe it is you who didn't read the post or are confused. I said I have never known this to happen. NOT that it doesn't happen!

thefrenzexperiment

Poochface wrote: »

Maybe it is you who didn't read the post or are confused. I said I have never known this to happen. NOT that it doesn't happen!

No, you missed the point the point again - you said "Cinema staff are quite capable etc." when clearly in many places they are NOT.

thefrenzexperiment

Poochface wrote: »

To play the Devil's Advocate, your attitude is equally as selfish expecting the whole cinema to revolve round you. Why should you automatically assume that people should move so that your family of four can sit together? You well know that it's first come first served at previews.

You don't have any right to expect people to move and if they don't, to say they have a selfish attitude. It's a matter of choice surely!

You really do have a major problem with reading posts properly don't you??? Where did I say anything about "my" family?? I was talking about other people's families, but then I always think of others first - I guess it's the way I was brought up.

And yes, you're absolutely right - it IS a matter of choice, in exactly the same way that manners in general and thinking about others is a matter of choice, but it's the choice I hope most people would make.

:beer:

thefrenzexperiment

Poochface wrote: »

Why should you automatically assume that people should move so that your family of four can sit together?

I also never said anything about ASSUMING! It's merely a hope of course, and a pretty vain one by the sound of things given the selfishness of some on here.

It's perfectly possible for families of four, six etc. and couples etc. ALL to sit with each other most of the time - it just requires a little cooperation and perhaps a little sideways movement one or two seats!

Really not too difficult!

:T

The_Old_Bag

I am surprised and shocked that peeps have been turned away from a screening - because staff have told them it is full...... and then find out it was not full at all. e.g Cardiff & Super 8.

I also do not understand why you blame those peeps who did get in the cinema for the fact that staff turn others away.

If I am sitting with my dd minding my own business with single and double and triple seats around us..... why am I selfish because the staff outside are turning people away?
I have never refused to move up, and as already commented, have usually taken the farthest possible seats available anyway.
If I see people frantically searching for seats and there is one nearby I attract their attention to point out available seats..... and I certainly am not the only one doing so.

When screenings are especially full I regularly see staff coming around with a light to try and spot the odd spare seat.
(Again, why they cannot have the light on before the film starts I don't know) I have even known peeps sitting on the steps before now, although I would have thought this contrevened H&S re numbers and fire regs.

Then again, if a family of 4 comes out of the screening and tells staff "its full".
Who is at fault if staff then turn away everyone else who turns up.
The staff who haven't checked?
The family who expect to sit together and refuse to consider splitting into 2 groups of 2.... and tell the staff it is full, when it isn't?
Or those sitting inside unaware that others are being turned away outside?

FWIW
1)Years ago I noticed that lots of cinemas do not have 'even' number of seats on either side of the aisle and wondered why they were designed this way. So if peeps go in 2's and 4's, and it is 'full', someone is going to have to split up!
2)If you have a large party, and are adamant you will not split the group up, should you not try to get there even earlier? When flying you either have to pre-book seats to sit together, or get there early so you can be allocated seats together.
Can you imagine people having been issued with boarding cards and seat numbers and then having them taken back and people being shuffled around to fit in with a family of 4 who arrives last and expects everyone else to be moved to accommodate their particular desires?
3)Some people arrive especially early and chose their seat with great care because they have special requirements.
This could be to sit in the premier seats or aisle seats because they have to have extra leg room due to Arthritis/Rheumatism, Knee replacements, mobility issues etc.
They do not necessarily have disabled blue badges, but just have to adapt and plan ahead.
Why should they be shunted up just because a latecomer wants to sit near their partner?

geordie_ben

thefrenzexperiment wrote: »

See above...

But why should I have to move from the seats I want just to let some family in who cant be bothered to turn up at a decent time to get the seats they want?

Plain and simple. If you want decent seats, or want to sit with your family/friends etc, then get there with decent time to spare.

Stop being rude, turning up just before the movie starts and expecting people to move to accommodate you.

N.B. The 'You' above is not pointed at anyone in general

geordie_ben

The_Old_Bag wrote: »

I am surprised and shocked that peeps have been turned away from a screening - because staff have told them it is full...... and then find out it was not full at all. e.g Cardiff & Super 8.

I also do not understand why you blame those peeps who did get in the cinema for the fact that staff turn others away.

If I am sitting with my dd minding my own business with single and double and triple seats around us..... why am I selfish because the staff outside are turning people away?
I have never refused to move up, and as already commented, have usually taken the farthest possible seats available anyway.
If I see people frantically searching for seats and there is one nearby I attract their attention to point out available seats..... and I certainly am not the only one doing so.

When screenings are especially full I regularly see staff coming around with a light to try and spot the odd spare seat.
(Again, why they cannot have the light on before the film starts I don't know) I have even known peeps sitting on the steps before now, although I would have thought this contrevened H&S re numbers and fire regs.

Then again, if a family of 4 comes out of the screening and tells staff "its full".
Who is at fault if staff then turn away everyone else who turns up.
The staff who haven't checked?
The family who expect to sit together and refuse to consider splitting into 2 groups of 2.... and tell the staff it is full, when it isn't?
Or those sitting inside unaware that others are being turned away outside?

FWIW
1)Years ago I noticed that lots of cinemas do not have 'even' number of seats on either side of the aisle and wondered why they were designed this way. So if peeps go in 2's and 4's, and it is 'full', someone is going to have to split up!
2)If you have a large party, and are adamant you will not split the group up, should you not try to get there even earlier? When flying you either have to pre-book seats to sit together, or get there early so you can be allocated seats together.
Can you imagine people having been issued with boarding cards and seat numbers and then having them taken back and people being shuffled around to fit in with a family of 4 who arrives last and expects everyone else to be moved to accommodate their particular desires?
3)Some people arrive especially early and chose their seat with great care because they have special requirements.
This could be to sit in the premier seats or aisle seats because they have to have extra leg room due to Arthritis/Rheumatism, Knee replacements, mobility issues etc.
They do not necessarily have disabled blue badges, but just have to adapt and plan ahead.
Why should they be shunted up just because a latecomer wants to sit near their partner?

I couldn't agree more!

Poochface

thefrenzexperiment wrote: »

You really do have a major problem with reading posts properly don't you??? Where did I say anything about "my" family?? I was talking about other people's families, but then I always think of others first - I guess it's the way I was brought up.

And yes, you're absolutely right - it IS a matter of choice, in exactly the same way that manners in general and thinking about others is a matter of choice, but it's the choice I hope most people would make.

:beer:

"You're family" was a generalisation. As I said I was playing Devil's Advocate. Next time I will say "one's family" . Better?

As for myself I have health problems and I'm also very short, so in one particular cinema I like to sit in one particular part so that I know I will be able to actually see the screen properly. There will be seats either side of me. Sometimes it will be four sometimes less. However, not everybody wants an even number of seats. There are often groups of three or five in my cinemas. (no I don't own them, I just frequent them).

Due to the transport I use I have little control over my time of arrival. I am often amongst the first to arrive but have also been one of the last.

When I am at the front of the queue, standing in pain, because I want to sit where I choose, do you know how angry it makes me to see able body people sprint past or run up the stairs whilst I'm waiting for the lift? Luckily I have friends who will run ahead and grab my place for me. So I'm sorry to be "selfish" but once in a position where I know I can see the film plus be able to shift in my seat when the pain is great, I won't be moving for anyone. And certainly not for people who arrive late (for whatever reason that might be).

I do think of others, for instance if not sitting on the back row and its a family film, I would never sit in front of a small child if I could help it. But I nearly always get the 6 footer sitting in front of me.

So yes, I agree that consideration should be employed but there are limits.

As for staff being capable. Just because some don't do what others do in some cinemas, doesn't mean they aren't capable. There could be reasons why they don't. Truculant cinema goers could be one. I'm not a mind reader.

thanos23

thefrenzexperiment wrote: »

Unbelievably selfish and typical of modern ignorance to be honest. For a start we're not talking about people arriving LATE, we're talking about people who often arrive in perfectly good time!! I've been at plenty of showings where there have only been pairs or singles seats left a good twenty minutes before the showing (Captain America last week and 8mm this week being just two examples) - are you saying that if a family of four arrives, perhaps with young children, then they should be split up rather than you or your ilk getting off your selfish !!!!!! and moving up to utilise your "special" space you left so you don't have to be too close to anyone else??? Pathetic.

I'm utterly gobsmacked by that attitude.

I think your response quite clearly shows who the selfish ignorant person is :rotfl:. Perhaps if you arrive for something and there's a long queue in front of you you also expect the people at the front to move out of the way for you and if they won't, accuse them of being 'unbelievably selfish and typical of modern ignorance'.

I also suggest you read posts properly, can you please demonstrate where I mentioned anything about people being 'LATE'?

If a family of four arrives then I agree it's awkward, but still feel that if sitting together is that important then they should have made more effort.

It's rather a moot point, but I actually sit at the end of a row as I have a bad knee and need the extra leg room afforded by the aisle, so I don't tend to leave a 'special ' place but even if I did, so what? If I arrive too late for an aisle seat then I'll sit anywhere available and suffer mild discomfort rather than being rude and expecting people to move. Anyway feel free to continue making assumptions about me and being thoroughly offensive.