Comments on: “Man shoots talker at movies”

By: Lucas

Lucas — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:37:17 +0000

I’m pretty sure Ciallela hit the arm on purpose, he just got out of the Army like 3 months ago. Crazy legal guys!

By: JohnRJ08

JohnRJ08 — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:21:43 +0000

To “Laughing”:
You need to walk yourself through the logic what you’ve just said– that you’re more worried by people who don’t appreciate the sarcasm here than you are by a guy who shoots someone for talking in a theater. Sounds to me like you’ve seen a few too many movies and haven’t learned anything from real life. There’s nothing funny about someone being shot in a theater for talking to his family. Nothing. Maybe Leno or Letterman could find some humor in it, but they would probably go the other way and make fun of the shooter. Some people here are implying that the talker got what he deserved. A few aren’t even subtle about it. The irony is, these are probably the same kind of people who do most of the talking during a movie. It’s all part of being self-absorbed. You sound like you’re a member of that club.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:08:00 +0000

I don’t know what they were talking about that was so important that it couldn’t wait, and if was that important they should have taken it outside. Whatever happened to common courtesy and respect? I saw 3 or 4 folks at the movies the other day that couldn’t put down their cell phones, texting I would guess. If it was my theater they would have been tossed out right along with the talkers BEFORE somebody shot them.
I agree with John (comment 3), demand your money back from the manager. Btw John, I don’t know the laws in PA. Here in NM anyone who is not a convicted felon can get a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

By: Gen Delivery

Gen Delivery — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:55:59 +0000

Maybe the movie chains will make a “don’t talk during the movie” commercial with some guy mowing down yakkers, then sitting down and enjoying the flick in peace. No intro needed, no narration…at the end, just flash up on the screen: “SHUT UP”.

I’ll bet that particular family (and anyone else in that theater) keeps their traps shut from now on.

You ask nicely, you hint, you get the manager (who shrugs and does nothing), you move to another seat, but can still hear them yapping.

True, shooting is a bit harsh, but exactly what will it take to make people understand that they are not at home and their admission ticket does not give them the right to ruin anyone else’s cinematic experience?

By: Chosen One

Chosen One — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:09:10 +0000

In all seriousness, though, confronting anyone else in a public place is crossing a boundary that takes some careful thinking through to do it right.

We are essentially all “equal” unless there are those around us hired to be “monitors” of others, whether it is a manager, cop, velvet rope guy, et. al.

First of all, the talking guy wasn’t affecting the entire audience; likely only 15-20 persons around him. Most movies are rather loud, so unless the guy was shouting at the screen, or interacting with the characters, as some groups do, he wasn’t affecting many theatergoers.

With that said, the shooter was therefore multiplying the nuisance by vocalizing his own words, whether to “help” the audience, or not. Since this was a confrontation, it was bound to increase the original nuisance, whereas ignoring the man would have likely led to an eventual ceasing.

To my point, the shooter, by not ignoring the talker, gave the entire audience the very nuisance he desired to quell. He crossed a boundary he was not given social permission to cross; in these situations, an usher or manager was “hired” person to speak to the talker. How many times do we wish there was a “manager” to deal with a situation we cannot directly address ourselves? A long cashier’s line, for example.

If the shooter wanted to help the talker remain quiet, there was probably a “nice” way to do it. His tone, or a whisper, may have been persuasive enough to not have an argument ensue.

But for my money, I would rather the shooter ignore the talker, and wait it out. Instead, the whole thing became a police situation and ruined the movie far beyond what 15-20 people experienced as a little talking.

In fact, I never knew the guy was talking at all. I was sitting twenty rows away, behind some six-footer with a nacho stench that made talking pale in comparison.

By: Chosen One

Chosen One — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:41:32 +0000

Finally: why are theaters open Christmas Day? Why is anything open Christmas Day? Greedy corporations. Send your employees home!

Because us Jews need some entertainment after Chinese food.

By: MalSnay

MalSnay — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:29:34 +0000

Redman: but Christmas isn’t entirely a Christian holiday anymore. I celebrate it, and I’m an atheist.

By: redplanet

redplanet — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:02:17 +0000

Theaters are open for the same reason any business is open: so people can go there to purchase something, in this case a movie. As jmc said not everyone celebrates xmas. In fact we should have the post office open on that day because closing the govt down to celebrate a Christian day is wrong in so many ways. And if the United Sates wasn’t so delusional as to think all citizens are part of a militia, we could go to the movies without getting shot for talking and Toys ‘R Us for buying toys and not fighting stray bullets from morons who shop with loaded guns.

By: Jefe

Jefe — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 06:51:56 +0000

I seriously am sickened by any of you that applaud shooting someone for ANYTHING. What if this was your Dad that got shot? Any response here that condones this ridiculous act is nearly as bad as this idiot. Put yourself in the shoes of being shot for anything other than your own self protection. I seriously can’t believe there are so many positive responses here. What has happened to our morals?

Even if someone was running around screaming and even throwing popcorn at everybody in the theater…would that really justify shooting that person?? No way No way No way.

By: dannyc

dannyc — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 06:06:14 +0000

GOOD JOB! someone had to do it.