Tard bounced out of theater for laughing too loud

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: jdini76

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: skace

The family sat in the wheelchair section provided by the theater. Anthony was having a good time, said his mom, Gina Pratti. "He was laughing, but he really wasn't much louder than any of the other kids," she said.

Heres the shens, of course the mom is going to say he wasn't laughing any louder than the other kids. Because shes his damn mom. The real question is exactly how loud was this kid laughing. He could have been screaming. I'd rather have some anonymous feedback from other people in the theater.

Dosen't matter at this point.

They were attending an early mat so there were most likely very few people there. It would have been a much better idea to offer passes to any patrons that complained afterwards in this case.

Having worked at a movie theater, you'd be supprised how an 'early' film can fill up if it's popular at your theater. I'd be willing to wager that the movie was well more than 1/2 full, meaning most of the top part of the theater would have been full up, so people would have to start spilling down the the lower level near the handicapped chairs.

The manager probably didn't handle it too well, but it's their job to make the majority of the patrons happy, even if it means being a d!ck to some others. He did the right thing, but probably not very polietly. If someone in your group is making a whole bunch of ruckus at a movie theater that has a decent management crew, you're going to get kicked out. At least this guy gave them a refund.

And I love how the article initially said something to the effect "I've talked to some attorneys, and I don't think I have any legal recourse". No sh!t sherlock, it's a private buisness, they have the right to refuse service to whoever they want for whatever reason. You have no legal recourse for getting kicked out of a movie theater.

And then she goes on to say "I really only went into this wanting an appology", after she found out she couldn't sue them.

She didn't talk to the right attorney... Because of the child's autism and CP, he has special priviledges under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The are required to make "Reasonable Accomodations". The ADA is the only reason that theatres put in wheelchair spots in the first place. They'd rather be able to sell those seats to anyone, but instead most of the time they and the ones right next to them are empty. Whether or not the case would have won if it went to trial is meaningless. The cinema would have lost in the court of opinion, and probably would have settled it to make it go away.

I don't want to sound insensitive, but You are right that the child had a right to be there, but it doesn't give him the right to "disturb" the other customers. It all depends on how loud he actually was. also was he "laughing" during parts that weren't construed as "funny"?

edit: sp.

Some people are uncomfortable around disabled people and would not be above reporting one as being more loud or annoying than everyone else just to get them removed, regardless of whether or not they were actually creating a greater disturbance. Sad, but true.

 

[xarmian]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
If he was causing a distrubance to the other people in the crowd then yes, they did the right thing by refunding their money and asking them to leave. I wish my theater would do the same to idiots who bring young kids and babies to movies.

Now on the issue if he (the manager) did it with tact is another story.

As a theater manager myself, I read the many comments customers leave, and have witnessed extreme exaggeration. Whether I can say the same is the case in this story, we will probably never know, however humans exaggerate, it's natural, and this story has signs of it.

On a side note, this is a difficult situation from a manager's perspective. Obviously people in the theater were complaining or he wouldn't have been in there to begin with. "Refund the theater, or refund the family?" is what he's thinking. I wouldn't have wanted to deal with this one. Plus, from experience, everyone gets uptight when disability is involved.

However I'm sure the manager is also at fault, he probably could have handled this a little better.

What should Loew's do? If I were a corporate goon, I would invite the family back to a private showing of their choice (any film in the theater at the time), give them a theater for 2 hours and let them bring whomever they wish, and their choice of concessions. It would cost Loew's very little, and provide good publicity. Free passes just rub the wound, considering they were kicked out in the first place

 

[xarmian]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: labgeek
Story has been updated link to update

I'm sorry that your kid is suffering from cerebral palsy and autism, but just because he is, that doesn't mean you have to make everyone else pay for your genetic mistake you bitter shell of what used to be a woman.

Pretty lame dude. She just wanted an apology. It was 1pm. The manager should have known to handle it better than that.

She didn't just want an apology. No one just wants an apology. She says this *after* the reaction has excalated. She wouldn't have contacted the media if she wanted an apology.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: xarmian

Originally posted by: sourceninja
If he was causing a distrubance to the other people in the crowd then yes, they did the right thing by refunding their money and asking them to leave. I wish my theater would do the same to idiots who bring young kids and babies to movies.

Now on the issue if he (the manager) did it with tact is another story.

As a theater manager myself, I read the many comments customers leave, and have witnessed extreme exaggeration. Whether I can say the same is the case in this story, we will probably never know, however humans exaggerate, it's natural, and this story has signs of it.

On a side note, this is a difficult situation from a manager's perspective. Obviously people in the theater were complaining or he wouldn't have been in there to begin with. "Refund the theater, or refund the family?" is what he's thinking. I wouldn't have wanted to deal with this one. Plus, from experience, everyone gets uptight when disability is involved.

However I'm sure the manager is also at fault, he probably could have handled this a little better.

What should Loew's do? If I were a corporate goon, I would invite the family back to a private showing of their choice (any film in the theater at the time), give them a theater for 2 hours and let them bring whomever they wish, and their choice of concessions. It would cost Loew's very little, and provide good publicity. Free passes just rub the wound, considering they were kicked out in the first place

The manager should have been kissing major @ss if he did have to ask them to leave. I've seen it done and had to do it myself on occasion.

Giving free passes in addition to a refund at the time of the incident defuses 9 out of 10 people.

 

[jpeyton]

Let's be reasonable here. If the manager was called to the situation, the child must have been laughing extraordinarily loud or too much altogether, disturbing other moviegoers. I'm sorry, but I don't care if you're disabled or not; other patrons who paid good money to see the movie undisturbed have as much right as a disabled person to enjoy the movie.

Of course, the stupid fcking media will blow this out of proportion.

The mom is an idiot. Quiet your child down next time, or rent a movie.

 

[AMDZen]

Originally posted by: yllus
I, for one, found the thread title absolutely hilarious after reading the article.

Same here. I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
I don't care if he were disabled or not - if he were irritating other paying customers, then I'm sorry, it's not any different than someone bringing in a baby that screams through the whole movie.

I couldn't agree more.

Lady needs to learn that you can't disrupt a movie theater - no exceptions. The theater was doing its job. Nothing to see here but PC gone bonkers.

 

[batmang]

thats fvcking bullsh1t. id beat that managers ass and instruct my son to laugh at the beating, as loud as possible.

 

[BrokenVisage]

I actually like it when there's someone laughing loud, but only during funny scenes of course. I find myself laughing more at his/her laughs which just amplifies my viewing experience.

 

[Kelemvor]

Page 2 of Article:

Middletown - Young Anthony Pratti just wanted to see a movie, but today, his story has turned into a kind of firestorm.
The happy 7-year-old, who spends much of his time in a wheelchair dealing
with cerebral palsy and autism, was ejected from the Loews Cineplex theaters in the Galleria at Crystal Run Sunday.
As Anthony was busy laughing and having a good time watching the film "March of the Penguins," a theater manager told his shocked family Anthony was laughing too loud, and that he had to get out.
Anthony's story, which made the cover of today's Times Herald-Record, has sparked a tsunami of supportive phone calls, Internet chat room postings and e-mails from around the region and the nation, along with a minor media frenzy.
Gina Pratti, Anthony's mother, spent most of today chasing hordes of television reporters off her front lawn.
At least seven New York City television stations, plus MSNBC, descended on Pratti seeking interviews. The story was carried on radio stations around the tri-state region, and was even picked up by the Drudge Report Web site.
" My phone hasn't stopped ringing," Pratti said.
For its part, Loews corporate office has apologized to Pratti for what happened to Anthony, and says it's taking steps to ensure it won't happen again.
"We may not have exercised the best sensitivity in handling this situation," said John McCauley, senior vice president of marketing for Loews Cineplex Entertainment.
McCauley said the company would offer more training to employees in how to better deal with touchy situations.
"We welcome the Pratti family back to our theaters, and we hope they'll give us a second chance," McCauley added.
Anthony's story prompted a deluge of messages of solidarity, sympathy and support - and some generous offers.
Location of the theater

Keith Lipsey, a Washingtonville police officer and martial arts teacher who works with autistic children, said he was incensed by Anthony's story.
He said he's trying to arrange a special night out at the Destina Theaters in New Windsor for Anthony, his family, friends.
"We should see who can laugh the loudest," Lipsey said. "I'll have bunch of cops around them, I'll bring the whole autistic society in. We'll make it a laughing matter in a positive sense."
Another woman offered to start a petition drive, and more than one person offered to boycott Loews theaters in response. Mark Zurlo, president of Middletown Discount Cinemas, said Loews should have known better, and that the Prattis are welcome to come to his theater anytime as his guest.
"It's a shame that happened," Zurlo said. "It makes us all look bad. There are ways to handle situations - that was not the way to handle it."
Pratti said her family is very, very grateful to everyone for the support.
She said she didn't go into this wanting anything but an apology. "I thought this was just a simple thing, but obviously it's touched a nerve for a lot of people," Pratti said.

 

[spidey07]

"She said she didn't go into this wanting anything but an apology. "I thought this was just a simple thing, but obviously it's touched a nerve for a lot of people," Pratti said."

Pay attention to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

She wanted much more than an apology, she wanted attention. We have a name for that.

 

[Rebasxer]

The mom seems like one of those women who found out early that the kid would be disabled, choose not to have an abortion, than bitches about the kid constantly.

 

[reverend boltron]

Man, that is such BS, seriously. My girlfriend leads activities for severely handicapped people, i.e. people like the kid in this story, and they get to go on "outings" to places like theaters and zoo's and other places that are nice and fun to go to. These people don't have a lot of things to look forward to, ya know. They don't see the world in the same way we do, and they can't experience things in the same way we can. When that kid went to his third movie he was probably having the time of his life. For that guy to kick him out because he was laughing too loud is disgusting. Seriously it makes me so pissed off. I have gone to visit my girlfriend at work,and came by to volunteer and when those kids laugh its one of the coolest things in the world. They don't do it all the time, and when they do its awesome because a lot of them can get very depressed.

GRRRR I'm angry now

 

[SupaDupaPan]

Originally posted by: spidey07
"She said she didn't go into this wanting anything but an apology. "I thought this was just a simple thing, but obviously it's touched a nerve for a lot of people," Pratti said."

Pay attention to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

She wanted much more than an apology, she wanted attention. We have a name for that.

A lot of times, an apology isn't given until a lot of attention has been drawn to that when it comes to coporations / companies. A lot of them, won't admit they're wrong until it starts to hurt their sales or make them look bad.

"The squeeky wheel gets the grease."

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: Rebasxer
The mom seems like one of those women who found out early that the kid would be disabled, choose not to have an abortion, than bitches about the kid constantly.

Rather like your mother then.

 

[DribbleDrive]

Let me get this straight. A mom won't take responsibility for her child acting up in a movie theater.

I'm betting the guys from murderball are going to support the movie theater on this one.

From what I've seen many disabled people want to be treated as equals. They abhor the fact that people feel sorry for them or extend special treatment just because they are in a chair.

This mother seems to think different. She's victimizing her child, where she was the one who failed to be a 'parent'.

Hopefully theater owners will give their managers camcorders or other surveillance devices to document these cases as well as pirating. Seems it would fit in with corporate due dilligence to shareholders and the film industry.

 

[reverend boltron]

Originally posted by: DribbleDrive
Let me get this straight. A mom won't take responsibility for her child acting up in a movie theater.

I'm betting the guys from murderball are going to support the movie theater on this one.

From what I've seen many disabled people want to be treated as equals. They abhor the fact that people feel sorry for them or extend special treatment just because they are in a chair.

This mother seems to think different. She's victimizing her child, where she was the one who failed to be a 'parent'.

Hopefully theater owners will give their managers camcorders or other surveillance devices to document these cases as well as pirating. Seems it would fit in with corporate due dilligence to shareholders and the film industry.

Are you even being serious? The kid has cerbral palsy and autism. He is also 7 years old. What the hell is the matter with you?

If I were that mother I would also victimize my child, because my child was a victim. Seriously. She wasn't failing to be a parent at all. She was doing a great job of being a parent. She was letting her child laugh and enjoy himself. Then when someone came in to tell them that he was being too loud they offered to try and quiet him down to remedy the problem. That is a great thing for her to do. I am so sad to see that you think that way.

 

[rsd]

From the posts in this thread, there are MANY people here who are several notches below the child in question in terms of mental ability...not to say I'm surprised though.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: junkerman123

Originally posted by: rsd
I don't know who is dumber, the OP (and his title) or the guy that kicked the poor kid out. I'll call it even.

I would imagine the kid is the dumbest.

Now that's just mean. Funny, but mean. :|

Junkerman and the OP are both real winners.

 

[BooGiMaN]

for everyone saying the manager is at fault and that they would have caused a greater scene to protect their kids rights...how is this any different than someone answering the phone during a movie and speaking loudly?


as far as i know the movie is a documentary about penguins..if the kid, disabled or not is laughing his ass off during the movie and no one else in the theater is, then he is not letting the rest of the audience enjoy the movie they paid money to see...what choice did the manager have if people started to complain....

would you have not complained if you could not enjoy the movie you paid money to see if a child is causing a disruption because he is disabled?

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: edro13
Wow!

You really need to look at it from the other people's point of view. Could you enjoy a movie with a "tard" laughing out loud at the top of his lungs after every time you saw a penguin?

I will agree with this. It's easy to make armchair judgement calls here against the theater owners, but I would imagine that if I was there watching the movie, I'd be really annoyed.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Originally posted by: edro13
Wow!

You really need to look at it from the other people's point of view. Could you enjoy a movie with a "tard" laughing out loud at the top of his lungs after every time you saw a penguin?

Paging sheepathon

 

[mindmaniac]

Originally posted by: edro13
Wow!

You really need to look at it from the other people's point of view. Could you enjoy a movie with a "tard" laughing out loud at the top of his lungs after every time you saw a penguin?

That's just great stuff, I think I'm laughing as hard as the tard.

 

[tikwanleap]

Originally posted by: xSkyDrAx

Originally posted by: edro13
Wow!

You really need to look at it from the other people's point of view. Could you enjoy a movie with a "tard" laughing out loud at the top of his lungs after every time you saw a penguin?

Paging sheepathon

lol.