Dear Jacquelyn,

I was at the movies with friends last weekend, and the couple behind us made loud noises unwrapping their candy and talking. Their voices were not loud whispers, but normal conversation voices. We looked back at them several times but they did not stop. We got up and moved. Should we have told them to be quiet instead of moving?

Dear Reader,

Moving to another seat in the theater was the appropriate action.

If glancing back at them did not work, then you did the right thing and changed seats.

It’s irritating when someone’s breaking movie theater etiquette, but you’re only adding to the overall disruption if you yell at them about it.

The best way to deal with rude people is to avoid them. Verbal confrontations only escalate the situation and could end up becoming serious.

Nothing irritates people more than listening to someone have a conversation while trying to watch a movie. It’s one thing to whisper to your friend but having a conversation at full volume is rude.

Another misstep is that some people think they are being polite switching over to text. They don’t realize their screen is still illuminating the theater and the vibrations get on people’s nerves. It’s disruptive and rude to everyone sitting next to or behind them.

This is a friendly reminder to please put the phone away. You’ll be free in about two hours.

If it’s an emergency, politely excuse yourself to the lobby and check your phone.

Snacks are part of the movie experience. It’s annoying that people are oblivious to the noises they are making.

The more well-mannered person understands the importance of courtesy and is mindful of the plastic around the snack, unwrapping it before the feature movie begins.

Many of us love going to the movies. So, bring along your best manners and use good movie theater etiquette.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training.

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