Maybe I'm just getting to be a curmudgeon, but...

[madmikeb]

My wife and I went to a Big Head Todd and the Monsters show at the State Theater in Portland last night, one of our favorite live bands and we've seen them many times over the years. Got there early and in line before doors so we could get our favorite prime seats in the balcony.

The venue filled up and we had people fill in around us. Once the show started, the couple sitting behind us started talking over the band and wouldn't shut up, literally non stop. These weren't kids either, I'm coming up on my 64th year and these people were close to my age-old enough to know better! Why would you pay close to $100 for a pair of tickets and then not pay attention to the show? Not to mention spoil the experience for those around you. After a few songs with no sign of them ever stopping we went and found some different seats.

Needless to say I was really irritated. I thought about standing up, blocking their view and when they complained tell them that I'll sit down when you shut up, but it was easier to just move.

Rant over.

 

[llowry61]

I am sorry to hear that you had to deal with rude people, but that is becoming more and more common these days. We have had issues with people standing during the whole concert and my wife couldn't see. You did the right thing by just moving. Creating a scene never gets you anywhere. You took the high road.

 

[sjmjax]

Lack of manners and consideration of others is one reason we rarely participate in public events of any type.

Yeah, call me a reclusive curmudgeon if you wish. We’ve turned our recreational interests towards more solitary and private activities.

 

[petepeterson]

Aside from you story- Big Head Todd - great band!

 

[NFrameFred]

I probably shouldn't even bother, since every time I make an observervation on how far public behavior has deteriorated and the dearth of courtesy, self restraint, manners and civility by self absorbed and delusionally entitled in-duh-viduals, I'm admonished by some to 'get over it', 'live and let live', or told basically that that's making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Yeah, I guess I am old fashioned. I remember the days when shame over such behavior was heaped on these clods. Nowadays society has become so limp wristed that we dare not 'offend' someone "exercising their 'rights' " . . . . which rights I guess now include being anti-social, boorish, rude, profane despicable morons at the expense of the rest of us that would just as soon "live and let live", except now we're the ones who get looked at askance for expecting our rights and sensibilities to be considered.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

There used to be ushers to enforce proper behavior in public venues! Now everyone thinks they are entitled to exercise there rights of free speech everywhere, instead of taking the 5th and shutting up!

Ivan

 

[S&W ucla]

The Dismal Tide

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIRbBF0lLto[/ame]

 

[robvious]

I am not as polite as you are... I would have turned and stared at them... my wife would be embarrassed enough for the both of us.. but I would not stop.. unless I found part of their discussion needing my assistance.. then I would do the courteous thing and interject... all free of charge.

 

[ColbyBruce]

You were fortunate that the couple weren’t yacking away on their cellphones.

 

[madmikeb]

I am not as polite as you are... I would have turned and stared at them... my wife would be embarrassed enough for the both of us.. but I would not stop.. unless I found part of their discussion needing my assistance.. then I would do the courteous thing and interject... all free of charge.

My wife and I actually did this to no avail!

 

[Dueeast]

It frosts my *** when you pay good money for seats and the a holes in front of you wanna stand.

 

[kozmic]

Happens wayyy too often. Seriously, is it really rude on your part if you ask the rude folks ruining everyone's experience to shut the hell up? I think not. I have been applauded and gotten "dat-a-boys" from lots of folks and done the same for others who step up to stop the rudeness.

 

[Rudi]

Bad manors are nothing new. You did well to move. Never want a fool behind you.

 

[NFrameFred]

I have been applauded and gotten "dat-a-boys" from lots of folks and done the same for others who step up to stop the rudeness.

Growing up I saw more of that than I do now. When I was kid a great number of men in a public place at any given moment were war veterans and when some drunk, loud or profane jerk showed his stupidity in a public place (especially if women and children were present) when a man called the offender on it he could , for the most part, to count on others in the crowd backing him up. Not so much today. Someone willing to do it today has to be prepared to stand alone if necessary and more often than not there are likely to be more jerks and cowards in the room than stand up guys. I’ve found myself in such situations more than once and apparently I don’t have the good sense to keep quiet and stay out of it.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I spent a goodly portion of my career both on stage and in the audience.

Before jumbotrons I would mostly hear arena concerts as due to festival seating glimpses of the on stage talent were fleeting. When the first kick drum beat dropped and the revelry began manners were relegated to the back burner.

I got used to it.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Had the same thing happen this past Saturday night at an Eagles concert. While Steely Dan was playing the opening act, two young women four rows back yacked the whole time. We were close enough to know someone was talking, but far away enough to not be bothered too badly. the seats directly behind us were unoccupied during Steely Dan but during the intermission, 6 people came in, and like most of us during the intermission were talking among themselves. But as the Eagles came on stage to play, they kept up the yacking, the louder the music , the louder the talked. I could tell everyone close to us in our row was irritated. Finally after the second song started and they continued to talk, I turned around and said "would you please quit talking and just listen to the music?" The young man behind me bent down and apologized and said he would stop. I turned around and my wife smirked at me. Then I got a tap on my shoulder and the young woman yells at me that the reason they are talking is because their dad was a big Eagles fan and couldn't be there. At that the gentleman to my right turns around and says " if you want to talk, then go out into the hall and let us listen to the music. " With that the young woman sat back and shut up. We had no more problems with them the rest of the night.