Michelle Miles: It's the Movies, Not Your House

It's become a rare occurrence when the husband and I go to the movies. I take full responsibility for that because I detest the general public.

But we needed some fun this past weekend, so I requested a movie date. We saw Arrival with Amy Adams and Jeremey Renner. Really good flick. I recommend it!

Anyway, we purchased the tickets online and then picked them up at the kiosk at the theater. Things are getting so impersonal these days, you don't even have to talk to anyone to buy tickets. It's kind of sad, actually.

As we waited for the movie to start, the row began to fill up. To my right, an empty seat. To my left, the husband and on the other side of him was probably the rudest woman we'd encountered in a while. She sat down with her oversized cloth handbag, kicked off her shoes, put up her feet and then proceeded to move in. She even brought a pillow to stick under her knees as she wiggled her way to comfort. In her handbag, she'd smuggled in all kinds of contraband. I couldn't tell what, exactly, but the rustling of the bag was completely annoying through previews. About halfway through the movie, when her drink was nearly empty, she pulled off the lid and tossed it on the ground. And not in a way that wouldn't be noticed. She tossed it like a Frisbee.

I am pretty sure she wouldn't do this at her own home or even someone's that she had been invited to. If she was at my house, I wouldn't ask her to come again. I guess I don't understand why she thinks it's okay to leave her trash behind for someone else to pick up. Granted, they are usually high school kids who pick up the trash in theaters and that's their job, but is it okay to leave behind ALL your trash? My thought is no. My husband and I picked up our popcorn bucket, cups and bottles and took them with us when we left the theater. The trashcan was overflowing outside the door so rather than balance it on top, we found one that wasn't to deposit our trash.

I guess in my mind it's blatant disregard for fellow human beings. My husband was a Boy Scout, so you know their motto: leave it better than you found it. And we do. He's the only guy I know who practically buses the table when we're done eating at a restaurant.

I try not to let these things bother me but...they bother me. I know it's something I should probably just get over and ignore. But ignoring it still doesn't make it okay. I guess I just expect people to act better when they're in the general public. Maybe that's expecting too much.

Am I the only one that's experienced stuff like this?