Cinema manners
On Friday evening I had my worst ever cinema experience in Doha. Most times when we go to the cinema here we tolerate the phone calls, the blackberry messaging, the walking in and out, the chat, laughing at anything remotely romantic and whooping with delight at anything slightly vulgar the censors may have left in. Because we accept - I do not know why - that that behaviour is ok in the cinema here. But it isn't! When I have paid 35QR for a movie I actually want to see I do not want to have it ruined by other people who are completely inconsiderate.
On Friday we went to see a 9pm show at Villagio - I should have known better than to even attempt a movie on a Friday night - but with limited options of things to do and a movie we wanted to see, Serious Moonlight, we decided to brave it!
There was a large group of local boys traditionally dressed who took a lot of phone calls, were shouting amongst themselves and generally being a complete pain. They were asked politely in english and arabic to please be quiet - the western lady who had asked in english was told that if she wanted to watch a film she could go watch it back in her own country.
She went to get security who the males ignored, then laughed at and told them they weren't going anywhere. A manager was summoned and eventually they left to talk to him. By this point we had missed most of the film so decided to leave anyway and get our money back. The manager was most understanding and did refund us our money but told us that we should just not go to the cinema on the weekends. Great solution. He told us there was nothing he could do.
I find it very very sad that living in Doha I respect the culture by dressing respectfully, behaving in a way that is expected here and I follow all the rules and etiquette of life in Qatar - but then when you ask for a simple thing, peace and quiet in the cinema, you get laughed at and abused.
I will now only even contemplate going to the cinema mid week and if there is balcony seating...and it will only be for a film I am desperate to see on the big screen. I understand that for everyone there is limited options of things to do, but why ruin the enjoyment for everyone else who has paid to go see the film?
I would be highly embarressed by the ideas I have about what Genesis teaches his dog;-P
and when I say I know Genesis, I mean figuratively, actually have never met, him, (would like to someday), but I have always followed his posts, so I feel like in some respects I know how he thinks....;-P
says she knows you.
Are you that German shepherd owner who we Scarlett and Xena and me meet on Simaysima beach last year :D
thats my love for you :D
go to a movie whenever we want to? Why should we have to stay away from places at certain times, because the locals wanna have a day out? Thats no fair... we put enough into this place to entitle us to have our share of the 'fun' to...
Please don't let that comment rile anyone, but its true... we shouldn't have to have special days when we can go out, we are all co-existing in this country - as much as we are giving, the locals are taking and visa versa...
I understand where you are coming from Genesis with the part about the tone of the post.
The only way the teens will stop behaving in this manner is if Qatari adults teach them - its not up to us to do that - guarenteed, if it was expats behaving like that, they'd be severely wrapped over the knuckles and probably banned from entering the cinema again.... do you think this is fair?
I will answer that for you - no you know its not fair, cause I know you, Genesis, you see things differently to most locals.
Khallas... I think I am done:-)
Now you wanna through me to the fish?;-P
no am not back am still looking for qatari and ahmad to hang them upside down for being lazy bummers.
2weeks and am still waiting for the site to get back to normal.
welcome back
No problem about Xena
if you want my help will surely help you in throwing Xena to the Fish :D
noted :)
I just find her "pet peeve" somehow exaggerated
I don’t know how it all turned out this way…
Anyway, I don’t think that local kids can get away with miss behavior every time Nor it’s acceptable to many of us
I might have sympathized with her experience if it wasn’t for her tone
Oooh Xena - someone with some common sense!!
Genesis - please chill out a little, threads like this present Qataris with a great opportunity to show they are open minded and liberal and can see when there are problems in their own society.
I'm not narrow-minded or stubborn enough, that I wouldn't admit there are significant issues with my culture/ religion/ natives... and you could be the bigger man here and just say ok, so some of your nationality are a bit rude/ill mannered. Everyone has people like that in their culture.
Have a good day!
teenagers but will blame you Sanic. Being here in Qatar for more than a year or 2 you should have known by now when to avoid the malls and cinemas.
Whats up? I have never known you to resort to name-calling.
I think all that people here are trying to put accross, and I know you and Bleu are well aware of the situation, is that as expats, we are NEVER expected to complain...
We are expected to keep our mouths shut, or face the consequences.
You know too, that anytime coming up against a local, in most cases, the local will be heard, but the expat won't.
Fortunately, I have been on the side of justice, where I was correct and the local had to literally run with his tale between his legs - forgive me - animal talk;-P, so I do know that sometimes justice prevails for the expat too, however, most times, it doesn't.
Please don't make this thread into a racist issue, when clearly its not, its just someone frustrated with not being able to watch a movie, when he/she has paid to do so.
guess what!...it's an open forum and I’m entitled to write what I want
and no…I won’t go away ;)
Just because you decided all of a sudden to be all PC talking & local loving …
@genesis - I didn't justify what I wrote - I explained it in words I thought you may be able to understand. If you don't have anything positive to input go away. And I am not generalizing all qatari's - I have said above that I have met and work with and am friends with some lovely Qatari's....who are wonderful. And who also don't condone the behaviour of some people in the cinema here. But I can point fingers at the locals here. As it is them. And I can point that out - because it is a free world. And your response of calling me a racist - well since you have never met me and don't know anything about me.....how is that helpful or anything put negative?
Genesis, in this case the local kids may not be the only culprits, but they are the only culprits who will get away scot free if someone complained.
Then why are you justifying what you wrote!!!
One thing is to complain about miss behavior in a cinema hall , but to generalize and point fingers towards the locals as they’re the only culprit. That indicates exactly what are you on about
I’m not supporting what the local kids done. In fact I find it distasteful. But I don’t like your tone either
Just an hour ago I was discussing your uptight attitude with a friend of mine who had an incident last week were he signed for a local gym aerobic class and when he showed up all other members (westerners)looked at him weirdly !!!
What’s next , being discriminated on your own country?
genesis that's one aspect of living among so many different nationalities, anything one individual does gets associated with his whole country. It's wrong and is mostly untrue but that's the way it is.
someone just need to give them a good knock off their high horses
well said Kee32,and i dont think Sanic deserve to be treated like that...
Genesis. Your replies are rather offensive and quite bad tempered. Is there any need for this?
I understand you're a Qatari and perhaps on the defensive, but come on please be honest with yourself, there is a teeny-weeny bit of etiquette and manners missing from certain sections of every society no? That includes where I am from, the UK. Calling SANic a "white supremacist" is a little low and utterly baseless.
@ genesis...sit on your high horse and judge...I am just saying what I have been told by quite a few Qatari's and middle eastern nationalities. When we say anything negative at all about life in the gulf we get told that we should feel lucky that we have jobs here. The reality is that the Gulf needs the west...and vice versa, so a little tolerance is required on both sides. And if you can not understand 'tongue in cheek' then feel free to stay out of the conversation. My comment was not directed at you. And by the by...I am south african. Anti-apartheid seriously pro-equality - so calling me a white supremacist....bless you heart are you the racist here?
SANic said /-a-t-/Kee - Yours - well it would be great....but it is never gonna happen in Doha, let alone any place in the middle east. Don't you know that we are all meant to be honoured to be here!?!?!
---Sanic , you're one sick White supremacist. and you Got What You Deserve ;)
Keep on whining on QL...that's the most you can do
@Kee - my solution may actually happen! Yours - well it would be great....but it is never gonna happen in Doha, let alone any place in the middle east. Don't you know that we are all meant to be honoured to be here!?!?!
@Whyteknight - I am not scared at all to complain about the locals who annoy me...I ask them to be quiet, I ask them not to talk on phones...I have even been known to kick the chair of the idiot in front of me until he got off his phone...annoy me - I'll annoy you.
But it does ruin the movie experience...and also - I grew up in a family where the mentality was taught to show respect for others...shocking as that statement may be.
genesis I wanted to hear from you actually
wk, because they are "cats" ... (I won't write the other word).
well, you should answer this not me!!!
No one is pointing a gun at your heads
genesis but why are most of the expats unwilling or scared to complain about the locals?
We do know that’s the only objective of those whining threads. Thank you for being brave enough to admit it
Unlike others who think we’re deceived by that PC-talk
Oh go on... I'll say it if nobody else will. How about we have cinemas for the awful/terrible/loose Westerners... and seperate cinemas for the wonderful/respectful/righteous locals. ;o)
That might actually be a sensible answer.
On a more serious note... I'm with you SANic. The experience of going to the cinema here is actually traumatic.
Mandi, violence is perfectly fine. Do you remember some time back, there were VERY gruesome and gory pictures about Palestine displayed in some shopping center here. Everybody, including young children were able to see this.
As long as there is no affection or kissing between genders on display, all is fine.
I know - but not every cinema has balcony seating...like I said in the OP - i will only go if it something I really want to see and it has balcony seating! The balcony seating at Villagio is bliss compared to the rest of the cinema's...if only they had it in all the cinema's!
you can pay 45QR and book seats at the balcony and it's rarely populated with teens.
A bit of a hijack here - I went to "Brooklyn's Finest" at City Center Friday night. It's about drug dealers and cops in New York City and had a LOT of violence and f* this and m*f* that (every other word.) It also had a very good cast and a decent plot. But I was shocked when the film was over to see the number of YOUNG kids who had been in the audience. WHAT were their parents thinking?
Mandi
@genesis - I would happily pay more to go see a movie - say an extra 5QR a ticket...with that extra revenue they could put a security guy in each cinema. If a person or a group was being disruptive the security would be there to remove them immediately...and they could even fine them if they won't leave!
Job creation too...
I don't always have the luxury of being able to go to the cinema when it is quiet....because I actually work. So as much as I would like to go in peace when no one else is there I don't think my boss would appreciate it.
It happens many times,a teenager bumped us and he gave us dirty look as if its our fault and then when we asked him what's his problem,then he shouted us and say because we're blocking his way then i spoke to him in a nice way and i replied," Don't you know how to say excuse me?is it that hard to say,Go back to your mother and ask her to teach you some manners",then suddenly he calm and walked away..
Dilemma of Qatar is, there are some so very nice Qataris who will go out of their way to help when they see some being getting an unfair deal, and, also there are lot many impossible 'badtameez' scoundrels too.
A good time would be right now... Sunday, 4 or 5PM. I love being alone in the movie theater.
Except for the area around the train station, Coventry seemed rural to me
I was staying at Coventry south and the Showcase Cinema Complex there had a thugs problem. And no one did anything about it
Coming back to your original post, so what are you suggesting?
Care to elaborate?
Or you just want to vent in an internet forum how savages those teens are !!!
As I suggested, you can go in different days when it’s actually less crowded so you don’t ruin your movie experience
I find the Friday afternoon/Saturday night shows at vilaggio cinemas always calm
with Teenagers in this country. They behave like hooligans in general and have a general lack of respect for expats who might be much elder. They don't spare anyone even the ones with family.
And it is definitely not all qatari's - a few times when we have been there have been locals who have shouted at anyone being a nuisance. There are many wonderful Qatari's who are friendly, welcoming and helpful. Who are willing to help you find things or navigate life in qatar.
It is generally teenage boys/young males and yes - sometimes the girls too - who are ruining the experience for many people. And I for one am not silent....but as someone pointed out above - i didn't go to the cinema to get people to behave. I go to watch a film.
bleu -Securities are helpless and cant do anything about it when it comes to locals...
Kidoes.. ya.. huh, even at restaurants , have seen the parents sitting as DEAF when their brats scream around as if its a play ground.
Yes, I blame them, they should stop this...
I hate it too when ANYBODY ruins my movie-going experience. I would speak to whoever is speaking, shouting, playing with a laser pointer... etc.
I also talk to families to please take their crying baby outside.
Bleu oh yes, blame it on the poor expat security, do they care there is a security? do they listen to them?..we all know it..come on.
;) I know you.
get upset or shocked when we see such a behavior
@genesis - firstly coventry is not a rural uk town - it is a city! And wouldn't call it rural...rural is for villages in the country...not for a city. Secondly I have family who live there and have never felt compelled to leave a cinema because the behaviour of the cinema goers was so bad and distracting that I missed the film. As was pointed out to you as well - if it happened in the UK you could get security and they would be chucked out.
And I am not mumbling in an internet forum - I am the one who asked them nicely to please be quiet in arabic. But all I got was rude comments in return...and I don't like being called a dog for wanting to enjoy a film.
This is not the first time that this has happened. It is a regular thing that as I said in my OP that we have learnt to tolerate. But there becomes a time when enough is enough.
@Bleu - this isn't about local=bad - if I truly believed local=bad I would have left Qatar. Like I said before I just find it sad that you have so many people respecting Qatar on every level - dress, behaviour, standards etc. - but when we ask for a simple thing, peace and quiet in a cinema....it is like we are asking for something outrageous.
No, not ban them. The parents should not support the actions of these teenagers when they get into trouble. You should not just condone it by saying kids will be kids. Kids elsewhere would get reprimanded for such behavior instead of being supported. I'm not saying all of them behave this way either. It's usually an indication of parents not being bothered.
thankfully, i have not had a bad experience watching movies in the cinemas yet, and i hope it stays that way...
well, you said it yourself it was a once experience!!!
Again , it’s an individual courtesy. You either speak to them or seek the management assistance
Not much can be done on those cases. Not here, Not in any place in the world
But coming to an internet forum and pointing fingers at local teens as they’re the only culprits with bad manners!!!
So what are you suggesting…ban Qatari teens from Cinemas?
Arien... The movie theater "security" should be thrown out since it's "Family Day"... They are so terrified of anybody who may be Qatari... Useless.
They Think We Are Servants, And They Treat Us Like That. I Had A Experience To At The Airport, They Were Laughing And Throwing Luggage From The Conviar Belt.
The Security Was Standing And Watching Them But No One Had The Courage To Stop Them Eventually A Local In Their Group Snubbed Them And They Went Away.
Genesis, there is a reason why the security guards or even the manager does not take strict action against these teenage kids. When adults like you condone such behavior, how are the kids expected to learn manners?
If these security guards or managers take strict action against these kids, their parents will create a huge ruckus which will end up in them losing their job or being reprimanded for doing their work.
I'm not saying all Qatari's are the same, but there are a few out there giving bad name to the lot.
Genesis...you have quite an interesting way of looking at things and putting forward your arguments.
First it was a comparison, when it was challenged you went on to say either take it or leave it and now I replied to your query to illustrate an incidence you brand me a coward....lol.
BTW I go or would go to the theater to enjoy a movie and to do that I need to see and listen as to what is going on on the screen... if I have to run around teaching/ preaching the audience I think I have lost the purpose for which I was there...isnt it...and that is what the OP is all about.
Also I am not the OP if you have not noticed and so definitely not mumbling .... you asked for an incidence I gave you one....if you cant take it in the right spirit dont ask for it...and I was just stating the weakeness of the arguements in favor of the stated behavior.
LOL... We're back to the old "Local=BAD!", "THEY are uncivilized", "This would never happen in my country", ... and "My country is so much better"...
LOL. LOL. LOL.
Bleu . Teenagers also do behave, or will be thrown out of the theatre in the other parts of the world.
Well, you could’ve spoken to them instead of being a coward & mumble about it in an internet forum
Don’t worry, they don’t have the power to deport you ;)
go to your car, lock the door, turn on the engine and radio (or whatever), put on maximum volume and vent your ire there, inside your car! Maybe, just maybe, after one hour, your anger will be gone! Lol!
Genesis...I was talking with reference to the issue of the post i.e. 'being able to watch a movie peacefully' in a theatre. And this is not the first time on QL that we see the unacceptable being considered as acceptable just because its considered as once off or that others are much worse comparatively...I just get piqued by these kind of statements. For me a bad behaviour is a bad behavior and no amount of justification or comparison can justify that.
As regards your question...I went to a theatre sometime back after almost 15-16 years to watch a Hindi movie and was completely astonished to see the local couples walking in and out continuously, talking over phones, keeping their feet on the back of the chair in front....never went again. If they dont understand the language or are not interested just quitely leave, why bother others.
And as WK said.... even once is one time too many.
Not once was an expat deported over a silly issue like this. So stop making flawed statements just to sound sarcastic
Because you’re not. Plus no one would ever care whether you go to cinema or not
Here’s a suggestion to all of you, Boycott cinemas in Doha
The less Expats, the merrier ;)
There's a reason why I hardly ever go the cinema over here anymore. I just wait for the movie to come out on DVD or Blu-ray and watch it at home nowadays.
Teenagers maybe similar in other places, but the security would've thrown them out in other places. Here, the security would get thrown out of the country if they try do their job.
genesis even once is one time too many.
low standards!!!
You speak like it’s a phenomena!!!
I find Cinema etiquette improving when compared with few years ago.
How many of you can actually confirm (with a straight face) that they encountered bad experience in each & every time they went to cinemas here?
happy aren't you used to it by now. People comparing themselves to the worst and then feeling good about themselves.
Quite a few amazing statements!!!!
Looks like for any issue we have to compare with the worst and live up to match up with that... may be we can edcuate the local teens how much they are missing in 'misbehaviour' when compared to other countries teens and assist them to meet those 'low' standards.
Well, you should have never went on a weekend night
Saturdays & weekdays are almost empty in villagio cinema. Not once was I disturbed during a movie lately.
Still the local teens are tolerable when compared to elsewhere
Last month I was in Coventry (UK), and I learned a lesson never to go to movies in rural UK towns because of the teen thugs with hoods who were constantly harassing other audience, burping loudly and throwing popcorn at each other.
Sometimes we have in our surrounding some people those spoil your mood while you're watching a movie/drama by disturbing with loud laughing and some tell you the climax in the middle of a movie...
Yes, they have to learn some general manners to live in the society.
Unfortunately,it's not just teenagers,it's also adults that also behave like these...
@bleu - I work with kids! And have done for the past 13 years. So no - not my first encounter with teenagers. And somehow I have managed to go to the cinema in the UK, USA, Europe, South Africa, Australia and never had these problems. As people seem to understand decency and have a level of respect for others. And the kids I work with here don't behave like that when we go to the cinema here or anywhere we travel to - as they generally want to watch the film. That is why we go to the effort of going to watch it.
Yeah, Teens will behave like Teens no matter which nationality they are & I agree on that with bleu.
bleu also never minds if Teens from expatriates community misbehaves in public or with him....after all, they are just Teens.
We had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago in City Centre.
As Sanic said, the same usual ill-mannered locals where in the cinema, doing there usual annoying things. It doesnt help saying anything, because it will just go nowhere, because they are above the law, and common curtousy is something they dont understand.
On this specific night an argument broke out between some local boys, which evolved into a screaming match, and the next moment everyone (locals) were involved, jumping and running over the seats to get to the situation. Suddenly you could hear the slapping, and the lights went on - movie still rolling - guards came in to see whats happening, but couldnt do anything - as they just got laughed at. Eventually after about 15 minutes, they moved the fight to the door, and the manager intervened.
Missing most of the movie as they never stopped the movie when the lights went on, we decided to leave, as there was a long line waiting to get refunded.
Why cant they behave? Dont they get basic education in manners and deplorum?
Is this your first encounter with teenagers?
the ghutra can be used for strangulation.
They won't care....and what do I do with the picture? Go to the police and tell them - these boys ruined by movie experience??? Sadly the arrogance here makes them believe they are above it all....
The only time I would be in the right is if as a female they threatened me in some way...then taking their picture would definitely impact!
it will make them think twice before laughing!