In a perfect world, everyone would learn respect at an early age and practice it throughout their lifetime.

Not too long ago a friend and I went to see a rather highly anticipated film at Kingstowne Theaters.  We planned ahead, bought our tickets and popcorn, and beat the rush of the crowd.

My hopes for a pleasant experience were crushed, however, when, at the last minute, a rambunctious couple came to sit in essentially the last two seats left in the theater – right next to me.  They were very loud and complained about the crowds of people and the numerous trailers that appeared before the movie began.

I optimistically thought that they would shut up once the movie started playing.  I was wrong.  I could feel my mood worsening exponentially as the girl sitting next to me inserted her commentary on the movie.  She used the f-word generously, ate her popcorn like a poorly mannered five year old and worst of all, she checked her precious iPhone throughout the entire show.  It felt like a flashlight was in my face the whole time.  God forbid she missed a text.

It reached a point where I couldn’t stand it anymore.  She was ruining my movie-watching experience.  The movie was not exactly the feature film experience of a lifetime, but I had paid money for my ticket and popcorn.  I was respectful the entire time.  I shouldn’t have had to put up with her.

I finally turned to her and asked her to put her phone away because it was distracting.  It was extremely difficult for me to do this – she had a good ten years on me and wasn’t exactly the approachable type.  She promptly responded to my request with, “just look the other way, b***h.”

I clenched my teeth and felt my heartbeat in my head.  What did she just say to me?

Her rudeness was disturbing and made me extremely uncomfortable.  If I could have switched seats, I would have.  The problem was that the theater was too crowded for me to do so.

I was afraid that if I had pursued the subject with her I would have brought even further foul-mouthed remarks in my direction so I stuck it up until the movie ended.

She never put away her phone and never stopped narrating the movie with expletives.  I had tried, but failed to get her to show some respect.

I have always loved going to the movies. I love the popcorn and the big screen and can usually deal with packed theaters pretty well.  This time was a definite exception.

What really confounded me more than her blatant lack of respect, was the fact that she must have paid for her ticket too.  Why would she waste her money for a movie ticket and ignore the movie by texting and talking the entire time?

Days after the movie ended I couldn’t help but wonder what it was that made that girl feel superior to the rules of the theater.  What made her feel like she had the right to so unashamedly disregard everyone else watching the movie?

I am glad I stood up for myself that night and made my annoyance clear, but I do regret not informing an employee of the theater.  In packed showings of highly anticipated films, it would make sense to have someone who works for the theater patrolling every now and then to make sure people are following the rules.

All I ask for when I go to the movies is a little bit of common courtesy.  I don’t usually mind sitting next to strangers.  You can talk and text all you want after the show, but please, don’t inflict yourself upon me while I am trying to merely watch my movie.  It’s just plain rude.