DEAR MISS MANNERS: When we go to the movie theater, my wife and I like to stay seated through the credits, reading them and reflecting on what we’ve seen. This puts us in a small minority.
When we followed this practice today, the group next to us wanted to leave. The seats to their left were empty, giving them a clear path to the aisle, but they decided to come past us instead.
“Go the other way; it’s clear, and we’re trying to read the credits,” my wife said. “Yes, but the aisle is closer on your side,” they said as they insisted on blocking our view as they came past us.
“I guess it’s all about you,” my wife retorted.
Two questions. First, was their behavior impolite, or does our lingering in our seats improperly inconvenience others? Second, if they were indeed impolite, was my wife allowed to rebuke them?
GENTLE READER: As everyone in this story seems to have an idea about how everyone else should behave, you will forgive Miss Manners for solving the problem rather than assigning blame or justifying rudeness.
It is perfectly polite to stay for the credits; it is also perfectly polite to go home. It is not polite to block someone’s exit, nor is it polite to block someone’s view. It should go without saying that every word that you quoted above was, without exception, impolite. There were two equally polite options available: 1. The group goes out the other way. 2. The group goes your way, but apologizes and moves quickly — which you facilitate by moving out of their way.
Notice that either would have resulted in your seeing more of the credits than what happened.
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
COPYRIGHT 2023 JUDITH MARTIN
DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500
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