Movies
Posted by harlan on 10 Jan 2008 at 11:56 am | Tagged as: talking to the void
I was talking with my sister last night, and told her I had gone to see Sweeney Todd. [Side note: I understand that it’s supposed to be interesting and clever to have a musical about a mass murderer, but it didn’t take me long to start thinking, "OK, I get the gag. Let’s move on."] Our conversation went like this:
Me: I went to Sweeney Todd last night.
Her: That’s great! I’m glad you’re finally doing something with other people.
Me: What?
Her: I’m glad you went to a movie. Who did you go with?
Me: I didn’t go with anyone.
Her: You went to a movie alone?
I am not exaggerating when I say she made it sound like I had just set fire to an orphanage.
I realize that going to a movie by yourself seems like a sad, lonely thing to do, but it really makes perfect sense. After all, once the movie begins, it’s not like you’re doing anything with the person you went to the movie with anyway. Sure, you’re sitting by each other, but you’re not talking with each other or looking at each other. If the movie’s any good, you mostly forget that the person by you even exists. In other words, you may as well be alone.
Still, I understand a lot of people feel embarrassed about being alone at a movie, so here are some tips for feeling comfortable at a movie by yourself.
1. Put your coat on the chair next to you. Everyone who sees you will think that the coat belongs to the person who is with you and that person is just buying popcorn, going to the bathroom, or checking in with the babysitter.
2. Buy two medium bags of popcorn instead of 1 large bag of popcorn. Put one of the bags of popcorn on the chair holding your coat. When you finish the first bag of popcorn partway through the movie, switch bags.
3. Put your drink in the armrest cupholder that is shared between your two chairs.
4. If someone asks if the chair is taken, say it is. You may think that someone would say "But that chair has been empty for five minutes," but nobody has ever has to me.
On another note, I get to move into my new office tomorrow afternoon.
Isolation Score: 4
4. If someone asks if the chair is taken, say it is. You may think that someone would say “But that chair has been empty for five minutes,” but nobody has ever has to me. >>>
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You could just tell them it’s for your imaginary friend.
See I dont see the big issue here. My gf and I go see different movies all the time. But thanks for the tips. These can be applied if you dont want to sit next to someome you do not know… now that bugs me…
Have a great weekend!!! Enjoy your new office
Jealous Score 10
I completely agree that people entirely overreact to the idea of someone going to the movies by him/herself. I love doing it. You couldn’t be more right - once the movie starts it’s not like you’re going to interact with that person anyway, at least not any more than you would anyone else in the audience.
Still, I think you should just totally *own* the fact that you’re at the movies by yourself. Let someone sit next to you. Just get the one popcorn, and keep your coat on. If someone acts terrified that you’re there by yourself, just say, “I’d rather be here alone than with some asshole like you.”
No, don’t say that. But still - nothing to be ashamed of, so no reason to cover it up!
your sister has her own issues, it seems. Nothing wrong with going to the movies alone, people do it all the time.
Dr, Phil, you have just made the understatement of the year.
lol Harlan… You ever wonder if that’s actaully Dr. Phil… I mean it could be… really it could be..
Actually, Adam, I think that Dr, Phil is nothing but a writing exercise.
^^^Hahaha
Your sister sounds like kind of bitch (no offense).
I go to the movies by myself all the time because going solo is better:
I always see thew show that I want to see, I can sit where I want to sit, and I don’t have to worry about finding that person when I return to my seat- I just take the next most convient one I find.
And: Watching a movie is not a social event.
I will stop using colons now.
touche, Harlan! well played my friend.
Harlan, I, too, am real like Dr. Phil. Please accept my esteemed congratulations on behalf of such a witty comment to Adam–touche indeed! It shows remarkable growth on your part over these past few weeks.
:D
I like going to the movies alone.
My sister thinks that is crazy.
I think I will vote for you for a weblog award.
hey harlan,
i can’t believe how much i relate to you. i plan on writing more on your most recent post, but I had to pause reading here and mention that although i have tons of friends and don’t live in exactly the isolation you do (although i’ll get to that later) i always go to movies alone.
some of my friends have even taken my lead and do it too.
you know what my favorite part is: making people uncomfortable that a hot, young girl is at a movie alone. i can tell, people are freaking out when they see me…i can see their pity and i feel empowered and im comfortable with it and they’re not
I love going to movies alone. I go to the early morning one and I am normally the only one there, its great.
I enjoy going to movies alone.
If someone is really embarrassed seeing a movie alone the best time to go in is when it’s already dark, the no one takes notice that you are alone. They just think your joining some jerk down the row.
I just found this site so I’m a little late on the comments but I love going to the movies alone also. Most of the people I know would never do it. I really don’t see the big deal.