Why Can't People Put A Sock In It? (person, children, brother)

[cpg35223]

Okay. Last night we attended the confirmation of my nephew at his church. Admittedly, it was a long service, but my children were able to sit quietly throughout it.

Meanwhile, a woman in the pew immediately behind had three teenaged children with her. They were whispering throughout the first half of the ceremony. By that, I don't mean the occasional remark, but an ongoing 45-minute conversation complete with giggling and the whatnot.

Finally, I had had enough. I turned around and said, "I'm sorry, but you're being very rude. This is a church service." Of course, this met with an affronted look from the woman, but at least they shut up.

After the service, the woman tapped me on the shoulder and said how rude I was to her and her children. To which, I said, "You're right. But that's nothing compared to the ongoing conversation you were having, disturbing everyone around you." To that, she said, "Don't you tell me how to behave," to which I responded, "If you're going to disrupt a church service, I have every right to ask you to be quiet. If you can't control yourself for 90 minutes, then you should go sit in the cry room where you can babble to your hearts content."


Okay. I fully admit it was not my finest moment. I also fully admit that I made a bad situation even worse, and regret saying what I did. I certainly did not handle it well, particularly since it took place at a religious ceremony. So, I'm pretty much beating myself up over snapping like that. It's really unlike me.

That being said, what is it with people who think that they can walk into a church service, a movie theater, a musical performance, or any other event that requires listening and quiet from the audience or congregation, and yap away as if it were their living room? I mean are people so self-centered that they have to say whatever they want to whenever and wherever the thought occurs to them? What is the deal on this?

[mrstewart]

People are rude and are raising rude children.

We are season ticket holders to the ballet and I took my grandmother to the February performance. There were young girls sitting in front of us texting during the performance...rude.

Sorry you had to encounter someone like that during such an important event.

[CHTransplant]

Someone prominent once said "Man was not made for the sabbath, but the sabbath for man." The same might be said of the church. It needs to be able to serve all, not for its own purposes but for theirs. It needs to be open to everyone, not just those who fit a particular mode of dress, appearance, etc., and yes - even unruly teenagers. I would rather have them in the pew and whispering, than have them feel unwelcome. One famous preacher of old I've heard of used to hang out with tax collectors, prostitutes and thieves.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by mrstewart

People are rude and are raising rude children.

We are season ticket holders to the ballet and I took my grandmother to the February performance. There were young girls sitting in front of us texting during the performance...rude.

Sorry you had to encounter someone like that during such an important event.

Yep. Do you just sit there and endure it? Or do you upbraid them for their behavior? I'm not sure what the best course of action is. However, I'm pretty sure that woman and her kids will think twice about prattling on in church now.

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

I mean are people so self-centered that they have to say whatever they want to whenever and wherever the thought occurs to them?

Yes, unfortunately. Some people are incredibly self-centered and self-indulgent, and there's not much anything anyone can say to snap them out of it. They probably went home and complained about the pushy jerk in church.

I try to give people the benefit of a doubt, so I don't end up an angry misanthrope. It's difficult to encounter someone that is obviously not just confused or ill or having a bad day ... just a plain old sphincter wart.

[Currency Pair Crocodile]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Meanwhile, a woman in the pew immediately behind had three teenaged children with her. They were whispering throughout the first half of the ceremony. By that, I don't mean the occasional remark, but an ongoing 45-minute conversation complete with giggling and the whatnot.

They're just kids, cp. I'm sure Jesus won't be so irritated at all. He likes kids

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Okay. Last night we attended the confirmation of my nephew at his church. Admittedly, it was a long service, but my children were able to sit quietly throughout it.

Meanwhile, a woman in the pew immediately behind had three teenaged children with her. They were whispering throughout the first half of the ceremony. By that, I don't mean the occasional remark, but an ongoing 45-minute conversation complete with giggling and the whatnot.

Finally, I had had enough. I turned around and said, "I'm sorry, but you're being very rude. This is a church service." Of course, this met with an affronted look from the woman, but at least they shut up.

After the service, the woman tapped me on the shoulder and said how rude I was to her and her children. To which, I said, "You're right. But that's nothing compared to the ongoing conversation you were having, disturbing everyone around you." To that, she said, "Don't you tell me how to behave," to which I responded, "If you're going to disrupt a church service, I have every right to ask you to be quiet. If you can't control yourself for 90 minutes, then you should go sit in the cry room where you can babble to your hearts content."


Okay. I fully admit it was not my finest moment. I also fully admit that I made a bad situation even worse, and regret saying what I did. I certainly did not handle it well, particularly since it took place at a religious ceremony. So, I'm pretty much beating myself up over snapping like that. It's really unlike me.

That being said, what is it with people who think that they can walk into a church service, a movie theater, a musical performance, or any other event that requires listening and quiet from the audience or congregation, and yap away as if it were their living room? I mean are people so self-centered that they have to say whatever they want to whenever and wherever the thought occurs to them? What is the deal on this?

the carnal mind is not subject to the spirit neither indeed can be.
re lack of respect for church
when you get used to wiping your feet on others when they say something about it they think there is something wrong with you.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by CHTransplant

Someone prominent once said "Man was not made for the sabbath, but the sabbath for man." The same might be said of the church. It needs to be able to serve all, not for its own purposes but for theirs. It needs to be open to everyone, not just those who fit a particular mode of dress, appearance, etc., and yes - even unruly teenagers. I would rather have them in the pew and whispering, than have them feel unwelcome. One famous preacher of old I've heard of used to hang out with tax collectors, prostitutes and thieves.

Total, absolute, sanctimonious baloney. This is about behavior, not social status.

Everyone is welcome in a church. But attending church, or any other event for that matter, means that you have to be considerate of those around you. That means not interrupting the service for others with with frivolous conversation totally unrelated to the matter at hand. Short of having Tourette's Syndrome, I cannot imagine an excuse for bad behavior like that. Because, quite frankly, if one can't actually sit in the pew and behave then his heart isn't in it anyway.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Colossus_Antonis

They're just kids, cp. I'm sure Jesus won't be so irritated at all. He likes kids

No. I have three kids who know how to behave in a worship service or a performance. And since the 40ish mother was yakking away right along with them, your endorsement of rude behavior just doesn't hold water.

[Currency Pair Crocodile]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

No. I have three kids who know how to behave. And since the 40ish mother was yakking away right along with them, your endorsement of rude behavior just doesn't hold water.

She at least bothered to bring them to the church, in this era of utilitarianism and areligiousness.

It's also personal to me. My mother took me and my brother to the church since our birth into our teens. We were the most uncontrollable boys in the church and it was always filled with giggles, jokes and she trying to control us and sometimes chiming in with us, coz she can't help it. Moms have a sense of playfulness too.



None of us intended to disrupt the service. Several of the silent, tuxedo Christians used to scoff at us. But we were there, we prayed, we became staunch Catholics. How can that be "rude" behaviour? Unless we're making fun of the big bottoms of women in the surrounding areas , which I admit, we boys used to do much to mom's chagrin.