Photo by majorvols

You know those annoying people who always seem to be scattered around concerts, movie theaters, and auditoriums? This is for them. I have found that there is an increase in people who have no respect for the person speaking or performing during such events.

Recently, I was at a concert for elementary school-ers involved in the music programs. A woman and her child sat behind my family and myself, and was loud to the point that my father turned around to ask her to quiet down. This type of behavior is disruptive not only to the audiences, but to the performers.

The really irritating part of this was that this woman is an adult. She is also a mother. Adults should be examples to ,their children, especially in public places. Though teenagers and children are the subjects of blame when this occurs, it’s not just us. I admit that there have been many times when I should not have spoken as loudly or as often as I did. However, it’s more acceptable for a teenager than for someone who is teaching a child the ways of life.

That doesn’t mean it’s okay to do; being disrespectful is not cool. If you talk a lot, or talk loudly, try to remind yourself where you are. If it helps, bring a pen to doodle, just so that you can refrain from making loud comments.

We’ve all been to events where this has happened. For some reason, these people pop up at every public event.

“If someone is being obnoxious, and I don’t know them, I usually say creepy things to them until they stop talking,” said senior Eric Nagy. Quieting someone down doesn’t have to be done in an angry, creepy, or dramatic outburst. I find that the evil eye works wonders, especially on small children.

If that fails, and it might, then be prepared to say something. Sometimes a forward facing “Shhh!” can get people to quiet down.

If you reach the point where shushing and glaring don’t work, it’s time to speak. Ask them politely to quiet down. However, if the person, like the woman who sat behind my family at the elementary school concert, is at an unusually vocal level of rude, then it could be past the time to be polite.

Tell them straight out that they are being too loud, and they are being distracting to the other audience members. You might feel a little bad, but it’s better than hearing them tell jokes to their son with the high-pitched giggle. Trust me.