FL Retired cop, shoots texting wanker

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Good reason to wait for movies on Netflix.

I was thinking the exact thing this morning.

[fintstone]

Do you guys really get bullied by other guys in movie theaters, stadiums, etc...and move to worse seats? Seems less than manly.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Why should the old man have to change seats?

If he was more concerned about enjoying the movie than he was about policing the behavior of theater-goers, moving to another seat would be an adult response. Instead, he chose to stay where he was upset and look where it lead. Life is too short to let petty annoyances interfere with enjoying your life.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Do you guys really get bullied by other guys in movie theaters, stadiums, etc...and move to worse seats? Seems less than manly.

Make sure you shoot anyone that disrespects you, fint! LOL.

Also, where you sit in the theater is a choice. Choose wisely.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Laughable.

No one packing a gun, everyone would've gone home alive, albeit with bruised egos.

What part of my statement was not factual? Even in a society where guns are banned, this man would have had one.

[fintstone]

Jim
Are you still trying to claim he shot the man for texting and not the physical altercation?

[sc_rufctr]

Thankfully this is an extremely rare event.

I often go to the movies with my son and as always I'm polite because that's the right thing to do in public.
And that's the thing. The movies is one of the rare places you sit next to or near complete strangers so good manners are the norm. Or they should be...

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

What part of my statement was not factual? Even in a society where guns are banned, this man would have had one.

Where, for example?

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Jim
Are you still trying to claim he shot the man for texting and not the physical altercation?

From FOXNEWS:

'Pasco County Sheriff's officials say Reeves initially asked Oulson to stop texting at the theater in Wesley Chapel, a suburb about a half-hour north of downtown Tampa.

Sheriff's Detective Allen Proctor wrote that Reeves spoke to Oulson during the movie previews, then got up and informed management.

When Reeves returned to his seat "additional words were exchanged" and Oulson threw a bag of popcorn at Reeves, the report said."

If you feel threatened by a BAG of popcorn, you might want to avoid going to the movies. I wouldn't want you to get into any trouble due to your manliness being in jeopardy.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Thankfully this is an extremely rare event.

I often go to the movies with my son and as always I'm polite because that's the right thing to do in public.
And that's the thing. The movies is one of the rare places you sit next to or near complete strangers so good manners are the norm. Or they should be...

Yep. Golden Rule. Even if other people are ****-heads.

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by zipinitaly

after reading through this thread…I can’t believe some of the attitudes about this shooting. How anyone can attach ANY blame to the phone user is disgusting to me. All the shooting had to do was simply change seats. If something is bothering you, why invite confrontation? As adults, we should AVOID confrontation.
There is a man dead, a widow and now a young child without a father. It’s just shameful

If this had ended up in a bloody fist fight, you would assign blame to both men.

The only reason you don't now is because a man is dead. Yes, that IS shameful, but that doesn't lessen his part in all of this.

[Jim Richards]

True. The victim was stupid and immature.

[VaSteve]

My understanding is that they were both way in the back of the theater. Will be interesting to see what the witnesses who were inthe noisy dark room in ffront of this have to say.


Rules, shmules. I use my phone during the movie to look at IMDB and wikipedia all the time. It an extension of my living room. Nobody has ever complained or said boo to me.

I have not done a PPOT analysis of what consitiutes a rule worth following....not texting n the movie, not brining a gun into a theatre, not respecting the "lawful order" of a 911 operator....this place is crazy town. At least the taxes are low.

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

From FOXNEWS:

'Pasco County Sheriff's officials say Reeves initially asked Oulson to stop texting at the theater in Wesley Chapel, a suburb about a half-hour north of downtown Tampa.

Sheriff's Detective Allen Proctor wrote that Reeves spoke to Oulson during the movie previews, then got up and informed management.

When Reeves returned to his seat "additional words were exchanged" and Oulson threw a bag of popcorn at Reeves, the report said."

If you feel threatened by a BAG of popcorn, you might want to avoid going to the movies. I wouldn't want you to get into any trouble due to your manliness being in jeopardy.

You'd be stupid if you didn't expect any retailiation after an argument and throwing things at a person, even if it is a bag of popcorn.

If you can't put your phone away for a few hours, you might want to wait for the DVD.

[Jim Richards]

Yep. Although a private citizen applying the death penalty to someone for their rude/stupid behavior is not consistent with what society considers good form.

[VaSteve]

Throwing a bag of popcorn is a serious offense. It probably cost like $15.

[Jim Richards]

Not to mention the clean up.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by stuartj

So instead, he shot him dead.

Only after this:

He asked for help from the texter..........and was DENIED!.


I don't understand why the texter couldn't have just stopped texting and apologized?


Sure the shooter could have changed seats. But the texter also could have exerted common courtesy........and that would have been the end of the whole thing. Then (1) the shooter wouldn't have had to leave his seat and go get management....then (2) frustration builds up because the manager is busy with someone else...so (3) he returns to the seat.......and the texter initiates confrontational dialogue...and then (4) throws something at the shooter.

All because of the texter's refusal to accommodate another guest in the establishment with a very reasonable request.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by zipinitaly

I don’t post much on this forum, but I do come here almost daily. Over the years I have gained a lot of respect for the members here and when I have a question (about most things) I come here looking for answers.
However, after reading through this thread…I can’t believe some of the attitudes about this shooting. How anyone can attach ANY blame to the phone user is disgusting to me. All the shooting had to do was simply change seats. If something is bothering you, why invite confrontation? As adults, we should AVOID confrontation.
There is a man dead, a widow and now a young child without a father. It’s just shameful

No the shooter did not have to change seats. As I posted earlier, my wife and I purposely get to movies early so we can have our pick of seats. Why should I be inconvenienced by some one else's lack of etiquette?

Surely you don't advocate AVOIDING all confrontation, which is not the word that I would use. Confrontation is a strong word and is generally associated with a negative or hostile interaction between the opposing sides. If you think of it as confrontation then your mindset may already be predisposed to expect a hostile encounter and you will approach it as such. I prefer conflict resolution.

How would you deal with a neighbor whose dog craps all over your lawn? Are you the person that will anonymously call the Police or Animal Control every time it happens or are you the kind of person that goes over to your neighbors and speaks to him man to man.

Since we heard about Pops plenty I'll share how my mother after moving to a new neighborhood dealt with it.

She went outside, picked up the steaming pile of poo with a paper towel, rang the neighbors bell, very nicely and sweetly introduced herself and told the neighbor "here your dog left this" and then handed them the steaming pile of poo.

Took a couple of days but that was the end of that.

We also had a dog, we walked him several times every day. Along his regular walking path there were neighbors dogs regularly running lose. (in that town ALL dogs were required by law to be registered, tagged and on lead in public) Mom would ring the neighbors bell, nicely and sweetly introduce herself and then tell them "I walk my dog several times a day, I just wanted to let you know if your dog is out running lose and happens to get involved in a scuffle with mine I will have no choice but to drop my leash so my dog can properly defend himself". They'd take one look at the 225 Lbs of English Mastiff at the end of her leash and that, would be the end of that.

Personally I feel people who are afraid to interact with others about their improper behavior are a bigger problem than those exhibiting the behavior. By remaining silent you enable it.

Should you approach every one every time, probably not, it's a judgement call. Like Fint said, if it's a group of bikers who are more likely to pound you into the ground like a tent stake than apologize you'd be wise to leave or find an authority to deal with it. Standing up for yourself does not mean be stupid.

I do agree that shooting someone dead because they threw a bag of popcorn at you is likely a gross over reaction. But so is throwing a bag of popcorn at someone because they asked you to stop texting in a movie theatre.

Both men had options and it is tragic that neither sought to avail themselves of them.

[Baz]

Sociology is the study of human social behavior and its origins, development, organizations, and institutions.

Some of you are overlooking the events leading up to this tragedy.

There is no doubt the shooter was in the wrong.

But the texter was also in the wrong.

The only difference is he brought popcorn to a gunfight.

I know this makes you angry but that's the bottom line here.

He was rude and didn't realize he would be held accountable.

I'm not condoning the shooting - just explaining it was not a black and white issue as some of you think it is.

Sociology....look it up.......there are reasons humans behave the way they do.