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Sal[Au]pian 
"Four ever European"
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 Posted - 05/30/2008 : 03:31:25
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I went today to see Cassandra's Dream and then Timber Falls. The latter was in the Trocadero (Chavsville) and a couple about five seats along were talking all the way through; the guy even took a quite extended 'phone call near the end. They were slightly too far away from me to say anything during the film without causing a lot more noise, but when I was still sitting down at the end and they came to pass me, I said "Oh, you want me to be considerate and get out of your way, but you were happy to talk all the way through the film?" The guy immediately became very aggressive, telling me to fuck off and quaintly calling me a faggot. I had stood up after making my comment, so they had gone past during this but not gone on their way, and were only about a metre away. It was still fairly dark in there, and the guy suddenly, as if in triumph, sprayed me in the face. They they moved away of course so I also went down the row and asked the usher to get the manager. I had to ask about three times before she seemed to register anything. The guy heard me saying this and so rushed off. The girl though seemed in no hurry and started picking an argument with me over why I had done that. By the time we were one floor down and level with the toilets, the pain was excruciating and so I had to go in and wash my face. At this stage breathing in the fumes was also making me feel sick and I thought I was going to vomit in the basin. No one offered help, of course. I had automatically dropped my bag outside the toilets and when I came out after a couple of minutes it had gone. I said something out loud to the air and a random thought I was talking about his bag. He then wouldn't get out of the way all the way down two escalators even though I said I needed to get down in a hurry, which was very annoying. I had assumed that the manager would be waiting somewhere, but there was no sign, so I went to the ticket desk and asked again, saying that it was an emergency. The person passed this on as "urgent", even though I restated that it was an emergency. A couple standing by gathered what had happened, and called the police and an ambulance. They then took me over to sit down. Two managers then rolled up at least five minutes later. They said that they had had something else urgent to deal with. I pointed out that this was probably more urgent, and that since there were two of them, one could have come. They got there only fractionally before the police. My descriptions were good enough that they were able to identify them on C.C.T.V., including confirming that the girl had taken my bag. They tracked them all the way back to buying their tickets, which was unfortunately with cash. Paramedics then rocked up and I had to be examined in the ambulance, although I was basically fine by that stage. They identified it as having been C.S. spray. Although the police said the images were good quality and they would distribute them, I don't suppose they'll catch them. Unfortunately my bag contained my keys (since there are holes in my trouser pockets) and my address (on an envelope), so I shall have to get the locks changed tomorrow, and don't know whether my flatmate/landlord's insurance will cover this.
I had to cancel meeting up with a friend I haven't seen for years, and the bus then broke down twice on the way home. |
Edited by - Sal[Au]pian on 05/30/2008 03:32:31 |
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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 07:21:24
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How horrible!  I hope you get it all sorted out soon.
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 08:26:50
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| My heavens! This doesn't sound typical of the UK. I would have expected something like this to happen in the US, but not in England. Hope it all gets sorted out and they get these guys! |
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benj clews 
"...."
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 09:50:40
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Shit! I thought my cinema trips were bad!
Sorry to hear about this. Don't want to worry you any more, but I'd be wary at home now- they may not be able to get in but they still know where you live if they're still baring a grudge (completely irrationally, as is usually the case with thugs like this).
CL- I'm guessing you've never been to the Trocadero. I go occaisionally, but only if I'm desperate- London cinema audiences can be quite chatty at the best of times but the Trocadero seems to attract the very lowest common denominators for some reason. |
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Ali 
"Those aren't pillows."
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 09:53:05
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I am sorry to hear that. I hope things get sorted out soon.
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lemmycaution
"Long mired in film"
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 12:43:20
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| How unfair. Get well and keep safe. |
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duh
"catpurrs"
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 13:28:35
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| I am pissed off that this happened to you. |
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Airbolt
"teil mann, teil maschine"
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 13:47:01
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| Hope you are feeling better after that horrible experience. |
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RockGolf
"1500+ reviews. 1 joke."
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 15:25:55
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Other than that, Mr Salopian, did you enjoy the movie/
Sorry, I had to throw that in. My sympathies and sympathetic anger. |
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Sal[Au]pian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 16:08:28
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Thanks for everyone's sympathies.
quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
Don't want to worry you any more, but I'd be wary at home now- they may not be able to get in but they still know where you live if they're still baring a grudge (completely irrationally, as is usually the case with thugs like this).
Yes, that crossed my mind immediately. I am not a panicky person but it is still annoying that the windows could get smashed in at any time. At least the upside of that would be that the police would probably track them down.
I am currently waiting in for the locksmith. He told me I would get some change from �200. 
A strange thing about C.S. spray (assuming that assessment was correct) is that it smells of marzipan afterwards, at least to me. So that was nice. However, the burning being reactivated in the shower today was not so nice.
Just to big myself up a little  , I should also note that this wasn't some scrawny adolescent. It was a man of around twenty, 6'2" tall, broad and stocky.
I don't know if the non-Britons have heard about this, but we have had a lot of cases here of people getting killed after trying to stop anti-social behaviour. I'm not saying it was pragmatically sensible, but I'm afraid I just don't regret it. It's not O.K. for people to get away with behaving however they like. |
Edited by - Sal[Au]pian on 05/30/2008 16:31:21 |
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benj clews
"...."
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 16:25:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Salopian
Just to big myself up a little , I should also note that this wasn't some scrawny adolescent. It was a man of around twenty, 6'2" tall, broad and stocky.
That's the biggest joke of it all- if this guy's so hard, why does he need CS spray to fight his battles? It takes a big man to carry around concealed weaponry to silence anyone who has the slightest disagreement with them. What a twat, coupled with a coward who kicks you whilst you're down by nicking your bag. |
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RockGolf
"1500+ reviews. 1 joke."
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 16:43:34
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As a side note, have you got an apology or, hell, even a refund, from the theatre? Do they have a picture of the couple posted at the sales booth with a note to contact police?
And what the heck is CS spray? I've never heard of it. (By the way, C4 explosive, I think, also smells of almonds.) |
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Sal[Au]pian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 16:59:46
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quote:
Originally posted by R o � k G 0 1 f
As a side note, have you got an apology or, hell, even a refund, from the theatre? Do they have a picture of the couple posted at the sales booth with a note to contact police?
I'm going to complain to their headquarters about the snail-like response of the managers, and the fact that talking in that cinema is such a problem. The guy of the nice couple spoke to one manager about it as a general issue, and the other manager turned his attention to them. The guy had to tell him at least twice to carry on dealing with me!
quote:
And what the heck is CS spray? I've never heard of it. (By the way, C4 explosive, I think, also smells of almonds.)
This, but of course I am just trusting what the professionals thought. If told it were mace or pepper spray, I would have known no different. I don't even know if they are three separate products. |
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demonic
"Cinemaniac"
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Posted - 05/30/2008 : 18:26:47
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| That's vile. I'm sorry to hear about this Sal. It sounds like the Trocadero has to take more responsibility for the behaviour of their clientele; I hope you get a decent reponse to your follow up. |
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Sean
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
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Posted - 05/31/2008 : 00:57:07
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Holy shit!  Sorry to hear about this. I hope they get the bastard.
Now the TV/DVD player in my lounge looks even more inviting.  |
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Conan The Westy
"Father, Faithful Friend, Fwiffer"
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Posted - 05/31/2008 : 01:16:35
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Yikes!
I hope you're feeling better and they get caught.
I read the Wikipedia link and they suggest cow's milk for deactivating the gas - you could do a Cleopatra and bath in ass's milk. Trying to find some humour in an otherwise horrific situation. |
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Fun at the cinema
