Why I Still Belong to Netflix
I first started blogging in December of 2007 after an experience with an inconsiderate cellphone user at the movie theater. Luckily violence was averted. Not so in Philadelphia this past Christmas season. When I read this story below. I just had to share it. I'm, of course, not justifying the shooter's action. It is simply another example of the decay of social behavior (no cellphone involved.)
Man Allegedly Shoots Talker at Movies
By MARYCLAIRE DALE
PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 27, 2009) — A man enraged by a noisy family sitting near him in a movie theater on Christmas night shot the father of the family in the arm, police said.
James Joseph Cialella, 29, of Philadelphia, faces six charges that include attempted murder and aggravated assault. He remained in custody.
Philadelphia Police Department
Police said James Joseph Cialella, 29, was carrying a .380-caliber handgun when he was arrested for allegedly shooting a man in a Philadelphia movie theater.
Police said Cialella told the man's family to be quiet, then threw popcorn at the man's son. The victim, whom television reports identified as Woffard Lomax, told police that Cialella was walking toward his family when he stood up and was shot.
Detectives called to the United Artists Riverview Stadium theater in South Philadelphia found Cialella carrying the weapon, a .380-caliber handgun, in his waistband, police said.
Lt. Frank Vanore called the incident "scary that it gets to that level of violence from being too noisy during a movie."
Lomax, 31, of Yeadon, was released from a hospital after the shooting. He declined to comment when contacted by phone Saturday.
It was not immediately known whether Cialella had a lawyer or whether bail had been set. A woman who answered a call to his home number Saturday declined to comment.
Police could not confirm what movie was playing in the theater, but The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that it was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."
Does he look like the type that would have been seeing Benjamin Button?
Posted by Warren Adelman at 1/10/2009 11:21 AM 
Categories: Cellphones,Human behavior
Tags: cinema netflix social behavior
Categories: Cellphones,Human behavior
Tags: cinema netflix social behavior
Abiding by a social contract is good. We should all behave in a manner befitting public interaction. Shooting people for talking in a movie, however, demonstrates how far away from the social contract we can stray when we fail to consider the relative importance of the various terms of the contract. We need to keep things in perspective folks.
Reply to this
As I'm sure the noisy father with the now ventilated arm will attest, there are times when -- quite simply -- it pays to be quiet.
Reply to this
True enough. But will he now begin to litigate against Regal Entertainment claiming they failed to provide a secure environment for him and his family to attend a movie.
Reply to this
Bob scares me just a little bit, but I scare me too!
My take is that Mr Parsons might best be labeled "A Rebel WITH a cause"
Reply to this
A Rebel With A Cause.
Reply to this
Warren,
Happy new year.
It's great to read these posts. It's a way of staying in touch with people, without even knowing the specific people you are staying in touch with. But I have "A social contract" on my google main page, so I see your musings whenever you write them. Hopefully this type of connection will help most of us avoid reacting like James Joseph Cialella in a social setting.
Reply to this
Great to hear from you and Happy New Year as well. I am happy to make it on to any iGoogle page
Reply to this
Hi Warren
My first visit to A Social Contract after reviewing Bob Parson's video clips on godaddy.com...I'm totally hooked on both sites...I was looking into domain names and was impressed with the web site godaddy.com...the clean, entertaining information was absolutely refreshing. I have book marked both web sites...A Social Contract shapes your thoughts to real life humor and jaw dropping reading pleasure. Thank you and I look forward to much more Warren.
Mike
Reply to this
Glad you are a Go Daddy customer Mike. Thanks for the kind words. Not sure I deserve the praise (but will take it nonetheless).
Reply to this
I remember my economics lecturer at university saying that the drug problem could easily be resolved by giving the death penalty to all involved. He said that if the punishment was carried out (like in Singapore) the incentive to be involved would disappear. Harsh, but it works. I don't advocate this but when I'm about to do something anti-social, like change lanes without indicating, I always tell myself that there's a road-rage maniac with an Uzi in the car I'm about to pull out in front of. It makes me a pleasure to be on the road with.
Reply to this
No signaling infuriates me! It is rampant here. How hard is it to signal. Really.
Reply to this
Hey Warren,
I actually find it more alarming the journalists' byline date is Dec 27, 2009. I am not sure what scares me more, Philly guy with a gun or journalist with a pen! Both can do a lot of damage. However, his gun will run out of bullets before her pen runs out of ink... Happy New Year! ~Ted
Reply to this