Cell Phone Shusher 'A Hero': Feedback Friday

We're at 1,118 "likes" on the H-F Patch Facebook page.

According to Wikipedia, a rebellion against Henry I of England broke out in Normandy, economic competition between Italian cities Milan and Como drove the two to war and John II Comnenus succeeded Alexius I as Byzantine emperor in the year 1118.

What a year.

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Overheard on Facebook

The biggest conversation on our Facebook page this week was about . The woman wound up calling the police, but no action was taken, nor any complaints signed. We talked to the shusher and now our readers are praising his actions.

• Caitlin Archer-Helke: "I think a *lot* of us tell people to stop talking/turn off their phones. *Any* sort of performance venue is the wrong place for gossiping or cell phone conversations."
• David Parry: "It's kind of like that movie 'Pay it Forward' but we are being encouraged to tell people to "shut … up" instead - I endorse this message 100%"
• Ben Hurd: "Never understand how people can be rude enough to be talking or playing with a phone during a movie"
• Anita Rogalski Kowalisyn: "I just don't understand why people have to talk on the phone 24-7! I have also asked people to turn off their phone or too be quiet. The worst thing that happened to me was being given the finger. That was ok. It was quiet afterward."
• Sue Baer Dralle: "Cell phones should come with curtsey rules and not work if abused."

Now Over to - Patch

The commenters on H-F Patch also voiced their opinion on the cell phone shusher. Here's their take on the situation:

• :"He's a martial arts instructor, he can afford to confront people lol. I thank him for bringing the rudeness of some movie goers to the forefront though. Whatever happened to manners and public civility."
• :"'God forbid you have a direct interaction with somebody that is exhibiting behavior that is troublesome for you.' That's a great quote, and he's absolutely right. Perhaps he could have been less angry, but the woman couldn't have been too scared, to stay put through the rest of the movie. Here's my question: did she, in fact, keep her phone off for the rest of the movie?"
• :"Way to go, Mace! What is shocking is this behavior came from a 58 year old woman! I could see it coming from a rude, know it all teenager but a grown woman? People like her are what is wrong with the world today. Why can't people acknowledge they are wrong (hasn't she seen the multitude of psa's telling you to turn off your cell phone during the movie?) and do the right thing?"
• :"What don't people get? I think that the man was absolutely correct. The woman should have been kicked out of the theater. I have confronted people before, and they act do indignant, well too bad!! Its bad enough that people talk and text on their phones while driving putting all our lives at risk. Get off the damn phones!!"
• :"I most definitely would. Nowadays, everyone is so afraid to stand up and say something or do the right thing because they are afraid. Not me! Especially, when I am paying alot of $. Regardless of his martial arts, he did the right thing."
• :"Mace DeVries is a hero. More people should point out ridiculous rudeness to the offenders. Passive aggressive "tsks" just don't cut it. Confront the situation head-on. Way to go, Mace!"
• :"You know, it used to be that if you talked at all, the usher would throw you out. I would love to shake this man's hand. There is something called common courtesy. If you need to talk on the phone, go outside! And this woman was scared?! Please! She was angry because she couldn't have her way. As for the way Mace spoke to her, my guess is that if he asked her politely, she would have told him that she can do whatever she wants. And then she goes so far as to waste the police's time! Too much drama!"
• :"The woman was absolutely wrong. If she was so scared, she would have called the police immediately instead of after the movie. People like this have no common courtesy. I'm sure she's "lacking" in other types of behavior which involves the interaction between her fellow human beings. What scares me the most is that she's probably "breeding". Scary."
• :"Can't build healthy communities by walking around thinking the world owes you a favor either. Someone probably needed to speak to this women in this manner a long time ago. Unfortunately that door has probably already closed."
• :"'I want you to be nice ... until it's time .... to not be nice.' -- Dalton, 'Roadhouse'"

THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED READERSHIP AND SUPPORT