“Make believe” security does bug me though. For a while, at least in Manhattan,you couldn’t mail a package at a post office without a complete return address and an ID that matched the name on the return address. (So you couldn’t mail a package for a friend.) There were long lines. Meanwhile…there were unmanned FedEx Prepaid package deposit containers in the same post offices. Nobody checked what you put in. It seemed absurd to me!
True. Supposedly “enhanced” security done poorly can do little or nothing to protect against the threat, while adding to the cost and loss of both freedom and convenience, the worst of all worlds.
"Visible minorities’
just wow
I’m not outrage by the checks.
And if everyone else heeds the ‘hour early’ suggestion, you’re probably fine showing up 30 minutes before, when the crush is through.
But yes, sorry to say, I also look at exit routes.
I’m more dismayed by the need for metal detectors in schools.
I feel like we’re coming to the end of civilization.
For some reason at our local college basketball arena, an overweight retiree (yours truly) is deemed a threat as a result of the 8 ounce water bottle in my coat pocket (confiscated). I will NOT pay outrageous prices for water!!!
Can you bring an empty water bottle, like for airline travel, and fill it up after you get thru security? I put an empty collapsible bottle in my jacket and fill it after we are done with security. I refuse to buy overpriced bottled water and filling my water bottle is not a threat to anyone.
No…repeat NO liquids are allowed in our theater…ever at all. No beverages, even water. And no food. This has been the policy at most of the theaters I have been to (except outdoor ones) since I was a small child. There are signs that clearly state “no beverages or food allowed in the theater”.
That would include water bottles. I’m sure you could carry an empty bottle into the building…but you would,only be able to drink out of it in the lobby…and there ARE drinking fountains there.
@thumper1 Oh, I long for those days of no food or drink in the theatre! That simply doesn’t exist any longer in most cities, and hasn’t for a very long time. The worst case of this I ever saw was at a Broadway production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown where a class full of kids filed into the row behind us and they, and their teachers, promptly opened their brown bag lunches and started to chow down. Many theatres now have staff walking up and down the aisles selling drinks, ice cream, etc. at intermission.
@alwaysamom around here…the only time that happened was at the circus…which no longer is on the road. And even then…the venue expected you to purchase their stuff, not bring it in.
I totally understand the NO food or drink policy. What a horrible job to have to shampoo carpets, clean seats, etc between shows (sometimes less than an hour between shows for certain productions) because stuff has been spilled. Keep the food in the lobby area, thank you.
And yes, that includes water. Unless you have some medical reason, you should be able to go without a drink of water for 2 1/2 hours or so…and that’s assuming no intermission.
I’m fine with the security for security sake…but the advice to get there an hour early would be a huge problem for folks like DH who comes from work for a 7:30 show…and to an hour from where he works. We will just have to plan ahead.
I was actually addressing @MADad — the thirsty referee. Our theaters and concert hall generally have no food or beverages in the venue which works fine for me. A hot, thirsty referee on the other hand deserves to have water without paying inflated venue prices, imho.
If he is the referee at the game…I’m quite sure he will be provided with water. If he is a spectator…he is just like the rest of us.
@HImom —I said I was a retiree–not a referee!!!
I get the mess that bringing food into a theater can create, but do they sell magic food and drink that does not stain or leave a mess??? What is special about their food—they profit by selling it, that’s the thing
Our theater doesn’t allow ANY food or drink in the theater.
None.
And yes, they sell water. But that isn’t allowed in the theater either.
@HImom from post 30…guess auto correct gotcha.?
Whoops, sorry I saw referee not retiree —I don’t see why “security theater” allows us to be price gouged at sports venues. Why is the water sold at the facility not a security risk while the water patrons bring in is? Even TSA lets folks bring in bottles and fill the empty bottles past security.