"Christian" group disrupts theatre performance

[Jon.]

Watch the video and read the blog entries. It's also worth reading the followup, linked from the bottom of the blog.

I'm not 100% convinced that this wasn't set up by the performer, but I'm 95% there, especially after reading the followup.

[Tanstaafl]

Um, did you forget to post a link?

[Rufo]

My incredible psychic powers tell me that it was this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IeMtQ-SZtA) video. I also sense that it might be this (http://reddit.com/info/1k575/comments) blog. Or another one starting with R or H. Or he's sending out the wrong vibes to trick me. Whatever is wrong, it's not my fault.

[FaisonMars]

Hmm, I'd never heard of this guy, and now with this publicity I'm interested in learning more about his work.

Thanks, crazy fundie protesters!

[Steven Howard]

Here are the blog links:

http://www.mikedaisey.com/2007/04/night-to-remember.sht

http://www.mikedaisey.com/2007/04/aftermath-and-confrontation.sht

[wahrheit]

Hmm, I'd never heard of this guy, and now with this publicity I'm interested in learning more about his work.

Thanks, crazy fundie protesters!

Seconded.

Here are the blog links:

http://www.mikedaisey.com/2007/04/night-to-remember.sht

http://www.mikedaisey.com/2007/04/aftermath-and-confrontation.sht

I was just about to post that second link and write something like "Worth a read, very interesting.", but you beat me to posting the links.

[Jon.]

Oops, am I embarrassed. Yes, Steven Howard posted the correct links.

[Quinn]

Has anyone managed to identify the protest group, so we can write to them and help them understand just how much their childish actions have increased this guy's popularity?

[ChristineR]

Yeah, it's in the second blog. They were a group of public high school students. They eventually remembered that they were a non-secular group, though.

I'm not sure it was a protest. It sounds like someone didn't realize that the play had references to Paris Hilton and decided on his own to make the kids leave. The kids probably had no choice but to go with the group leaders.

[jhuntington]

See also this thread:
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=80156

[wahrheit]

See also this thread:
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=80156

Hey, you were faster than Jon. So all credit goes to you. :)

Why did you post your thread in 'community'?

[Marquis de Carabas]

OK, I agree it was ignorant and disruptive, and I realise I'll be called a cad for this, but Mr. Daisey seems just a bit drama queeny to me.

And it wounded me in my heart, because I trusted these people...They've made me afraid of my audience, afraid of my craft, just the smallest amount, and that's the trust I will have to relearn tonight and every night.
Afraid? Was there an assault? A threat of violence even? Someone poured water on his notes, which was a sh:Dy thing to do, but if this is the worst he deals with in his life, he should count himself lucky.

I tried to engage with the group as they fled, but they ran out like cowards, and not one of them would stand and discuss with me what they'd done. That cowardice still takes my breath away--that they wouldn't stand and speak like men and women and tell me in their voices their grievances.
If someone does not like a show, for any reason, they are well within their rights to get up and walk out of it. They do not have to explain themselves to the performer, or to anyone.

I had to stay onstage and tend to my audience, who was wounded and reeling--they looked stunned and shaken...
So his fans are p:Dsies, too.

In short, get over it.

[wahrheit]

OK, I agree it was ignorant and disruptive, and I realise I'll be called a cad for this, but Mr. Daisey seems just a bit drama queeny to me.


Afraid? Was there an assault? A threat of violence even? Someone poured water on his notes, which was a sh:Dy thing to do, but if this is the worst he deals with in his life, he should count himself lucky.


If someone does not like a show, for any reason, they are well within their rights to get up and walk out of it. They do not have to explain themselves to the performer, or to anyone.


So his fans are p:Dsies, too.

In short, get over it.

Cad! ;)

Don't forget though that this guy is not a case-hardened TV entertainer used to dealing with stuff like this. I found his blog entries very honest, I really believe he was agitated about what was going on in that moment.

[strathmeyer]

They "disagreed with his language"! They didn't like the fact that he used a certain word, so they purposefully bought tickets for it and walked out! It's all so hilarious!

I'm going to the movies this weekend, seeing only rated R movies, and lighting the screen on fire whenever they say something obscene. And by obscene I mean normal language that everybody uses all the time.

[ChristineR]

They "disagreed with his language"! They didn't like the fact that he used a certain word, so they purposefully bought tickets for it and walked out! It's all so hilarious!

I'm going to the movies this weekend, seeing only rated R movies, and lighting the screen on fire whenever they say something obscene. And by obscene I mean normal language that everybody uses all the time.

I don't think that the purposefully bought tickets and walked out. I think that they bought tickets for a group of high school students and then made the decision to leave when the actor used a bad word.

I'm still trying to figure this one out though, so if you have information that it was purposeful, fire away!

[qayak]

I don't think that the purposefully bought tickets and walked out. I think that they bought tickets for a group of high school students and then made the decision to leave when the actor used a bad word.

I'm still trying to figure this one out though, so if you have information that it was purposeful, fire away!

They were told before they bought the tickets that there was strong language and adult situations and topics. The other high school group didn't leave and said they were told the same thing before they bought tickets.

[ChristineR]

They were told before they bought the tickets that there was strong language and adult situations and topics. The other high school group didn't leave and said they were told the same thing before they bought tickets.

Which still doesn't show that they planned to leave before they bought the tickets.

[pgwenthold]

Which still doesn't show that they planned to leave before they bought the tickets.


I think it's just an issue of being generous. I mean, alternatively, it could just be that they are clueless idiots...

[murphyr]

If someone does not like a show, for any reason, they are well within their rights to get up and walk out of it. They do not have to explain themselves to the performer, or to anyone.I absolutely agree. However, they do not have the right to get up and walk out of it in a manner that is actively disruptive to the show. The rest of the audience had also paid good money to see a show. They weren't offended. They might even have been enjoying it. Why does Audience Group A's right to leave trump Audience Group B's right to enjoy a show they paid for?

If I don't like a movie (neglecting for the moment that the movie will continue playing no matter what's happening in the theater, in which it differs from a live actor), I can walk out of it. I've paid to see it, and I have the right to leave if I don't like it. I don't, however, have the right to jump up, scream "What's all this now?!", then run up to the screen and start slashing it with a knife on the way out the door. That ruins it for everyone else at the movie, who may have been enjoying it and who also paid the same price to see it.

[Jon.]

OK, I agree it was ignorant and disruptive, and I realise I'll be called a cad for this, but Mr. Daisey seems just a bit drama queeny to me.

Well, duh. He's an actor, and not just an actor, but an actor in a one-man show.

I have no doubt that he seized on the opportunity to get some publicity out of this. However, it must have been fairly disconcerting for him to have such a huge portion of his audience stand up and leave all at once. And to dump water on his notes is ignorant and destructive, though clearly not a threat to his well-being. I thought he handled it well by trying to get in touch with these people and find out why they were so upset.

[Tanstaafl]

I don't think that the purposefully bought tickets and walked out. I think that they bought tickets for a group of high school students and then made the decision to leave when the actor used a bad word.

I'm still trying to figure this one out though, so if you have information that it was purposeful, fire away!


If it was true that the group got up in unison, that makes me suspect that they did plan this in advance as a protest. It seems to me that if it were spontaneous, it would have taken a while to get the entire group to leave, and some of them would have tried to stay (some of them must have liked the show) and the others would have tried to coax them out.

But I couldn't see enough of what was going on in the video to determine this, so it's still largely speculation based on what the actor wrote in his blog.

[thaiboxerken]

It's pretty obvious to me that this was planned ahead by the christian group. The guy pouring water on the notes to ensure the show was disrupted is pretty damning evidence of this. Christians sure can be weird folk. Plus, they started walking when he was really getting funny. "Oh my god, I'm Paris Hilton!" That's hilarious!

[Moochie]

My incredible psychic powers tell me that it was this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IeMtQ-SZtA) video. I also sense that it might be this (http://reddit.com/info/1k575/comments) blog. Or another one starting with R or H. Or he's sending out the wrong vibes to trick me. Whatever is wrong, it's not my fault.


Looks like CGI and laugh tracks to me. A Chris Farley wannabe?

M.

[ChristineR]

If it was true that the group got up in unison, that makes me suspect that they did plan this in advance as a protest. It seems to me that if it were spontaneous, it would have taken a while to get the entire group to leave, and some of them would have tried to stay (some of them must have liked the show) and the others would have tried to coax them out.

But I couldn't see enough of what was going on in the video to determine this, so it's still largely speculation based on what the actor wrote in his blog.

They were a group of high school students from out of town, which means that when the responsible adult left, they all left. I suspect that most of the kids wanted to stay, but no one has come out and said that.

I use the word responsible loosely. Apparently the water bottle guy was one of the adults.

[Marquis de Carabas]

I absolutely agree. However, they do not have the right to get up and walk out of it in a manner that is actively disruptive to the show. The rest of the audience had also paid good money to see a show. They weren't offended. They might even have been enjoying it. Why does Audience Group A's right to leave trump Audience Group B's right to enjoy a show they paid for?

If I don't like a movie (neglecting for the moment that the movie will continue playing no matter what's happening in the theater, in which it differs from a live actor), I can walk out of it. I've paid to see it, and I have the right to leave if I don't like it. I don't, however, have the right to jump up, scream "What's all this now?!", then run up to the screen and start slashing it with a knife on the way out the door. That ruins it for everyone else at the movie, who may have been enjoying it and who also paid the same price to see it.
I quite agree, which is why I believe Mr. Water Dumper deserves disdain. If the only target of Mr. Daisey's ire had been that guy, I'd have almost no problem with it (I still think he's a bit over the top in his reaction, but that guy was a dick, so ok). The rest of the group, from what I saw, tried to leave in as unobtrusive a manner a sizable group could manage.

[Ceritus]

Very odd indeed. I like the one statement in the blog about christianity though. A tree is judged by the fruit it produces.

[Tanstaafl]

I quite agree, which is why I believe Mr. Water Dumper deserves disdain. If the only target of Mr. Daisey's ire had been that guy, I'd have almost no problem with it (I still think he's a bit over the top in his reaction, but that guy was a dick, so ok). The rest of the group, from what I saw, tried to leave in as unobtrusive a manner a sizable group could manage.


Yes, most of them did seem to be doing nothing more than heading to the door. I think calling them cowards was way over the top on his part.

[murphyr]

Yes, most of them did seem to be doing nothing more than heading to the door. I think calling them cowards was way over the top on his part.
I'd be interested to learn whether the theater had rear exits. If it did, then while they were certainly entitled to leave, they could have been a bit more discreet about it.

[strathmeyer]

It was a safety issue:

http://www.mikedaisey.com/2007/04/aftermath-and-confrontation.sht

Apparently they went from claiming to be a Christian group (from the first phone call to yelling it as they walked out of the theater) to being a High School group right afterwards.

Also many interesting notes about how the group leader's opinion changed after he learned that he went to Catholic school: he went from someone who was worthless and deserved to be destroyed to someone who was in the secret club in knew the secret language with just one sentence.]

I'm sorry, Tanstaafl, but on what basis are you defending this groups actions? We know what you think; why do you think it? They weren't just heading for the door. You can't just defend actions by breaking them down into their basic parts.

[Tanstaafl]

All I was saying is that from the limited view I had of the video, it looked like most of those leaving were simply walking out. Now if there were rear exits they chose not to use, that changes things. I was trying to avoid assuming facts not in evidence, as Perry Mason would say.

My opinion actually is that they were actively trying to be disruptive and planned that in advance. But I am lacking in evidence, so didn't want to accuse them of it.

[TobiasTheViking]

Yes, most of them did seem to be doing nothing more than heading to the door. I think calling them cowards was way over the top on his part.
If the group had just gone up and left, i would have agreed, but one of them destroyed his work. So he is well within his rights and not even close to moral or ethical problem in calling them cowards. Even if yes, not all of them did this, the group still needs to be confronted.. the one of them could say "i don't agree with what he did, i'm just leaving because i have to follow him, i'm as appaled and disgusted as you are".

A member of their group opted to be destructive, and so Mike tried to find out what he had done, what had happened. And in desperation he called them cowards and shouted. But, when they destroy his work and then try to ignore him and act like children, he is well within his rights to shout and scream all he likes.. he didn't hit them, he didn't destroy any of their work, and he didn't threaten them. All he did, was call them cowards.


Which they were.


Even if they had to leave with the leader, they were still cowards for not saying "sorry, i really don't want to leave, but i have to, and i appologize for that guys behaviour, that was wrong".

They were cowards, he called them on it. At least one of their party was destructive, evil and mean, and i think he is well within his rights to call the entire party cowards and have them defend or apologize what one of their party just did. Anything else is cowardize.. which, wait a minute, yes, Mike called them on.


Sorry, i don't see him having done anything wrong. True, he didn't have to shout, but i understand it, and i don't think it is wrong that he did.

[Tanstaafl]

I agree with most of that, but I don't think that high school students are cowards for failing to confront their own faculty (I think) leader in a case like this. I think ideally they should have, but I think calling them cowards was a stretch.

I can't argue with much else you say though, that guy that dumped the water was a total... ah, there's that darn rule 8 again!

[jimlintott]

If it was true that the group got up in unison, that makes me suspect that they did plan this in advance as a protest. It seems to me that if it were spontaneous, it would have taken a while to get the entire group to leave, and some of them would have tried to stay (some of them must have liked the show) and the others would have tried to coax them out.

But I couldn't see enough of what was going on in the video to determine this, so it's still largely speculation based on what the actor wrote in his blog.

I basically agree with you but remember these are sheeple. A group of sheeple spontaneously following their good shepherd to safety doesn't seem that far fetched to me.

[TobiasTheViking]

I agree with most of that, but I don't think that high school students are cowards for failing to confront their own faculty (I think) leader in a case like this. I think ideally they should have, but I think calling them cowards was a stretch.

I can't argue with much else you say though, that guy that dumped the water was a total... ah, there's that darn rule 8 again!

did i say they should confront their faculty leader? no, i said they should appologize on his behalf and say they don't agree with what he did, had they said that to Mike instead of just flee, he wouldn't have had a need to call the cowards, because they wouldn't have been.

[Tanstaafl]

Yeah, but they're also high school kids. I would expect to at least hear some of them whining in the background (do we really need to go now???), plus they know the group can't leave them behind. I would expect at least a couple to be rebellious and try to stay. If they all just get quietly up and file out following their leader who they had no idea would leave early... then they are very well-trained sheeple.

Which is certainly possible, I just doubt it.

[Tanstaafl]

Gee, what's the forum record for arguing with people I agree with?

Ah, I suppose I'm not even close to it.

Yes, Tobias, they should have apologised to the guy. And the fact that not a single one of them did makes me even more suspicious that this exit was all planned and agreed upon in advance.