Guy Buys Movie Ticket, Internet Outraged

 

A Brooklyn movie theater recently scheduled a special screening of Wonder Woman open only to women. Cinema/dining chain Alamo Drafthouse said on their website, “Apologies, gentlemen, but we’re embracing our girl power and saying ‘No Guys Allowed’ for several special shows at the Alamo Downtown Brooklyn. And when we say ‘Women (and people who identify as women) only,’ we mean it.”

Movie fan (and my Conservatarians podcast partner-in-crime) Stephen Miller decided he wanted to see a new superhero flick, so he bought a ticket online. Upon sharing this rather mundane act, the Internet exploded, as is its wont.

Of course, there were thousands more entertaining tweets, but their ubiquitous profanity violates Ricochet’s Code of Conduct. To each attack, Miller stressed he has no interest in making a scene; he just wants to sit down and watch Wonder Woman.

Of course, his calmness created even more outrage. A.V. Club writer William Hughes wrote the first of sure to be many think-pieces on this calumny:

As Miller has delighted in telling people irritated by his decision—in that “I am speaking calmly, so you must be the [expletive]” tone so beloved by internet trolls—there’s nothing illegal about purchasing a ticket to a screening. That argument does, though, gloss over the fact that, while barging into a space you’ve been asked to stay out of just because that request made you feel briefly tiny and weak doesn’t make you a criminal, it does make you an insecure piece of [expletive].”

Alamo Drafthouse is in a bit of a pickle here. New York City law strictly prohibits them from discriminating by gender:

In fact, New York City prohibits even advertising women-only events, meaning that Alamo is already in violation of the law.

After years of progressives demanding that businesses bake cakes and open bathrooms, it’s cathartic to see them reverse their position when it offends their consciences. Miller is offering them a minor, even friendly, clinic on the brave new world they have created.

And I’m sure he’ll provide a thorough review of the screening when he returns to our podcast.

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  1. Benjamin Glaser Inactive
    Benjamin Glaser
    @BenjaminGlaser

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Benjamin Glaser (View Comment):
    No one is going to be won by interrupting the event and rude behavior is not part of the virtues true Conservatism should be inculcating through their example.

    It’s not about winning, though. It’s about making the other side live up the rules they wish everyone else to follow. (Or else.) I’d guess 97.3% of the men criticizing the event don’t care that it’s happening, or that they’re told to keep out; it’s not about feeling threatened by Strong Women Assembling For Strongness. It’s their certainty that a men-only showing of “Iron Man” would be result in a flock of furies swooping down on their heads. As it would.

    That’s great. I just do not believe we are going to ever beat the Left using their playbook. We win this war by outlasting them and by being consistent to principle. Showing by example that our ideals are better through the good life lived, not by playing their silly childish games. Confusing means/end is not going to do it.

    William F. Buckley forever regretted getting into it with Gore Vidal. The old proverb about not getting into the mud with the pig should be considered in these days. Of course, remember the screed of 2016?

    But he fights!

    • #31
  2. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Don’t stop here.  There are still women only colleges out there, and businesses such as the workout club, Curves.  I say it’s time to smash the matriarchy.

    • #32
  3. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    I find this hilarious.

    • #33
  4. MJBubba Member
    MJBubba
    @

    Melissa Praemonitus (View Comment):
    Perhaps progressive theaters will soon require men to watch a movie in their own section up front, where they cannot easily gaze at gals, with women safely in the back, near the exits.

    That way, people of the opposite sex will only sit near each other in the unisex bathroom.

    That would make the theater seating look more like the seating at theaters in Saudi Arabia.

    When the Progressives get what they want, everyone loses.  Including them.

    • #34
  5. MJBubba Member
    MJBubba
    @

    Benjamin Glaser (View Comment):
    I’ll be that guy and say I do not find this kind of stunt amusing or helpful to the cause of conservatism in any way.

    It goes to show that immaturity and classlessness is not just a thing seen among the Trumpist Right, but has made its way to the other side as well. No one is going to be won by interrupting the event and rude behavior is not part of the virtues true Conservatives should be inculcating through their example.

    Are you talking about members of Ricochet ?

     

    • #35
  6. Benjamin Glaser Inactive
    Benjamin Glaser
    @BenjaminGlaser

    I was pretty clearly speaking about the gentleman at the center of the ticket-buying.

    • #36
  7. MJBubba Member
    MJBubba
    @

    Benjamin Glaser (View Comment):
    I’ll be that guy and say I do not find this kind of stunt amusing or helpful to the cause of conservatism in any way.

    It goes to show that immaturity and classlessness is not just a thing seen among the Trumpist Right, but has made its way to the other side as well. No one is going to be won by interrupting the event and rude behavior is not part of the virtues true Conservatives should be inculcating through their example.

    I do not believe that Mr. Miller is planning on any interruptions or rude behavior.  In fact, it appears quite the opposite.

    I expect that he will see interruptions and rude behavior by others, though.  That would be in character for the likely attendees at the event.

    And, I think your use of “true Conservatives” is rather revealing.

     

    • #37
  8. MJBubba Member
    MJBubba
    @

    Benjamin Glaser (View Comment):
    I was pretty clearly speaking about the gentleman at the center of the ticket-buying.

    I was asking who you had in mind with “Trumpist Right” ?

    • #38
  9. Merrijane Inactive
    Merrijane
    @Merrijane

    Benjamin Glaser (View Comment):
    That’s great. I just do not believe we are going to ever beat the Left using their playbook. We win this war by outlasting them and by being consistent to principle.

    I actually agree with this right here. When I heard several years back that conservatives were reading Rules for Radicals as an instruction manual, I knew we were in for some rough times ahead.

    • #39
  10. derek Inactive
    derek
    @user_82953

    Heh. I must say that if the choice is between the sniffy principled conservatives, and Stephan Miller, the choice is obvious. If I was anywhere in the environs, I would be at the theatre as well.

    • #40
  11. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Stuffing it right in the leftists’ faces. Love it.

    • #41
  12. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    derek (View Comment):
    Heh. I must say that if the choice is between the sniffy principled conservatives, and Stephan Miller, the choice is obvious. If I was anywhere in the environs, I would be at the theatre as well.

    And I’d go there and say I identify as a man and tell them they can’t discriminate based on gender. Gah “gender” is a grammar term. It’s sex, people. They only started saying “gender” because news anchors don’t like having to say “sex” on the air.

    • #42
  13. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Benjamin Glaser (View Comment):
    That’s great. I just do not believe we are going to ever beat the Left using their playbook. We win this war by outlasting them and by being consistent to principle. Showing by example that our ideals are better through the good life lived, not by playing their silly childish games. Confusing means/end is not going to do it.

    Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

    US: Freedom of association is a fundamental right.

    THEM: Not when the intersection of privilege and oppression combine to otherize the historically marginalized!

    US: Okay, well, some day you’ll see our point.

    THEM: Your point is based on fear of losing your power and cultural dominance, and its premises are invalid.

    US: What? No. Its premises are universal.

    THEM: What you call “universal” is a code-word for the maintenance of white hegemony.

    US: No, see, people have the right to associate with whomever they please, and –

    THEM: That is what we are saying.

    US: Right, right, but you don’t extend to everyone the same rights of association.

    THEM: Everyone is not entitled to them. We decide who is permitted these definitions, and reserve for ourselves entry into any other form of association in order to disrupt the oppressive paradigm.

    US: Okay, I guess, but some day you’ll come around.

    THEM: Some day you’ll all be dead and we won’t have to have this stupid conversation.

    OR you use the laws that curtailed freedom of association, laws they applauded, and make your point quietly, sitting in the dark of the theater. They’ll never change their minds, but it won’t be as much fun for them.

    • #43
  14. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Merrijane (View Comment):

    Benjamin Glaser (View Comment):
    That’s great. I just do not believe we are going to ever beat the Left using their playbook. We win this war by outlasting them and by being consistent to principle.

    I actually agree with this right here. When I heard several years back that conservatives were reading Rules for Radicals as an instruction manual, I knew we were in for some rough times ahead.

    You don’t fight rebellions with conventional forces. If you’re the guerrilla, you don’t march in a straight line and wear red.

    • #44
  15. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    derek (View Comment):
    Heh. I must say that if the choice is between the sniffy principled conservatives, and Stephan Miller, the choice is obvious. If I was anywhere in the environs, I would be at the theatre as well.

    And I’d go there and say I identify as a man and tell them they can’t discriminate based on gender. Gah “gender” is a grammar term. It’s sex, people. They only started saying “gender” because news anchors don’t like having to say “sex” on the air.

    I’d pay money just to see RA yell at the Alamo Drafthouse girl. “DID YOU JUST ASSUME MY GENDER???”

    • #45
  16. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Douglas (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    derek (View Comment):
    Heh. I must say that if the choice is between the sniffy principled conservatives, and Stephan Miller, the choice is obvious. If I was anywhere in the environs, I would be at the theatre as well.

    And I’d go there and say I identify as a man and tell them they can’t discriminate based on gender. Gah “gender” is a grammar term. It’s sex, people. They only started saying “gender” because news anchors don’t like having to say “sex” on the air.

    I’d pay money just to see RA yell at the Alamo Drafthouse girl. “DID YOU JUST ASSUME MY GENDER???”

    Hahaha

    • #46
  17. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Douglas (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    derek (View Comment):
    Heh. I must say that if the choice is between the sniffy principled conservatives, and Stephan Miller, the choice is obvious. If I was anywhere in the environs, I would be at the theatre as well.

    And I’d go there and say I identify as a man and tell them they can’t discriminate based on gender. Gah “gender” is a grammar term. It’s sex, people. They only started saying “gender” because news anchors don’t like having to say “sex” on the air.

    I’d pay money just to see RA yell at the Alamo Drafthouse girl. “DID YOU JUST ASSUME MY GENDER???”

    Hahaha

    Lauren Southern (youtube newser) did that; had her driver’s license changed to say she’s a man.  And then in a street argument with some female lefty protester, dropped that bomb on the woman… “What do you mean?  I’m a man!”.  Shut the woman up completely, even though she was wearing an evening gown at the time.

    It was beautiful.

    • #47
  18. Sash Member
    Sash
    @Sash

    I can’t even begin to understand the left, they simply make no sense.

    How does this make any sense?

    • #48
  19. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Sash (View Comment):
    I can’t even begin to understand the left, they simply make no sense.

    How does this make any sense?

    Well, to paraphrase Shakespeare, the Left and Reason keep very little company.

    • #49
  20. drlorentz Member
    drlorentz
    @drlorentz

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Gah “gender” is a grammar term. It’s sex, people. They only started saying “gender” because news anchors don’t like having to say “sex” on the air.

    Yeah, gender is for language class. Yet Facebook has more genders than German does.

    • #50
  21. drlorentz Member
    drlorentz
    @drlorentz

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    Say what you will about the movie but the picture is hot, amirite?

    • #51
  22. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    We are fighting for the universal rights of man, the rule of law, common sense, common decency, truth, justice, and the American way, but not at the cost of being impolite?

    Nuts.

    I think my next literary endeavor is going to be The Big Little Book of Enormous Microaggressions.

    • #52
  23. drlorentz Member
    drlorentz
    @drlorentz

    Thinking about that hot chick in the movie I realized that this film is very sizeist. The fat acceptance movement should organize a protest. Fat chicks Women of size like Rosie O’Donnell could lead it. This is so… intersectional.

    • #53
  24. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):
    I must protest that he just gave money to the world’s most notorious baby-parts distributor.

    I think that’s probably the Chinese government, though I think PP is probably their top competition.

    • #54
  25. DrewInWisconsin Member
    DrewInWisconsin
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Melissa Praemonitus (View Comment):
    Perhaps progressive theaters will soon require men to watch a movie in their own section up front, where they cannot easily gaze at gals, with women safely in the back, near the exits.

    You mean, with women in the back so they can stare at my butt. OBJECTIFYING ME! 

     

    • #55
  26. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Melissa Praemonitus (View Comment):
    Perhaps progressive theaters will soon require men to watch a movie in their own section up front, where they cannot easily gaze at gals, with women safely in the back, near the exits.

    You mean, with women in the back so they can stare at my butt. OBJECTIFYING ME!

    All the rest of us do… why not them?

    • #56
  27. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    When purchasing the ticket, was there anyway to specify that you want your money to go to the Planned Parenthood that does mammograms? (This is, afterall, a fantasy film.)

    • #57
  28. Gaius Inactive
    Gaius
    @Gaius

    I know it’s supposed to be the age of tribalism where we stick by those on our own side and all that but I have to say I’m in the anti-Miller camp here (not #NeverMiller just situationaly anti-Miller). Sorry to be a joy-kill but those statutes infringe on fundamental rights of property and free association and so does Miller’s presence at the theater. Conservatives shouldn’t seek to employ these laws as a cudgel or to make a point. Alamo’s rights after all do not abate when the state fails to recognize them. This is true even for parties who cheer for the destruction of other’s rights. I’ve had quite enough of giving the left a taste of their own medicine, enough that I’m not sure we can plausible claim that it’s their medicine and not ours.

    • #58
  29. Joe P Member
    Joe P
    @JoeP

    James Lileks (View Comment):
    OR you use the laws that curtailed freedom of association, laws they applauded, and make your point quietly, sitting in the dark of the theater. They’ll never change their minds, but it won’t be as much fun for them.

    You don’t try to change their minds, but the minds of people who are less invested in these ideas than they are. The benefit of a stunt like this is that some of the people who watch it will think to themselves you know, he’s got a point, these people are kind of nutty. And in so doing, they slide a tiny bit away from the left. Do it enough times and they wind up somewhere in the middle with a more open mind than they otherwise would have, where some other arm of the movement can pick them up.

    • #59
  30. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    I’m weary of comic book movies and all the superhero stuff.  As for female superheros, wasn’t six years of Xena, Warrior Princess enough?  How about two seasons of Isis?  As for movies, we have Salt, Ultraviolet, Kill Bill 1&2, Haywire, Bloodrayne . . . the list is endless.  Adding Wonder Woman to the mix is no big deal.  I’ll bet you a dollar to a doughnut it’s high on special effects, but iffy on plot.

    Then there are the countless remakes . . .

    • #60
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