Chirky

I agree! No TEXTING IN THEATERS! hrmpf!

About the lice, not a problem, I have almost no hair so there is no worry there.

However, during WANTED, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I could not breathe because the lady behind me was wearing so much perfume. It was stinky Poison from the 1980's. Hello, lady, people need to be able to breathe. Ugh. I just think people over a certain age should not be allowed into movies that are targeted at a certain demographic - ME.

Yeah- that's a little weird, especially if you haven't had lice. But I'm afraid of movie theatre bathrooms for no reason at all, so who am I to judge?

Yeah- that's a little weird, especially if you haven't had lice. But I'm afraid of movie theatre bathrooms for no reason at all, so who am I to judge?

My daughter had lice twice in elementary school. Both times from wearing a hat from someone else. Never try on hats at a store.

The second time I called the state to check on the state policy of lice in schools. There are two standards. Live infestations and knits/eggs. It doesn't really make sense, but if you have eggs in some districts, you can stay, if you have lice in some districts you can stay. If you have one you will probably have the other. To me if you have eggs it's better to send them home to take care of it. And it's not easy to control. We found the only way to really kill them is mayonnaise or oil in the hair to smother them and put a shower cap on and bag up the stuffed animals and vacuum like 3 times a day.

Lice aren't disease carriers so you can't get kicked out of school permanently or anything. It's just people who don't wash their hair regularly and have nasty homes.

Of all the places you COULD get lice and DON'T, movie theaters are low on the list. I think you are pretty safe. You have a better chance getting lice from buying a hat at Wal-Mart or something.

Knot

Oh my god YESSSSSSSS. Finally someone said it.

Ummm, if you wear a shower cap to a movie theater I am never going to see a movie with you, and I bet Roger won't either, and neither would Scuba. Katie or Eddie might, but that's just because something tells me it is nearly impossible to embarrass either one of them. In fact, I dare all 3 of you to go to a movie theater wearing shower caps. Then I would definitely go, but I would sit several rows behind you and pretend I didn't know you while taking pictures for proof of your insanity.

Ha, this would be hilarious. We should ALL go to the movie theater wearing shower caps. We could try to start a new fad. MAYBE WE COULD EVEN WEAR HAIR NETS UNDER THOSE SHOWER CAPS.

"(Which is to say: at least 12 inches. I can’t prove it, but I bet they can at least jump a foot. And I bet they have good aim, too.)"

Wait. Isn't 12 inches a foot?!

Um, yes. Yes, I am quite sure that 12 inches = 1 foot.

Oh my gosh, I so worry about this! It occurs to me every single time!

As for Knot's comment that the only people who have lice don't wash their hair regulary and have nasty homes, that could SO not be further from the truth.

When I was younger, I had a TON of hair. A ton. I used to try to straighten it, which meant that I bought those really awesome wooden paddle brushes to help.

Which meant my brother and dad used them too.

My brother played sports, and he wore hats and things. Turns out there was a lice epidemic at our school when I was in the 8th grade. I think my brother got lice, and he spread it to my brush. I got it. They must not have liked his hair much, because his disappeared.

Mine multiplied. I don't know how long I had it before I realized it. I thought lice were white. These bugs were not white.

I was humiliated. I have always been super clean. I've worried about movie theater seats as long as I can remember.

And our house? Was splotless.

It took a good couple weeks to get rid of the lice. It took both my parents spending hours and hours combing every strand of my hair to get rid of every single bug and egg. It was painful and humiliating. For a couple years after that, I panicked every time my head itched.

So it's most certainly NOT just dirty people who get lice.

*climbing off soapbox*

I just realized I know Knot! Shame on you, Mister! ;)

MLIB: I'm right there with you. I STILL freak out when my head itches. When I was in elementary school, I went to a birthday sleepover at a gymnastics center. Every. Single. Kid. went home with lice. Hey, thanks for the party gift! It was a nightmare. ESPECIALLY for those of us with curly hair, because of ALL THAT REQUIRED BRUSHING.

Yes! I too have wondered. And itched at the thought... I also get wigged out at the doctor's office. I can't help but wonder what's on the chairs in the waiting room, and on the table in the exam room. Ack! Having a 5-year old who's allergic to antibiotics just fuels my suspicion.

OMG, ALL THE TIME! I've never really thought about it in a theater before, though umm, that would be exactly the place you'd get it, but EVERY flight the thought crosses my mind (and I fly a lot!)! When I was just a kid, we had several French exchange students who would stay with us for a month or two every spring through a program with my school. The very first time, they brought with them a lice infestation (so sadly for years I associate France with vermin! Then Ratatouille came along and it further padded the stereotype, HA). I never got it, but my mom made my sis and I bathe in that horrid lice shampoo anyway, and so many of my friends had it that I was forever paranoid.

(Side note: I LOVED Wall-E and Wanted.)

And re: Old Balls, that is exactly what I was trying to ask him the handful of times I talked to him (when he'd be done with the whole project), but all I ever got was an "I dunno" or "how am I supposed to guess?" GRRRR.

And now my head is itching!

I do it too!!!!!!!!! I am consumed by it so much that I oftentimes bring a blanket or a sweatshirt (which I will wash in scalding hot water later, after I've put it in a plastic bag on the way home) over the back of my seat so I stop worrying about it!!!!.

And I too, have never had lice. Never heard of someone getting lice from the movie theater. BUT! (for all you non-believers) Think about it:

Upholstery. Someone's sweaty neck and head lolling around on it for up to THREE HOURS. Little kids included. That's enough of a risk for me.

Hmmm. I'd love to know what the guy in "Along Came Polly" would have to say about the risk of getting lice from a movie theater seat!!!!