Disruptive patrons turn me off going to UAE cinemas

Disruptive cinema audiences. Other topics: Amal Alamuddin, Eid driving, tower safety, financial companies and female pilot.

Readers support Fatima Al Shamsi's criticism of other cinemagoers' disruptive conduct. Photo: Christopher Pike / The National

The behaviour of cinema audiences described by Fatima Al Shamsi (Why I hate going to the movies in the UAE, October 3) is something I find completely annoying.

I’ve actually had shouting matches with some who were making their way to their seats 20 minutes into the movie and then had conversations while standing next to me.

I asked them politely to move along and to have respect for others who paid good money to actually watch the movie.

At other times, I’ve gone to the staff working there to ask why there are infants, toddlers and other young children at movies restricted to a minimum age of 18.

When I do go to the cinema here, which is rarely, I go in the early afternoon, to try to avoid these kinds of issues.

Christina Murphy, Abu Dhabi

Last night was the first time in nearly five years here that the management of Vox Cinema in the Mall of the Emirates actually listened to a complaint and removed a group of six teenagers who had absolutely no respect for the other customers (and I suspect for the movie itself).

Thank you Vox, you can add me to your list of regular customers from now on.

Ian Douglas, Dubai

I think part of the reason is because the dark makes these people feel anonymous.

If they knew we could see them, they would not be so rude. I suspect the same thing applies to the way some people drive.

Melissa Smith, Al Ain

Amal Alamuddin is my new hero

With regard to Rym Ghazal's column, It doesn't take a famous husband for a woman to be a star (October 1), Amal Alamuddin is my new personal hero.

This is not because she has just landed the Moby Dick of celebrity bachelors but because his choice of this lovely, accomplished, 30-something, ambitious woman is a vicarious triumph for all the single ladies out there.

I guess she didn’t see the memo about men not liking smart women. It’s the message that gets reinforced just about every other day in pop culture and in self-help books, encouraging women to dumb it down from the time they’re adolescents.

Dina Abou-Zahr, Lebanon

Police praised for Eid driving peace

I would like to say a very big thank you to the Abu Dhabi and Dubai police for helping make our drive to the Northern Emirates on the eve of Eid peaceful and safe.

My children and I felt the atmosphere on the road was one of driver awareness and consideration for others.

We saw Abu Dhabi police and Dubai police many, many times and are very appreciative of those officers who dedicated their evening to road safety. We were sad to have missed out on the presence of Sharjah police during the most congested part of the drive but the experience left me a very happy mother and motorist.

Alicia Suwaina, Abu Dhabi

Tower residents deserve the truth

With regard to your story, Abu Dhabi residents left in the dark over evacuation due to road collapse (October 1), I believe it is the utmost right of these tenants to know the current status and whether it is safe to continue to live in the building.

The concerned authorities and the building management should call for an urgent meeting where issues and queries raised by the occupants of the building will be addressed.

This will help clear the confusion and also provide assurance that the building is safe to live in.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

‘Pushy’ cold calls act as a warning

In reference to your article about financial services companies, Be careful when investing your UAE earnings (October 3), one company keeps calling me even though I have asked them twice to remove my details from their system.

To me, lack of integrity and pushy calls are big red flags.

Sarah Calderwood, Abu Dhabi

This company saw my profile on LinkedIn, then found the contact number for the company where I work and phoned me while I was at work.

I gave them a real ear bashing. This is disgusting behaviour.

Tracey Warren, Dubai

Female fighter pilot a sign of progress

Thank you for your article on Major Mariam Al Mansouri (UAE's female fighter pilot leads air strikes against ISIL, September 25).

I sent copies of your article to my daughters. Just when you believe the world is going to hell in a handbasket, you realise we are making progress.

May God bless Major Mariam Al Mansouri and may she fly safely.

Sam Heiser, US