My iPod vs People talking during films

GOOD THING: MY iPOD

Well obviously, my iPod is no different from any others, but there are many great things about this fantastic invention. Most importantly, no-one has any way of knowing what you're listening to - they can't spot the CD box in your bag or ask to hear what you're listening to. If they do, you can quickly switch from The Eagles to the Arctic Monkeys; you retain your street 'cred' (ha ha) and nobody will be any the wiser - take it from someone who has decidedly middle-aged taste in music. You are also saved the massive hassle of trying to choose a CD first thing in the morning before you go to work - usually, by the time you get to the bus-stop, you've already changed your mind and really don't want to listen to The Best of Supertramp (for example only, of course...) With an iPod, it's all there with you, from A-ha to Yes (oh come on, 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' is a classic, and you know it!)

BAD THING: PEOPLE TALKING DURING FILMS

I love watching films, whether at the cinema or in the comfort of my own living room. What makes me want to rip a telephone directory in half and stuff it down someone's throat is when people talk during the movie. You would think this would be something universally hated, but judging by the number of heinous people who do it, it's obviously not true. My fiance and I went to see the most recent Harry Potter film (yes, okay, so we had it coming), and the two women behind us talked throughout the whole film. Yes, all the way through without pausing for breath. It was like watching a film with an incredibly poor commentary that you couldn't turn off. It transpired that they'd already seen the film once, so they apparently thought this gave them the right to spoil everyone else's enjoyment. Thankfully, we'd got our tickets as part of a 2for1 deal - but if we'd known that the enjoyment was going to be halved as well, we may not have bothered.

But bad habits begin at home, and this is one that exists within my beloved family. My dad is absolutely terrible for talking during films. It perhaps originated in the late-80s when my little brother was finally old enough for us to go to the cinema as a family; my dad would sit beside him and make sure that he was understanding the plot. Well, it was only about 2 years before the roles were reversed and it was my dad who needed quite basic storylines spelling out for him. He still does it to this day - but nowadays he also has to have the preceding adverts explained to him too (he still seems surprised that 90% of all adverts are completely stupid and don't merit explaining.) The talking also extends to when my dad watches a film on DVD at home - he's quite brazen about asking questions and giving his own opinions about how the plot is developing, to the point where you just have to hit the pause button and give him a very hard stare.