It's you, isn't it. On a sincere note about going to movies by yourself, I'm kind of used to doing things alone anyways so it doesn't really occur to me to be weird about it. When I saw the two movies in one day, I was at a film festival in Germany. I'd been sent to Germany on short notice by work and I could either sit around my guesthouse by myself when not at work or go places and do things. I chose the latter. Other times I've done it, it's simply been a matter of there being a movie I wanted to see but having no one interested in seeing that movie to go with. So, I could have sat around and done fuck all or, seen the movie. So I saw the movie. Pretty simple.
No idea what you're saying, man. You're telling me it's weird to walk down the street with a freshly slaughtered squirrel family strung around my neck while wearing a peacock blue tuxedo and carrying a vase filled with used kitty litter is wrong? Well if that's the case, then I don't wanna be right.
There's something about the guy on the left that makes me want to see him set into some stocks and horsewhipped. Irrational hatred, everybody!
I've only gone to a movie once when I was alone. That was Up and it was because of reading the rave reviews on the RMMB. After reading a couple 'maybe next week' texts I decided I was too impatient. I have push over friends that are passive and give in, but there's nothing wrong with not being a dick and not dragging people along. When I was in college I used to shoot pool by myself in between classes. Usually I was the only one there alone as everyone else not with a group would go study in the library or zone out in front of their lap top. The weird looks I got for this always perplexed me. For example, one of the times I checked out: Clerk: "You have a good time here?" Me: "Uh, Sure." Clerk (sarcastically) "Awesome, man!" Sometimes I would get a look from people like I was a serial killer. I find this odd because I see middle aged guys alone at the bar all the time and nobody so much as gives it a second thought. Isn't that a more social atmosphere than shooting a couple games of 9 ball? Anybody else ever ditch someone at the movie theater? Last time for me was watching Funny People. There was a bar right outside the cinema and I figured I could A. Watch another hour of Adam Sandler or B. Go get drunk with everyone else. Easy decision.
Fuck it, I might see Star Trek alone. The girlfriend refuses to go, and I'm too lazy to actively seek out one of my friends who hasn't seen it yet and wants to. I really don't see the big deal. The preferred term is "unpaid intern."
I've gone to movies by myself, and it's fucking awesome. I'll go catch a saturday matinee if, like Senor Cowbell, I want to see something and am too lazy to put forth the effort into finding a movie date. Cheap prices and usually sparsely populated theaters. Afterwards I'll usually hit up a Jamba Juice then tool around in Barnes & Noble for a few hours. It's a great afternoon.
I've never gone to the movies alone, but I don't see the big deal either. I mean the whole point of going to the movies is to be in a dark room and not talk for an hour or two, perfect thing to do alone, honestly it might be the single best normal activity to do in public alone.
I always fork out the extra couple bucks for the VIP theatre here. Leather reclining seats, your own end table, booze brought to your seat by servers and best of all; nobody under 19 is allowed in. It's paradise if you like going to the movies. Let us also make this clear: there is nothing wrong with seeing a movie by yourself.
While I don't go to the movies by myself (nice advantage of being married to a woman with similar tastes), I will go to multiple movies. In fact, for fathers day, my wife asked me what I want and I told her a double feature at the theater: Man of Steel and This is the End. She's not too excited about Man of Steel, but agreed to it. Also, a few theaters around here literally ban anyone under the age of 19 every night after 7. I guess they got tired of asshole kids. Yes, I realize the irony of celebrating Father's day by pawning my daughter off on a babysitter.
I actually think it's far weirder to sit alone at the bar (a BAR, not a restaurant bar. It's normal to do that if you're alone at a restaurant) than it is to shoot pool by yourself. You're practicing a skill, and it's not like most college students have access to their own personal pool table. How else is someone supposed to get better? Meanwhile, a person sitting alone at a bar... What does he do the whole time? Stare at his drink? Stare creepily at the bartender? Stare creepily at other people? I've been alone at the bar while waiting for friends, and I feel horrible just sitting there for twenty minutes by myself.
Unless you're at an airport bar, its weird to go by yourself. I think thats pretty absolute. Airport bars are always fair game to go by yourself, whether your killing time or trying to get rid of nerves. I went to a bar by myself for lunch once. But it was just after my twin brother got out of brain surgery to remove a tumor. I was stressed, drained, in need a sandwhich and two beers. I sat at the bar, ate my food, had my drinks, didn't speak a word, and actually had a bit of reprieve. No one looked at me weird, no one talked to me, it was kind of nice. I imagine its because I had the look on my face that you only have when you or someone your truely care is going through something absolutely awful.
I infrequently frequent bars alone. If I've got an hour or so to kill whilst waiting for a bus I'd rather sit drinking a beer and reading a newspaper than wander around shops I have no intention of buying anything from.
Sitting alone in a bar, even for a minute, makes you feel like a loser. Hell, I hate anchoring a table for more than two minutes before wanting to just ditch it and tell the others too bad.
It's secret option D. Force the bar maid to hover over you while everyone is shaking their wallets for a drink, and start awkward conversations with strangers about how that person in your life (or that guy on the tv there) is an idiot. You might want to ignore him, but he's not always going to let you.
Same, maybe once every month or two for an hour or so. Usually because I both (1) want to get out of my house, and (2) want a beer. A moment among your thoughts is best done with a beer in hand. It helps if you have a place with a friendly but not too chatty bartender.