What happened to common sense?

Ok here goes.........

My wife and I went to the cinema today. We went to buy our "usual" confectionary, however it was unavailable on the floor we were on.

Being the good sports that we are, we decided to go to the next level, then the next level, then the next level, until we were on the top floor.

Still set on our desired confectionary we joined an overly long queue, with one person serving and another standing around doing (how should I put it) nothing.

During our wait I realised that we are on the top floor of the tallest building in Glasgow centre, so perfect blip opportunity of the city skyline.

I took my camera out and took 3 photographs, being very indiscrete (It didn't even occur to me what was about to happen) and put my camera back in the bag.

The person, who was doing nothing, disappeared and then came back and went behind the counter and loudly whispered to her colleague "we have a situation!" I must admit I got a little excited and wondered what was going on. By the way she was acting, my first thought was a race hate terror crime of some sort.

She vanishes in a hurry and then returns with a scruffy, dirty looking, and unshaven gentleman. They then whisper and I am pointed out and they stare right at me. I don't fully understand what is going on, but I have the feeling that I am the "situation."

This guy (who I am shocked to find is the duty manager) approaches me with a sense of urgency in full view of every body, accuses me of having recording equipment and that I will not be allowed access to the cinema, before I even have the chance to speak.

I fight off my shock and try to assure him that it is a camera and not a recording device. I ask him to investigate my camera. Failing to find anything that would suggest that I even have the ability to record, (which I don't) or anything that would suggest I am photographing stills of movies (for what reason anyone would do this, who knows). But his exact words were "I am not satisfied it only takes photographs."

I ask if there is anywhere I can put it or take the battery out or something. There is no resolve except for me not to bring my camera next time (his mind is already made up. We are not getting in today).

I then try to explain that my wife and I are loyal customers and have been Cineworld Unlimited card holders for about 3 years. Turns out my customer loyalty means nothing to this guy. He would have been more subtle if he had said "TUFF!"

I then pleaded with him to make a judgement call based on common sense. Again, nothing but rudeness and incompetency.

I then challenge the actual rules and regulations to which he feels he is complying with.

According to this jobsworth "duty manager."

Mobiles phones with cameras and video capability are ok (some which have better specs than some cameras and are also smaller and therefore would be much better at discretely stealing copyrighted images, pictures and sounds) on the basis that everyone has a mobile phone.

I then ask him where the logic is and his answer was so stuttery, I have no idea what exactly he said. But the jist was essentially, everybody has a mobile phone, we can't search everyone. So I guess that means cost and convenience is more important to them over the actual rules they claim to be enforcing.

He says that if I hadn't brought my camera out it would have been ok. I then say "so let's say someone takes a photograph or even a video within the building on their phone, would they be subject to the same rules." The one word answer I received was, "No!"

I get his name etc, but he doesn't know the procedure to make a formal complaint (REALLY!) and gives me some customer service helpline number, which surprise surprise is closed on a Sunday.

This guy who has been rude, arrogant, incompetent and unprofessional (to say the least) throughout, has embarrassed my wife and I in full view of everyone and then proceeds to escort us to the exit, like we are the scum of the earth.

Why because I took some photographs from the top floor of their building of my city's skyline?

I am astounded by how I have been treated today!

Anyway, we made the conscious decision to not let this ruin our day. So we decided to head to the Gallery of Modern Art, where I took this picture. Which I am very proud of! I don't think I have ever been as proud of a photo before, I am sure this is my best yet.

No post editing done at all, taken straight from my camera using spot metering.

Anyway I am all for ying & yang and finding a positive in every negative and surprisingly I found mine quicker than usual today.

Then it was off to Wok to Walk for noodles. The best in Glasgow, imo.