Teh One Who Knocks
01-15-2016, 12:56 PM
By Reiss Smith - The Express
http://i.imgur.com/rD8Y1rO.jpg
A FILM fan has started a petition to ban the sale of POPCORN in all cinemas - claiming the noisy snack ruins movies.
Mike Shotton, 39, first became frustrated with the rustling and chewing caused by the popular treat in the 1990s, during a viewing of Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves.
But it was a trip to see the much-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens that proved to be the final straw.
Mr Shotton, a self-employed author from Newcastle, had been looking forward to the new J.J. Abrams movie but “couldn’t believe the amount of noise during the film”.
He said: "I knew there would be a lot of kids there but I also thought it would be full of true fans wanting to watch the movie in peace.
"I couldn't believe the amount of noise during the film, it completely ruined it for me."
He is now calling on cinema chains and even the Government to bring in a blanket ban on the sale of popcorn at the movies.
The petition has been met with agreement from some, gaining 106 signatures since it was set up, but has also encountered resistance.
A petition was set up to stop Mr Shotton and his supporters, arguing that "popcorn is an essential part of the cinema experience”.
As the original petition is on the ground of noise pollution, the environmental health department would be forced to monitor popcorn sales if it gains enough signatures.
As the counter petition explained: "If this happened it would be up to individual county councils to decide whether or not to impose a ban in their area. Stop these killjoys from banning our popcorn."
Mr Shotton faced his foe head on, and challenged the other petition organiser to a signature duel - an unofficial agreement which means the petition with the least signatures by a certain date must cease and desist from all publicity.
Fortunately for the sci-fi fan, he emerged victorious, with 106 signatures to his adversary's 92 by the deadline of January 11, 2016.
The anti-popcorn campaigner now plans to start a hard campaign calling for a UK-wide ban of popcorn in all cinemas, which he also opposes due to its smell.
Mr Shotton said: "Next time you're around some, give it a sniff, you'll be stunned."
Any petition started by a UK resident which reaches 10,000 signatures gets an official response from the Government.
If a petition goes on to reach 100,000, then it must then be debated by MPs in the House of Commons.
After his initial victory, Mr Shotton now plans to campaign outside cinemas, handing out leaflets encouraging people not to buy popcorn when inside, and encouraging them to support his fight.
http://i.imgur.com/rD8Y1rO.jpg
A FILM fan has started a petition to ban the sale of POPCORN in all cinemas - claiming the noisy snack ruins movies.
Mike Shotton, 39, first became frustrated with the rustling and chewing caused by the popular treat in the 1990s, during a viewing of Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves.
But it was a trip to see the much-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens that proved to be the final straw.
Mr Shotton, a self-employed author from Newcastle, had been looking forward to the new J.J. Abrams movie but “couldn’t believe the amount of noise during the film”.
He said: "I knew there would be a lot of kids there but I also thought it would be full of true fans wanting to watch the movie in peace.
"I couldn't believe the amount of noise during the film, it completely ruined it for me."
He is now calling on cinema chains and even the Government to bring in a blanket ban on the sale of popcorn at the movies.
The petition has been met with agreement from some, gaining 106 signatures since it was set up, but has also encountered resistance.
A petition was set up to stop Mr Shotton and his supporters, arguing that "popcorn is an essential part of the cinema experience”.
As the original petition is on the ground of noise pollution, the environmental health department would be forced to monitor popcorn sales if it gains enough signatures.
As the counter petition explained: "If this happened it would be up to individual county councils to decide whether or not to impose a ban in their area. Stop these killjoys from banning our popcorn."
Mr Shotton faced his foe head on, and challenged the other petition organiser to a signature duel - an unofficial agreement which means the petition with the least signatures by a certain date must cease and desist from all publicity.
Fortunately for the sci-fi fan, he emerged victorious, with 106 signatures to his adversary's 92 by the deadline of January 11, 2016.
The anti-popcorn campaigner now plans to start a hard campaign calling for a UK-wide ban of popcorn in all cinemas, which he also opposes due to its smell.
Mr Shotton said: "Next time you're around some, give it a sniff, you'll be stunned."
Any petition started by a UK resident which reaches 10,000 signatures gets an official response from the Government.
If a petition goes on to reach 100,000, then it must then be debated by MPs in the House of Commons.
After his initial victory, Mr Shotton now plans to campaign outside cinemas, handing out leaflets encouraging people not to buy popcorn when inside, and encouraging them to support his fight.