A most interesting collection of posts. I really enjoyed reading everyone's responses and reasoning. As I mentioned previously, to me, it does depend on the type of concert being performed. I played classical violin for many years (was actually first chair for a time), and I can tell you that in several classical and jazz performances, silence from the audience is critical. In other jazz, blues, rock, pop concerts, well, lets just say, it is okay and fun to get up and sing and dance with the performance. Despite the sometimes negative views expressed here, I know for certain that every single one of us has their upper limit as to what they consider acceptable. Going to a performance, concert or especially a movie and someone constantly kicks my chair is not only distracting, but downright rude. A cough now and then is not a problem. But every other person in the theater coughing is downright rude and distracting and again, unless you are absolutely sick and dying, you can absolutely control your coughs. Other bodily functions, well, that is simply controlable and rude if you do it in public. I went to a concert a little while ago with Eliane Elias. She was wonderful. However, on one introduction passage, quiet piano absolutly quiet, about to hit the key note to begin the melody and a person's phone rang. Dead Silence afterwards. The artist simply stopped, looked at the person, said something humerous to play it off and continued. However, it absolutely killed the introduction and the moment. And, all of us were asked to turn off our phones before the performance began. Some people are paying attention, don't care or don't like others telling them what to do. Some others are simply inconsiderate and rude.
I stick by my opinion. no disrespect to others here, but rude is rude. Inconsiderate is inconsiderate. There are times and places to make noise and there are other times and places where it is not acceptable.
enjoy
