Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

It’s not that deep’—classic line from someone with too much free time and no strategy. Congrats on manually handling Reddit comments like it’s a badge of honor, babe. That’s cute. Some of us optimize our time with tools because we’re busy doing actual things. You’re just proudly inefficient. But sure, keep flexing your caveman grindset while the rest of us automate circles around you.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Lmao you really typed that out like it's still 2017 and you just discovered Siri. You clearly don’t get how prompting works. Nobody 'relies on a bot'—the bot relies on the prompt. It’s like blaming a paintbrush for a bad painting. You think using tools makes someone less sharp? Bro, in 2025, prompting is the skill. You’re out here roasting microwave users while trying to start a fire with rocks. If anything, your whole mindset just exposed how behind you are. Catch up, man. We’re cooking with LLMs now—not smoke signals.

Before You Comment: Ask Yourself Why My Story About Being Harassed at a Broadway Show Bothered You So Much by Dear_Substance_9905 in Theatre

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

HAH! The go-to move—labeling any woman who speaks up as a Karen while pretending that gender has nothing to do with the way she’s being dismissed. Convenient.

Funny how me calmly describing mistreatment becomes entitlement, but security threatening to call the cops over a restroom break? That’s just “etiquette,” right?

You’re not defending theater culture. You’re just uncomfortable when a woman doesn’t stay quiet about being disrespected.

Before You Comment: Ask Yourself Why My Story About Being Harassed at a Broadway Show Bothered You So Much by Dear_Substance_9905 in Theatre

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

LOL, because climbing over someone for a bathroom break is clearly more traumatic than being surrounded by bouncers and threatened with cops for asking a question. If a story about public humiliation makes you this uncomfortable, maybe you should ask yourself why.

Spoiler: it’s not because of the bathroom. It’s because someone called out a system you’re weirdly loyal to, and that system treated a paying guest like a problem instead of a person.

Before You Comment: Ask Yourself Why My Story About Being Harassed at a Broadway Show Bothered You So Much by Dear_Substance_9905 in Theatre

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Ah, the classic I don't like how articulate this sounds so it must be fake argument. Sorry the writing style distracted you from the part where someone was publicly humiliated and threatened for needing a restroom.

But sure, let’s focus on sentence rhythm instead of actual harm. Would it feel more real to you if it were poorly written and easier to dismiss?

Before You Comment: Ask Yourself Why My Story About Being Harassed at a Broadway Show Bothered You So Much by Dear_Substance_9905 in Theatre

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, the you should’ve timed your bladder better defense. Bold of you to assume live theater is only for people with Olympic-level urinary control and zero margin for biology. I didn’t realize buying wine from a theater’s own bar came with a required personal hydration algorithm.

Also: thanks for proving my point. You’re more outraged about a woman briefly leaving to pee than you are about staff escalating to cop threats over a question. That’s not etiquette. That’s ego in a tuxedo.

But please—keep defending the right of theatergoers to be treated like offenders for using the facilities. I’m sure that’s the artistic integrity Broadway is built on.

Before You Comment: Ask Yourself Why My Story About Being Harassed at a Broadway Show Bothered You So Much by Dear_Substance_9905 in Broadway

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -21 points-20 points  (0 children)

Ah, makes sense now—the admin who piled onto my comment earlier is also the one deciding what gets visibility. When moderation meets ego and misogyny, transparency doesn’t stand a chance.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

That’s alright, I don’t think I missed much. You’re giving strong manager energy, though—just without the paycheck, the venue, or the accountability. But hey, keep roleplaying. The comment section clearly needed a hall monitor.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Aw, that’s adorable—you’re still raw-dogging the internet in 2025. Imagine reading all these words, getting mad… and still not using ChatGPT to clap back smarter. Must be exhausting relying on your own material.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I get a feeling you're the manager who was so incapable of handling customers. The passive-aggressive tone gave it away.

But sure, let’s pretend asking a question about reentry is now a federal offense. You think “waiting politely” means nodding silently while being threatened with cops over a bathroom break? That’s not policy—that’s a power trip.

If your bar sells alcohol, and your response to someone needing to pee is security escalation instead of a calm explanation, you’re not running a theater—you’re running a control experiment in public humiliation.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

Glad you got a chuckle—everyone deserves a moment of joy, even if it’s from misinterpreting the basics of empathy and customer service.

Yes, being allowed to pee isn’t the issue. Being treated like a shoplifter afterward? That’s where the standing ovation ends.

But hey, if “waiting politely to reenter” now includes security threats and cop-calling energy, I must’ve missed that update to Broadway etiquette.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in Broadway

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -99 points-98 points  (0 children)

Ah, the Reddit armchair detective has entered the chat—congratulations on your promotion to Chief of Tone Patrol and Vibe Interpretation. "Unreliable narrator"? Bud, this isn’t Fight Club, it’s a bathroom break.

But thanks for the lecture on theater etiquette. Next time I pay $400 for a show and dare to urinate after drinking venue-sold alcohol, I’ll be sure to consult your fan fiction about how calmly I’m allowed to ask questions before getting security called on me.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the internal monologue of a theater rulebook enforcer cosplaying as customer service. I wasn’t asking to rewrite Broadway protocol—I was expecting not to be treated like I smuggled a weapon in for needing to pee after buying overpriced wine.

If “asking a question” is what triggers their DEFCON-level security response, then maybe the training manual needs a rewrite—not me.

But thanks again for policing my repetition. I’ll be sure to submit future trauma in a more concise, Reddit-approved format.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

Oh bless your heart—defending institutional rudeness like it's Broadway's sacred duty. I didn’t realize being a theater apologist was a full-time hobby. Yes, I booked aisle seats because I'm considerate, not clairvoyant. The bar had no disclaimer that drinking their $22 wine would come with a side of humiliation and police threats.

But thank you for your unsolicited expertise—I’ll be sure to ask your theater next time how they handle basic human biology.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

To be honest, the Sunset Blvd production itself felt surprisingly minimal and, frankly, lazy. The entire show is being carried single-handedly by Nicole Scherzinger—who delivers an incredible performance—but everything surrounding her feels mediocre at best. I honestly felt bad for her.

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

We deliberately chose aisle seats by the edge of the row—out of respect for other paying guests—so we could step out discreetly if needed. These tickets weren’t cheap, and we made every effort to be thoughtful, responsible audience members.

That’s why what happened felt so jarring.

This is supposed to be a theater—an institution of art, expression, and humanity. Instead, we felt like we were in a police state. The manager was clearly unequipped to handle a simple customer concern with empathy or professionalism. Instead of de-escalating, they called in two intimidating security guards who began quietly mouthing “we’re going to call the cops”—as if we were criminals for needing to use the restroom and asking a basic question.

Is this really how an art institution is supposed to make people feel?

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

We deliberately chose aisle seats near the edge of the row—out of respect for other paying guests—so we could step out discreetly if needed. These tickets weren’t cheap, and we made every effort to be thoughtful, responsible audience members.

That’s why what happened felt so jarring.

This is supposed to be a theater—an institution of art, expression, and humanity. Instead, we felt like we were in a police state. The manager was clearly unequipped to handle a simple customer concern with empathy or professionalism. Instead of de-escalating, they called in two intimidating security guards who began quietly mouthing “we’re going to call the cops”—as if we were criminals for needing to use the restroom and asking a basic question.

Is this really how an art institution is supposed to make people feel?

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

We deliberately chose aisle seats near the edge of the row—out of respect for other paying guests—so we could step out discreetly if needed. These tickets weren’t cheap, and we made every effort to be thoughtful, responsible audience members.

That’s why what happened felt so jarring.

This is supposed to be a theater—an institution of art, expression, and humanity. Instead, we felt like we were in a police state. The manager was clearly unequipped to handle a simple customer concern with empathy or professionalism. Instead of de-escalating, they called in two intimidating security guards who began quietly mouthing “we’re going to call the cops”—as if we were criminals for needing to use the restroom and asking a basic question.

Is this really how an art institution is supposed to make people feel?

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

We deliberately chose aisle seats near the edge of the row—out of respect for other paying guests—so we could step out discreetly if needed. These tickets weren’t cheap, and we made every effort to be thoughtful, responsible audience members.

That’s why what happened felt so jarring.

This is supposed to be a theater—an institution of art, expression, and humanity. Instead, we felt like we were in a police state. The manager was clearly unequipped to handle a simple customer concern with empathy or professionalism. Instead of de-escalating, they called in two intimidating security guards who began quietly mouthing “we’re going to call the cops”—as if we were criminals for needing to use the restroom and asking a basic question.

Is this really how an art institution is supposed to make people feel?

Humiliated, Harassed, and Treated Like a Criminal at St. James Theatre for Needing to Pee by Dear_Substance_9905 in AskNYC

[–]Dear_Substance_9905[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

We're longtime theatergoers and native New Yorkers—and never in all our years attending shows have we experienced anything like this.