The following is another question posed by a reader of the New York Times' The Ethicist column by Randy Cohen (note: Randy Cohen is the columnist, not the one posing the question). Please respond to the query with your advice. Include evidence to support your answer.
I sing in a chorus at Lincoln Center. One evening while the baritone performed a particularly difficult solo, an emotionally demanding a cappella passage, an audience member in the first-tier box, only five feet from the stage, started blowing his nose loudly and continued to do so for the duration of the solo; even his companions were gesturing for him to pipe down. Making disruptive noises at a concert is certainly rude, but if you are sitting close enough to distract the performers, does it rise to unethical? J.C., NEW YORK
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My advice to the reader would be to ask the man politely to be respectful and to step outside while blowing his nose.Although people around him gave him gestures to let him know he was too loud, some people need to be told directly.
ReplyDeleteYes, i think this does rise to unethical because it is in fact innapropriate behavior and it is unacceptible. it is also unsanitary and its only proper to step outside while blowing your nose. the mans actions show that he isnt very polite or respectful, due to the fact that his companions gave him gestures to show that his actions were disruptive and they were quite distracting.
The definition of ethics is to be in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice. Using this definition we can see that yes, the man who is blowing his nose in the middle of the concert is by all means unethical. Although it is understandable that he was having a problem, he should have dealt with it in a more private and less disruptive manner. By societies standards his actions were rude and inappropriate and therefore unethical. The people in charge and his friends should have escorted him out so he could finish blowing his nose in private and let the performance go on without the interruptions.
ReplyDeleteIt is true apart of making ethical decisions is conforming to accepted and professional standards, but it is also having moral principles or standards. Although the person that blew their nose may have not made the most ethical decision at the time, I do not believe they are unethical. If they not have the intention of interfering or distracting the baritone singer, I do not believe they should be deemed as unethical. Also, if their companions were strongly bothered, they should have politely whispered the message, because the individual may not have got it with gestures alone.
ReplyDeleteYes,unethical is the word or unprofessional. What kind of person blows their nose while your watching people perfom. I strongly believe this person is unethical. In pre-school you learn get a tissue and step outside or to the back of the room to blow your nose. That just shows that somebody never taugh him manners.Although I understand when you have to blow your nose you have to but, the person stayed their and continued to do it. That showed that he didnt have any manners. Manners is socially corrrect behavior. This person surely didnt show any. As a good friend, I would have escorted my good friend to the back and nudged him to keep it down. People shouldnt have to tell you what manners you should have already had instilled when in Pre-k.
ReplyDeleteDa'Neane Bell
Unethical - not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior; "unethical business practices"
ReplyDeleteBy Looking at the definition, it is very easy to determine that yes; the man’s actions were extremely unethical. The man, who is blowing his nose in the middle of the solo, is not abiding by social expectations. I can understand that he may have to blow his nose, but if that is the case he could have easily excused himself and handled his business in a private manner. His actions were extremely unnecessary. The whole situation could have been easily avoided, the conscious decision to be disruptive is what makes his actions not only rude, but unethical
-Joseph Fiddmont
Clearly, the obnoxious idiot loudly blowing his nose while sitting so close to the performance was being completely unethical. In no way, shape, or form am I condoning these rude and unethical actions. However, the act on stage, if as professional and powerful as stated, should not have been affected by this man's rudeness. No matter the distractions, even annoying nose blowing, "the show must go on." The reader cannot walk off stage to try and reason with the man, and the entire choir should have developed the skill of being able to perform even through earthquakes and tsunamis. This man's actions should not have affected the performance nor the performers, although his actions were truly unethical and rude. Nevertheless, the fact still remains that every member of that audience payed their good money to see a great show, and their experience shouldn't be ruined by that inconsiderate person.
ReplyDelete-- Vaughan Higgins
The person blowing his nose was completely out of line. The unethical element is not that he was blowing his nose loudly during the concert. Often times, people are not aware of the effect of their actions on those in their surroundings. Blowing one's nose is often an immediate necessity, and may not always be done in "a few moments...when they leave, to avoid disturbing others." What stands out to me, and makes the act so outlandish in my never-to-be-humbled opinion, is the fact that his companions made him aware of the exent to which his actions were inappropriate. That is the point at which he should have ceased blowing his nose. This is entirely possible because he could have simply used the tissue to stop his nose from dripping on his way out of the door.
ReplyDeleteAs a performer, I know that there is nothing more disrespectful than someone who continues to make excessive noise while I am pouring out my soul for an audience. It is not always particulalry bothersome, when I am not being serious, however, when I am attempting to establish an emotional connection with an audience and someone is not conscious of this fact, I may have difficulty remaining focused on the message. This experience causes me to become infuriated when I place myself in the shoes of the singer. I ask myself, "How could he dare to interrupt my performance and the viewing/listening pleasure of my audience?!?!?!"
The fact that the performer did not stop, and completely embarrass the rude fool who committed such an amoral crime (as I would have been tempted to do), is astonishing to me. I hope that the man who did that, read this very question and became gravely embarrassed, vowing never to do such a thing again for as long as he shall live.
-Talayne Gardiner
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSolos are activities, in this case performances, performed alone without assistance. That evening at the Lincoln Center the baritone (who didn't need assistance) was disrupted in a disrespectful fashion. Five feet from the stage sat someone without manners. This someone was a man who loudly blew his nose and ruined the solo making it a terrible duo. His companions even gestured him to "pipe down." He did not conform to the approved standards of social or professional behavior. He continued to disrupt the solo. His actions were unethical. There's no excuse for the disrespect he himself performed that evening. If I were to attend a class meeting where the class leader stood to propose his/her ideas & began to talk loudly among my peers even though others told me to be quiet it'd also be considered unethical. That would never happen because I am neither unethical nor disrespectful. But that is where the man and I differ, he obviously falls under both characteristics.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has different beliefs on what is right and what is wrong. It is clear to see that the majority of my peers believe that the persons actions were unethical, but does that person believe they were unethical? Ethics differ from person to person. A person may believe cursing or fighting is unethical, but everyday someone curses and someone fights but they believe it is okay. Their ethics are different than the person's who says their actions are unethical. When peole are saying someone is being unethical, they are basing the other person's actions on their personal beliefs and ethics, but not the ethics of the other person. We all may believe that the person blowing their nose loudly was rude and unethical, but that is our opinion based on what we have been raised to believe. The person considered "rude" may not have been taught the same things we have been taught by our parents. I believe ethics are based on individual beleifs and that you can not consider someone else's actions unethical based on your own ethics.
ReplyDelete-Ayrica Sawyer
The person blowing his nose was just rude. He could of at least went outside or to the back of the room and quitely blew his nose. A person with know manners would only do something so unethical. Even though the people around him that made guestures to get his attention should have asked him politely to step outside in privacy and handle himself.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the performer had to be insulted and for the guy to blow his nose through the whole solo which just makes the matter worst for the people who paid to come see a good show. This clearly rises to unethical and could of been dealt with in a better way.
Michael.P
Yes, the audience member's action is extremely unethical. Dont get me wrong,the act of blowing one's nose is completey acceptable...as long as one is aware enough of their surrondings and others. Considering that the man is a mere five feet away from the stage blowing his nose crosses the line from understandabe to socially unacceptable. The previous "Ethicist" response briefly touches on this subject as he expresses that there are different social expectations for different places. I agree.
ReplyDeleteHowever, nose-blowing is a loud, distracting action that is extremely hard not to notice, no matter the location. It is only understandable to be distracted by it. However, it is not understandable that the gentleman's "companions" did not do more to intervene in this situation IF they had a stong desire to view the show.
If this is continously occuring through the show, a companion or even an usher couldv'e escorted him to the back hallways so he could rid his phleghm without further disrupting the show.
That is definiately unethical and plain out rude. My advice to the reader is ask the man if he would mind stepping outside the theatre or room in respect to the others that are intersted in hearing the solo. There's not harming in asking it would be ridiculous to just sit there and have to tolerate such a distraction. However, it's not just unethical but it is manners. The man shows that he has poor manners if he choice to distract other instead of taking the initative of stepping out to handle his business. He should be more considerate about others around him whom he would distract. Since the man continously repeated this rude distraction he obviously had no respect for the singer nor the audience and should have been ask to leave or excuse himself so he would'nt have caused a distraction.
ReplyDelete-Asia G.
The man's actions were clearly unethical and disrespectful. Not only is he disturbing the audience members around him but he is disturbing the performers. People paid good money to see the show and the performers have dedicated so much time to preparing for one man to ruin it for everybody. Just like the last "Ethicist" expressed, different social setting require different standards. In a quiet music hall it is never okay to disrupt other audience members let alone the performers themselves. This social setting requires for absolute silence. It is understandable that someone has to blow their nose but if you can't do it quietly enough to not cause a disruption, you don't belong in a music hall where people are trying to enjoy the singing.
ReplyDelete-Sean Thomas
I feel as though it all depends on the person and how they were raised. From the point of views of most people they would say that his actions were certainly unethical but he may not think that way because that might not have been the way he was raised. The actions of most people would have been to go outside and blow their nose however this alternative to not interupting the show didnt become apparent to the man. The man was definitely in the wrong and didn't have the right to interrupt the man performing his solo but he may have not felt that way. It may have been necessary for other people to tell him that he was in the wrong for him to actually understand. Everyone is not the same and we all have different views and opinions on what is right and what may be considered wrong. It all depends on the person and the way they were taught.
ReplyDeleteRe'Nada Smith
The man blowing his nose would be considered as unethical due to the fact that his actions were rude and disturbing. Although people around him made gestures, they could have politely told him directly to step out because he was 5 feet away from the soloist. He could have been distracting him and or even worse the soloist may have felt insulted a bit.
ReplyDeletePeople around him may have also found that rude and disturbing because they paid their money to come and watch a peaceful show, Im sure they didn’t want to here a man blowing his nose that’s very disgusting and it just shows the man has no manners. This situation clearly rises to unethical, it could have all been avoided if he stepped out but he chose to show his rudely disgusted actions.
- Tara Harris
The man blowing his nose was being unethical because he was not only disturbing the audience members, he was also disturbing the performers. The performers spent time to make the show perfect and people also paid their money to be able to come and enjoy the show. If he had some respect for the performers and the audience members he could have stepped out to blow his nose. Music halls are meant to be silent so the performers can focus and so the audience members can enjoy and this man made it impossible for both of these things to take place.
ReplyDelete-Adia Brady
I feel that it was unethical. The you sjouke have just let it go because if you were to tell the person to stop, you might have ruined the whole show. Thenpeople in the audience should have said something instead.
ReplyDelete