At a Cineworld theatre in the UK, a screening of the Indian film Hari Hara Veera Mallu was abruptly halted because the auditorium floor was littered with confetti and trash. Two theatre staff members stood before the crowd, reminding them to clean up their mess and highlighting that, ultimately, it is they—the staff—who have to restore order after the celebration ends.
Sadly, when confronted, some audience members argued that there were no clear signs forbidding the behaviour, to which a staff member replied, “So, basically, you are saying you do not have common sense?”
This incident is a reminder: Every celebration leaves behind a footprint, and it’s on each of us to ensure we leave shared spaces as clean as we found them. The cleaning staff are not our personal attendants—they’re the backbone of our public spaces and deserve respect.
