The cruelty is the point.

[bornach@masto.ai]

@Phosphenes @fak @raganwald
Unfortunately ICE will be seating you
https://youtube.com/shorts/23_wsxjNQbY

[phosphenes@mastodon.social]

@bornach @fak @raganwald

😆

[crazyeddie@mastodon.social]

@lowlevel @raganwald Yeah, that seems like the right interpretation here. $50 but you have to actually attend the showing entirely.

They do seem the kind of people to do something like this to fill seats, but I'd still bet on it being some rando thinks it's funny. They're correct.

[gerbsen@gruene.social]

@raganwald Torture is outlawed for a reason.

[bornach@masto.ai]

@EndicottAuthor @raganwald
"Just one ticket has been sold for the first 3.10pm screening on Friday at its flagship Islington branch in London, while two have been booked for 6pm."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/melania-trump-documentary-uk-cinemas-vue-soft-sales

[stitzl@mastodon.social]

@raganwald Nonetheless, if this indeed is a legit offering, it might make sense to notify some homeless who might enjoy warming up for an hour, serve a free meal (e.g. hot soup) in the cinema auditorium, and offer complementary ear-plugs.

[noortjevee@mstdn.social]

@raganwald I heard they hired snipers to make sure people stay in their seats

[the_turtle@mastodon.sdf.org]

@raganwald naw, walk the fuck out. What, is the popcorn kid gonna stop you?

[bornach@masto.ai]

@troy_frizzell @beanface42 @raganwald
They'll be deploying that Black Mirror tech that forces everyone to watch
https://www.reddit.com/r/blackmirror/comments/k5fo5d/resume_viewing/

[crescendo_himmelweiss@mastodon.social]

@raganwald 😱 ..Oh dear, if this film is good at scaring people away, will it be used to disperse all protest marches in the future? ...I foresee terrible things. 😆 😜

[bornach@masto.ai]

@Noortjevee @raganwald
And a giant doll at the front will track everyone's eye gaze
https://squid-game.fandom.com/wiki/Young-hee

[anomnomnomaly@beige.party]

@raganwald

Go, claim your $50... remain seated the entire movie.

But... treat the movie as if it was a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Every time she comes on screen, or her name is said... Yell out 'SLUT!'

Everytime you see Trumplethinskin or hear his name mentioned... shout 'PEDO!!!'

Malicious compliance.

[rastal@mastodon.social]

@raganwald Don't forget to take in a paper bag full of moths. Release them when the show starts. They will naturally fly into the light to obscure the film for everyone else.

[bullfinch@ioc.exchange]

@raganwald Give it a Rocky Horror treatment

[raganwald@social.bau-ha.us]

@crazyeddie It is a real posting, however it could be a shitpost, or it could be a rando. I am in camp "This Administration is too lazy and incompetent to pay people $50, if they want publicity they'll just find a picture of people lining up for a different movie and tell Grok to make it look like they're in line to see Melania."

https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/boston-craigslist-watch-melania-trump-documentary-get-paid-50-viral-boston-craigslist-ad-explained-article-153528996

[bornach@masto.ai]

@jeffron @raganwald
Just like when Altman paid people in crypto to scan their eyes
https://www.reuters.com/technology/verified-human-worldcoin-users-queue-up-iris-scans-2023-07-25/

[noortjevee@mstdn.social]

@bornach @raganwald

yes that also

[artharg@mastodon.nl]

@raganwald Seems like a perfect opportunity for a homeless veteran to spend some time in a warm house and earn some money to boot!

[renata@cosocial.ca]

@raganwald @pluralistic I love this idea!

[rhodium103@mastodon.social]

@raganwald
They don't specify how you need to sit and whether you can have a phone to scroll.