About Txt messaging in theatres

[dhbearguy]

I found it pretty sad the other night trying to Watch the Final Destination Trilogy, and people kept turning on their cell phones to answer txt messages. I even ask the people in front of me to stop, that the screens were very distracting. One of the guys told me to get out of his face. I said "I helped promote this screening, and I will ask to have you removed" He and his friends left the phones off for the rest of the 1st movie.

Why bother even going to a movie if you are just gonna spend it chatting with your friends on your phone. How can you even focus on what is going on with the movie when your face is buried in the phone.

Now the question is, what can you do? I would like to see announcements made that says "please turn of cell phone and text messaging devices. Those using them during the presentation will be asked to leave"

I wonder if we can get enough people to write and complain about the problem if the theatre would take some sort of action. The theatre has security. They could walk in and do spot checks. Post signs.

Do you think it would help or work?

Comments

[ronm.livejournal.com]

There's a movement to legalize devices that would turn theaters into cell dead zones, so that cellphones just won't work. The devices are illegal here right now.

I brought this up to a friend who's a parent, and her response was, "What will parents do when their kids can't contact them?" I said, "What did OUR parents do?"

She said, "Oh, yeah."

[daltxfurry.livejournal.com]

Probably wouldn't make a difference. I have actually been to theatrical shows where cels go off and text messages are sent. Even though announcements are ALWAYS made and reiterated.

The best I ever heard was "Please turn off all celphones, pagers and crying babies. Anyone not following these rules will be escorted out of the theater by Guido the security guard and shot"

[djmattconsola.livejournal.com]

I'm rightthere with you Dave. It's getting rediculous. It used to be kids yelling and throwing food. And then it was hard to get them kicked out. Then it was cell phones ringing, which still happen and I can't believe that after they make announcements about it, that people actually take calls in the theater. But yes, now the bright text messaging screens are the last fucking straw. We need signal blocking devices installed in theater.

Suggested Book Read

[gabecentric.livejournal.com]

It's a sunny afternoon in Boston, and as far as Clayton Riddell is concerned, life couldn't be any better. The Maine-based artist has just inked a lucrative contract for his first graphic novel. But in an instant, his life -- and human civilization -- is turned upside down by an event known as the Pulse, a brain-zapping burst of energy that turns the millions of people with cell phones pressed against the sides of their heads into mindless killing machines. Those lucky enough not to be using a cell phone at the time are spared from the gruesome transformation but must somehow survive the nightmarish aftereffects: cars crashing, planes falling from the sky, hungry gangs of zombies, etc.

Cell - by Stephen King

Re: Suggested Book Read

[dhbearguy.livejournal.com]

Ummm, yeah, I think that is one I am going to read.

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

But? But, what would you do about your Treo??

*ducks*

[dhbearguy.livejournal.com]

I sat through 3 movies without txt messaging and taking phone calls, so there.

it doesn't bother me

[lindyboi.livejournal.com]

a) it's not a cell phone ringing or someone talking
b) I'm a lean-back-er, not a lean-forward-er, so doesn't get in my way
c) it's over quickly.

That said, I don't get people who spend large amounts of time in TM (?) land.. like the guy I met in the bar in Cork who invited me to sit by him and was still writing page-long text messages before actually engaging in hellos.

[markosf.livejournal.com]

Can I get one of those phone blocker thingees small enough to hang on my person? I once went on a date with this guy who kept getting distracted by his Treo. ;)

Yeah those bright little screens are distracting in movies.

[dhbearguy.livejournal.com]

Yes yes, and the Treo was pretty new to me too.

[markosf.livejournal.com]

Sorry, not an excuse. Next! :)

[animbear.livejournal.com]

You still go to movies?

After the initial investment in a nice TV and stereo, DVDs are cheaper than two people parking, buying tickets, drinks, popcorn. I think I went to about four movies last year; Harry Potter, Star Wars, War of the Worlds, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I haven't seen Narnia, King Kong, Syriana, Memoirs of a Geisha, Aeon Flux, and several others KNOWING that I'll enjoy them at home more. Why sit through a movie like War of the Worlds with teenaged girls popping gum, chatting and then screaming at the top of their lungs at parts that weren't scary? (They would laugh at each other for having screamed at something that wasn't scary.)

I'll still go see 'event' movies on the big screen, but really, why wreck a movie, that I might have some hope of enjoying, because of bad manners.

Excuse me, I think there are some kids I have to chase off my lawn.

[dhbearguy.livejournal.com]

Sounds fabulous, but remember, I plan movie outings as my hobby! :-)

[animbear.livejournal.com]

... and if I lived in SF I would see a LOT more movies in the theater...

[boyshapedbox.livejournal.com]

[reb2.livejournal.com]

I have been to movie showings where they DO have an intro that says "Please Turn off cell phones...blah blah blah.." It never works. I go to a theater here called Century Hilltop but I call it century Ghetto because that is what it is...ghetto. Cell phones galor but depending on the film, if someone has a cell phone on or uses it, the people have no hesitation in telling the guy or girl rude enough to talk on the phone to turn it off...and to use colorful metaphors to do it.

My solution? Ban cell phones from movie theaters. It is obvious that asking people kindly to turn them off is not working. Time to crack down. They will complain about it and say its unfair I know but hey they have made it unfair for those trying to watch the damn films to enjoy it.

I wanna make a movie someday with a scene set in a movie theater, and when the feature presentation begins, everyone's cell phone goes off at the same time and the entire audience answer their phones, talking loudly.

[gregorbehr.livejournal.com]

Speaking of...
How do you like your Treo?
Looks like Shan is going to be able to negotiate a PDA style phone from her new employer.
While I love my Windows Mobile platform, I kinda like the idea of her having a more stable platform if she is going to be on the road using it a lot.

[dhbearguy.livejournal.com]

I have not used a PDA with a windows platform in quite some time. I do love my treo. I had the 600 for about 6 months and upgraded to the 650 and have had it for a year. Had an app that used to crash it all the time, but they finally releasted a more stable version of the app so it seems to be good now.

I am really considering the 600w when it is released on Sprint. But I would like to see one and test it out first.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Were I to build or own a theatre ...

Knowing that the FCC is fighting legalization of any type of device which actively blocks cell signals, I'd instead embed a fine wire mesh in all four walls and the ceiling of my theatre, and see what I could do to run a very low level current through it. Just enough to prevent any signals from getting through, but not enough to block or interfere with any signals from outside of the theatre.

It could be done.

If I had many millions of dollars, I'd buy a local theatre chain just so I could do this.

[cpj.livejournal.com]

You could always complain to an usher.

The only downside I can think of to this is that movies suck so badly nowadays, the management probably wouldn't bother to raise a fuss if some guy peed on his seat; just as long as he paid for a ticket.

[kumas-human.livejournal.com]

I hear that. I led a minor consumer revolt back home, when an unattended projection room caused the last 10 minutes of a (forgettable) horror flick to be unviewable. The manager was told about it at the onset, but wasn't able to get all of his braincells working together at one time to go resolve the issue. So when people started their zombie-like shuffle toward the exit, I shouted "don't let them off the hook, lets go get our money back!". Free money appeals to even the most apathetic consumers. So we had an angry mob at the register in moments (although sadly, no pitchforks and torches were handy, damn it). Poor Heather the teen-aged cashier just about shit herself, and the manager was finally forced to show up, and dole out refunds.

Being a corporate chain theater, I can only imagine what his tally report for that evening were like. This, and similar indignant little salvos on corporate ineptitude has earned me the title "The Consumer Advocate from Hell" among my friends.

Maybe next time, I'll just pee on the seat though...