As an example, Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas has this policy, “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards talking and texting during the movie. If you talk or text, you will receive one warning. If it happens again, you will be kicked out without a refund.”
I would go to this place even if I didn’t like the movie - - YouTube
Can’t speak to you being the* only* one, but if you’ve never experienced this phenomena, I am green with envy.
Not sure what you mean by your second comment. I’m assuming if one was awaiting word that one’s life saving organ was available, one would have more on one’s mind than watching American Hustle.
I doubt I’d think there was a problem if I did go to movies. I can’t see being bothered by the glowing screen. If someone was talking much or loudly that would be annoying but I wouldn’t think many people would be that nervy (then again I might be giving people too much credit).
So it’s really a one-tolerance policy.
Fuck YEAH!
I’ve heard the argument made that this would be wrong because a doctor might need to be paged about a medical emergency. But I say that’s bullshit. If it’s made known to everyone that their devices aren’t going to work once inside, then it’s the doctor’s own fault for not going to another theater instead.
Oh, that’s easy. I’m NOT expecting to be called (if I was, I wouldn’t go). I just have to be available in the unlikely but possible event that I am needed. Since most of the time when I’m on call I won’t be needed (and when I am, it’s often an issue that can be dealt with quickly over the phone), why not go to the movies?
Since you say you don’t go to movies. I must say ‘thanks’ but not really what I was going for. Where the hell is Equipoise?
OK, simple example of an unexpected emergency (which is redundant): A couple with a young child goes out for a date, and hires a babysitter for the evening. They give the babysitter their cell phone number, and tells them to only call if there’s an emergency. They trust the babysitter’s judgement on what counts as an emergency.
People who are on-call aren’t “expecting a page”. Is a fire alarm “expecting a fire”?
Sure it is. If I was going to go to a movie (which I have before and will again…I don’t mind going, I just don’t go out of my way to) I would go to whatever was convenient without regard to their policy on mobile devices. That’s probably what most people would do.
I have no problem with a theater prohibiting cell phone use during a film, and I always turn mine off before the film starts. But “from the time you enter the auditorium until you leave”? No- during the ads and previews, I couldn’t care less. I’m most likely talking to my friends, and the glow of a cell phone would go unnoticed.
It should be from the moment you enter until the moment you leave. You think someone is going to stop mid-conversation just because the feature started? And maybe I want to enjoy the previews in peace. Using the phone once you’re inside the hall is a sign of poor manners.
I have small children. Emergencies are * always * pending in my life.
That said, I would happily go to a theater that had a strict and enforced no cell phone policy. All those bright little screens in an otherwise dark room make me want to punch people.
I haven’t been to a movie theater in a while…
I don’t even understand what this means(?) Are you a fire fighter?
Never mind: now we’re veering into ‘never happen territory’.
Keeping it in a plausible,real-world territory, the average movie patron is not a surgeon, or a fire fighter, or goddamned Bruce Willis.
If you are a member of our fire fighting team then I solute you. Aside from that, no one is that important, and if they think that they are, they really need to stay the fuck home.
Lots of people talk to each other in a theater before the film starts; it’s really quite common. Does that interfere with you enjoying the previews? Should that be banned? Does the glow of a cell phone from someone texting really bother you that much?
It means what Snowboarder Bo wrote. Having a fire alarm in your house doesn’t mean you’re expecting a fire to happen, it just means that IF a fire happens, you’ll be warned. Likewise, wearing a pager or a cellphone because you’re on call doesn’t mean you expect you’ll be paged or phoned, it just means that you’re reachable IF you are needed. (And in many cases, that’s a big “if”!)
Then you’d be surprised. You’re in a dark room. A bright light shining up at you is extremely noticeable and bothersome. The texters honestly piss me off more than the talkers. Everyone sitting above a texter can see the light from their goddam phone, not just those they are next to.
I would absolutely go to a theater than banned the use of cell phones. I am thrilled that an Alamo Drafthouse is actually opening a few blocks from my apartment later this year!
Yup. I would support a theatre running a blocker, too. As others have said, if you have something in your life preventing you from having your cell blocked for two hours, go to a different theatre.
They also don’t allow teenagers in without a parent, which half-solves the problem anyway.
I thought the same thing, but the one time we went, it seemed to be a much quieter movie-going experience. They made a big deal about the policy before the movie started. And it’s generally the asshole who keeps texting that drives you crazy, not the person that would sheepishly stop the first time they were called on it.
Where I live one of the cinemas has a number you can text if there is someone being somehow inappropriate. The staff will come in and remove the person. I’d rather have that option and the two are obviously not compatible. So no, I wouldn’t go to a cinema that bans mobile phones.
I also think the list of annoying behaviours when you’re in a room with other people is incredibly long and you can’t ban them all without treading on their freedoms anyway. Personally, people who smell disturb me much more than people who use their phone. I’d rather that the rule is we all try to behave ourselves and if someone is is out of line we can text the cinema and ask them to kick that person out.