Texting in Theaters
Jul. 17th, 2012 02:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithSo there's a debate about whether texting should be allowed in theaters. Here are arguments against that. I couldn't really find a good list of arguments in favor. Texting seems to be something people just do, and rarely bother justifying. It's annoying when there's a debate going on, but not a concise presentation of both sides.
Some of my thoughts ...
1) If people don't like your parameters, they won't buy your service. So if people hate texting in theaters, you'll lose them if you introduce that; whereas if people aren't comfortable unplugging for the duration of a movie, you'll lose them if you don't allow it. When there's a sharp division, offering both options may be prudent to maximize service.
2) Dear movie dudes, you don't have a captive audience. Even in a movie theater, people will walk out if you bore or annoy them enough. If you don't think your movie can hold someone's attention, maybe you should worry about making movies that are more interesting than "hi wat r u up 2?"
3) I wouldn't want to watch a movie with people texting or phoning or otherwise using equipment around me. I don't want people do that around me in general. But my preference is in the minority, so I use my rules in my home, and out in public I just walk away. I'm perfectly capable of putting my folding vote in my pocket and choosing a book over a movie, if the theater annoys me. In fact I have greatly reduced my movie viewing not just for financial reasons, but because I find the experience increasingly aggravating as parameters shift. I'd rather people with different tastes have a place to indulge theirs so they aren't bugging me in my space, and so I'm also not bothered by enforcers traipsing around looking for naughty people.
Some of my thoughts ...
1) If people don't like your parameters, they won't buy your service. So if people hate texting in theaters, you'll lose them if you introduce that; whereas if people aren't comfortable unplugging for the duration of a movie, you'll lose them if you don't allow it. When there's a sharp division, offering both options may be prudent to maximize service.
2) Dear movie dudes, you don't have a captive audience. Even in a movie theater, people will walk out if you bore or annoy them enough. If you don't think your movie can hold someone's attention, maybe you should worry about making movies that are more interesting than "hi wat r u up 2?"
3) I wouldn't want to watch a movie with people texting or phoning or otherwise using equipment around me. I don't want people do that around me in general. But my preference is in the minority, so I use my rules in my home, and out in public I just walk away. I'm perfectly capable of putting my folding vote in my pocket and choosing a book over a movie, if the theater annoys me. In fact I have greatly reduced my movie viewing not just for financial reasons, but because I find the experience increasingly aggravating as parameters shift. I'd rather people with different tastes have a place to indulge theirs so they aren't bugging me in my space, and so I'm also not bothered by enforcers traipsing around looking for naughty people.
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(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-17 07:53 pm (UTC)I am one of the increasingly-small minority who don't own a cell phone - in part because, where we live, there is no reception. But I'm startled how much otherwise-rational friends seem to think it's okay to stop in the middle of a conversation to text someone else.
Well...
Date: 2012-07-17 11:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-17 10:29 pm (UTC)I silence my phone.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-18 01:54 am (UTC)One design decison they would probably do differently now: The entrance to the room was through the women's restroom, so men with crying babies were out of luck.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-18 02:38 am (UTC)Wow!
Date: 2012-07-18 02:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-18 06:45 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-17 07:58 pm (UTC)Sorry, but I have to take issue with this. WHy do *I* have to be the one walking away from a PUBLIC space, if I am not the one who is doing anything that annoys anybody else? Smoking has been banned in public areas where other people (non-smokers) might be in a position to inadvertently "share" the gift of second-hadn smoke - why on EARTH should I be ashamed of wanting texting and cellphones banned INSIDE A MOVIE THEATRE where I - and presumably others - have gone to see a movie and NOT to be surrounded by people who can't live for two hours without being tethered at the hip to their cellphone. If texting is THAT important, fervhrissakes go out of the movie theatre and text to your heart's delight. There are a million places where you can text or use your cell phone with impunity - sitting in a darkened movie theatre and wrecking other people's enjoyment of the movie you have *both* paid to come in and see is just not on.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-17 08:34 pm (UTC)Thoughts
Date: 2012-07-17 09:21 pm (UTC)Because public space should come with an expectation of not butting into other people's business, and having the least feasible interference. I want people NOT to come up to me and tell me what to do, because there are many things about me that annoy people but are none of their business. So conversely, I ignore many things about other people that annoy me.
I like this rule: "It neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket." Texting in the supermarket is annoying, but none of my business. Texting in a theater is not only annoying, but interferes with my enjoyment of a movie I've paid to watch. So I have grounds for asking people not to do that within my range. But if they want to text in a movie theater with other people who like texting in theaters then they should be free to do so, because otherwise that might shut them out of the movie experience which kinda sucks. Plenty of people have reasons why they can't be out of touch even for brief periods, like being caretaker for elders or small children; I've even bent my house rules for compelling cases like that. It's maddening if you need something and people keep trying to take it away from you; and I've known people for whom connective technology was that essential.
With smoking, it's a legal activity and it's their choice; they should have places to do that with other like-minded people. I just want those places to be separate from air I have to breathe, because I'm allergic. I have a right to insist that other people not apply their choices to my body; I don't feel that this extends to me telling them what they can and can't do with their body.
I look for ways to maximize freedom. I really don't like telling other people what to do or not do, because every rule becomes a precedent that could someday be used to restrict my own choices. Just because I don't like something doesn't necessarily mean it's bad or wrong. It's just that some preferences are mutually aggravating when mixed, and so offering separate space can avoid a lot of arguments.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2012-07-17 11:17 pm (UTC)Arguing edge and corner cases doesn't mean the general case is wrong.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2012-07-18 03:08 am (UTC)Re: Thoughts
Date: 2013-09-06 05:58 am (UTC)Oh come on! If a person's expecting a call from someone awaiting an organ transplant, then the person expecting the call shouldn't/wouldn't even go to the movies in the firsts place.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2013-09-06 06:01 am (UTC)There's a time and place for everything, imho! When somebody's doing something that really infringes on the rights of others, the offender(s) need to be stopped in their tracks. Texting/cellphone use in the movie theatre is a perfect example of that. It's wrong to text and use cellphones in the movie theatre because it's disruptive and distressing to other people. It's not so terrible for people to either refrain from texting for the duration of a film, or to go out into the lobby to take that call or text a message. Thanks.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2013-10-04 05:57 am (UTC)As for smoking, there's a reason why there's a "No Smoking" rule in many public places: Why should non-smokers have to be forced to inhale the smoke of smokers and run the risk of being ill if they've got health problems to begin with. You don't seem to get it, do you, ysabetwordsmith? You seem to think that it's okay for people to do whatever they want when they want to, when, in fact, it's not.
I'm with you on this comment, anghara!
Date: 2013-09-06 06:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-17 10:31 pm (UTC)or
Because those seem reasonable to me, but I could be wrong.
Edited to correct a typo.
Well...
Date: 2012-07-17 10:41 pm (UTC)Re: Well...
Date: 2013-09-06 06:04 am (UTC)If someone needs to take a call/text, s/he should just go to the lobby...period.
Date: 2013-09-06 06:20 am (UTC)Emergency Calls
Date: 2012-07-18 01:42 am (UTC)Usually, though, I don't answer in the theatre. I get up quietly, leave, and contact home from the hall or lobby (since anything serious enough for a call means I'm going home.) I neither talk nor text in the theatre while the film is running; that would be rude.
But I more often don't even see movies out any more. I will rent them for free from my library, or buy them outright, because buying the DVD often costs less than a trip out with the family.
Re: Emergency Calls
Date: 2012-07-18 02:45 am (UTC)>>Usually, though, I don't answer in the theatre. I get up quietly, leave, and contact home from the hall or lobby (since anything serious enough for a call means I'm going home.) I neither talk nor text in the theatre while the film is running; that would be rude.<<
I think that's a responsible approach.
>>But I more often don't even see movies out any more. I will rent them for free from my library, or buy them outright, because buying the DVD often costs less than a trip out with the family.<<
I worry about subtle social pressures that can shut people out of the culture. Sometimes a movie might be someone's one little luxury, a chance to be around other people without being obligated for close interaction. So if the theater is too expensive, or has other requirements that aren't compatible with their needs, then they lose that option and it's not good.
Re: Emergency Calls
Date: 2013-09-06 06:08 pm (UTC)Re: Emergency Calls
Date: 2013-09-06 05:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-19 01:31 pm (UTC)Audiences have become very aggressive to that sort of thing. One or two people will quietly ask the offender to put it away, and if they don't, then the crowd tells them to put it away or leave. During the previews, people don't say anything, but it makes them antsy that they might have an idiot on their hands.
Again, from my experiences, I've seen someone look at their phone, then dart out to take the call. That's cool, because anything important enough to interrupt $15 worth of entertainment is going to be pretty serious.
Thoughts
Date: 2012-07-19 11:16 pm (UTC)I think people are more hostile in general, often for valid reasons, but it's a vicious circle.
>>Again, from my experiences, I've seen someone look at their phone, then dart out to take the call. That's cool, because anything important enough to interrupt $15 worth of entertainment is going to be pretty serious.<<
That would be my first preference, actually. Put the device on vibrate so it doesn't bother other people, then leave if there's an urgent message. That accommodates viewing pleasure and some people's obligation to remain reachable.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2013-09-06 05:47 am (UTC)Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-06 05:45 am (UTC)The people who do that, regardless of their age(s), are a bunch of spoiled, inconsiderate brats who were never taught anything while growing up about being considerate of other people around them. If someone needs to take a call or to text, they should go out into the theatre lobby to do that. They have no business ruining the movie for others.
Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-06 05:56 am (UTC)The trend is leaning toward greater connectivity, and it's causing social disruption because people rarely think about the implications or how to deal with the differences of opinion and need.
Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-06 06:06 am (UTC)Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-06 05:43 pm (UTC)Imho, if people want to text/talk during a movie, they should watch movies at home, where they can't spoil things for other people. That's how I feel. Moreover, if I ever managed or worked at a movie theatre, that's how I'd feel, and. if the offender(s) persist on violating the anti-texting/cellphone use policy in the theatre despite being warned, I'd evict the offender(s) without a refund...no questions asked.
Unlike you, I do not sympathize with the ones who want to avoid disconnection while in the movie theatre. They should either stay home, or go in the lobby of the theatre, or elsewhere.
Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-30 02:33 pm (UTC)This "do what you want when you want" attitude is precisely the problem, ysabetwordsmith, and it's what's helped get the most Rightwing politicians here in the United States and elsewhere elected into office.
Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-30 06:21 pm (UTC)Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-30 06:56 pm (UTC)The proprietor/owner(s) of Alamo Draft House Cinemas in Texas had exactly the right idea when they put a zero-tolerance policy on texting/cellphone use in their movie theatre. They did the right thing when they kicked the woman out of their movie theatre without a refund of her money because she persisted on texting on her cellphone despite two warnings. An adult (or even a teenager), imho, shouldn't have to be warned. If they're old enough to go to a movie theatre, they're old enough to have respect and consideration for the others around them and not disturb other people.
Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-30 06:58 pm (UTC)The ones who are inconsiderate and rude enough to text/use their cellphones in movie theatres are the ones who're not thinking about other people, and they're the ones who need work--learning to consider, respect and think of other people, NOT the ones who came just to watch the movie and enjoy themselves.
Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-09-30 07:18 pm (UTC)Re: Texting/cellphone use in movie theatres is extremely rude...and inconsiderate.
Date: 2013-10-04 07:26 pm (UTC)People hate it when they can't use they cellphones in a movie theatre and disrupt it for other people? Too bad! They've got no right to be disruptive and destructive to other human beings who paid to go see a movie and not be distracted by talking, texting and the small but bright lights emanating through people's cellphones. The Alamo Draft House has it exactly right when they put a zero-tolerance policy regarding cellphone use/texting in their theatres.
I stand by everything I've said, ysabethwordsmith.
Date: 2014-01-27 01:47 pm (UTC)