Banning cell phones in theatres.

I'm sure everyone has experienced the annoyance. Why dont they have an instant ejection policy or a cell free zone where they won't work. Me and the GF regularly complain about it and have had alot of people warned and a couple booted out. As far as talking this is the worst too, it's 2012 I dont understand why the chair cant be equipped with a small standard headphone jack with a minimal volume to drown out the yippers and be adjustable that you can still hear the regular theater sound. We complain after and get free passes when no one resolves it, maybe only when they do something serious about it because they lose money anything will be done. Any opinions?

I think they need to just give anyone that's loud the boot along with using their phones.

I would gladly pay an extra dollar or two per ticket for a theater that had a signal jammer.

Some NSFW language but hysterical never the less

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop...eeC2lJZs&gl=US

Are you aware that there are portable mobile phone jammers, not sure if they're legal where you are?

the thing that gets me, is that threads like this had to be created. when i was a kid, and up till abotu mebbes 10~15 years ago, people just knew how to behave in public places like this. granted there weren't cell phones then, but generally people know that if they talked through the movie they were being ****, and generally other people would shout out to tell them to stfu. what else i don't get is, if i pay that much for a ticket i want to WATCH the damn film - why do these people fork out money then blather to their friends all through it?
i suppose a big part of this is cinema cutbacks - there always used to be an usher/ette standing by the hall door and they'd come and tell people to shut up or get out. now, the cinnies don't give a damn.
maybe if people kept going back to the box office and demanding a refund cos the presentation had been ruined they'd start taking a better stance against idiots.

Tobot said:

---

Are you aware that there are portable mobile phone jammers, not sure if they're legal where you are?

FCC says they are illegal.

Wolfie138 said:

---

people just knew how to behave in public places like this

You've not only hit the nail on the head, you drove right through the other side. The problem is, I am of the age that has kids that don't know how to behave in public and I feel that my age group is very much to blame for this bad behavior.

You guys are the ones who are out of step. The new etiquette is "the person on the other end of the mobile phone conversation trumps everybody and everything".

How many of you have been speaking to someone via a mobile and then heard a toilet flushing?

How many of you have been in a cinema lately where nobody used their cell phone?

How many of you have been with friends at a pub or restaurant, where at least two people haven't been on the phone nonstop the entire evening?

The new etiquette says that YOU are the ones who are rude and in the wrong. Sorry, but it is what seems to be emerging!

Nwerke said:

---

The new etiquette says that YOU are the ones who are rude and in the wrong. Sorry, but it is what seems to be emerging!

No, I disagree. If I go to the cinema and pay $11+ (3D is what $18 now?) for a ticket, I want to hear the movie soundtrack, not the person behind me yabbering away about, whatever. I've told many a teenager (or early 20s) off for using their phone in a cinema.

I despise people who talk or use their phone at the theater.

But, I don't think jamming them is the answer. Too many firemen, cops or parents with kids or other potential emergencies to jam them.

Theaters need to enforce policy.

Texting is a problem also.

Here, they play an ad sponsored by one of the mobile phone companies gently making fun of phone usage and says 'Please turn off your phone' or words to that effect in front
of the main film.

One recently was about a band of elite ushers who acted like the TSA and bagged everyones' phones and rugby tackled a mum for texting. That sort of thing.

Generally, it seems to work. I don't ever recall anyone ever actually talking on their phone here.

The cinema has to have the right to eject a person for phoning tor texting with no refund. It's only fair to the other people in the cinema.

I guess one of the problems is danger from attack from the perpetrator and lack of respect for everyone else these days.

I was thinking this exact same thing when I saw the Avengers. This guy next to me kept getting on his phone texting through out the film until I looked over and very loudly said "are you kidding me dude?!" to which he smirked and put it away. not even 10 minutes later he was on it again. not to mention 3 others through out the film texting. They really need to do a better job enforcing it. I think the demanding a refund idea is great! I think the great thing about movie with a bunch of people is the excitement and the cheering but if people are going to be on their phones, I'd rather see the first showing in the afternoon with hardly any people.

I am just sick of cell phones period. I am really tired of having a conversation with someone who needs to check their phone every time it beeps to alert them of a lame Facebook update or a text asking them "what are you doing". Very important stuff.

When did the movie theater usher's job change from "movie cop" to "janitor"? I appreciate not stepping in sticky stuff while entering/exiting the theater, but I would like to experience the movie as intended without the annoying people in the background yammering away and seeing little blue lights all around.

Dorian Gray said:

---

I was thinking this exact same thing when I saw the Avengers. This guy next to me kept getting on his phone texting through out the film until I looked over and very loudly said "are you kidding me dude?!" to which he smirked and put it away. not even 10 minutes later he was on it again. not to mention 3 others through out the film texting. They really need to do a better job enforcing it. I think the demanding a refund idea is great! I think the great thing about movie with a bunch of people is the excitement and the cheering but if people are going to be on their phones, I'd rather see the first showing in the afternoon with hardly any people.

And because it is a business I think it's the only way to force theatre chains to react. I'm sure each individual theatre has to report back how many passes it gives out. It's probly the only way to send a message that some sort of enforcement or proper prevention needs to be taken. Texting for sure is an issue, probly worse theres nothing more annoying especially during a dark film than a bunch of light up squares floating in the crowd. Not being sexist by any means my GF has even noticed that one of the worst culprits for the texting FB updates are girls that go to movies with dates that have no interest in the film. Seems they just go for the date and have no interest in whats on screen. Another one is when people talk during the story setup or non action buts, and then are totally engaged during an action sequence and then talk about how awesome it was for 5 mins. I think as athers posted it is the "On my cell hierarchy attitude" and in general alot of people are straight up ignorant, maybe thinking they paid money so they have the right to yip. I encourage everyone to complain as long as it's legitimate. The only way it will ever change is if the masses stop allowing it, because the laid back apathy about it being ok is how it started. As far as emergencies well there's vibrate and if there's a looming emergency you kinda know about then you shouldnt be in a theatre should you lol. Once the head offices see a growing trend they will weigh up that cganging their policies will far outweigh the cost of free passes which is income lost to them. Hiring someone for the night is probly less than loss of revenue from 4 passes a night. It's like the equation from Fight Club on auto recalls lol.

I totally understand, nothing's worse than hearing muttering through a movie, especially when it's near you or next to you. The other annoying thing is the screen coming up and distracting you when someone is texting, or looking at their phone. I always make sure I turn my phone to vibrate, and if I do get a message, I look at it when the movie's over.

At the very least, start printing disclaimers on tickets that say "Phone use during the showing of movies is prohibited, and the theater has the right to remove patrons who make use of their phone during the show". ...yadda yadda. Have signs posted, posters, notices..ect. I know for "sell out" events, the theater usually has some sort of ushers making sure that they crowd the people in and make sure everyone gets seated, and they usually make an announcement. Have someone do that for every showing. Step into that theater just before trailers, make their little speech, tell people to turn off their phones, if they need to talk, go outside in the hall, and if they talk during the show, they can be removed by the usher police. It would take 2 min, then they can go back to sweeping popcorn off the floor....

All theaters should make it, and talking in the theater, a standard like the Alamo Drafthouse. And if anyone complains, make it a great "don't use your cell in our theater" promo.

hansicle said:

---

I totally understand, nothing's worse than hearing muttering through a movie, especially when it's near you or next to you. The other annoying thing is the screen coming up and distracting you when someone is texting, or looking at their phone. I always make sure I turn my phone to vibrate, and if I do get a message, I look at it when the movie's over.

At the very least, start printing disclaimers on tickets that say "Phone use during the showing of movies is prohibited, and the theater has the right to remove patrons who make use of their phone during the show". ...yadda yadda. Have signs posted, posters, notices..etc. I know for "sell out" events, the theater usually has some sort of ushers making sure that they crowd the people in and make sure everyone gets seated, and they usually make an announcement. Have someone do that for every showing. Step into that theater just before trailers, make their little speech, tell people to turn off their phones, if they need to talk, go outside in the hall, and if they talk during the show, they can be removed by the usher police. It would take 2 min, then they can go back to sweeping popcorn off the floor....

I used to go to a theater in Toronto called the Uptown, old school place and they did that. There was never a problem after the person came in. They even said that if there were any distractions beyond what may be considered normal they would deal with it immediately. I think the presence alone of someone there was worth a ton of prevention, kinda like police presence, you may not see them but if you know they're around you're less likely to do something. I think its definitely a three part recipe for ignorance in theaters. One part technology, one part apathy and one part ignorance. Me and the GF will always slip over if possible and ask quietly for people to turn stuff off or to keep it down. Sometimes they are in front of people and I have no idea how they aren't annoyed and just sit there. Chances are that one person is annoying 30 people so if you do have to give a lil **** to someone everyone else is probably in full agreement and would back you up for complaining etc.

Maybe they need to do the Laser Show Policy. Here, before the Laser Show and announcement is made - "During the show, If we see a laser pointer, flashlight, cellphone, or lighter, we will immediately stop the show, point out the offender, and the show is over. The offender will then have to deal with all of you out in the parking lot." There was one drunk idiot that tested this during laser metallica...it took the police to save his ass out in the parking lot.

CB2001 said:

---

All theaters should make it, and talking in the theater, a standard like the Alamo Drafthouse. And if anyone complains, make it a great "don't use your cell in our theater" promo.

Thats amazing. Funny thing is thats the kind of girl that goes on a date and doesnt have any interest in the film. She was probly seeing underworld or Iron Man. Standard "Theater Twit" lol

0neiros said:

---

Maybe they need to do the Laser Show Policy. Here, before the Laser Show and announcement is made - "During the show, If we see a laser pointer, flashlight, cellphone, or lighter, we will immediately stop the show, point out the offender, and the show is over. The offender will then have to deal with all of you out in the parking lot." There was one drunk idiot that tested this during laser metallica...it took the police to save his ass out in the parking lot.

If you tell me everyone stands up and does the Gladiator thumbs down deal I am moving to your town. That would be amazing. After 2 weeks you would have no distractions.

What about usher call buttons? It couldn't be that expensive to install at every other seat or so. If they get enough calls, they come in and boot the jerk...

this highlights one reason why i dont go to the cinema much anymore - apart from the high cost i dont want to watch a film with phones illuminated on silent as people are texting or talking - id rather buy the dvd and watch it in my own premises in under the conditions i like to watch a film - no interuptions.

what we cant see is if a phone text or call may be genuine - always that possiblity that someones phone beeps informing them of a death or relative in an accident or a family member broken down......... its too hard to enforce a no phone policy imo.

its why i choose not to go very often - if its not phones its people talking, then when you ask them politely your told to pee off and mind your own - alot of rude arrogant people in todays society ruining it for others - in my day you had respect and many people these days simply lack it.

policing the cinema with ushers on the look out for phone users will only end in tears, joe public will simply tell the usher where to go, confrontations lead to brawls esp off most of todays youth - no respect