Kicked out for texting at movies. Her voicemail is used for a pre-show PSA- Page 2

[romantico]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:50am

Before cel phones, what did people do when they went out to a movie or a concert? Society today is just so pathetic when it comes to stuff like this.You tell the baby sitter what theater you are going to and what time the movie starts IN CASE OF AN ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY. I am amazed at how people today can not afford to be cut off for even 2 hours. I turn my phone off,not put it on silent but off when I go to a movie.

AN emergency is one thing and if you are a Doctor and are on call then yes, you should expect to be paged or to get a phone call(if you are a Doctor and on call that night why would you go to a movie?)I am talking about the people who are bored with the movie and decide to check their email. People who call people at the movie and they actually pick up and start talking.There are way too many people like this going to the movies. When I saw THOR the guy in back of me was wearing flip flops and decided to take them off and dangle his feet about five feet away from me and my friend. Common courtesy is lost these days. People are in their comfort zone as if they are at home. Taking your shoes off,checking messages,talking out loud through out a movie are just to common nowadays. I am going to the movies less and less and I have to plan on when I do anymore just to avoid crowds.

Updated On: 6/7/11 at 10:50 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:51am

It is sad but in reality it's just not the world we live in anymore. This is who we are as a people and we're not going back to before.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 11:34am

i just think cell phones make people think they are more important then they think they are.. just because you can be reached every second of the day now doesn't mean you should have to pick up or answer... that's what voice mail is for... but the WORST offense to me is when you text and pick up your phone in church!! just makes me angry

and now phones just don't have texting and talking... i refuse to get a phone with a data plan because i can't justify paying 30 bucks a month to be on the internet outside of my house... it's sad because i was at a restaurant the other day and these two guys were having lunch and the entire time instead of talking to each other they were either texting or surfing the internet on their phone having maybe only a two second conversation every 10 minutes... i even get annoyed at my friends sometimes because when we're all out having dinner they are just surfing the internet when waiting for the food to come out... how about you talk and have conversations with your friends! argh!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 12:10pm

I'm totally against jammers in movie theaters/live performance venues simply because what would happen if there were an emergency IN THE BUILDING? I'm willing to put up with one person texting (then being reprimanded) if it means saving a life.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 12:21pm

I would just assume - perhaps wrongly - that signal would only be jammed in the actual theatre space itself. If it's the whole building, I suddenly see why it would be a problem.

You folks are sure worried about sh*t going wrong while you're at the theatre, aren't you?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 12:23pm

Well I'm a Jew, so....yeah.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 4:19pm

I remember being at that theater on North Michigan at Ohio in Chicago when burning embers started falling from the ceiling while we were watching a movie. I immediately stood up and pointed it out to the audience, but the weird thing was, nobody really felt like getting out. They were too bummed about having wasted their time (not their money because the management gave out passes) and being inconvenienced with an evacuation. So yeah, I'm not thrilled about have cell phone jammers in any place where you could potentially be trapped by a fire. Or if so, limit the access to 911 emergency only.

Updated On: 6/7/11 at 04:19 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 4:31pm

If you are a doctor, than speak to the house staff before seeing the show and tell them you may get a call. I don't know if Broadway theaters do this but I know the theaters in Denver do. They offer a special line for doctors and parents so they don't have to check for emergencies. If there is one, an usher will come to their seat and escort them out to the pohne.

Also, I am all for jamming phones inside the theaters. if you need to make a call, check your Facebook status or text you can do it before, at intermission or after the show. I work in a theater and we watch for phones that are on and even confiscate them when people are taking pictures or continue to use them after being warned not to do it again.

[romantico]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 5:06pm

Uncageg,that makes me feel good knowing some theaters do that.Theater owners need to be more aggressive. They wonder why people are not going to movies as much anymore.

Since I really never got an answer I'll ask again. What did we do before cel phones? Anyone here see STAR WARS on opening night? BACK TO THE FUTURE? SOUND OF MUSIC?JURASSIC PARK? Is it really because people can not contact you and you them or is it just the times we live in now? Is it society won't allow you to shut off from the world for 2 hours?

If a theater wants to jam a signal so no one can use their cel phones I am totally fine with that.Of course if people were more responsible and courteous of others maybe that would not even need to be considered.

I had heard this was a problem in some restaurants where people would talk on the phone disrupting other guests. Jamming phones in some businesses is OK in my opinion.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cell-phone-etiquette.htm

I hear these do work.

http://www.thesignaljammer.com/products/Portable-Cell-Phone-Jammer-%252b-GPS-Jammer.html

I was at Barnes and Noble one day looking at magazines and a guy on his phone walked right in front of me while talking. He did this every time I would move to a different magazine section. He was not even aware I was there.These blockers are the size of a box of cigarettes.Keep it in your pocket and turn it on.Perhaps a wise investment. Wonder if I can find one cheaper? Hmmmmm.

Updated On: 6/7/11 at 05:06 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 5:20pm

romantico, it is the times we live in plus people think the need this technology and are addicted to it. The companies that make these devices are making big bucks and don't care. They market their products to make you trhink they will "help" you in your daily life.

We did quite fine before smart phones, etc. You trusted your babysitter and if you were a doctor, most likely someone on call would take care of an emergency. Plus you wouldn't know until you got home. When I went to the theater or a movie, I had no desire to talk to anyone that wasn't there with me. Why did I need to? I was there to see a movie or a show. If people can't focus for two hours on a show, they don't need to be in a theater. Stay home on your couch and text because God knows, more and more people don't like to even talk on their phones anymore.

We live in a world where people think they are entitled. They pay NO attention to ushers or announcements to turn phones off or not to take pictures or video during a performance. When caught, they get upset and some will even try it again. Iit's sad. Just my random thoughts.

[romantico]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 5:29pm

Your random thoughts are common sense. Don't get me wrong. I love my phone and feel safe having it. My close friends and family have my number and know when to call me on it and when not to. However,I have never made or taken a call at a theater and when I do make a call I am usually in my car or somewhere private.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 5:43pm

I just got a phone in January because I had to. At work it stays in my locker. I don't talk on the bus to and from work. I finally got texting because I needed that also, for work. Well it got me in trouble with one of my closest friends because he took what I texted the wrong way. Since so many people don't like to talk on their phones anymore he won't answer it or call me. Today is my birthday. he is the only person I haven't talked to. What I got from him was an e-mail saying he mailed my present, even though we are supposed to see a show together on Sunday and he doesn't know that we are throwing him an early surprise birthday party on Satuday. (THAT should be fun) So my day was marred because I didn't pick up the phone and used texting. If you read the Woe is Me thread, this situation is what I am referring to. I was getting sucked in, but I will be much more careful in the future.

Updated On: 6/7/11 at 05:43 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 5:47pm

Nostalgia is great, but not always applicable. Who says, "Remember the good old days of leeches? We did fine then!"?

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 5:53pm

Why I just said that the other day! :)

Lizzie, I understand what you are saying but the problem is that people are not being, for lack of a better term, more responsible with all of this new technology. it has chipped away at peoples manners, their skills (Including interpersonal skills)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 6:10pm

Updated On: 6/7/11 at 06:10 PM

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 6:28pm

the sad part is... if there was an emergency in a theater... i am almost certain people would be using their cell phones to text their friends that something is happening or recording it just to watch it later...

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 6:51pm

Love the PSA. I'll bet it gets huge applause when it runs in the theatre.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 7:14pm

But if they block the signal in the theater how am I suppossed to go on Facebook and complain about how much the movie sucks?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 7:17pm

The woman next to me at a screening I went to this afternoon started texting. I shot her a look and when she didn't put it away even after me saying "excuse me" twice, I said very loudly "STOP TEXTING, YOU RUDE ASS BITCH"
Updated On: 6/7/11 at 07:17 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 7:26pm

^ And this is why you are my hero.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 7:30pm

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY will distract me from the screen when Julia Roberts is on it. Anyone who knows me knows I'll tolerate some stuff but at a Julia movie, you best not piss me off.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 7:30pm

Hmm... where did my post go?

Anyway, love the PSA and the snarking closed captioning. The more I learn about the Alamo Drafthouse, the more I wish that theater was in my neck of the woods.

As a former employee of a movie house, I have on more than one occasion flashed a light on texters. That said, I have run across worse customer behavior. Some people think their movie ticket means they can do anything they so please at a movie theater. Makes me think of the audience behaviors threads on the main board.

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 8:01pm

I've been to an Alamo theatre once and I LOVED it. Another thing that my local theatre is doing that I love is banning people under the age of 17 from going in to see movies after 8pm. With or without a parent, they can't get in. Though you still get some obnoxious prigs, it cuts down a lot.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 8:24pm

"someone on call would take care of an emergency"

That's kinda the definition of "on call". But there are many job classifications that need to be available for emergent or difficult circumstances,
OR staff, fire/police officials, hydro electric staff, many, many more. In the olden days (ah yes I remember it well) my dad came home on 1st call and was avail on a beeper.( oooo sooo technilogical!!) 2nd call, they just phoned him at home to come back to the hospital. When you were on call, that was the deal, you had to be available, if you went out, you had to leave a contact number or wait by the phone, IN CASE!!
Caused a lot o tsuris in a lot o marriges - couldn't make "plans". Now people want more of their time off for just themselves ( tru story: one of my docs, years ago, went out golfing w his buds and we COULDN'T get a hold of him- cos he thought "fur shure somebudy wood half a phone he could use to czeck in wit". Jesus Wept!) and their "Crackberries" seem to give then this illusion- "i'm off cruisin the Caribbean, but I can keep in contact w the folks back at work in an instant- Gawd I'm important!".
I think there are a lot of people out there that need to get back to reality- literally.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:30pm

I only pray that she has seen this news story.