Twitter versus Theater? — Page 2

"Bitches who pull out their phones during a live performance are gonna leave the theater with one less phone than they came in with."
- Jordan Catalano

There is absolutely no reason that people can't wait until intermission or after a performance to tweet. If you can't sit and focus on something for an hour or two without checking your phone and tweeting, you shouldn't be going to the theater. I don't understand the appeal of disengaging from a live performance to tweet about it and broadcast what is happening to your Twitter followers when you're already sharing the experience with every other person in the theater. Isn't that part of the thrill of live theater anyway? But maybe I'm just old-fashioned, since I don't want to pay Broadway prices to sit in a theater and play with my phone...what a novel idea.

Just to clarify (again), though, given the vitriol, it doesn't seem worth it. As you can read in my blog post linked below, I have never Tweeted during a theatrical performance. I do not plan to do so.
What I was trying to point out is that there is power and appeal in the sharing that takes place on Twitter (and other social media) -- a community has developed, just as obviously a community has developed here on this board.
This explains, in part, the increasing breaches in theater etiquette.
I do not think they are going to go away simply because we don’t like them.So what to do about them? We can be an "Enemy of the People" angry mob, rant and attack and be just as rude and violent as the people whose behavior we're criticizing. I don't imagine that will accomplish anything. The alternative: We can search for a solution, which will probably be a technical one. (e.g. Tweet seats, or something not yet imagined.)
I'm sorry if what I'm saying here makes me a troll and a shill by your lights.
Tweeting vs. Theater

We can be an "Enemy of the People" angry mob, rant and attack and be just as rude and violent as the people whose behavior we're criticizing.

To my knowledge there has never been a situation where an audience has turned into a mob and attacked anyone. Either you're not reading what people are posting or, more likely, you're just enjoying causing dissent.

The solution, which was mentioned already, is to continue the policy of not allowing cell phone use during a show. If a patron ignores this policy and people complain they should simply be asked to leave.

I mean, this is kind of a no brainer.

And equating people who would like to enjoy a performance distraction free with the Taliban removes any credibility you my have had.

You haven't even bothered to offer a "solution". Since you're so hung up on this, what do you suggest? Surely you must have some ideas as you've obviously spent a great deal of time mulling this over.

I'd like to hear what your recommendation is.

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Tazber
I really didn't mean for this to degenerate into a confrontation and no I'm not enjoying my status as dissenter. The fact is, there HAVE been terrible rows in the theater, some of them widely reported in the press -- for example Mark Shenton vs. Bianca Jagger. Has there literally been a mob at the theater? I doubt it, but it certainly feels like a mob on these boards. I'm talking about the mentality; I wasn't being literal.
You're right that my Taliban analogy was extreme. If my using such a phrase has removed my credibility, what credibility do people have who use personal attacks and name-calling in discussing this issue?
And I HAVE mentioned solutions -- please scroll through this thread to see two (Tweet seats and something on the back of seats.) My main point is that the solution could be a technical one, perhaps one that hasn't been thought up yet.
I'll be more specific: Right now in Europe, theaters commonly use a hand-held device to translate into a written script what is going on on stage for foreigners and the hearing-impaired. Presumably it's designed so as not to disturb other theatergoers. So why couldn't this device be modified to allow for social media?
If the "solution" you mention is working, and such a no-brainer, then there's no problem, so why all the anger and irritation?

Paljoey,
Actually, I am quite deeply sorry you choose to attack me in this way -- which violates the guidelines set out by BWW, i.e. "Please post with courtesy (and common sense) - no use of profanity, obscenities, or name calling.
"No personal attacks - we all have different opinions - disagree with the view, not
with the person." Read more: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/guide.cfm#ixzz2A3emEHAh
So what can we do about violations of specifically set-out etiquette such as what you've committed?

Updated On: 10/22/12 at 03:43 PM

If you are using an electronic device at any performance that I am in the audience for, I will hunt you down and ruin your life.

Good for you, Diva. I understand that people are especially indignant at Broadway prices, but, really, the principle is the same at a free performance.

And, NewYorkTheater, to answer your question as to why tweeting is different from hearing- and language-assistance devices, what you are calling a "sense of community" and "sharing" inspired by Twitter is really just plain, old narcissism.

As others will no doubt attest, I have a generous supply of ego. But unless my grandchildren are playing in heavy traffic, there is no thought of mine that can't wait until the act break.

I don't know why the tweeter who wrote "WHOO HOO! MAX IS SO SCRUMPTIOUS ON DWTS RIGHT NOW! #hotrussians #pasodoble" can't understand that the same rule applies to him.

Updated On: 10/22/12 at 04:52 PM

I'm waiting around for TheGirlUpstairs.

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I hereby appoint PalJoey, henrikegerman and TheatreDiva to the official Board on Theater Etiquette.

I will be happy to abide by whatever rules they establish.

(Just to be clear: my tongue is firmly in my cheek, of course, but this is not a snark. The posters listed above would make a great committee.)