Movie Theaters [Seek Permission] to Jam Cell Phone Reception

[DigitalDuality]

And for all those people whining.. i'm going to 2nd the sentiment..

What the hell happened to being disconnected for a little bit? Are you really that fucking self important? Do you really feel the need for constant attention from those you know. Does it make you feel important? Go 2 hours without your phone.

And for those that do, get mad at the few bad apples that ruined it for you.

Next time i go to a theater i'mma speak to a manager and show my support for cell phone blockers.

 

[Banquo]

side note: dont go to any movie theater in a ghetto or hood area if its like that.

srsly. Union Station theaters behind the Capitol building in northeast DC on Friday or Saturday night is impossible. it's not exactly the ghetto, but you can't hear a damned thing because everyone is yelling at the screen or each other. sometimes it's funny, but most of the time it's just annoying.

according to my unscientific observations, people who live in the 'burbs are much less likely to talk during a movie or use a cell phone -- so there is a definite cultural or geographical divide on this.

the advent of cell phone use has been an interesting social experiment. it's proved that no matter how many times people are reminded to mind their manners, there is still 10-20% of the US population who is so rude that they do not understand that it is inappropriate to talk on a phone in an elevator, (sit-down) restaurant, or movie theater. it's gonna take something more than asking people to be polite.

 

[DigitalDuality]

This was already said, but i think the biggest tragedy in this..

is that people can't disconnect themselves for 2 fucking hours. What's the big deal?

I can't believe people are so insecure they need to feel all self important with their fucking phones. Really.. it's ok. Step away from the phone and Txt messages and whatnot. It'll be ok.

I'm on the internet ALOT, and i mean ALOT. A very unhealthy amount. But i can turn off the phones and music and tv and go sit outside and read a book. And go out for a night and leave my cell phone at home.

People get shocked b/c how often my cellphone is not on me, like something is wrong with me or i'm breaking some ettiquette code, like i'm always supposed to be available.

Talk about your property owning your ass. Damn people.

 

[ChemicalBeauty]

Good point Banquo. I guess I just haven't experienced it. And to think of actually having to sit in a theatre where phone after phone was ringing and conversation after conversation was being had, I can see how this could be a problem. Which then begs the question - why not just drive 10 or 15 minutes to a different theatre that doesn't have such a high ratio of obnoxious patrons?

How can the government block it? What law does it violate? it's private property

Isn't any kind of cel phone jamming illegal?

 

[DigitalDuality]

Nope.

It would be illegal to block it on someone else's private property, and it would be to block it on public property.

 

[smotpoker]

I would LOVE to see them ban cell phones at theatres. I don't even bring mine in, if I'm paying $ to see a movie, why would I want to waste my money by talking on my cell phone. It's very rude, and quite frankly, people who talk on their cell phones or just talk period during a movie should be banned for life from the theatre. If they do it once they are bound to do it again.

But the real reason people don't go to theatres is because they can watch the movie for free on the internet, although I'll gladly pay $6.50 at the theatre. Hell, you usually spend more than that at a night at a bar, and I happen to like previews, I usually get there early just to see them.

And as for remakes, yeah some suck. But I have seen quite a few that I really enjoyed, like The Hills Have Eyes, which I think was much better than the original.

 

[fairnymph]

it is the stupid flickering blue lights all over the theater while the owners feverishly type texts to all their stupid little friends.

ROFL!


I think lacey brings up a good point. Drs such as obstetricians need to be contact-able at all times. Jamming cell phones would jam theirs, and/or their pagers no doubt.

 

[miss starry]

according to my unscientific observations, people who live in the 'burbs are much less likely to talk during a movie or use a cell phone -- so there is a definite cultural or geographical divide on this.

Not in my experience...it's just a different kind of obnoxious crowd in the 'burbs. You've got crowds of teenagers talking, getting up and down from their seats and playing with their phones the whole time.

The only theatres I've found without this problem are the ones downtown that show independent films...you tend to get a more mature crowd there than the regular multiplex.

 

[DigitalDuality]

it's the burbs it's teenagers and single white mothers with kids..

it the hood, it's everyone.

miss stary is on point with the indie films.

 

[ego_loss]

Blocking the signals outright is not the way to go. In my time as a movie theatre manager I have given many, many refunds to doctors and police officers who were paged out of their movies.

If you are watching a movie and someone else in the auditorium does something you don't like, go find an usher. Nine times out of ten, the offender will either be silenced or removed outright. Don't like the fact that you had to get up and miss your movie? Tell a manager (politely). Nine times out of ten you will get a free ticket. If you don't, ask for one (politely). If you still don't get one then the theatre doesn't give a shit about you and you should feel free to take your business elsewhere.

 

[SardonicNihilist]

I am fully for it- block mobile phone signals in movie theatres. I`d even take it further, block them in libraries, trains, buses, basically all those places where I don`t want to hear someone talking to themselves. It`s funny, it is VERY frowned upon to talk on a mobile phone on public transport in Japan- and the Japanese being so into conformity and all, almost nobody does. If a p@hone rings, the person very hurriedly and embarrassed says `I`m on a train, call you back later`.

Japanese people are possibly the most mobile phone obsessed people in the world (the functions they have are seriously mind boggling- built in TV remote, 3.2 megapixel camera with video and picture editor etc.) and even they have the common courtesy to not speak into their beloved little machines and have everyone have to listen in on the conversation. I for one love it!

That said however, a standard japanese train carriage has entire rows of people reading or sending emails, or otherwise playing with their phones but at least it doesn`t disturb anyone else.

But sadly in the West we are just too damn arrogant to follow rules or show a little common courtesy to others, so the next step must be to take away the privilege. Personally I would like to see entire city parks and gardens, outdoor cafes and restaurants have phone signal blockers- say an radius of between 500 metres for out door areas, to 20 metres for a private restaurant, depending on the location of course, so people can get a little peace and solitude.

 

[L2R]

in relation to the quoted clip by OP,

this is just another fucking retarded move by board members of a larger company trying to explain and offset responsibility for lower returns one quarter. who fucking cares. if i were dumb enough to "invest" money in a movie theatre chain, i'd deserve everything i get.

want reasons for lower turn out? ticket and snack prices. low quality conveyor belt style customer service and animal herd theatres. I see cinemas with hints of the past style and culture of a real THEATRE, but they run by rushing as many patrons and movies in and out as quickly as possible which in turn makes the entire movie going experience rely completely on the film itself.

Speaking of which...
SHIT MOVIES


Or hows about you simply realise the obvious truth. If you are a large muliplex conglomerate, YOU MAKE ENOUGH MONEY.