Texting in Movie Theater

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Replies

  • richardositosanchez
    richardositosanchez Posts: 260 Member
    I always chuckle when people excuse their bad behavior with "I have kids."

    Really? Wow! You actually have children?! What a rare and freak occurence. Not many people have to deal with that. You're so special and brave!

    "No see you don't understand. I have children. Ever heard of them? So no, it's not important that you get to enjoy the movie you paid to see. What matters is that I am a parent and none of you understands what that's like. It's simply not possible for us to sit and quietly watch a movie. We must remain in constant contact in case the child needs medical treatment, which he does every time we leave the house for 2 hours. You just have to understand, I'm a parent which makes me more important than you."

    I have a kid. I've shut off my phone and had people say to me "But what if something bad happens to Mutant Face?" I say, "I hope they get her to a hospital! If there's a medical emergency I'm really not the first person you should go to, I'm not a doctor."

    Dear parents, if you're so worried your kids won't survive the 2 hours you're at a movie theater, you probably shouldn't go anyway.


    Very well said!
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Take your phones and put them AWAY.
  • BattleTaxi
    BattleTaxi Posts: 752 Member
    I alert staff if there is a customer that is being disruptive.

    I will also move my seat if possible to be away from that disruptive individual.

    I also do not go to movies during times that are peak hours, ever. It's just not worth it.

    Aggressive force? I mean really if it is THAT bad, then just stay home, wait for the movie to come out on DVD, and rent it.

    This is a public place, people may or may not do something to offend you, and I can guarantee you that their actions were not intended to personally insult or offend you.

    It's pretty simple: When in public, be civil and courteous.
  • inside_lap
    inside_lap Posts: 728 Member
    You're at the God-blessed movie theatre, turn the freaking phone OFF.

    It's ridiculous that a person can't take a 2-3 hour break from texting or calling someone. You're not that special!

    Eh, I have kids who need to be able to reach me any time, and clients who get pissed if they can't. I wouldn't take a call, but my phone isn't getting shut off. And trust me, when I am on the phone, it's far less of a distraction than the crying baby, or the person chomping on their popcorn.

    Just because you are less rude than people who bring in a crying baby doesn't make it acceptable. It is rude and distracting to text or play with your phone during a movie. "Changing technology" does not make it less rude or distracting, either.

    Shrug. With the screen turned down, the sound off, there's no way you'd notice I was texting anyway. I don't chat, I check. If I have to respond in detail, I leave. Though getting up and walking through would probably be more distracting and annoying.

    Don't go to the theater. I have patients. I pull call. Once I pulled 5 out of 6 weeks of call (sucked for me). I don't go out when I might need to have a rude interruption. It's called being polite and respectful to those around you.

    For the record, I am a parent as well. And no, my toddler has never been to see a movie in the theater. I respect those around me.

    Edit: Shooting someone is still an over reaction. Like others have mentioned, more to do with what happened after the text likely then the text itself.
  • tkdgirlms
    tkdgirlms Posts: 73
    I don't care if a screen is dimmed (and 95% of the time they aren't), it is still VERY distracting and shouldn't be done...but I'd only gripe about it, not hurt someone over it! I like the theaters that have the technology in them now to disable signals from entering the building so that you can't use your phone, period! And like someone else said, just a few years ago, we didn't have cell phones and we all made it ok without talking to someone for a few hours.
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    During the previews it wouldn't bother me, but during the movie it is distracting. If I pay movie ticket prices I want to be able to get lost in a movie for a couple of hours without a light display drawing my attention away.

    Agreed. I had a smartphone for awhile and I just did not get that into it. I felt it wasn't really worth the $ and sold it for more than I paid. I honestly feel a bit sorry for people who are SO attached to their phones that they seem as though they really can't relax and enjoy any other experience fully.

    I agree, but I am more sorry and disgusted by people that are so attached to their guns that they need to take it everywhere, including a movie theater.

    As of today, my gun and your cell phone have killed the same number of people, none. When I go to a movie, no one knows if I have my gun or my cell phone. I keep them both put away.
  • wolverine66
    wolverine66 Posts: 3,779 Member
    I always chuckle when people excuse their bad behavior with "I have kids."

    Really? Wow! You actually have children?! What a rare and freak occurence. Not many people have to deal with that. You're so special and brave!

    "No see you don't understand. I have children. Ever heard of them? So no, it's not important that you get to enjoy the movie you paid to see. What matters is that I am a parent and none of you understands what that's like. It's simply not possible for us to sit and quietly watch a movie. We must remain in constant contact in case the child needs medical treatment, which he does every time we leave the house for 2 hours. You just have to understand, I'm a parent which makes me more important than you."

    I have a kid. I've shut off my phone and had people say to me "But what if something bad happens to Mutant Face?" I say, "I hope they get her to a hospital! If there's a medical emergency I'm really not the first person you should go to, I'm not a doctor."

    Dear parents, if you're so worried your kids won't survive the 2 hours you're at a movie theater, you probably shouldn't go anyway.

    this is the "false dichotomy" logical fallacy. Either you are worried that your child will not survive (which not one person has said) or not. Those aren't the only two options here. And i suspect that the level of concern lessens as the child gets older.

    And let's also throw in that the "worried your child won't survive" is a clear straw man fallacy.
  • somefitsomefat
    somefitsomefat Posts: 445 Member
    it bugs me to see others using their phone or texting at inappropriate times

    Naturally it's up to you to determine what times are inappropriate and up to others to bow to your mandated times.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    It's the "me only" attitude and "I don't care about anyone else" society that we live in. I see it all the time!!
  • horndave
    horndave Posts: 565
    I agree with you. I have texted, checked email but not talked during the movie. if it is dim and on vibrate - what harm is it? Most people other than sitting directly next to you would not be bothered by it. Heck the sound of popcorn bags, ice in the cups and candy wrappers are more annoying than texting. This was only the previews too. Unbelievable. Sad that a 3 year old little girl no longer has her daddy because one person's temper got way out of hand! SAD SAD SAD!!!!
    What harm is it? Really the fact that you are being rude to others around you that paid good money not to be distracted and enjoy a movie.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I'm amazed at the number of people in this thread justifying their rudeness.
  • Danny_Boy13
    Danny_Boy13 Posts: 2,094 Member
    I'm amazed at the number of people in this thread justifying their rudeness.

    +1
  • somefitsomefat
    somefitsomefat Posts: 445 Member
    I'm amazed at the number of people in this thread justifying their rudeness.

    "A list of prohibited items and behavior in their theaters are on the theater website. Among them: no cell phone use, including texting, in the theater auditorium. And no weapons allowed."

    Old nut brought a gun to the theater even though it's specifically prohibited. Rules didn't apply to him I guess. Very rude.
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  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    I'm amazed at the number of people in this thread justifying their rudeness.

    "A list of prohibited items and behavior in their theaters are on the theater website. Among them: no cell phone use, including texting, in the theater auditorium. And no weapons allowed."

    Old nut brought a gun to the theater even though it's specifically prohibited. Rules didn't apply to him I guess. Very rude.

    If both are kept put away, you would never know who the rule breakers are.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I'm amazed at the number of people in this thread justifying their rudeness.

    "A list of prohibited items and behavior in their theaters are on the theater website. Among them: no cell phone use, including texting, in the theater auditorium. And no weapons allowed."

    Old nut brought a gun to the theater even though it's specifically prohibited. Rules didn't apply to him I guess. Very rude.

    No one is saying what he did was OK. It absolutely was not. But the question in the OP was "is it OK to text during a movie?"

    The question was prompted by the incident, but was not a question ABOUT the incident. No one who is sane thinks shooting someone for texting during a movie is justifiable homicide. It is not.

    But it is STILL rude to have your phone out and in use in such a situation. If you do it, you're a jerk.
  • mank32
    mank32 Posts: 1,323 Member
    during the previews.

    i fail to see any problem with this.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    during the previews.

    i fail to see any problem with this.

    Some of us actually enjoy watching the previews and pay as much attention to them as to the movie itself. Just because you don't doesn't make it not a problem.
  • red_road
    red_road Posts: 761 Member
    I hate when people are on their phone in the theater. If they are going to talk on the phone they should go outside for it and if they are texting and on facebook the whole time why are they even at the movies? For me, I give people a couple 5 second texts and then i say something. If they are literally just quickly answering one or two texts during the movie i dont mind. Its when they have huge conversations the length of the movie that gets my blood boiling.
  • red_road
    red_road Posts: 761 Member
    I dont mind if people talk or are on their cellphones during the preview though.
  • somefitsomefat
    somefitsomefat Posts: 445 Member
    I'm amazed at the number of people in this thread justifying their rudeness.

    "A list of prohibited items and behavior in their theaters are on the theater website. Among them: no cell phone use, including texting, in the theater auditorium. And no weapons allowed."

    Old nut brought a gun to the theater even though it's specifically prohibited. Rules didn't apply to him I guess. Very rude.

    No one is saying what he did was OK. It absolutely was not. But the question in the OP was "is it OK to text during a movie?"

    The question was prompted by the incident, but was not a question ABOUT the incident. No one who is sane thinks shooting someone for texting during a movie is justifiable homicide. It is not.

    But it is STILL rude to have your phone out and in use in such a situation. If you do it, you're a jerk.

    So why are you not a jerk for violating the other rules the theater has in place? It's the same mentality you mentioned earlier. The "me only" I believe it was. "I know I'm not allowed to bring my gun it but I'm going to anyway." Why is that less wrong or less selfish? I say if you bring prohibited items to the theater you're a jerk.
  • mank32
    mank32 Posts: 1,323 Member
    during the previews.

    i fail to see any problem with this.
    ...doesn't make it not a problem.

    it's not a "problem". it's a mild annoyance. i can handle those, in movie theaters and elsewhere in my life, as the need arises. sheesh.
  • summertime_girl
    summertime_girl Posts: 3,945 Member
    I always chuckle when people excuse their bad behavior with "I have kids."

    Really? Wow! You actually have children?! What a rare and freak occurence. Not many people have to deal with that. You're so special and brave!

    Just wait until you are on the receiving end of a call or text that your child has been in a serious crash and you need to get to the emergency room immediately. And you didn't even know he was out. Life happens. Technology exists. I'm glad it does.
  • PlanetVelma
    PlanetVelma Posts: 1,223 Member

    Eh, I have kids who need to be able to reach me any time, and clients who get pissed if they can't. I wouldn't take a call, but my phone isn't getting shut off. And trust me, when I am on the phone, it's far less of a distraction than the crying baby, or the person chomping on their popcorn.

    There was a time before cell phones, and everyone was fine with not being able to reach someone for an hour and a half to two hours...

    A-freakin-men!

    Btw, I am the patron that will go and complain and have the offending "texting zombie" removed from the theater or get my money back.

    I have no shame. LOL

    And most theaters WILL ask patrons to leave if you are using your phone during the movie - regardless if you're texting/talking/etc.... (That's why they have about a billion messages on the screen to shut your phone off).
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    I'm amazed at the number of people in this thread justifying their rudeness.

    "A list of prohibited items and behavior in their theaters are on the theater website. Among them: no cell phone use, including texting, in the theater auditorium. And no weapons allowed."

    Old nut brought a gun to the theater even though it's specifically prohibited. Rules didn't apply to him I guess. Very rude.

    No one is saying what he did was OK. It absolutely was not. But the question in the OP was "is it OK to text during a movie?"

    The question was prompted by the incident, but was not a question ABOUT the incident. No one who is sane thinks shooting someone for texting during a movie is justifiable homicide. It is not.

    But it is STILL rude to have your phone out and in use in such a situation. If you do it, you're a jerk.

    So why are you not a jerk for violating the other rules the theater has in place? It's the same mentality you mentioned earlier. The "me only" I believe it was. "I know I'm not allowed to bring my gun it but I'm going to anyway." Why is that less wrong or less selfish? I say if you bring prohibited items to the theater you're a jerk.

    I really dont care if you bring your phone in, as long as you dont use it. If I have my gun, you will never know it.
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,576 Member
    during the previews.

    i fail to see any problem with this.

    Some of us actually enjoy watching the previews and pay as much attention to them as to the movie itself. Just because you don't doesn't make it not a problem.

    If you are paying such close attention to the screen, how does someone typing on their phone catch your eye?

    I have never been bothered by people quietly texting in a movie. Now, if their is an audible sound, that may bother me.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I'm pretty attached to my phone. And I've texted in a movie theater. I'm not sure how it could bother someone so much if you aren't making noise, and the screen is dim. And during the previews this happened? Damn. Florida is scary. He'll probably get off, especially since he's a former cop.
    It's extremely annoying actually.
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    Also, 99% sure that the text that just HAS to get answered during the middle of the movie is NOT "catastrophic accident, on way to hospital". If it was, you'd be leaving before you sent the response. If you feel you must send a response, step outside and stay there until the conversation is over.

    A quick check to make sure it's not an emergency I can tolerate, begruddgingly.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    previews I guess doesnt bother me......but people just can't stay away from their phones for nothing...sad really
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I'm amazed at the number of people in this thread justifying their rudeness.

    I guess I have never witnessed a person texting in the theater. It's not something that has ever bothered me. I don't get how it could be annoying, let alone "rude."
    *shrugs*

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