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The Average Movie Theater Has Hundreds of Screens
theodp writes "The "average" movie theater reportedly has a capacity of 200-300 people. Which, thanks to the wonder of mobile devices, means that it also has hundreds of screens. And — thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and texting — hundreds of potential annoyances. Which prompts NY film critic David Edelstein to ask: How Should We Treat Texters and Talkers at Movie Theaters? 'Has our culture become so private that no one knows how to behave anymore in public?' Edelstein wonders. 'Is selfishness the rule rather than exception? Are people who say, "Shut up and turn off your phone" today's version of "You kids get off my lawn"?' Jason Bailey argues that the only way to solve movie theaters' talking and texting problem is to give in to it, perhaps with anything-goes phone-friendly talk-amongst-yourselves screenings in the seven and eight o'clock hours coupled with no-tolerance shows later in the evening. Any other ideas?" You could always throw it.
I'd probably just sit there and be quiet.
Why has “get off my lawn” become code for cranky senior citizen? What the fuck do those kids think they’re doing tearing up my meticulously-mown property, and why is it unreasonable to object to trespassers?
I mean, if you’re just picking up a wayward frisbee or something, fine, but other than that, unless I invited you, seriously, stay off my lawn.
I put double sided sticky tape on my carpet for that authentic cinema feel.
I would support this. Just have the mesh around the theater rooms, rather than the whole building, and let people go out into the hallway if they need to make a call.
Ditto for airplanes: just line the cabin, and let people step outside if they need to make a call.
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
You're an asshole, but you're a moderately funny asshole. That kind of makes up for being an asshole. But you're still an asshole.
I think they need an announcement on the screen at the start. Should read:
"Attention. Parolees from the state correctional facility are in this theater as part of a program to help reduce their unpredictable rage. For your own safety, please do not use your phone."
On the other hand, if she had done it during the first one, you wouldn't even have noticed it.
This is the kind of nonsense that makes you cringe at what bothers people.
Anyone who mentions "first world problem" is setting themselves up for a humiliating game of reductio ad absurdum. A game they won't win.
In an emergency, seconds count. They fucking count.
Which is why theatergoers died by the thousands before the invention of the cell phone. It's how movie theaters got the nickname "the popcorn mausoleums" back in the day. Back then, you put your life on the line whenever you wanted to see a movie, and since most of them were Roger Corman films and general Universal releases, most people felt it wasn't worth the risk and killed themselves afterward. Thankfully, with the invention of the cell phone, people could finally go see a movie without nearly as much risk of death, something that was literally impossible beforehand.
And you can pause the movie while you pack the bong.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
Come on, the last Star Wars film was decent.
Or a sign that says "This theater is equipped with phone jamming. If your phone rings during the movie, a member of staff will come and jam it somewhere."
An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"