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AMC Drops 'Texting Friendly' Theaters Idea (networkworld.com)

Posted by msmash on from the all-sorted-then dept.

netbuzz writes: Stung by a ferocious backlash on social media, AMC Entertainment this morning took to Twitter to announce that it will not be experimenting with "texting friendly" movie theaters, a trial balloon floated only days ago by the company's boss. "NO TEXTING AT AMC. Won't happen. You spoke. We listened," the company said.That escalated quickly.

4 of 150 comments (clear)

  1. Why not? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Sounds great. Have texting theatres and no fucking texting in the other theatres. Then there would be no excuse.

    1. Re: Why not? by Chas · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Put it this way. If everyone was considerate, dialed the screen brightness all the way down, and set their phone to vibrate, then got up and left the viewing area of the theater to text or talk, that'd be one thing.

      But, in general, people are self-centered ASSHOLES.

      So we get Big Ben jangling out of a phone at 100 decibels.
      Then a strobe light going up in the middle of a theater.
      Followed by some asshat going "Yeah! YEAH! I'm at the movies right now! IN THE THEATER! No! I can't hear you! I'm IN THE THEATER!"

      Fuck that noise...

      "We can't tell 20 year olds to put away their phones..."

      YES YOU FUCKING CAN!

      For the prices being charged for admission, not to mention the CONCESSIONS, it's not a huge stretch to expect to be able to enjoy a movie uninterrupted by some jackass and their phone.
      Seriously, that's the main reason movie theaters still exist! The provide a quiet, controlled environment for showing films!

      If Phoneguy McDouchebag is constitutionally incapable of keeping his phone off for 90-120 minutes to watch a movie, he needs to GET THE FUCK OUT!

      Not sure why the hell this is such a novel, or hard to grasp concept.

      Allowing that sort of stuff to go on in a theater is basically removing the primary reason people still go to movie theaters!
      It's actively destructive to the business model.
      Because groups like Screening Room can charge you $50 (about the price of ticket and concessions for one person) to stream you a brand new movie on opening day.
      So if someone's got a boss home theater setup, they can do Screening Room, invite a dozen friends and supply their own food.
      The theater makes NO money. And the industry loses a dozen ticket sales. PER PERSON VIEWING.

      I'm glad AMC listened and axed this so fast. Someone eventually elected to use their brain on this subject.
      Better late than never...

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
  2. Re:Put your fucking phone away by Spugglefink · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I went to my first rock concert in years, and all three bands had adopted the same shtick. Cell phones are the new Bic lighter, and if several thousand people all use the "flashlight" app on their phone at the same time, the amount of ambient light is impressive.

    I'm going back inside now, so get off my lawn!

  3. Re:I did one better by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's kind of odd to me to hear that people still buy DVDs and Blu-Rays in the Golden Age of Streaming.

    1. If you want to stay legal, there are WAY more movies available on DVD than via streaming.
    2. You can buy used DVDs, watch them, and then sell them for about what you paid for them.