Asking people at the movie theater to stop interrupting you from enjoying a movie.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

Don't be ridiculous, of course I do.

I pay good money to ride trains and buses. I pay good money to shop in grocery stores. And drink in bars and eat in restaurants and shop in malls and every time I do every one of those things somebody is just about guaranteed to do something that annoys or bothers or offends me.

Boo hoo, poor me.

Sorry, I'm just not as tolerant as you.

[WhySoBlu?]

Originally Posted by octagon

Don't be ridiculous, of course I do.

I pay good money to ride trains and buses. I pay good money to shop in grocery stores. And drink in bars and eat in restaurants and shop in malls and every time I do every one of those things somebody is just about guaranteed to do something that annoys or bothers or offends me.

Boo hoo, poor me.

Do the trains and buses have signs up telling passengers to not wear perfume or cologne? Do they play a video specifically telling you not to wear them before you start moving? How about with the bars and restaurants and malls? Do they tell you that you might be kicked out if you're caught wearing cologne?

Do you think that your analogy might not be as appropriate or clever as you initially thought?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by WhySoBlu?

Do the trains and buses have signs up telling passengers to not wear perfume or cologne? Do they play a video specifically telling you not to wear them before you start moving? How about with the bars and restaurants and malls? Do they tell you that you might be kicked out if you're caught wearing cologne?

Do you think that your analogy might not be as appropriate or clever as you initially thought?

Likes a good argument does our Octagon!

[Cremildo]

There are people here actually arguing that it is perfectly ok to go to a movie theater to use the cell phone while watching the movie. The same people have the balls to say that those who think it's disruptive and rude to do so are entitled and inconsiderate.

Today is the day that my ignore list will finally be open for business.

[WhySoBlu?]

Me after reading this thread...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDDguYksysk

[octagon]

Originally Posted by WhySoBlu?

On what planet is it entitled and inconsiderate to expect people to sit and watch a movie without checking their phones, texting, making phone calls, having conversations, etc.? It's now unreasonable to expect adults to behave like adults?

The unreasonable part is the 'zero tolerance' nonsense. If somebody makes a reasonable attempt to be discrete (let alone tucks the phone into his jacket) then to my way of thinking the 'mind your own business' balance has somewhat shifted.

If I'm no longer being impacted by somebody checking a text that moves my *****ing about it from 'get off my lawn' to 'get a haircut'.

The former is my business. The latter? Not so much.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

The unreasonable part is the 'zero tolerance' nonsense. If somebody makes a reasonable attempt to be discrete (let alone tucks the phone into his jacket) then to my way of thinking the 'mind your own business' balance has somewhat shifted.

If I'm no longer being impacted by somebody checking a text that moves my *****ing about it from 'get off my lawn' to 'get a haircut'.

The former is my business. The latter? Not so much.

So, the rule should be 'you can leave your phone on, but please be discreet!'? Yeah, like that would work. All phones should be switched off before the movie starts, that's the rules. If you can't handle those rules, don't ******* show up in the first place.

[WhySoBlu?]

Originally Posted by octagon

The unreasonable part is the 'zero tolerance' nonsense. If somebody makes a reasonable attempt to be discrete (let alone tucks the phone into his jacket) then to my way of thinking the 'mind your own business' balance has somewhat shifted.

If I'm no longer being impacted by somebody checking a text that moves my *****ing about it from 'get off my lawn' to 'get a haircut'.

The former is my business. The latter? Not so much.

And if nobody sees it, it's not an issue. I doubt anyone has argued with that here - and, in fact, many have specifically mentioned that. But the point is that just because you think no one can see it or is being bothered by it doesn't make it so.

And the other point - stated multiple times already - is that many of the people who think it's just fine to whip out their phones in the middle of a theater make no effort to conceal their screen or the supernova-level amount of light pouring into the darkened theater, illuminating their big stupid face and the seats around them. A large portion of those people simply can't be bothered to empathize with the other people in the theater. How they're affecting others doesn't even cross their mind, let alone concern them in any way. This is the reality of the situation.

The truly considerate ones are the ones who go outside of the theater (or wait until the movie's over) to check their phones, like grown-ups.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

So, the rule should be 'you can leave your phone on, but please be discreet!'?

Yes, basically. If you're willing to make a reasonable effort to minimize the impact of your behavior on me I'm willing to make similarly reasonable accommodations in return.

I don't have kids but I could understand parents wanting to see who just texted/called. If they're reasonable about that, I'll be reasonable about that.

That's part of being a grown-up.

[willtopower]

Originally Posted by octagon

The unreasonable part is the 'zero tolerance' nonsense. If somebody makes a reasonable attempt to be discrete (let alone tucks the phone into his jacket) then to my way of thinking the 'mind your own business' balance has somewhat shifted.

If I'm no longer being impacted by somebody checking a text that moves my *****ing about it from 'get off my lawn' to 'get a haircut'.

The former is my business. The latter? Not so much.

We don't know the context, frequency, or the accuracy of any of these reports though. It seems like you're defending a person who is successfully checking their phone without anyone noticing.

Sure, we might be able to say it's ok for someone to do this discreetly if no one sees. But if someone says something to you even though you've tried to be discreet, it's clear you haven't been discreet enough. (not necessarily you, but the "discreet" person we're discussing)

If you're sitting next to someone, maybe it's a packed showing, and the person next to you is "discreetly" checking, the people around this person are the true judges of how "discreet" they're actually being.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by willtopower

We don't know the context, frequency, or the accuracy of any of these reports though. It seems like you're defending a person who is successfully checking their phone without anyone noticing.

I'm not defending anybody, exactly. My interest in this conversation was piqued by the reaction to two specific posters who described behavior that didn't seem overly discourteous. Or discourteous at all, really.

That's all.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

Yes, basically. If you're willing to make a reasonable effort to minimize the impact of your behavior on me I'm willing to make similarly reasonable accommodations in return.

I don't have kids but I could understand parents wanting to see who just texted/called. If they're reasonable about that, I'll be reasonable about that.

That's part of being a grown-up.

But that's the point. Very few people WOULD stick to the rules. part of being a grown up is learning rules and how one should respect others. Or were you just doing your usual routine of (IMO) trying to put people down because they don't agree with you? (We aren't grown ups because we want to enjoy a film without being disturbed?)

[chip75]

How do we know anyone is ever discreet using their phones in a theatre? Is it only discreet if no one calls them on it? or do those people suffer the annoyance in silence?

[WhySoBlu?]

Originally Posted by octagon

Yes, basically. If you're willing to make a reasonable effort to minimize the impact of your behavior on me I'm willing to make similarly reasonable accommodations in return.

But that's not what the rules of the theater are. This isn't a public space, it's a business that has policies in place in order to make sure inconsiderate people don't ruin the experience for everyone else. What you want or are willing to do simply doesn't matter, nor will it ever matter unless you purchase a theater and set your own policies.

Originally Posted by octagon

I don't have kids but I could understand parents wanting to see who just texted/called. If they're reasonable about that, I'll be reasonable about that.

That's part of being a grown-up.

Parents can go a couple of hours of being out of contact with their kids. Whoever's watching them can handle whatever comes up (if they can't, they shouldn't be watching them,) and if there's an emergency, that's what 911 is for. You and I both survived childhood even though there were hours-long stretches where our parents couldn't reach us by phone, yet somehow it's now unreasonable for a parent to be considerate of others for two whole hours?

If you're that tethered to your child/phone and absolutely have to check to see who called or texted, the adult thing to do is to miss a little bit of the movie yourself rather than causing a disruption that negatively affects the experience of other people in the theater. In other words, get up and walk out of the theater if it's so damn important. And if it's not, wait like someone who has an attention span longer than eight minutes.

This is why I love going to theaters that boot out the people who just don't get it...

[Groot]

I believe they are referring to my post. I sit in the back row, usually no one around me, and I keep my phone in the purse (not jacket, but the same concept. In my life I've took care of a disabled uncle and my mother who had multiple surgeries on her knees. I will not apologize for leaving my phone on given I have it tucked away in my bag. In all the years of this situation I've had only two phone calls I needed to take. If I've been out and just wanted to relax and watch movies, especially late I have flipped my phone on to check sports scores. I'm in the back, usually alone. Get over it, I ain't hurting nobody.

[A Sith Lord?]

Originally Posted by groot

i believe they are referring to my post. I sit in the back row, usually no one around me, and i keep my phone in the purse (not jacket, but the same concept. In my life i've took care of a disabled uncle and my mother who had multiple surgeries on her knees. I will not apologize for leaving my phone on given i have it tucked away in my bag. In all the years of this situation i've had only two phone calls i needed to take. If i've been out and just wanted to relax and watch movies, especially late i have flipped my phone on to check sports scores. I'm in the back, usually alone. Get over it, i ain't hurting nobody.

under any circumstances you must not take out your phone. Don't be rude and wait til you exit the theater.

[A Sith Lord?]

This is silly. My posts earlier about being discreet and not bothering anyone turned into YOU SHOULDN'T USE PHONE PERIOD. Now people are saying "We aren't talking about those who aren't bothering people".

Uh hello, my first post about concealing it to not bother people was the entire reason this chain of events happened.

Yes, I have no shame in saying some of you are just utter snobs.

If the phone aint' bothering you, leave it alone.

For people that have phones and are disruptive, I don't condone that. If the phone ain't bothering you, then you're actively trying to make an issue out of it.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Groot

I'm in the back, usually alone. Get over it, I ain't hurting nobody.

I can't see how it would hurt anyone, at least you're been considerate enough to go somewhere were your phone won't distract other moviegoers.

[WhySoBlu?]

Originally Posted by Groot

I believe they are referring to my post. I sit in the back row, usually no one around me, and I keep my phone in the purse (not jacket, but the same concept. In my life I've took care of a disabled uncle and my mother who had multiple surgeries on her knees. I will not apologize for leaving my phone on given I have it tucked away in my bag. In all the years of this situation I've had only two phone calls I needed to take. If I've been out and just wanted to relax and watch movies, especially late I have flipped my phone on to check sports scores. I'm in the back, usually alone. Get over it, I ain't hurting nobody.

Of course you have. Why not whip out your phone and check the scores? Maybe check the new posts on here, send a couple of texts, whatever you feel like, right? Because after all, it's all about you, right? What's important is what "Groot" wants to do. Who cares if someone else might have been bothered by your phone use - you just want to relax and watch movies (and maybe play on your phone a little,) right? You ain't hurting nobody.


I weep for the future. Not that far into the future, since you're well past the age where you should know better, but still...

[octagon]

Originally Posted by WhySoBlu?

Parents can go a couple of hours of being out of contact with their kids.

This is another area where we diverge. It's one thing to judge somebody else's behavior. It's one thing to say people shouldn't check their texts or missed calls while in a theater.

It's another thing entirely to take it upon yourself to judge whether or not they should even want to check their texts or missed calls.

Maybe people are too tethered to their kids but I'm not sure that's my call. In fact, I'm pretty sure the frequency with which parents monitor their children is none of my business.

Maybe people are too tethered to their phones but is that part of this equation really any of my business?

Again, it's the whole 'stay off my lawn' vs 'get a haircut' thing.

Maybe these kids today do spend too much time glued to their phones but that's really none of my business.

Originally Posted by WhySoBlu?

In other words, get up and walk out of the theater if it's so damn important.

Full circle seems like as good a place as any to stop so in closing I'll just reiterate: I would much rather somebody sneak a quick look at their phone before taking the far more disruptive course of leaving and coming back.

But that's just me.