Is clapping at movies acceptable?

[Blu-Berry Pirate]

I grew up in a world where nobody, even children, clapped in movie theaters.
As time wore on, my world changed.
By the time I was in high school, the fantasy world and the real world had begun to mingle their loins. People were spending hours, days, and loosing their jobs, playing online role playing video games. People were living their lives in chat rooms, as somebody else. By the time I was in my mid 20's; people had more online friends than real ones, people created idealized, 3D avatars of themselves, that roamed around a virtual world and made virtual money.
Fantasy was, more and more, being accepted as reality, the older I got.
Yes. It wasn't just the Klingons, anymore. It was a little bit of everybody.
As I watched this trend grow, I noticed more and more people clapping for movies, in the theater.

I've started this thread to see if I'm the only one who thinks this is a little too far for society to go.
The actors can't hear you. The director isn't sitting in the back row. The projectionist probably doesn't care, as long as they get paid.
So, who needs the accolades?
Am I a jerk for thinking clapping in movies is stupid?
Here's your chance to tell me I am.
Do you agree with me?
Please state your case, if you do. I don't want to die, in a movie theater, angry and alone, as my head explodes, in a roar of applause.