Theater owners want cell phones blocked
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Discussed somewhat in this article: A King Kong bomb, or just a very sluggish movie market?, but under serious discussion as noted in the news article below, Theatre owners are apparently getting serious about trying to find ways to end rude behavior by movie patrons who just don't get the message that upon entering a movie theatre their cell phones should be off or at least set in silent ring mode.
I've blogged on the topic before, and Little Whip brought up the problem in comments to the article referenced in the paragraph above, but it is a serious problem, as many cell phone users just never seem to get the message that the world does not revolve around them and the use of their damned phone.
I have to think really hard on whether or not my last trip to a theatre included a ringing cell phone, but I'd swear it did. It's a regular occurence, despite many signs as you enter the multiplex, again as you enter the individual theatre, and even more reminders as the movie started. And yet again, some numbnuts is sitting in the crowd with some stinkin' annoying ring tone that plays some polyphonic symphony as loudly and annonyingly as possible when some friend they forget to fax or e-mail their schedule to doesn't get the agenda for the day and doesn't realize they shouldn't be calling in the middle of the movie.
It wouldn't be a problem at all if some people had better manners, but alas many don't.
When driving on the highway a cell phone should be for emergencies or quick conversations to provide status and note that you'll contact someone later when you aren't driving and shouldn't be concentrating on the roadway around you.
When sitting in a theatre, even if you are expecting a death, birth, or other serious family event, your cell phone should be set to vibrate mode only, or should be turned off.
In either case, if the news is that friggin' important that you couldn't wait just a little longer to receive it, then perhaps you shouldn't be where you are (on the road or in the theatre) and instead should be sitting chained to the damned phone so you can get all your important business completed without interrupting others around you.
Oh, lest I forget, there's a special hell reserved for the idiots that have to sit around you in a restaurant and carry on a cell phone conversation. Most of them are rude on so many levels it's pathetic. First, many of them are sitting at a table with someone else that they are totally ignoring in favor of whomever they are speaking on the phone with, and secondly, many of them are carrying on their phone conversation in such a way as to make the entire surrounding audience a part of their conversation. Either way, it spells "clod" in my book.
And finally, for the people that are so mentally challenged that they can't shop for groceries without walking down the aisles asking someone on the other end of the phone what items to get or not get, shame on them. Learn your significant others eating/drinking habits and shop by knowing what they want, rather than having to ask them all the time. And if the conversation isn't about what you are shopping for, then go back to the aforementioned "use the cell phone just to tell someone you'll talk with them more later" rule and stop trying to drag the rest of the world into your conversation. Never mind the idiots that are standing in the line in front of you at Starbucks ordering a host of drinks with all sorts of special instructions as they try to carry on a conversation via some "hands free" cord. Those folks should already be suffering (hopefully) as they screw their orders up and wind up getting something other than what they asked for. (Though I do feel sorry for the poor baristas who are left waiting for complete instructions or who have to re-make drinks just to get them right when it's the phone user's fault).
In anycase, original news article follows. Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm gonna call up some random cell phone user as they try to watch King Kong. I'm sure it won't take but a few tries to get one to answer while they sit in the movie.
Theater owners want cell phones blocked
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The National Association of Theater Owners wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow the blocking of cell phone signals in theaters.
John Fithian, the president of the trade organization, told the Los Angeles Times theater owners "have to block rude behavior" as the industry tries to come up with ways to bring people back to the cinemas.
Fithian said his group would petition the FCC for permission to block cell phone signals within movie theaters.
Some theaters already have no cell phone policies and ask moviegoers to check their phones at the door, Fithian said.
The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association -- a Washington-based cell phone lobby that is also known as CTIA-the Wireless Association -- said it would fight any move to block cell phone signals.
"We're opposed to the use of any blocking technology, because it interferes with people's ability to use a wireless device in an emergency situation," CTIA spokesman Joseph Farren told the Times.
I've blogged on the topic before, and Little Whip brought up the problem in comments to the article referenced in the paragraph above, but it is a serious problem, as many cell phone users just never seem to get the message that the world does not revolve around them and the use of their damned phone.
I have to think really hard on whether or not my last trip to a theatre included a ringing cell phone, but I'd swear it did. It's a regular occurence, despite many signs as you enter the multiplex, again as you enter the individual theatre, and even more reminders as the movie started. And yet again, some numbnuts is sitting in the crowd with some stinkin' annoying ring tone that plays some polyphonic symphony as loudly and annonyingly as possible when some friend they forget to fax or e-mail their schedule to doesn't get the agenda for the day and doesn't realize they shouldn't be calling in the middle of the movie.
It wouldn't be a problem at all if some people had better manners, but alas many don't.
When driving on the highway a cell phone should be for emergencies or quick conversations to provide status and note that you'll contact someone later when you aren't driving and shouldn't be concentrating on the roadway around you.
When sitting in a theatre, even if you are expecting a death, birth, or other serious family event, your cell phone should be set to vibrate mode only, or should be turned off.
In either case, if the news is that friggin' important that you couldn't wait just a little longer to receive it, then perhaps you shouldn't be where you are (on the road or in the theatre) and instead should be sitting chained to the damned phone so you can get all your important business completed without interrupting others around you.
Oh, lest I forget, there's a special hell reserved for the idiots that have to sit around you in a restaurant and carry on a cell phone conversation. Most of them are rude on so many levels it's pathetic. First, many of them are sitting at a table with someone else that they are totally ignoring in favor of whomever they are speaking on the phone with, and secondly, many of them are carrying on their phone conversation in such a way as to make the entire surrounding audience a part of their conversation. Either way, it spells "clod" in my book.
And finally, for the people that are so mentally challenged that they can't shop for groceries without walking down the aisles asking someone on the other end of the phone what items to get or not get, shame on them. Learn your significant others eating/drinking habits and shop by knowing what they want, rather than having to ask them all the time. And if the conversation isn't about what you are shopping for, then go back to the aforementioned "use the cell phone just to tell someone you'll talk with them more later" rule and stop trying to drag the rest of the world into your conversation. Never mind the idiots that are standing in the line in front of you at Starbucks ordering a host of drinks with all sorts of special instructions as they try to carry on a conversation via some "hands free" cord. Those folks should already be suffering (hopefully) as they screw their orders up and wind up getting something other than what they asked for. (Though I do feel sorry for the poor baristas who are left waiting for complete instructions or who have to re-make drinks just to get them right when it's the phone user's fault).
In anycase, original news article follows. Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm gonna call up some random cell phone user as they try to watch King Kong. I'm sure it won't take but a few tries to get one to answer while they sit in the movie.
Theater owners want cell phones blocked
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The National Association of Theater Owners wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow the blocking of cell phone signals in theaters.
John Fithian, the president of the trade organization, told the Los Angeles Times theater owners "have to block rude behavior" as the industry tries to come up with ways to bring people back to the cinemas.
Fithian said his group would petition the FCC for permission to block cell phone signals within movie theaters.
Some theaters already have no cell phone policies and ask moviegoers to check their phones at the door, Fithian said.
The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association -- a Washington-based cell phone lobby that is also known as CTIA-the Wireless Association -- said it would fight any move to block cell phone signals.
"We're opposed to the use of any blocking technology, because it interferes with people's ability to use a wireless device in an emergency situation," CTIA spokesman Joseph Farren told the Times.
