Cell Phones in Movie Theaters
You have just settled in with a big popcorn and your favorite drink to enjoy a movie with your date. Just at the best part, someone’s cell phone begins ringing during the movie (or playing music). When the annoying interference stops you think that you can rejoin the movie when it gets worse – the person two rows behind you answers their phone and begins talking (too loudly) to the person on the other end. Uggh! Your evening is ruined and the movie plays on with you unable to concentrate through the annoying conversation behind you.
Unfortunately, this rude scenarios plays out hundreds of times every day in Americas movie theaters; and it is getting so bad that move theater owners are beginning to take a stand!
It began in 2005 when the National Association of Theater Operators requested permission from Congress to allow them to block cell transmissions in theaters during show times, something that is against federal FCC regulations. Although no such ban has been permitted to date, the group continues to lobby for reform to make the movie going experience a good one despite annoying cell phones and their operators.
Until such a ban would enable theaters to block cell transmissions during the show, theater operators are taking matters into their own hands. Regal, the nation’s top theater company with nearly 7,000 screens across the U.S. is now testing a small gadget that moviegoers can use to alert ushers and theater staff of disruptions in the theater including ringing cell phones or unruly patrons. If the pager’s test run is successful Regal hopes to use it to curb cell use during its shows throughout the nation within a year or so.
For those who do not understand why cell phone use is creating so much attention, consider the fact that at $10-$15 a movie ticket these days, theater goers are especially touchy about being disturbed during the show. Many theater operators have reported an increase in physical altercations in their theaters in recent years caused by cell phones. Those sitting around a rude cell user simply are no longer willing to sit back quietly and put up with it. They want cell phone use to stop and when it doesn’t they are taking matters into their own hands.
Of course, many critics of cell phone bans cite the under, not the device as the real problem. Until people begin to understand how their cell use affects those around them only more problems will arise. For instance, responsible cell users who put their cells on vibrate to alert them of a call from a babysitter or some other emergency don’t want to worry about missing an important call just because others around them can not curb their cell use while watching a movie or can not use their phones responsibly. Still, the problem grows worse every year creating havoc in America’s movie theaters.
In the end the answer seems simple enough: forget banning cell phone use in movie theaters. Forget blocked cell transmission in certain areas. It is the users who need to learn how and when to use their cell phones responsibly and to stop annoying their neighbors with rude interference. In short: don’t be the rude cell user in the theater who lets their phone ring loudly or who actually answers it in the middle of a show!
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Tags: Cell Phone Ettiquette
November 9th, 2010 at 3:26 am
It has now become a normal view in theatres. While watching movie, some of the phone users suddenly start talking loudly that disturbs the viewers. The cell should be kept in vibration & if someone needs to attend the call, s/he must go outside or answer in soft voice. This is a courtesy that should be included in the behaviour.