Annoyed theatergoer ejected after grabbing cell phone and tossing it

[Onkel Neal]

My hero. Cell phone and the idiots who use them during a film and a big reason why I almost never go to the theaters any more.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57584828-1/annoyed-theatergoer-ejected-after-grabbing-cell-phone-and-tossing-it/

In the very latest incident of someone using a cell phone when they should have been watching a cultural performance, Kevin Williamson decided he'd do something about it.

No, he wasn't one of the actors on stage. Nor was he conducting an orchestra.

He was merely trying to enjoy "Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812." This is a musical based on "War and Peace." Of course it's loosely based. If it wasn't, it would last until Google Glass is available to the public.
The one incessant thing about this particular performance was the alleged cell phone use by a woman seated close by.

Cell phone use is -- as always in the theater -- expressly forbidden during this performance. However, this was New York, where people think they can (and should) do what they like.

As Williamson told the Gothamist, the woman was a member of a group that was already being a touch disruptive.

"It looked like she was Googling or something. So I leaned over and told her it was distracting and told her to put it away. She responded, 'So don't look,'" he explained to the Gothamist.

[AVGWarhawk]

I went with my daughter to see Iron Man 3 last weekend. Sure enough, mid-movie, out came a bonehead's cellphone. Blinding light and texting away. Idiot.

[Gerald]

It is rare to encounter an idiot like that nowadays.

[AVGWarhawk]

It is rare to encounter an idiot like that nowadays.

Not in my world. Cellphones are a constant pain quite honestly. People texting at stoplights ignoring the traffic signals. Open texting and call taking at restaurants. People talking on the earphone looking thing from Star Trek as they shop. They look like they are talking to themselves. Taking calls as they drive totally oblivious to the idea that they are driving. Just last week, as I noted above, cellphone pulled out at the movies. Stopping just about anywhere to post some nonsense on Facebook or Twitter. The cellphone trumps all for most people.

[Gerald]

People must have the sense of reality, when it should deal with the cell phone, and responsibility.

[Skybird]

Small range jamming device run by the theatre.

Maybe a physical solution, like a Faraday cage?

Or having a sign at the entrance prohibiting cellphones inside, and staff of the house escorting any ignorant antisocials out.

Or interrupting the movie, switching on the lights and displaying row and seat of the antisocial in large letters on the screen, and then wait until the dust has settled. :D

[AVGWarhawk]

People must have the sense of reality, when it should deal with the cell phone, and responsibility.

Most don't. As the author of article writes, people are mesmerized. Any sense or sensibility is tossed out the window as tunnel vision pulls the individual from any notion of reality. People immerse themselves into what is running on their phone. The world is tune out. Decorum is shot to hell.

[AVGWarhawk]

Or having a sign at the entrance prohibiting cellphones inside, and staff of the house escorting any ignorant antisocials out.

Or interrupting the movie, switching on the lights and displaying row and seat of the antisocial in large letters on the screen, and then wait until the dust has settled.

Movies generally do not start until, on the BIG screen for all to see, stating, shut off your cellphones while the movie is playing. A select few do not think it applies to them. As the case in this piece linked by Neal.

[Father Goose]

Here's to Mr. Williamson! :Kaleun_Cheers:

[mookiemookie]

:Kaleun_Cheers: Someone buy that man a beer!

[frau kaleun]

Small range jamming device run by the theatre.

Maybe a physical solution, like a Faraday cage?

Or having a sign at the entrance prohibiting cellphones inside, and staff of the house escorting any ignorant antisocials out.

Or interrupting the movie, switching on the lights and displaying row and seat of the antisocial in large letters on the screen, and then wait until the dust has settled. :D

Even better: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/movie_theater_layout

[Jimbuna]

I thought that was what the popcorn was for...to throw at the inconsiderate individuals.

[soopaman2]

I went to see the star trek movie, paid out the rectum to see it, and had to deal with talkers. They comment on everything, loud personal conversations, cell phones. To top it off, the phone conversations was in Espanol.

My wife turned and told them to shut the (%^$#) up and nearly started a brawl. The usher must have saw this unfolding and escorted them out.

Then there was the 2 richy teen girls in front of me, taking phone calls, and exclaiming how bored they were, rather than leaving, they talked and texted all nite.
Yeah really enjoyed the movie...

I seriously missed most of it, and love what JJ Abrams did with the first new Star Trek Film...

Usual suspects. Entitled white teenagers or boisterous minorities looking to start a fight with whitey, because they were told rightfully to STFU in a movie I actually paid for.

And people wonder why I visit certain sites, or wait for netflix/redbox.

Zero manners or courtesy amongst people anymore, people think when they pay their admission it gives them Carte Blanche to be an annoying jackwagon to everyone around you.

Grrrr.

This topic struck a nerve, sorry:oops:

[mapuc]

When reading soopaman2 post I remember a discussion I had with a friend a while ago. He also told me almost the same story from his visit at our local cinema.

We then started to discuss developing electronic-warfare weapons like a EMP-Generator

Imagine you ask the person in front of you, nicely, to be quiet and when he or she gives you the finger or what it may be, you just activate your little home made EMP-generator and point the "pointer" at his place and press the button
(don't know if it is possible)

Markus

[Betonov]

Oh cry me a river :O:

The biggest anoying texter I ever had to deal with was my date half a year ago.

[AngusJS]

I had a talker nearly ruin the raid scene in Zero Dark Thirty, where the movie is very quiet, as is the rapt audience - except, that is, for the $%^*(# that I could plainly hear from across the theater. :damn:

I try to see movies at off times to avoid having to share a theater with fools like that.

[Onkel Neal]

Small range jamming device run by the theatre.

Maybe a physical solution, like a Faraday cage?

Or having a sign at the entrance prohibiting cellphones inside, and staff of the house escorting any ignorant antisocials out.

Or interrupting the movie, switching on the lights and displaying row and seat of the antisocial in large letters on the screen, and then wait until the dust has settled. :D


Yeah, a jamming device would be sweet.

I go into a movie these days with a sense of dread...I could easily be Williamson. I can see myself throwing a drink on someone and exclaiming "oh my god, I'm so sorry!! Oh, oh, I tripped, I didn't mean it..." etc. with as much sincerity as I can muster to keep the situation for turning into a brawl.

Last movie I went to see was Iron Man 3, against my better judgement I went with my daughter on a Sunday. I sugested we wait a couple weeks and see it on a Tuesday at 4pm... but she wanted to go. Sure enough, theater full of stupid people, cell phones on, idiot in front of me kept stretching and waving his arms in the air. Finally I had enough of the cell phone crap and started kicking the seats. Wow, it doesn't take much and you can set yourself off. After a couple prelim kicks, I went full Chuck Norris on the seat and the people in front of me started yelling.

Totally ruins the mood and the movie.:shifty:

[Stealhead]

Usually if there is a movie that I must see in the theater I'll will try to go during the day if I can manage it a showing around noon is perfect because during the week is the least likely time for people to watch a movie.

Most theaters do not even employ full time ushers at most you'll see an employee come in every so often and check the back doors mainly to insure that someone is not sneaking others in.

If I owned a movie theater I'd have a cell phone/personal device checking area at the front and you'd have to check in your phone and it would be stored in secure cubby you'd get a ticket and turn that in to get your phone. I would also employ ushers and they would be required to make regular rounds(during peak hours they would stay inside each theater for the duration of the film) violators of the rules would be told to leave after one waring.No obstructive talking no cell phones no propping your dirty feet up on the backs of seats.The food and drinks would be a reasonable price and I'd serve beer.If there was a jamming device that only covered the inside of each theater I'd use them.A Faradys cage would be cost prohibitive even governments and large corporations only have fairly small rooms with a faradys cage built into them also it would not stop people from trying to text or simply texting and saving it hence my idea of a cell phone check service.The problem with jamming is that idiots would sit there and try to get past it even if there is no way they would still try.Removal of the phone from an idiots possession is the only way to keep them from using or attempting to use it.

[CaptainMattJ.]

i went to see a movie (i cant recall which one, this was a couple years ago) in tucson, and low and behold halfway into the movie a guy starts talking on his phone. Someone below him told him to shut up, he yells back, and they start yelling at each other. About 30 seconds later they were rolling down the isle with fists flying, and (presumably) someone's girlfriend screaming at them to stop.

If i recall correctly the movie up to that point had been pretty dull, so it wasn't a complete nuisance at least to me.

[Stealhead]

i went to see a movie (i cant recall which one, this was a couple years ago) in tucson, and low and behold halfway into the movie a guy starts talking on his phone. Someone below him told him to shut up, he yells back, and they start yelling at each other. About 30 seconds later they were rolling down the isle with fists flying, and (presumably) someone's girlfriend screaming at them to stop.

If i recall correctly the movie up to that point had been pretty dull, so it wasn't a complete nuisance at least to me.

See this I do not understand if a movie is clearly not good why keep sitting there? I have never done this personally if a movie sucks I walk out why waste feeling bored when the boredom can be ended in a matter of moments.In my experience I do not like being any where near a fight for two reasons one the chance that the belligerents scuffle into me or my family and when the cops show up sometimes they feel like arresting everyone present.Both have happened to me before the latter could have been expensive luckily my commanding officer knew that I was not the type to get into a fight and he got me out actually he was pretty close to decking one of the cops himself that interestingly enough was also in Tuscon not at a movie theater though.

The problem I find is that people respond to rudeness with rudeness which to me is highly illogical.So some jerk is yakking on his phone so you yell at him which disturbes everyone else and has a good chance of causing a fight becuase the one talking on the phone now has to display that he is in fact some bad ass and so does the one that told him to shut up.Neither has the option to back done because their bad assedness would be questioned.Personally I think the best result would be to taze the crap out o both of them.

[Onkel Neal]

i went to see a movie (i cant recall which one, this was a couple years ago) in tucson, and low and behold halfway into the movie a guy starts talking on his phone. Someone below him told him to shut up, he yells back, and they start yelling at each other. About 30 seconds later they were rolling down the isle with fists flying, and (presumably) someone's girlfriend screaming at them to stop.

If i recall correctly the movie up to that point had been pretty dull, so it wasn't a complete nuisance at least to me.

:har:

[Red October1984]

Even better: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/movie_theater_layout

Thank you for posting that link...

I've found a website that has me laughing... :har: :rotfl2:

[Platapus]

I think I would enjoy going to the theater a lot more if it was not for the people.

[Jimbuna]

i went to see a movie (i cant recall which one, this was a couple years ago) in tucson, and low and behold halfway into the movie a guy starts talking on his phone. Someone below him told him to shut up, he yells back, and they start yelling at each other. About 30 seconds later they were rolling down the isle with fists flying, and (presumably) someone's girlfriend screaming at them to stop.

If i recall correctly the movie up to that point had been pretty dull, so it wasn't a complete nuisance at least to me.

Now that would be worth paying to see and probably more entertaining than some of the movies I've wasted money on watching.

[mapuc]

I have one simple question

Is it not in the owners of those cinema's interest to handle those problems?

If I was a owner of a cinema, I surely would do anything to get rid of these annoying people(legally off course)

Markus

[Platapus]

Is it not in the owners of those cinema's interest to handle those problems?

If I was a owner of a cinema, I surely would do anything to get rid of these annoying people(legally off course)

Markus

A theater owner (or any business owner) may not like the idea of kicking any paying customer out.

The choice of kicking out a paying customer in hopes that it will bring in more customers vs not kicking any paying customers can be a hard choice.

The choice is easy when we are not the owners of the theater. :yep:

[Red October1984]

My local theater is the only one within 30 minutes and it has a Zero Tolerance Cell Phone Policy and they will come around and kick people like this out.

They also price gouge the tickets cause there's no competition in the area. :/\\!!

[Jimbuna]

My local theater is the only one within 30 minutes and it has a Zero Tolerance Cell Phone Policy and they will come around and kick people like this out.

They also price gouge the tickets cause there's no competition in the area. :/\\!!

They are very lucky then...almost Utopian.

[Stealhead]

My local theater is the only one within 30 minutes and it has a Zero Tolerance Cell Phone Policy and they will come around and kick people like this out.

They also price gouge the tickets cause there's no competition in the area. :/\\!!


Well its always something.

I think the primary reason that many movie theaters lack active ushers is because they want to avoid a confrontation so unless the person is doing something illegal or highly disruptive they typically dont bother.

I understand that many retail chains have similar polices when it comes to customers these days you can pretty much get away with being a jackass and typically you will not get kicked out ir asked to leave.

One place that is an exception is Walt Disney World.I have a friend that works in the IT department he keeps the computers that control the rides running.From what he has told me Disney will kick guests out if they do anything very disruptive they dislike anything "anti-Disney" in particular.The lower level WD employees get treated like crap by both WD and many guests so if you go to Disney World make sure to be extra nice to the cashiers and concession stand workers they will appreciate it.

The casino/resorts in Las Vegas is another exception they will ban people from their properties for many violations.

[Red October1984]

From what he has told me Disney will kick guests out if they do anything very disruptive they dislike anything "anti-Disney" in particular.

Well dang. All I'd have to do to get kicked out is tell a story that doesn't have a happy ending or singing involved.

:hmmm:

[STEED]

Ask them, are you calling for ambulance, if not I will give the reason to do. This worked for a friend of mind as the blockhead got the point and turned off his phone. :shifty: :03:

[frau kaleun]

Thank you for posting that link...

I've found a website that has me laughing... :har: :rotfl2:

The Oatmeal is awesome. :yep:

[Red October1984]

The Oatmeal is awesome. :yep:

I spent like 2 hours late last night/early this moring scrolling through all of the stuff on that site.

Indeed it is awesome. :har: