Does it annoy you when people pull out their cell phones in theaters?

[Bojangles]

This is just something I'm wondering about. I know a ton of people absolutely loathe this. Personally, I don't find a problem with it unless they pull it out and start talking on it for more than a few seconds. That is, if their phone is ringing. If they're actually placing a call, that's going to get on my nerves. I read an article recently (from bd) where the dude is really pissed off about cell phones in theaters. He was so pissed off he actually posted his opinion on the front page of the site. Here's the article:

I know I am supposed to use this platform to talk about horror, so here you go, the horrors of seeing a movie in a theater. I've had it, I'm fed up and I'm raging war. I urge you all to spread the word, who knows, maybe the collective voice of us horror fans will turn into the collective voice of CHUD fans or AICN fans, before erupting into the public eye of CNN, FOX and beyond. Cell phone use in movies, it's out of control. I paid $13-f*cking-50 tonight to see a movie in a theater that swears by their "no cell phone use" policy (the Arclight in Sherman Oaks, CA). Through the entire feature people were checking their texts and answering calls. One douche next to me had it on the ENTIRE movie, but made sure to cup it with his knee. This isn't fair and it's bullcrap. We all work really hard to go out and enjoy a night at the movies just to have it ruined everything-single-mother-effin-time; it's ridiculous. If you're one of these people, I beg you to cut it out, tell your friends to cut it out and spread the word. Don't tolerate it anymore. Complain before, during and after the movie. Demand refunds. If enough people start ragin' war, they'll start to listen. I want to live in a world where there's zero tolerance for cell phone use in theaters and people are escorted out for doing so. For real, what's so important that you need to be texting through the entire movie? Your girl is next to you (hopefully) and your buddies are still gonna have plenty of booze after the movie ends. Now I'm going to bed pissed off and angry, thanks. Talk about it below.

I'm just wondering how people feel about this. I'm interested in hearing some opinions.

Yes, I do take my cell phone in the theaters with me. I also leave my cell phone on. I usually do not wear a watch so I usually check the time on it. Through an entire movie (from when the previews begin) I may pull out my cell phone one time just to check the time. If someone is calling me my cell phone will vibrate before it starts ringing. If it's just someone random I'll hit the ignore button. Nothing is ever heard. If it's someone more important I'll answer the phone and very quietly say "Watching the movie... I'll call you when I'm out". Most people know I'm already at the theaters, anyways. Plus, I always take some friends with me.

I know they show ads before the movie asking that you please turn your cell phone off, but I'm not going to listen to that. Sure, I want everyone to have an enjoyable experience and I don't even really use my cell phone in the theaters. However, I'm going to keep it on JUST IN CASE. As I said, a ton of people already know that I was planning on seeing a movie that day and that I'm at the theater. Whenever I see a new movie coming out that I want to see, even if it's a month away, I'll always announce that I'm going to go see it. That way, whomever else is interested can make plans to go see it with me, or I'll just call someone up and ask them.

Now, what do I mean by just in case? Well, a lot of people know I'm at the theater trying to watch a movie. If I'm getting a call from someone I'm not going to "ignore" they must be wanting something. What if something serious happens to one of my family members or friends while I'm sitting in the theater with my cell phone off? I'm not risking it.

If someone pulls out their cell phone and it's making some sort of noise, that is annoying. However, I see people complaining about the light that comes from a cell phone. Hell, when I went to see The Collector (saturday, night after opening) there was a dude right in front of me with a touch-screen phone. So, you know how big the screen is. I will admit, at first it did catch my eye. That only lasted for about a second, though. It appeared he was even texting on it, but that didn't bother me. It wasn't making any sounds and the light coming from the screen didn't distract me in anyway.

Now, I can talk with you about some annoying as theater experiences I have had. I'm going to save that for a later post, though. As of right now, I have to mow some grass. :reddisgust:

[Dr. Briggs]

I've got a liberal stance on cell phones myself, I mean, isn't the base reason for having a phone on you for emergencies or to communicate information? Myself, I think the "no-tolerance" stances on cell phones suck, there are things more important than a dead-silent movie experience (Especially since a good number of films you see in theters just aren't that good).

What annoys me more than phone use are those who outright snark at a movie's flaws in the theater as opposed to simply enjoying it's positives. I don't truly mind it on the small scale, poking fun at home or whatnot, but really you usually only see a film in theaters once, and purposefully ridiculing something many are just seeing for the first time can distort the effect a whole lot more than carrying on an unrelated conversation in the background.

[Bojangles]

That's what I'm getting at. I mean, I don't see why if someone is just setting there texting it should bother you. The light isn't very bright on them and it not like they really make any sound. I've had some bad theater experience before and none of them have involved cell phones. Instead, it involved the people themselves. For instance I went into a movie one time and there was like three girls behind me. As soon as I sit down with my friend they started trying to talk to me. After they saw that I was way more interested in watching the movie they moved their attention onto eachother. They sit behind me giggling, making jokes about the movie, talking loudly, getting up and walking out randomy then coming back in. It seemed like they were just begging for attention. Eventually all of them got up at the same time and just walked out in the middle of the movie and didn't come back. It seemed like they just bought a movie ticket to have a place to hang out and talk with eachother.

There was also some pretty bad experiences when I went to see Drag Me to Hell for the second time... I just about went fucking nuts on someone during that one.

[Dr. Briggs]

That's what I'm getting at. I mean, I don't see why if someone is just setting there texting it should bother you. The light isn't very bright on them and it not like they really make any sound. I've had some bad theater experience before and none of them have involved cell phones. Instead, it involved the people themselves. For instance I went into a movie one time and there was like three girls behind me. As soon as I sit down with my friend they started trying to talk to me. After they saw that I was way more interested in watching the movie they moved their attention onto eachother. They sit behind me giggling, making jokes about the movie, talking loudly, getting up and walking out randomy then coming back in. It seemed like they were just begging for attention. Eventually all of them got up at the same time and just walked out in the middle of the movie and didn't come back. It seemed like they just bought a movie ticket to have a place to hang out and talk with eachother.

There was also some pretty bad experiences when I went to see Drag Me to Hell for the second time... I just about went fucking nuts on someone during that one.

Agreed. That sucks that people go to see a movie (Or anything really "involved") just to shoot the breeze... I probably would've tried to actually get 'em interested in the movie if they started talking to me though, that's just me :p .

And just like you, I encountered some very... "easily amused" people in "Drag Me" myself... >.<

[Bojangles]

Agreed. That sucks that people go to see a movie (Or anything really "involved") just to shoot the breeze... I probably would've tried to actually get 'em interested in the movie if they started talking to me though, that's just me :p .

And just like you, I encountered some very... "easily amused" people in "Drag Me" myself... >.<

Well, they started trying to talk to me before the movie even started. It was my first time seeing the flick and I wanted to concentrate on it. They were just stupid. Hell, they probably blew off school and didn't have anywhere else to be for a couple hours. I remember I went to watch the movie really early that day on opening day.

Don't get me wrong. I've went to a movie I've seen before just because I was bored and would have liked to see it before. However, I still don't go there just to hang with my buds and talk about random shit.

You could not have put it any better with your comment about Drag Me to Hell. You hit the nail RIGHT on the head with "easily ammused".

[Friday The 13th]

I can't stand any type of noise when I'm busy or just while I'm watching a film..

[Maxx88]

~I can agree Friday, I mean, I go into the theater, turn my cell onto vibrate or silent, and the only time it is taken out is to check the time, but I sit up at the top of the theater as to not bother anyone else.

~I've had a bad experience with a blind date at a movie, we went to see 10,000 BC, which we both agreed on seeing, she texted though the ENTIRE MOVIE, I didn't go out with her again.

~Then on opening night of Friday the 13th, not the good ones from the 80s, the crappy one that came out in FEB. there was an entire row of kids from the local high school there and they talked though the entire movie, and it didn't help that every one else was telling them to "shut the hell up".

~And the worst is one of my roommates, we could be watching a movie that HE hasn't seen before and he is talking how the movie is fake, and that kind of thing would never happen in real life, DUH IT'S A MOVIE, and he is going to school for film and tv production to.

[Friday The 13th]

oh...

Then on opening night of Friday the 13th, not the good ones from the 80s, the crappy one that came out in FEB.

That one wasn't even Crappy...

[Maxx88]

oh...

That one wasn't even Crappy...

For the most part it was good, but one major flaw, Jason held a girl hostage, he doesn't do that, he just kills to kill.

[CarolinePar]

remember folks the best revenge is the better imagination -
so now that we all agree how annoying it is to have a cell go off if you're NOT on call...

what's the best way to punish those who abuse this?

I think a sledgehammer with about 13 blows would settle it for me!

[Maxx88]

remember folks the best revenge is the better imagination -
so now that we all agree how annoying it is to have a cell go off if you're NOT on call...

what's the best way to punish those who abuse this?

I think a sledgehammer with about 13 blows would settle it for me!

no they would just get new phone and annoy us more with it.
a gunshot, execution style to the back of the head, maybe two just to prove a point!

[CarolinePar]

no they would just get new phone and annoy us more with it.
a gunshot, execution style to the back of the head, maybe two just to prove a point!

that seems kinda tame by horror standards...couldn't we be more creative?

maybe grafted their head to a rigged, steadily increasing ringtone that they'd be clawing their own heads to get off?