Posted on 12/18/2005 7:27:25 AM PST by Kjobs
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
Well you certainly built a tight home, LOL! Enough material can attenuate a cell signal, and you likely live in a "dead" zone, these are areas that, because of geography or distance, receive a weaker signal than normal (my brother lives in one such zone, in a city, you have to step outside to get enough signal to make a call).
What does "act responsibly" mean? If you mean keeping your device on a QUIET vibrate setting, sitting next to an aisle and carefully and quietly stepping out of the theater to take care of business, I don't think many people would have an objection.
If you think you can spend 15 minutes sending messages on your device while lighting up your entire row, or answering a call DURING the movie (regardless of how long it takes you), then we run into problems.
Yeah, but since we were really pissed off, it had to be important!
More taste! Less filling!
I think I was on the taste side of the argument, but I just don't remember for sure.
I already tried that question. He doesn't like it, and asking it means you're a Luddite.
I can't wait until some movie theater is sued because Dr. Jones is watching a movie and his hospital is blocked from paging him--leading to the untimely demise of a heart attack victim.
The argument seems to be that the phone ringing is disturbing to others so that Government needs to intervene. Little kids needing to take a potty break in the middle of an important scene is annoying too -- but I'd hardly recommend that we request Government regulation on seat allocation in theaters (giving due consideration to those with the weaker bladders.)
Those with cell phones can turn them off or set to vibrate. Having the Government attempting to regulate social behavior is never a good idea. It only ends up with another excuse to bloat the Government, and increase taxes with no tangible result.
The person being called should find seats near the aisle and go to the lobby to take calls. Public cell phone rudeness is out of control and just because someone is 'on call' doesn't give them the right to disturb others.
It seems that you are the one who is confused--thinking that you own the air and the radio waves that are around your property. Next thing, you'll be telling us that you have the right to shoot down an airplane that flies through "your" airspace.
No thanks. My post clearly presented my take on the matter.
Problems could be cut down if theater owners enforced the rules of civility, but that would often just create new problems. Instead of being annoyed by someone's phone conversation or text-messaging glow, I'd just be distracted by a loud argument and scuffle between the poor, minimum-wage usher and the rude, indignant cell phone user. Better to stop the problem before it starts by allowing theaters to block such devices. Notices can be posted at the door and before the screening so no one will miss an important call or message.
If its part of your job description, then you are getting paid to do it, whether or not its listed on a separate accounting line.
Boy, is that a narrow view! You obviously don't know anyone who works in a 24x7 industry. There are many of us. Personally, I have been on call 24x7 since February of 1998. When I go into a theater I put my phone on vibrate. If it rings I don't answer it there, but leave and return the call outside in the hall. I'm not "that important" until my particular skills or knowledge are needed. :-)
I guess you never drive through Wyoming. ;-)
I have zero sympathy for people who answer mobiles in theaters -- except for the fact that I'm an Israeli working in a defense related capacity. Regardless of where I am in the world, I need to be reachable in the event of an emergency. And if I can't be reached, people could die. I would be very wary about allowing something like this because of the possibility of problems in case of real emergencies -- but yes, if I do answer my phone, I fully expect to be kicked out of the theater.
In the SF Bay area it's a bit of a game for certain hacker types to go around causing calls to drop and watching people get upset.
My niece's ballet troupe performs Nutcracker each year - one performance is a free matinee for schoolkids. It's a pretty big deal; live orchestra and all.
This year, during the Sugar Plum Fairy sequence, the house lights went up and the entire audience of hundreds got up and left! Just like that.
When queried, the school-union dolts told the producers that time was up - they had to get the kids back for their free subsidized lunches and to avoid breaking teacher-union work rules. The company continued playing to a 98%-empty house and everyone associated with the production was pretty pissed off.
Can you believe this crap? Ungrateful wretches. I told them to tell the idiots to Foff next year, but they're worried about making the city mad. Feh.
No, actually 2nd generation Italian-American.
BTW is that a greyhound on your home page?
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