Theater owners want cell phones blocked

UPI ^ | Dec. 17, 2005 | UPI

[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.

[HamiltonJay]

Frankly, legal or not, I'd have been blocking them years ago.

[HamiltonJay]

It's 2006. I cannot be out of touch with the rest of the world for 2.5 hours.

Then don't go to the movies.

Amazing, we existed for a few hundred thousand years with phones at all... let alone cell phones... now someone thinks the worlds gonna end if they are out of contact for 2.5 hours.....

No wonder folks have their priorities all out of whack.. they have not time to even contemplate them, because they are too busy having to listen to stupid conversations like "I'm on the bus right now, ok, I just got off, now I'm heading down 5th.. where are you?"

Face it, only the nuclear football HAS to be instantaneously reachable by the President, and since there is only 1 of them... life for you will go on without a cell signal.

[-YYZ-]

I like people, in general, especially ones I don't know. It's just the majority that I meet, who are mostly idiots, that I hate ;)

[Churchillspirit]

Make irrelevant comments much to try to score debate points?

My comments were not irrelevant.

You (and Glenn) have informed us all here how important it is for you to be in touch with the world 24/7. Although you seem to be a bit tardy, as Glenn is already living in 2006!

Perhaps neither of you are as important as you think you are.

Lighten up!

[Glenn]

Perhaps neither of you are as important as you think you are.

You and your ilk keep hammering the "important" word. It's plain to see you aren't able to grasp what I'm saying. That's fine. It's surely not your fault.

[TChris]

I have seen far too much of this "Punish Everyone Because I Don't Have the Nerve to Punish the Offenders" mania. It's a common ailment among elementary school officials and teachers.

It would seem that, despite recent numbers showing their profits to be declining, theater owners still think they have too many customers.

"We support this change as a way to convince more movie viewers to stay home and wait for the DVD release." an Association spokesman explained.

[Unknown Pundit]

Instead of crying to Uncle Sam, why not just keep an usher in the theater and enforce the rules?

You are absolutely right. The theaters owners trying to block cell phone signals are no different than the "zero-tolerance" policies seen in schools. In their minds, it's simpler and less painful to ban all signals, rather than policing their own premises for patrons disturbing other patrons by using cell phones, talking, screamin babies, etc.

[Xenalyte]

Um, in the world the rest of us inhabit, it's still 2005.

[vollmond]

I'm not a parent. But if I had children, I would always have a cell phone on me so I could be reached in emergencies. I would also have the decency to keep it in Vibrate mode, and leave the theatre to answer it. Blocking the signal is not the answer.

[Wolfie]

Um, in the world the rest of us inhabit, it's still 2005.

And he's just under the wire for Self-Important Pric* of the Year Award.

[CindyDawg]

What amazes me though is that attendence being down is blamed on an occasional cell phone irritation. When they do their polls , asking people what they don't like about theaters, I wonder if they include content. Do you ever thing they might have a moments thought that we just don't like what they are showing? The beeper, the crying baby, the love birds... all of that is workable but it's hard to sit thru a bad movie.

[Glenn]

And he's just under the wire for Self-Important Pric* of the Year Award.

You have something to say to me, post it to me, okay?

[Wolfie]

If I have something to say to you, I will.

[AppyPappy]

I cannot be out of touch with the rest of the world for 2.5 hours

Glenn, buddy, you need a life.

[Glenn]

If I have something to say to you, I will.

You can continue to act like a gossipy little girl if you choose, of course. It's a free country.

[Glenn]

Glenn, buddy, you need a life.

Really? That's the first time I've had that advice on this thread.

[Wolfie]

;)

[CindyDawg]

I 'm not flaming but it will catch up with you. Been there, done it, and decided I like being a "B" better.

[Serb5150]

I think the theaters have a right to do as they see fit, provided they inform patrons of this situation before they actually buy a ticket.

[absolootezer0]

i'm in agreement with you, tho perhaps for different reasons. i have a child, i have times when i am on-call for work. i don't believe that i should be forced to stay at home because an emergency *might* arise. if an emergency should arise it would be 10x more disruptive for an attendant to try and find me in the theater.
besides, with caller id, you should be able to tell if its an emergency without having to answer.
the biggest problem i have with people and cell phones are the idiots who answer their phones and go "yo, i'm in a movie, lemme holla back atcha" then talk for five minutes anyway, usually saying the same thing over and over.