Theater owners want cell phones blocked

UPI ^ | Dec. 17, 2005 | UPI

[Glenn]

I'll bet he doesn't drive it in the theater, though.

But he might drive it to the theater. Why? Couldn't he do what they used to do? No. That wouldn't work. There would have been no theater.

[Restorer]

So I taher you don't like multi-tasking.

[Tax-chick]

A very unfortunate situation for everyone. People just don't use common sense, I'm afraid.

I only go to a movie about once a year, because we have little children, and I don't want to inflict them on others at the theater, or the noise of the movie on the babies. Videos and DVD are wonderful!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Doctors have been wearing pagers into theaters for years. Would this stop their signals from being received?

[Shalom Israel]

Trouble is, the FCC has outlawed cell phone blocking devices in this country.

That's true. Passive interference, i.e., shielding, is legal. But it's expensive and tricky to do right.

[Restorer]

taher = gather

Sorry.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Some theaters already have no cell phone policies and ask moviegoers to check their phones at the door.

I'll find another theater who will allow cell phones/pagers.

[Dallas59]

I work for a Mobile phone company. I have one 2002, 252 model Nokia TracFone that is perfect. It stays in the truck 98% of the time. I refuse to pay $39 or $60 a month to listen to calls from people telling me where they are and what they are doing or asking me what I am doing, or to spread the latest gossip about that or this neighbor. I get one 40 minute card every 2 months. I refuse to become busy all the time.

[ScreamingFist]

I look forward to the development of pocket-sized, affordable cellphone jammers. I'll buy one and take it with me everywhere.

The C Guard by Netline is one of several available.

[MineralMan]

"But he might drive it to the theater. Why? Couldn't he do what they used to do? "

Your point is? Of course. He might take the subway to the theater, walk, ride the bus, or even a bicycle. I've done all of those to go to the movies.

The point is that none of the ways he might get to the theater is going to encroach on any other theatergoer while the film is running.

Your Blackberry will. That backlight will appear quite bright in a darkened theater. It will most certainly annoy me if you're sitting next to me.

I enjoy movies. I watch them closely. Your brightly-lit Blackberry is going to get about 5 seconds before I request that you shut it off. I'll even be polite. If you do not shut it off, then you risk my taking it from you and kicking it under the seat in front of me.

You'll be able to retrieve it after the movie, assuming someone hasn't trod upon it.

OTOH, if you turn it off when the movie starts, none of that will happen. We'll both enjoy the film. If you don't care about the movie, then why did you attend?

Leave your tecno-crap off when you're in a darkened theater, please.

[csvset]

Videos and DVD are wonderful!

Yes they are. Fie on theaters.

[ASA Vet]

I have never once been bothered by a cell phone in a theater.

Me neither, but I also haven't been in a theater since before cell phones.

[Glenn]

Leave your tecno-crap off when you're in a darkened theater, please.

I'll be happy to use it responsibly if you'll allow me to do so.

[RGSpincich]

If you can't take a 2.5 hour break, you have an exceedingly f*d up life, and I feel sorry for you.

Well he ain't alone. I've got teenagers that I keep close tabs on. Cellphones are a big part of the program. I trust them to be where they say they are going to be, they do that by calling. They can leave a message if the phone isn't answered while I'm watching a movie or doing whatever.

[Modok]

Your posting on this site interfers with my enjoyment of this site, please do not post on this site anymore.

[John Robertson]

"John, kindly provide instructions on how I should live my life in its entirety. You seem to have all the answers."

Glenn, even though I'm not nearly as busy or as important as you, I still don't have the time to get into the minutiae of your life.

Seriously: The 24-7 gotta-be-wired lifestyle is a choice. What, you don't sleep 6-7 hours at a time? What happens if you're driving through the a tunnel, and your vaunted Blackberry loses its signal for a minute--what then, what then?! What if someone needs you exactly then?

You sounded a mite pretentious to me, that's all.

[dha]

I only go to a movie about once a year, because we have little children, and I don't want to inflict them on others at the theater, or the noise of the movie on the babies. Videos and DVD are wonderful!

That's what we did when our kids were younger. We never thought that our rights to bring our kids outweighed others rights to enjoy something they paid for with their hard earned money.

It saddens me that we even have to have this discussion in our society. What happened to people's self discipline? Can't people control themselves and be polite for 2 measly hours anymore?

[CindyDawg]

We do need to get away when we can though and I see both sides of this. I was on call Friday and called my job and told them I was shutting it off for an hour and left a message of where they could reach me. (I have an hour response time) If it's something that will be more than an hour, I'll call and tell people, I'm at the movies. Don't call me unless it is an ER.

[MineralMan]

"I'll be happy to use it responsibly if you'll allow me to do so."

You can use it all you like, as long as it does not infringe on my right to enjoy the film, concert, or play. That means no sound and no backlight. If you can use your Blackberry in a theater without the backlight, then go for it. Otherwise, you can expect my objection.

[MineralMan]

"Your posting on this site interfers with my enjoyment of this site, please do not post on this site anymore."

Please feel free to ignore my posts. You may simply scroll past them without reading. Thanks.