Talking / Texting During Movies: Is it wrong to RAGE? (Rape optional)
MeepZero
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Registered User regular
I just went to see Avatar yesterday night and during about five separate occasions I noticed people texing or messing around with their phones. Normally I don't let these things get to me so much but for some reason it really left me in a sour mood about the whole thing afterward. I wasn't actively trying to find people texting or anything, and I really did enjoy the hell out of the movie, but it just drives me insane that people do that.
Is it bad that I'm so irritated by this? Got any stories of similar situations of movie going rage?
Is it bad that I'm so irritated by this? Got any stories of similar situations of movie going rage?
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About two thirds of the way in to the movie, I finally just turned around laughing a little bit and asked, "What the fuck guys? Are you fucking six years old or what?"
Seemed to work, they didn't really talk much after that. I know that wouldn't work on everyone or in every situation, but it felt good.
Otherwise who cares.
If you want to see a show with classy people maybe try opera.
The part that kills me is the fact that I actually have to go that far to get the people that run the place to do their job. Why the hell do I have to police the theater for them when they could easily do the same themselves.
Seriously?
I'm one of those people that love going to the movies, but hate if people talk or text. It just strikes me as incredibly incosiderate.
I mean, if I'm going to a midnight showing, first day opening or such then yeah, I expect that people are going to talk and there are going to be a bunch of kids(which is why I rarely see movies the first day they are out) but any other time, I have no qualms about telling people to shut the hell up.
One of the most annoying things was when I went to see Repo the genetic Opera. Right off the bat there was a group of about five girls that started talking and quoting lines of the trailers. Then they started to sing the songs as soon as the credits roll. I get that you're a fan and all, but I just end up turning around and telling them to be quiet.
Which is why I wish I either lived in Austin or that the Alamo Drafthouse expanded. I have never had a bad experience at that theater.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
Because the employees are off doing other tasks?
Having worked in a theater for over 2 years, I can tell you, theater employee's jobs are not "Sit in a theater and make sure people aren't talking."
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It's more just that the lights from their phones (and possibly it vibrating or making a noise) is distracting in a dark theater.
Obviously it goes without saying that if you're talking or texting you should be quiet, and obviously not use a cell phone (hence the wonderfully hilarious Inconsiderate Cellphone Man spots). But I also find it weird when people clap or make excited noises or laugh at movies. They don't bother me; i just find them weird.
Hmmm.
Okay.
I dunno, it just seems like if you turn your phone to silent and keep it in your lap it shouldn't distract anybody.
But I understand some people are douches and will hold up their iPhones to eye level and shit.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
I like it. It reminds me that I'm out doing something amongst other people. Otherwise, seeing a movie doesn't feel like I'm 'going out,' it just feels like I'm paying an exorbitant amount of money for a bigger screen.
My best moviegoing experience ever was probably the first Matrix, opening weekend, in Santa Cruz, because people were gasping and cheering. When Trinity ran along the wall at the very beginning and college students were shouting "Fuck yeah!" ... I dunno, I actually really liked that.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
Oh man, that reminds me. When I went to see Iron Man, I heard an audible gasp when it was revealed that Jeff Bridge's character was a bad guy. This wasn't faked or anything..someone actually did not see it coming and was so surprised she couldn't contain it.
And I don't care the subject of discussion. You should not talk in a movie theater. I get the clapping from excitement or hell yeah, but when you're having a discussion with someone else, that's wrong.
When I'm in a theater and it's not particularly packed... there are maybe like 7 or 8 people per row...
and some fucker sits down in the seat directly in front of me instead of any of the two hundred other available seats. That seems like premeditated douchebaggery to me.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
This is why I like to see the big, blockbuster, gotta-see on opening night/weekend films at the Arclight. They actively tell you, upfront, before the film rolls- silence your phone and shut the hell up. AND- they don't let anyone in after the opening 5-10 minutes.
I almost got into a fight once when my buddy told a guy off in a theater. He shut up right quick once he saw how big my friend was.
Were you sitting in the middle of a row? Because while I try not to intentionally block someone, if there's a seat in the middle of the theater I'm totally going for it. I hate being on the sides.
See, I would agree with you, but even if it is in your lap, people to your left or right can see it. There is the issue with the noise made by buttons being hit as well. Sure its quiet, but think about hearing that "tick tick tick" noise during a particularly quiet part of the movie, its distracting all the same for people nearby.
And yes, the majority of it is idiots that hold their phone in front of their face and mess with their stuff.
One guy accidently forgot to put his phone on silent, it rang, half of a ring. He killed it right there. I'm OK with that, its an honest accident. Oddly enough it bothers me more when, even on silent mode, the phone is more noticeable because of the glare.
As another Cinema employee, I can back this up as well. The place I worked you had one of three tasks:
-Ticket Sales/Checking Tickets
-Catering
-Cleaning
These were the priorities. Other things like dealing with annoying people in the theatre only came up when you were alerted to the problem, because there were not enough people for one to sit in every showing and watch the audience.
Secondly, the amount of authority a Cinema usher has is entirely dependent on how much the customer perceives it to be. Sure you can ask/tell someone to leave, but if they have the attitude of "No, make me" you are stuffed. You can't physically remove them (At least not in England), so you route it up the Managerial line, but if they refuse to go after that the only option is to call the police and have them ejected.
By the time the Police arrive the kids have already walked out with a swagger feeling invincible. 20/25 minutes of the movie is ruined for the audience as they have various cinema employees wandering in and out, teenagers showing off in loud voices and confrontations. On a few occaisions this even got to the point of violence against staff by particularly aggressive customers.
The Cinema has become a more and more unpleasant place to watch movies because of a decline in standards of behaviour amongst the patrons. Your average 17/18 year old cinema usher does not have the skills or training to deal with abusive, non-cooperative customers beyond whatever personal charisma they bring into the job. The sad fact is that they are in a situation they have to deal with it at all.
There was a time when some stupid group of girls where giggling through the entire movie. They were across the theatre from me, but I among with everyone else could hear them and you could tell everyone was annoyed. Finally I just ended up yelling at them to shut the fuck up (and yes, I understand the irony of the situation). Didn't hear a peep from them afterwards.
Sometimes people need to be shamed about their behavior.
This from the man who is excessively annoyed at others who wear hats indoors.
My parents told me this story.
When Alien first came out, there was an old lady sitting in the row in front of them. She stayed perfectly quiet throughout the movie. Finally, at the end, after Ripley blows the xenomorph out of the airlock, everything was getting quiet again and she was settling in with Jonesy in her cryo pod, the lady leans over to her husband and whispers loudly:
"It's in the cat!"
Plus, the way the seats are on an incline, I don't see how I could even begin to block a person's view.
Finally, right after Aragorn and the hobbits leave Bree and are wandering through the wilderness, a huge guy in the row behind him told him to STFU. The drunk guy stupidly says "Make me asshole".
So Tiny gets out of his seat, walks around to the drunk's row, picks him up by his collar, drags him kicking and yelling up the aisle, and throws him out the door while his buddy holds it open for him.
The entire theatre gives 30 seconds of applause.
I am quick to tell people to shut up if someone is being loud, but I generally haven't noticed it if people text.
In any case, I tend to just watch movies at home or at my friends' houses these days; I startle very easily in movie theaters because the sound is always so damn loud, and I react to loud sound to the point where it's bothering me in advance.
I don't like clapping or whooping or whatever as it signals a mental deficiency as opposed to just a lack of manners. Seriously, who are you clapping for? If I'm at a theater show or if the director/cast/crew are sat in the building then sure thing but I don't think that the projector gives a damn if you enjoyed the movie or not.
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Honestly, I don't know why it bothers me so much; I suppose I am pedantic and uptight, but, really, I don't see the point in paying to go see a movie only to spend time doing other stuff, and in the process, annoy other people. This thought process is entirely foreign to me. But it has definitely ruined movies for me before - one recent example being Paranormal Activity. Some people can't get into a movie like that, which is fine, but their inane behaviour is jarring and takes me out of the film.
no, but if it's the whole audience doing it it's a fun shared experience. Same with laughing at funny parts, screaming at scary parts, etc.
If you were in a relatively empty theater, and a stranger sat down in the seat immediately next to you, would you feel awkward?
Also, if sitting one seat to the left or the right so you don't block the view of the person behind you is going to ruin your movie-going experience so goddamn much, I respectfully submit that it's not me being a douchenuts.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
I don't associate those as similar behaviors. A laugh or a shocked scream is understandable to me but whooping, fist pumping or clapping are far more voluntary behaviors.
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But again, choice seats trump comfort zones for some people.
Depends on the person and what they're seeing. I've expressed approval easily as quickly as I laughed.
It doesn't have to make logical sense, it just has to be fun for everyone there within reason.
God forbid some people get caught up in the thrill of what they're watching. What a bunch of mentally stunted cavemen.
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When the new Star Wars movies came out, people clapped and whooped at the beginning of movie (at the Lucasart logo or something, I don't remember), then they shut up for the rest of the movie until the credits where they clapped again. I don't really have a problem with this and I suspect you are only talking about clapping during the movie itself, yes?
I mean, showing appreciation for the movie is fine by me as long as they don't disrupt it, is what I am saying.
Heh A bit of a flaw in my argument as I've been known to cheer at the rugby on the tv myself but I still draw a line between a sports event and a a pre-recorded picture show.
Horses for courses though.
EDIT: Also this might just be a regional thing.
EDIT2: Out of interest, for those of you who support cheering and clapping at a movie. Are you showing appreciation for a movie you feel has been well made or are you cheering for Frodo because he just destroyed the one ring and saved Middle Earth?
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For some reason, it seems more appropriate to react (with laughter, surprise, screams, etc.) during a movie than it is to clap for the end credits. It's not really a "caught up in the moment" thing. Neither activity bothers me all that much, but I do sympathize with the "um, nobody involved in this movie can hear you clapping" people to an extent.
If it's excessive, I could see the potential in it getting annoying, but if someone opens their phone texts and that's it, then I don't care.
I fucking hate that so much.
It's like the pause button is there for a reason you chatty bitch
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
It can be a fun social experiment though. Nobody here ever claps for movie credits, but back when I still went to movie theatres every now and then I'd start an applause at the end, and it's like everyone feels obligated to join it.
This is the reason I actually brought it up.
Some guy tried to start a clap going at the end of avatar in a fully packed cinema on monday and no one joined in. Maybe I should feel bad about it but it pleased me no end that no one got on board his clap wagon.
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