US Cinema chain AMC to consider allowing Texting during films

[MacLeod]

This is one more for the Americans on here, but as it could impact us all, What's your take on this story

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36043996

ABout the only way I could see it working is seperate screens for those that want to text instead of watching a film. But are millenials really that bad they can't go for a 2 hours or so without looking at their phone?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If they're so busy texting, what are they doing at the damn film in the first place?

 

[Random_Spock]

Exactly. It's so damn distracting.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[shapeshifter]

If they do this, I'll never sit in one of their chairs again.

I'll literally boycott AMC and make Regal my regular theater even though it's further away.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Too bad cellphone jamming devices are illegal.

 

[Skywalker]

Would that every theater were an Alamo Drafthouse.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

This is so idiotic.

What's the point of this?

 

[Triskelion]

Go ahead! People need another reason to watch movies at home, where they don't have to worry about distractions or crack $7 hour security, or jacked up year 2525 refreshment prices on their 1990's lowballed salaries.

Can they bring their laptops too now? They've got work to do! Oops, is it still ok to make bathroom noises in the stall next to God's Little Productivity Machine? How gauche, I know! I mean, it's not as if it's a shared space! Sharing, what's that?

"When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don't ruin the movie, they hear please cut off your left arm above the elbow," he said.

I agree, and this is why they should be allowed to text and drive, perform surgery, and operate heavy machinery. God bless the little hipster angels; you go right ahead, the world will stop for you! And so will trains, and working adults who just dropped $100 on movie night but are constantly pulled out of the experience by your more important selfie instagrams. Oh that's right - they only make movies for children these days anyway, bless their little merchandised souls. Home theaters and independent films, that's for real people.

Little angels, on your pretentious, infantile bicycles and in your cute doggie outfits, you're not a passive slave to packaged culture, you're not the death of civilization at all. Your just "meta".

Would Angel like a ball pit too? To romp around in "ironically"? While corporations buy and sell your a- never mind. You wouldn't want to hear about that. Watch your cartoon.

*duck mouth peace sign*

 

[Bisz]

I'd not go watch a movie in a theatre where there are cellphone screens out during the movie, I find it very distracting and annoying.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don't ruin the movie, they hear please cut off your left arm above the elbow," he said.

The proper reply to that is, of course, "That can be arranged."

 

[MacLeod]

I believe they have now abandoned this idea. No doubt the backlash has made them change their mind. The only question would be why didn't they see it coming?

Looks like I was right.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36056449

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I believe they have now abandoned this idea. No doubt the backlash has ade them change their mind. The only question would be why didn't they see it coming?

They probably had the crazy idea that people would delve into their response beyond the clickbait titles to see that this was not a widespread proposal to allow texting in all theaters, but only in a select few designated theaters (ie. ones you can avoid if you want) and possibly with some additional measures to prevent other patrons from being bothered, like partitions, balconies, or sunken areas so there's not sound and light disturbance. Clearly they understand that this is not something the average moviegoer wants happening next to or in front of them, so it would have been a specified section in a specified theater where steps would have been taken to avoid bothering others.
__________________________
But he admitted: "Today's movie-goer doesn't want somebody sitting next to them texting or having their phone on.

"What may be more likely is we take specific auditoriums and make them more texting-friendly."

Elaborating on comments on Twitter, he wrote: "If ever, we only would pursue in a way we'd be totally confident all our guests will fully enjoy movie-going experience."
__________________________

Also, though I know the focus is on Millennials, parents of young children might enjoy having the option of being able to quickly send and receive text messages to and from their sitters without having to get up and walk out of the theater, which is frankly more of a disturbance than the texting itself.

 

[Jedi_Master]

I text at the movies, and I see plenty of others doing it. Not sure how this is a monstrous disturbance.

 

[Amaris]

I text at the movies, and I see plenty of others doing it. Not sure how this is a monstrous disturbance.

Because I paid to watch the movie, not see someone's glowing screen flashing in my eyes. I'm a firm believer in text outside, call outside, watch the movie inside. If it's that important, then keep it on vibrate, and when you get the signal, go outside. I'm not paying for people to ruin my exceedingly rare theater experience. I do notify ushers if I see someone texting, or talking on the phone, though they rarely do anything about it.

 

[MacLeod]

They probably had the crazy idea that people would delve into their response beyond the clickbait titles to see that this was not a widespread proposal to allow texting in all theaters, but only in a select few designated theaters (ie. ones you can avoid if you want) and possibly with some additional measures to prevent other patrons from being bothered, like partitions, balconies, or sunken areas so there's not sound and light disturbance. Clearly they understand that this is not something the average moviegoer wants happening next to or in front of them, so it would have been a specified section in a specified theater where steps would have been taken to avoid bothering others.
__________________________
But he admitted: "Today's movie-goer doesn't want somebody sitting next to them texting or having their phone on.

"What may be more likely is we take specific auditoriums and make them more texting-friendly."

Elaborating on comments on Twitter, he wrote: "If ever, we only would pursue in a way we'd be totally confident all our guests will fully enjoy movie-going experience."
__________________________

Also, though I know the focus is on Millennials, parents of young children might enjoy having the option of being able to quickly send and receive text messages to and from their sitters without having to get up and walk out of the theater, which is frankly more of a disturbance than the texting itself.

Well I did say in my very first post that the only way I could see it working is specfic screens for it. But that's not without issues of it's own. I suspect most cinema goers would choose to go to the screen where mobile phone use is banned, so what happens when that screen is full? Would they so ok I'll go for the showing in the screen where phones are allowed or say, go home, go to a different chain etc...

But how is getting up to make a phone call or check your phone any different from getting up to go to the tiolet? This is a general comment and not directed at anyone in particualr but if you as a moviegoer think you may need to get up often then get an aisle seat, it's easier for you and minimises the disrubtion to other patrons.

But isn't it a bit patrionising to millenials to say that they can't go 2 hours without their phone. I assume some of these millenials work where they might have to go more than 2 hours without their phone. How do they manage then?

 

[Jedi_Master]

Because I paid to watch the movie, not see someone's glowing screen flashing in my eyes. I'm a firm believer in text outside, call outside, watch the movie inside. If it's that important, then keep it on vibrate, and when you get the signal, go outside. I'm not paying for people to ruin my exceedingly rare theater experience. I do notify ushers if I see someone texting, or talking on the phone, though they rarely do anything about it.

I very rarely get to the movies. When I am there, the big flashing screen tends to hold my attention.
But I live with two insane baby baboons so I guess I have gotten used to paying attention to stuff in the midst of chaos. I will refrain from texting at the movies - thanks for your perspective.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

But isn't it a bit patrionising to millenials to say that they can't go 2 hours without their phone.

No.

I assume some of these millenials work where they might have to go more than 2 hours without their phone. How do they manage then?

If their job is so hectic that they have to stay welded to their phones so often, maybe they shouldn't be at the movie in the first place.

 

[TheSeeker]

Because I paid to watch the movie, not see someone's glowing screen flashing in my eyes.

Exactly. Seeing a bright glowing screen in the audience is seriously distracting when trying to watch a movie. I lived in Romania for three years and experienced this just about every time I went to see a movie. I was so glad to get back to North America and not have to endure this kind of thing anymore.

 

[Amaris]

I very rarely get to the movies. When I am there, the big flashing screen tends to hold my attention.
But I live with two insane baby baboons so I guess I have gotten used to paying attention to stuff in the midst of chaos. I will refrain from texting at the movies - thanks for your perspective.

I won't beat you with the chair... this time.

Seriously, though, it's just frustrating because I get to see one movie maybe every 3-5 years, and I love movies, so finally getting to see a film only for the person seated in front of me to whip out their phone and start texting... it's just that I have a form of night blindness, which means that smaller light right in front of me is going to offset the bigger light much farther away. So I get to watch the movie I paid $10 to see, and won't get to see another for half a decade, through a dim haze because the person in front of me couldn't go outside for a few moments, or turn off their phone. It's nothing personal, but it is personal, you know?

Exactly. Seeing a bright glowing screen in the audience is seriously distracting when trying to watch a movie. I lived in Romania for three years and experienced this just about every time I went to see a movie. I was so glad to get back to North America and not have to endure this kind of thing anymore.

Indeed. Hopefully that will continue, and AMC will realize that if we want to see someone text while trying to watch a movie, we can do it at home. Away from their theaters, with our money still in our pockets.