Theater Owners Want Cell Phones Blocked

upi.com...

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.

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.

"We're opposed to the use of any blocking technology, because it interferes with people's ability to use a wireless device in an emergency situation," CTIA spokesman Joseph Farren told the Times.

I actualy love this idea. I am sick and tired of cell phones in general; whether it be people in the checkout line at the store or inattentive drivers. But the ones who anger me the most are the jerks who insist on gabbing on those things while at a movie.

I have never heard any one of them ever using them in a emergency situation. No, they just sit there and gab, gab, and gab. It makes me want to grab the cell phone from them and beat them over the head with it at times. Why even go to a movie if you are just going to sit there and gab on your phone? These people kill me.

Well anyway, I hope the theater owners are successful in their fight to block the signals.

This gets my vote! Nothing more annoying than "Hello?... yeah I'm at the movie.... word.... nah, wit my baby momma... no, my other baby momma..."

With disrespect now a social trend, I'd love a cell phone blocker in the movies.

Why haven't they petitioned the government to allow putting bags over anyone's head that's under the age of 16 in theaters? Or ban children under 5? I am consistently disturbed more by these than by cell phones.

In fact, I've been to the theater quite a few times lately, and none of the movies I saw were interrupted by a cell phone. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but I've been kicked in the back of the head more times at the movies than I have been interrupted by a cell phone.

That's it - ban shoes. Better yet, put shackles on the seats that everyone has to wear so they don't kick other poeple's chairs. That, plus the kiddie ban and the adolescent gagging will take care of the problem.

Better yet - let's just ban the movie theater all together and require movies be released to DVD directly - no fuss, no muss. And to ensure we can have the theater experience, require movie companies to provide 100inch screens, projectors, and THX systems to everyone that rents a new release.

Yeah - this 'government in the middle of all our crap' business is a great idea.
Not.

Sorry...I just had to vent that. People annoy me far more than their phones.

Hmmmm. Theaters are private property. Customers pay to gain entrance to a theater for a very specific purpose. Theaters are providing a service. On their own property, they have every right to control things which prevent them from providing quality service to those who have paid what in many cases are premium prices for that service.

I have no problem with this at all. I'd also like to see strict laws prohibiting the use of cell phones in moving vehicles, period. This rude and obnoxious practice is extremely dangerous for everyone on the road, not just the stupid cell phone user.

Well, I personally hope that this does not go through, it's a persons right to answer there cell phone, and since they payed for the ticket, they have the right to be in the theaters as well. Of course, if the person becomes really loud and annoying, than they should be escorted out.
And really, the person would have to be talking really loud, I mean the sound from the movies in theaters is so loud, you really would'nt be able to hear yourself talk, or the person your talking to.

I think though, if there talking low, and not disturnig the theater, but maybe just three people, well people need to just get over such petty things, deal with it is what I say.
And, because I realise someone will say something like "You say that now, but you'd feel differently in the situation.", well I have been in that situation a few times, and I dealed with it, I just blocked the persons voice out of my head.

And really, what's the point in movie theaters anyway, I mean, DVD's, or any other recording, is better than the movies, only thing I can see the movies have going for them, is giant screens, which IMO, are not realy that great.


Well, I'm shutting up now, I typed a whole h*ll of alot more than I planned to.

Now i'm the kind of guy who turns off the phone when i go to the theaters, and Yes it bugs the crap out of me when someone answers their LOUD ASS PHONE IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUIET SCENE TOTALLY F-ing up The Scene.


BUt i don't think they should ban cellphones, just cause a few A-holes out there don't know how to use the Vibrate option on their phone is no need to punish, Doctors,Parents and anybody who could be having a family emergency.

I would respect the theaters alot more if they had the balls to just kick out anybody who was too loud to begin with, I don't like the idea of them keeping me from using my cellphone, Hell how do you know this Scrambler signal wont affect the area outside the theater?

To be honest, I've been annoyed by jerkos before the movie rambling on and on being so loud everyone heres them, but can only think of ONE instance where someones Really Loud ringing cellphone and the Dickishness ruined the whole movie for me(and i told the person to Shut the F up).

As opposed to all the times kids have talked during a movie, Kicked the back of my seat, Or two of my favorites

Some can't find a sitter for their kids so they decide that 5yr old billy will be okay watching < insert violent/scary rated R movie here> because It sounded like a good idea when They were smoking meth with the rest of Their brain damaged buddies!!!

Some can't find a sitter for their kids so they bring 6month old nancy to the theaters and wonder why THe baby keeps crying..............guess what ,its the F*cken SPeakers, Have you heard them, they make the walls shake they are so freaken loud!!!!!!!!!!!, YOu somehow think that your kid will sleep through that, You my friend are a blue print for building an idiot!!!!!!!!!!

But yeah back on subject, umm..........what was i saying ohyeah cellphones, They should be able to be used under emergency situation, If the theaters just had the Balls to say "NO RINGING, IF your PHone is not set to vibrate ,and we hear it ringing we will Escort you out!!!!!!!!!" Pretty F-in simple, Everyone has a vibrate option. ANd sometimes we have emergencies, some more than others.





[edit on 20-12-2005 by bordnlazy]

This is probably a good idea, but it will take a lot more than this to get me to become a regular movie theater goer again. When you drop ten to fifteen bucks for one ticket, a box of popcorn and a drink. That's bad enough, but when you consider that movies have gotten so long that I need at least one bathroom break during a movie, it just makes more sense to watch a movie on my TV or my computer, stop the thing and rewind when I want to and go the the head without missing anything and when you figure that it costs about half of what I would have spent at the theater or even more if I take a date, then I'd say that movie theaters are moribund.

I believe this may have already happened. Whenever I go to a Regal theater I loose the signal on my phone when I step into the actual viewing area. When I walk out the signal returns.

Originally posted by iori_komei
Well, I personally hope that this does not go through, it's a persons right to answer there cell phone,

Not on Private or Sensitive Public property it isn't, it's strictly a privledge in those places.

and since they payed for the ticket, they have the right to be in the theaters as well.

Get that "The Customer is always right" nonsense out of your head, that's not how the real world works. Private companies can treat their customers any way they damn well feel like, thats THEIR right and if doing so drives your business away then that's their problem not a problem for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to cover.(as I remember the word Cell Phone/Phone or even telegraph aren't even mentioned so out that goes)

And really, the person would have to be talking really loud, I mean the sound from the movies in theaters is so loud, you really would'nt be able to hear yourself talk, or the person your talking to.

Not everyone goes to action movies you know. Some people like movies with Actors and Actresses talk about stuff versus blowing stuff up. (NOT I THOUGH )

I think though, if there talking low, and not disturnig the theater, but maybe just three people, well people need to just get over such petty things, deal with it is what I say.

And what the Movie theatres are gonna say right back to the irate celly users who cannot use their phones in the theatre "Deal with it, get out if you need to recieve an important call"

I think cell phones should be banned entirely from theatres, before going in you should have a "cell phone check" similar to that of a coat check. Why? Because what pisses me off more than people talking on the phone are the people, who because they come in late, get their group split up. What do they do then? They sit there and text message each other! So down in the front right you have this blue glow and over on the middle right you have another blue glow, and then right in front of you is the third! Sure, they're not talking on the phone, but those damn lights are bloody annoying and distracting!

Oh man, don't get me started on this! It seems I haven't been able to really enjoy any of my movie-going experiences since circa-Saturday Night Fever. It says on the screen right before the freakin' movie starts in big bold letters "SILENCE IS GOLDEN" and "PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES" (or at least put them on vibrate) and "TELL YOUR KIDS TO SHUT THEIR YAPPERS". For some reason people think these pertain to everyone else except them. Classless jerks!!

Peace

Why do the theatre companies even have to ask to have cell phone blockers? How's it the business of the government?

More importantly, when will they make these devices portable and small, so that I can carry one around and never be disturbed by some git's celly cell blowin' up?

Our Carmike 16 theater in Allentown, PA, has made it a chargable offense for cell phone disruption during a movie.

BUT- not only does it have to ring, and not only do you have to answer, you also have to anger someone enough that they report the person.

Oh, but a fantastic idea nonetheless.

Now, as for kids- I do not mind kids talking if it is a kid specific movie (like The Incredibles, or some other Disney crap). As long as it is under a certain amount of control, I don't care.

But if you bring your kid to Saw II, and he/she/it starts crying right as the blood and gore starts pouring, you are going to hear from one ticked off female.

I've made quite a few enemies in theaters. (That "yo dog, supp?" bit really made me laugh. That's my city to a T)

Originally posted by Nygdan
Why do the theatre companies even have to ask to have cell phone blockers? How's it the business of the government?

I'm guessing that the theaters are concerned about liabilty issues, if someone misses a critical call and sues. The hospitals here in ABQ have cell phone blockers in critical areas, but I don't know if this is covered by law, or if they just post warnings.

[edit on 2005/12/20 by GradyPhilpott]

It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago when cell phones didn't even exist. And back then people had no way of being reached if an emergency arouse, you sat back and relaxed and hopefuly enjoyed the movie. I think that is a non-issue.

Originally posted by Classified Info
It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago when cell phones didn't even exist. I think that is a non-issue.

You underestimate the ingenuity of to tort lawyers and the flexibility of tort law.

People somehow lived for years, even in times of emergency, without their cell phones. I vote to shut 'em down in the theater. How about restaurants too while we are at it?

I saw a movie the other day and some stupid kid not only had her effing cell phone go off and ring (god damnit what a moron), but she answered it, and then was fiddling with the thing for practically the rest of the movie, and the screen, in the dark theatre, was literally bright enough to be a distraction. I think while it was ringing at least that half the people in the theatre missed an important conversation in the movie. Then some other idiot had theirs go off silently and he actually started talking on it.

A person doesn't have a 'right' to maintain electronic communcations in a private building and to broadcast variable electro-magnetic waves in a private building. Hell, you don't have a right to bring a firearm into a private building, and the right to bear arms is in the constitution itself!

Man, people did exist before cell phones! I don't even use mine much at all, and my freinds think I am crazy or distrubed in some way if I go out without it.

Originally posted by Nygdan
...and the screen, in the dark theatre, was literally bright enough to be a distraction.

We went to see King Kong the other day and had the same problem. These kids come walkin' in HALFWAY through the freakin' movie! They sit just down the aisle from us and one of the kids can't stop flippin his cell phone screen up, literally, every couple of minutes. These kids are absolutely obsessed with their cell phones. It's like if you're not talking on your cell phone or fiddlin' with it constantly...............you're not cool. And yes, everytime he flipped the screen up the theater lit up like Times Square.

Peace

I suspect that these people are the reason those little 'snap-pop' novelty items were invented.