Okay, can we get a moratorium on calling what people do on phones "texting".

"Texting" (or sending SMS, as is the technical term) is not what you do on your phone 99.995% of the time. The only thing you do MORE seldom than text on your phone is calling.

What you do on your phone is googling, facebook/twitter/g+-ing, skype-chatting [closest thing to "texting"] etc. I.e. using data services.

And if a *store* blocks my data reception? Not going there in like ever. A movie theatre is fine (I hate the bright screen problem). But a store? (This "Trader Joe's" of which you speak). Sorry, but THERE my constitutional right to network(data) connectivity totally overrides anything in the galaxy, really. Would never be there ever. Sorry.

/Z

Maybe this is different coz in Sweden you pay per minute talking and are charged per text so you minimize that (with some special exception, like we have a family plan where in-family texts are free, we still use skype chat anyway coz texting is such an ancient technology, and not multi-platform, etc.)

/Z

Most plans round here have a number of free texts per month, which most regular people wouldn't go over anyways. You even get this on pay as you go types, which is what I'm on. Whenever I see somebody on their phone, they are almost always texting.

Brave heart, Zarban.

Not only would I exclusively attend Faraday Cage Theatres, I'd become an investor.

Great episode guys, although I never knew that texting in movies is a "serious issue".
Kinda offtopic:
You just made my day. Laying on the grass in my backyard, sunny afternoon, few beers and friends in my head. Perfect! 

Last edited by Scooperfield (2013-08-12 16:07:06)

The only reasons theatres still exist (except as a specially thing) is that that have a cartel-like arrangement with content producers. If movies were invented now no-one would suggest travelling to a dark barn and watch a movie surrounded by strangers.

People texting etc (and the relatively modest investment to get a nice home presentation) is why I rarely do to the flicks anymore...

The primary function of my phone is for texting, the only reason I use the actual phone part more than once a month lately is because of my new job.

My plan gives me unlimited texting, but I have to pay per mb of data, they are in fact 2 separate things. Which is why I try to not use my data as much as possible.

I don't, I can't, so I text and call. Although due to having no money for credit, these days my mobile is used as an alarm clock.

Not everyone has some sort of smart phone

heh, I forgot that one - I use my phone as an alarm clock, too.  So that's three uses. 

My phone (supposedly) has the ability to use the web and check email and such, but I've been careful never to turn that on.  I can't fully decipher the terms of service but I'm pretty sure the first megabyte of data will cost me three billion dollars.  So, no thanks.

Great episode for sure, guys.

As a general matter, I'm not opposed to douchebag screenings, mommy screenings, or any other screening for people who are prone to cause distraction. (Older people with hearing aids often have no clue how loud they're actually speaking.) If a theatre owner wants to offer that as a clearly labeled product, great, free market, yadda yadda. People will still be using their phones in the normal screenings. Because they think it's their right to do so. Thus they don't regard it as a breach of etiquette. Which is why you're the asshole, you shusher.

It's up to the theatres, I feel. A PSA during the trailers that tells people to shut up and not use their phone gets routinely ignored at my local multiplexes. What works is the ninja thing. Okay, not quite ninjas, but vigilance  and policing by theater staff. The airlines have got it down: They tell you, hey, we're about to land, put away all electronic devices and sit the fuck down. If they spot you not doing that, you're promptly and politely asked to comply. Because that's how we roll when the plane is about to land. Period. (This is why I love the Arclight-style places. The Music Box in Chicago had a 70mm festival a while back, and before screenings the manager would not only introduce the film but explicitly warn people: my team and I are stationed on that elevated area near the projection booth and elsewhere; if we see a smartphone light, or other disturbance, we're going to pounce and probably embarrass you; so if you need to use a phone, please leave the theatre. The knowledge that someone's watching specifically to make sure I don't use my iPhone, really does the trick.)

Hey if the app/coupon thing is effective at keeping people from using their smartphones/alarm clocks, I'm all for it. They should also include a free e-book by Emily Post.