S/O movie theatre etiquette: did you hear about AMC?

I think that everyone is in agreement with these rules in theory, but in reality, in the situation, think it doesn't apply to them.

"I don't normally text, but this was an EMERGENCY. My sitter needed to know where I keep the Cheetos."

"I don't like it when other people sprawl across seats, but I should be allowed to put my feet up on the rail in front of my section."

I will guess that some of the negative comments were made by people who do text in theaters. I always turn my phone ringer off, and put do not disturb on. If a call comes through and I feel a vibration, I will check for the caller. If it is related to my kids, I run up to the hall to answer. If not, back in my pocket it goes.

I hate texting and talking theaters, because that interferes with my ability to watch the movie. I could not care less how you sit or how you dress, because that only bothers me if I pay attention to you rather than the movie.

I would hate the texting in the theatre and would not go. My phone is on silent in my pocket. Nobody needs me that badly for the 2 hours I am in there. My phone does not even vibrate while on silent.

Theatre shootings would go way up if this was allowed... 

Can you imagine the outrage at seeing everyone texting and not being able to see the screen. 

They'd have to turn the lamps up on the screens so high people go blind--just like the speakers are so loud because Neanderthals talk through through the movies.

I am so glad we have a great TV and surround sound. It takes an amazing movie, like Star Wars to get us in the theatre now. Ours does do 3d, but ours isn't IMAX 3d. I don't really like our 3D--just looks a bit odd to me. I'm going to try it with my contacts in now that I have some.

One of my recent times at the movies, it was middle-aged women that were talking about putting their feet on the seat. They were sitting behind me and one over so when they hit the sit in front of them with their feet, I could feel it too.

Ditto. 

You know who is the rudest when it comes to cell phone use?...older people! I see between 10-15 patients a day and the older crowd is always the rudest when it comes to cell phone usage. I get them from the waiting room "finger goes up...hold on". Really? They answer calls while in the room with me (like the don't understand the concept of voicemail). Teens and young adults, never a problem. They put the phone away when they are supposed to (they probably don't want me to see their snapchats...lol).

Same with movie theaters. I don't see young adults doing anything with their phones, it's mostly the grown-ass-should-know-better crowd.

In theory I agree with you.  

But, when you have special needs kids or medically fragile family members, sometimes you do need to be available 24x7.   Our kids go to respite care one weekend per quarter, and our agreement with the facility is that we always be available by phone in case of emergency.  We hadn't gone to an adult movie during the first 11 years of having kids (no respite care), but now always go to 1 or even 2 during those respite care weekends. Just because I have my phone on vibrate and will leave if it is the facility, doesn't mean I don't deserve to go to the movies. 

Bold is mine.

My son was once extremely medically fragile. He was on 24 oxygen, meds every 4-6 hours as well as on TPN via a broviac CVL. State law does not allow anyone who is not a trained parent or trained RN to handle or operate a CVL line.

So because of that should my hubby and I never been allowed to.escape for a few hours? Like seriously?

My life evolved around my son 24 hours a day. I needed to get out. I was.lucky enough that my parents were able to watch my son so I could get out.

BUT I had to be on stand by in case his line occluded, backed up with blood, he had a seizure, or was having trouble breathing.

My parents could not do anything and because our insurance only covered and LVN, we could not afford an RN.

Thankfully only once did we get a call during out SHORT time away from hell.

I feel like I am lucky because I often leave my phone at home and I am not tied to it in any way. I do love to have it in certain situations; they are helpful, but in no way do I have to have it. I know people say that you never know… true, our neighbor (rental) had the SWAT team break down his front door and busted him for all sorts of drug goodies. I was at a parent night. My phone was turned off in my purse and my kids were responsible enough to know what to do and my neighbor across the street called them to make sure they were home and okay. They were. I am still of the opinion that I survived without a cell phone, so turning it off now and then is fine.

I wish I had the life that some of the people in this thread have.

I think if someone has a special needs loved one, putting the phone on vibrate and getting up to answer a call is completely fine. The gal in front of me today was texting and playing games on Facebook during the movie and she wasn't even trying to be discreet, she held the screen up in front of her face while doing it.

I get that.  I think what many of us are trying to say (but not very well) is that the light of the phone is disturbing.  In your case, I can see why you leave your phone on.  If someone next to me pulled out their phone to read a text and quietly exited the theater, I would not have problem whatsoever.  We used to go to the movies with our doctor quite often (before we had kids).  He would get a phone call or a page quite often.  He was just very good about slipping out and taking care of whatever needed to be done.  I do think many people on their phones in movies are just addicted to the phone and don't want to leave the movie.  

I know I did and that's why I came back to clarify. I was referring to people like the gal in front of me today and just the idea in general of allowing people to text during a movie because they can't stand to put their phone down. I did not make that clear and for that, I apologize.

Actually, what I did write (without the bolding) was:


I think that is part of why the comments about if you can't turn off your phone you should stay home ticked me off so badly - since I mentioned what I did answer it for and it didn't seem worthy enough, or something. It wasn't a typical response for you, crimsoncat05, so I'll just chalk it up to not reading closely (although why you wouldn't hang on my every word, I don't know (just kidding)) .

Going to the movies has always been one of my favorite things on the planet to do - as a child (starting in 6th grade), back when the world was safer, I would ride my bike to the theater on the weekend to see movies by myself. I would often see movies I liked 3-4 times in the theater. One of the things that I miss most since having special needs kids is going to the movies regularly. It used to be I saw all the Oscar contenders, now I have seen all kid movie Oscar contenders, and maybe 1 or 2 at most of the adult films.

All that said, there is no place for everyday texting and talking in theaters - some people have become addicted to being constantly on their phones, I think it almost a compulsion for them.