Dec 20, 2005 09:19 AM
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Hey, I'm all for turning off your cellphone during a movie. In fact, I'm more than all for it. I think that if someone decides to let it ring (the way somebody did at a King Kong screening I went to last week) while I'm trying to enjoy my film, each person in the theater should get a chance to kick the offender in the nuts before they leave. However, in lieu of this fantasy, looks like the National Association of Theater Operators (NATO) is going to petition the FCC to allow theater owners to actively block all cell phone signals. Already a reality in France (and they know from rude), NATO thinks this is more than an appropriate action, rather than trying to hand out fines. Of course, Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association spokesman Joseph Farren doesn't quite get it.
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.
Now, I know it's nice to have a cellphone for emergencies. I get it. But think about it, people. We went for a really long time without them and it's only 2-3 hours of your life. And if you're going to be turning them off in the theater anyhow, how is this blockage going to hurt? In fact, it's a heck of a lot better than saying you can't bring them into the theatre at all. Sure, if you could get every asshole in the theater to set the cellphone to vibrate, we wouldn't need this discussion. But considering people, like my dad, still don't know how to check messages or change ringtones, I wouldn't count on it.
Movie theaters to block cell phones? [Ars Technica]
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