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[Screaming_Gremlin]

I wish they would allow this here in the US.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041011/france_immobilizing_mobiles_4.html

PARIS (AP) -- Watch a movie or make a mobile phone call. Soon, in France, you might not be able to do both at once.

The government's industry minister has approved a decision to let cinemas, concert halls and theaters install cell phone jammers -- on condition that emergency calls can still get through, officials said Monday.

Jean Labbe, president of the National Federation of French Cinemas, said the measure was a response to "a long-standing request" from cinemas of all sizes.

Cinemas have invested heavily to improve comfort, and "the authorization of jammers is the cherry on the cake," he told France Info radio.

Industry Minister Patrick Devedjian gave the go-ahead Friday, backing a decision by the Telecommunications Regulation Authority to allow jammers, his ministry said in a statement.

Devedjian specified however that emergency calls and calls made outside theaters and other performance spaces must not be affected.

 

[Dan]

I would love for this to happen in the US. At least 70% of the movies I saw this past summer had people talking on phones during the fucking movie. For extended periods of time. They should be shot.

 

[Dead]

Thats awesome. It drives me nuts to see these morons talk through the movie on their cell thinking no ones noticing them.

ugh

 

[Miguel]

 

[Vormund]

Yeah i'd love this.

 

[Brannon]

I approve this message.

 

[soulja224466]

Thats awesome. It drives me nuts to see these morons talk through the movie on their cell thinking no ones noticing them.

ugh

how could they not know people notice them? they do it to get attention and generally bug the shit out of people.

This is a great idea.

 

[Dead]

how could they not know people notice them? they do it to get attention and generally bug the shit out of people.

This is a great idea.

Dont get me started -_-

Of course the worse being those with the utter disregard for the others in the theater...those people id like to see flogged

 

[AlphaSnake]

I wouldn't. What if someone's desperately trying to call me and inform me of something important? What a moronic idea. Besides, cell-phone courtesy has became great in NYC.

 

[MassiveAttack]

I would love for this to happen in the US. At least 70% of the movies I saw this past summer had people talking on phones during the fucking movie. For extended periods of time. They should be shot.

Moviegoers should have the legal right to beat these people senseless. Of course any attempt to prevent the use of cellphones in movie theaters will simply result in some asshole filing a suit against AMC or Loews claiming that his civil liberties are being infringed upon.

It's pathetic that anyone should be expected to tolerate another person making and receiving cellphone calls during a movie they paid $10 to see. But it's America - where every possible imbecile has the "God given" right to free speech.

 

[border]

Wonderful. I'd like to see more cell-free zones established.

What if someone's desperately trying to call me and inform me of something important?

Something important....like maybe, "Hey Arnold! When you see a news headline, you should read beyond it to get the whole story!"

on condition that emergency calls can still get through,

 

[videogamer]

Moviegoers should have the legal right to beat these people senseless. Of course any attempt to prevent the use of cellphones in movie theaters will simply result in some asshole filing a suit against AMC or Loews claiming that his civil liberties are being infringed upon.

It's pathetic that anyone should be expected to tolerate another person making and receiving cellphone calls during a movie they paid $10 to see. But it's America - where every possible imbecile has the "God given" right to free speech.

I don't know. I'd guess that the management has the right to refuse service. The civil liberty of free speech usually has to do with government, and less with private enterprise.

 

[Joe]

god dammit i had this idea months ago, i swear! i knew i should have patented it...DAMN YOU FRANCE....DAMNNN YOUUUUU!!!

 

[Incognito]

I wouldn't. What if someone's desperately trying to call me and inform me of something important?

:lol :lol :lol :lol

"arnold, dear, just calling to make sure you'll be home for your 23rd birthday. cake is ready, so be home early, love mom...xoxo."

 

[norinrad21]

Good idea, went to the movies with two lady friends the other day and they both kept making phone calls and text messages, no it didn't bother them that i was stuck in their middle watching the movie they both picked. fucking stepford wives

 

[fennec fox]

What if someone's desperately trying to call me and inform me of something important? What a moronic idea.

　If your wife's dying, don't worry! She'll still be dying once the film is over!

 

[Brannon]

Maybe the theater could install a selective jamming system that if you are in the theater and somebody calls you, it could inform the caller that they are watching a movie, and if it is a TRUE EMERGENCY, to leave a message. Then while that message is left in the system after the call is done (BEFORE YOU GO OFF ON ME ABOUT PRIVACY HERE ME OUT DAMNIT), a designated monitor could listen to the message and IF IT IS A TRUE EMERGENCY, pass it on to the phone it was going to go to in the first place.

The phone would vibrate (IT BETTER), and the person recieving will have to get up and go INTO THE LOBBY to be able to listen to the message. Call recieved, and if somebody pulls out their phone and suddenly gets up, nobody will be bitching about it since it must be important.

Now about the privacy, in order to use the theater, you will of course have to agree to let the calls be monitored in order to be passed along. Purchasing a ticket means you agree to this condition. The condition will be printed on the stub. The monitors will be under the same restrictions as postal workers or TTY operators (honor, honesty, all that), so no fear there hopefully.

A little more expensive, but then it would definitely justify the HIGH COST OF FOOD for once.

I wouldn't mind paying it then (stealth snacker here).

 

[Drensch]

We'll never do this. In fact we'll rename cell phones "Freedom Fones!" and make fun of the frogs.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Vive la France!

 

[gofreak]

The first immediate thing I thought of here was "what if there was an emergency?". Like, I mean, a full-on major catastrophe. Fire breaking out, doors not opening type emergency. Or your best friend having a heart attack type emergency. The lights are down, you stumble down the side aisle in the dark to try and get to the door to raise the alarm. Minutes wasted..

 

[Ollie Pooch]

The first immediate thing I thought of here was "what if there was an emergency?". Like, I mean, a full-on major catastrophe. Fire breaking out, doors not opening type emergency. Or your best friend having a heart attack type emergency. The lights are down, you stumble down the side aisle in the dark to try and get to the door to raise the alarm. Minutes wasted..

thats a good idea for a movie!

 

[aoi tsuki]

i'm torn. On one hand, i love the idea for obvious reasons. But on the other, what about people like me who don't even use ringers, just the vibrate feature? If i get a text message, my phone beeps once at the lowest volume and vibrates. i can discretely reply to a text message without anyone knowing. i'd rather have movie security escorting people out of the theater after a warning. i don't want to be penalized because someone else is being inconsiderate.

The next thing they need to work on is kids and infants in movies. Around here, they're more prevalent than people on cell phones.

 

[XS+]

That's a crock of bull, I'd still like to get silent messages and the option to leave the theater if there's something worth talking about at that moment. I think just up and talking on your cell in the theater is totally assholish, but I sure as hell shouldn't have to suffer because of it.

How about having future cellphones with a chip that automatically switches the ringer to vibe when entering quiet zones (theaters, class, meetings etc)? Sounds a lot better than 'controlling the airwaves' and jamming your communications. Is this France or North Korea? Geez.

 

[Felidae_Khrall]

See a much better idea (and probably cheaper) would be to position auto sniper turrets with Celluar tracking in the ceiling. I'll bet nobody would forget to turn off their phone after the first guy did.

*Ring Ring riratataaatatatatattatatatatattttatatatatadialtooonnnnneee*

This way, you're not just preventing the asshole from talking during THIS movie, but any other movie ever again.

 

[SFA_AOK]

Your text messages really can't wait for an hour and a half?

Not to say I can't see times when this would suck - for example a guy goes to the movies and his wife goes into labour. Then again - we survived for many years before mobiles came along

 

[Baron Aloha]

I'd support this if it happened in the states but to be honest...crying babies are MUCH MUCH more of a problem. Its gotten to the point where I can't even go to see a movie anymore without some idiot bringing their crying brat to the theatre. I haven't seen a movie without having to deal with crying kids since before Spiderman 1 came out. Ever since then, no matter what movie I go to see, no matter what time I go to see it, no matter how long the movie has been out...I have this problem. I've gotten a lot of free movies this way because I often complain to management but in the end I'll just end up watching the same movie again but with another crying kid. I'd much rather watch it uninterrupted. Children under 2 should be barred from theatres IMO. They are too young to really watch the movie anyway. If their parents want to go see a movie they need to hire a babysitter. Otherwise, stay home!

 

[Felidae_Khrall]

I'd support this if it happened in the states but to be honest...crying babies are MUCH MUCH more of a problem. Its gotten to the point where I can't even go to see a movie anymore without some idiot bringing their crying brat to the theatre. I haven't seen a movie without having to deal with crying kids since before Spiderman 1 came out. Ever since then, no matter what movie I go to see, no matter what time I go to see it, no matter how long the movie has been out...I have this problem. I've gotten a lot of free movies this way because I often complain to management but in the end I'll just end up watching the same movie again but with another crying kid. I'd much rather watch it uninterrupted. Children under 2 should be barred from theatres IMO.

Solution to this problem: Soundproof garbage bins at the door.

(Hey, someone's gotta collect dead babies for all those jokes)

 

[Mega Man's Electric Sheep]

Has our society really gotten to the point that people can't be away from a phone for a 2 hour movie??????

 

[XS+]

Your text messages really can't wait for an hour and a half?

Not to say I can't see times when this would suck - for example a guy goes to the movies and his wife goes into labour. Then again - we survived for many years before mobiles came along

At the bare minimum, I just want my caller ID to work. And I sure as all hell could do without the government breating down my neck about my mobile phone habits (which is the most ridiculous point of this story imo. After the past two years of rightwingers acting like grade school children, I finally have a decent reason to hate France).

And we survived a helluva long time without electric lights and hot water too, what's your point? I have the freedom to live Ted Kaczynski did but I don't want to.

 

[Willco]

YOU PEOPLE CANNOT READ. WELL, SOME OF YOU. IT SAYS:

"Devedjian specified however that emergency calls and calls made outside theaters and other performance spaces must not be affected."

So EMERGENCY CALLS would get through. I hope those end up costing someone like $14 a minute so people don't start sending "emergency calls" because their girlfriend broke up with them or some stupid shit.

 

[Mega Man's Electric Sheep]

At the bare minimum, I just want my caller ID to work. And I sure as all hell could do without the government breating down my neck about my mobile phone habits (which is the most ridiculous point of this story imo. After the past two years of rightwingers acting like grade school children, I finally have a decent reason to hate France).

And we survived a helluva long time without electric lights and hot water too, what's your point? I have the freedom to live Ted Kaczynski did but I don't want to.

The theatre has the right to institute rules that will benefit the majority of users, i.e. those without cell phones. I think of it no differently than a no smoking policy. Anyone who is so important that they can't go 2 hours without getting a message on their phone is obviously too important to be wasting 2 hours of their life on a movie anyway.

 

[Willco]

I want to be rich so I can start an independent theatre that plays both new releases and genre classics, and institute policies like cell-free zones that block all reception except for emergency calls. And have separate "family friendly" theatres to put all the crying babies and obnoxious 6-year-olds in. And well-trained ushers that escort loud teenagers off the premises.

 

[Brannon]

Anyone who is so important that they can't go 2 hours without getting a message on their phone is obviously too important to be wasting 2 hours of their life on a movie anyway.

Can not be emphasized enough.

 

[XS+]

The theatre has the right to institute rules that will benefit the majority of users, i.e. those without cell phones. I think of it no differently than a no smoking policy. Anyone who is so important that they can't go 2 hours without getting a message on their phone is obviously too important to be wasting 2 hours of their life on a movie anyway.

I'd rather the theater implement those rules than having the government butting in. At least I'd have the option to go to a movie chain with more diplomatic ways around this issue than jamming/regulating communications.

And who cares what I do with my mobile as long as I'm not interrupting anyone else. I practice etiquette and I'm not the problem. So spare me the stupid Dr. Phil impersonation.

 

[SFA_AOK]

"At the bare minimum, I just want my caller ID to work. And I sure as all hell could do without the government breating down my neck about my mobile phone habits (which is the most ridiculous point of this story imo. After the past two years of rightwingers acting like grade school children, I finally have a decent reason to hate France)."

The government (in France's case) is merely allowing cinemas to install these devices - not forcing them to but allowing them to do it. I imagine there's pretty strict regulations regarding blocking such signals. It's not the big bad government saying that cinemas HAVE to install these things

"And we survived a helluva long time without electric lights and hot water too, what's your point? I have the freedom to live Ted Kaczynski did but I don't want to."

I meant to say that people were contactable in an emergency before mobile phones were around. If that doesn't change your rebuttal: then you have a choice at cinemas that do this, do you really need to be contactable for the next 2 hours or can you see a film?

As for your "it's the irresponsible people, not me!" argument... Some people may be bothered by the light from your phone when you're checking it during the movie (these can be noticeable, especially colour screen mobiles). Also, it's not the first time the idiot majority have spoiled it for a minority.

 

[EdLuva]

Cell phones with flashing lights need to be banned from the theater, too.

 

[xsarien]

I wouldn't. What if someone's desperately trying to call me and inform me of something important? What a moronic idea. Besides, cell-phone courtesy has became great in NYC.

If you get a call - with your cell phone obviously on silence or vibrate - and you feel that it's important, do us all a favor and take the call in the lobby.

 

[clipunderground]

I would love for this to happen in the US. At least 70% of the movies I saw this past summer had people talking on phones during the fucking movie. For extended periods of time. They should be shot.

I can't possibly agree more.

 

[XS+]

The government (in France's case) is merely allowing cinemas to install these devices - not forcing them to but allowing them to do it. I imagine there's pretty strict regulations regarding blocking such signals. It's not the big bad government saying that cinemas HAVE to install these things

I reread the article an hour ago and realized it would be no different from the FCC authorizing the same thing in the US.

I meant to say that people were contactable in an emergency before mobile phones were around. If that doesn't change your rebuttal: then you have a choice at cinemas that do this, do you really need to be contactable for the next 2 hours or can you see a film?

Irrelevant.

 

[StoOgE]

Hey, what would happen if you were at the theater 20 years ago and an emergeny happened? You know, the world did exist without people being able to find you 24/7. Someone somewhere would know you were seeing a movie. You call the front desk, and if it is a REAL emergeny they can send someone to go get you. Back when I worked at a theater I had to go grab a kid and tell him his grandfather was in the hospital this very way.

Sure, I would like to know also if something happened to a friend or family member, or some other sort of family emergency.. but at the same time, the odds of that happening to anyone in the theater at any given time is so horribly small (happened once in the 8 months I worked at a theater) that annoying the fuck out of 500 other people because your boy wanted to holla at you or some shit outweighs it. Besides, what exactly could you do about a family emergency? The only possible thing I could think of is being able to race to the bedside of someone dying to get in some last goodbye.. but lets face it, thats the kind of sappy shit that only happens in movies.

You dont NEED your cellphone. The only emergencies you need to know about while in a theater: fire in building, tornado coming, alien attack. The people who work at the theater are better informed on any of these situations (sans alien attack) than your mother 4 states away.

 

[xsarien]

And who cares what I do with my mobile as long as I'm not interrupting anyone else. I practice etiquette and I'm not the problem. So spare me the stupid Dr. Phil impersonation.

If you're speaking on the phone while in the theater, you're not practicing anything but How to Draw the Ire of a Room Filled With People.

 

[Saint Cornelius]

What I'm really tired of is these raincoat-types coming in and throwin' their goans around!

 

[Phoenix]

Another dumb-ass move because people are too afraid/stupid/lazy to enforce policy. Instead of fining people, kicking them out of the theaters, etc. we've gotten to the point where we instead solve the problem with a bazooka. Same thing with people driving with a cellphone. If they are driving dangerously, fine them heavily - but banning is to overstep in stupidity.

Sure 'emergency calls' will get through but if my wife is trying to call me and tell me to meet her at the hospital because she's been in an accident, one of my parents had to be taken to the hospital, or she is going into labor - how will they distinguish that as an emergency call? Most times I turn my phone off completely when I'm in a movie, but if I have to keep it on I leave it on silent vibrate so that people can reach me and I can make a move outside the movie to hear what's important or so I can receive a text message.

So what - I'm supposed to be disconnected because you refuse to enforce policy against some other asshole?

 

[Ecrofirt]

I wish the US would consider jamming the brains of anyone <13 at PG13 and up movies.

Those fuckers talk nonstop. Goddamnit fucking christ.

"Mommy, why is Spiderman dying? Mommy, mommy, mommy! I'm a dirty inconsiderate cuntbag mommy!"

 

[Marty Chinn]

Hey, what would happen if you were at the theater 20 years ago and an emergeny happened? You know, the world did exist without people being able to find you 24/7. Someone somewhere would know you were seeing a movie. You call the front desk, and if it is a REAL emergeny they can send someone to go get you. Back when I worked at a theater I had to go grab a kid and tell him his grandfather was in the hospital this very way.

Sure, I would like to know also if something happened to a friend or family member, or some other sort of family emergency.. but at the same time, the odds of that happening to anyone in the theater at any given time is so horribly small (happened once in the 8 months I worked at a theater) that annoying the fuck out of 500 other people because your boy wanted to holla at you or some shit outweighs it. Besides, what exactly could you do about a family emergency? The only possible thing I could think of is being able to race to the bedside of someone dying to get in some last goodbye.. but lets face it, thats the kind of sappy shit that only happens in movies.

You dont NEED your cellphone. The only emergencies you need to know about while in a theater: fire in building, tornado coming, alien attack. The people who work at the theater are better informed on any of these situations (sans alien attack) than your mother 4 states away.

Just because we dealt with stuff in the past doesn't mean we should revert to it either. We dealt with illness in the past, doesn't mean we should give up penicillin. Ya, I know it's an extreme but there are advantages to a cell phone and because of those advantages it doesn't mean we should revert to the dark ages.

I'm all for phone control in the theater, but I don't like what I hear here because people are right; how do you distinguish an emergency call from a non emergency call? Sure it says they allow it, but it doesn't say how and what they consider an emergency call.

Let's say I'm watching a movie, and my wife goes into labor. I'd like to know about it so that I can be there with her. Worse yet, what if there is a complication, I'd like to be notified so I can rush my ass over there. I would hate to htink I sat in a movie theater and by the time I'm notified, she's dead.

You suggest that they used to call the front lobby, but how are they supposed to call them there when they might not even know I'm at the theater? It takes foresight to know that you're at the theater in order to call the lobby to get me a message. The point of a cell phone is accessibility regardless of where you are without having to know where you are.

 

[xsarien]

You suggest that they used to call the front lobby, but how are they supposed to call them there when they might not even know I'm at the theater? It takes foresight to know that you're at the theater in order to call the lobby to get me a message. The point of a cell phone is accessibility regardless of where you are without having to know where you are.

No, if you're referring to my suggestion, I'm saying that if you feel that you absolutely, positively can't turn your phone off for 2 hours, at least have the common decency to not take the call inside the theater. Get up, go out to the lobby, and talk there to your heart's content.

 

[Ecrofirt]

they should impose fines on anyone whose phone goes off and is not on vibrate. More fines if the fucker talks inside the theater.

 

[Mega Man's Electric Sheep]

"Let's say I'm watching a movie, and my wife goes into labor. I'd like to know about it so that I can be there with her. Worse yet, what if there is a complication, I'd like to be notified so I can rush my ass over there. I would hate to htink I sat in a movie theater and by the time I'm notified, she's dead.

You suggest that they used to call the front lobby, but how are they supposed to call them there when they might not even know I'm at the theater? It takes foresight to know that you're at the theater in order to call the lobby to get me a message. The point of a cell phone is accessibility regardless of where you are without having to know where you are."


If your wife is 9 months pregnant, and you go to a movie without telling your family or friends or WIFE where you are going so they can call the theatre, that's you're irresponsibility. Amazingly, a lot of people go through their lives quite effectively without having a phone with them every second of the day. If you're worried about your hypothetical wife, leave the theatre partway through the movie and call to check on her. Inconvenience yourself, not the people sitting next to you in the theatre.

 

[Dark Kinght Bunny]

and why the hell are you leaving your fitcious bloated wife at home when she's 9 months pregnant?

 

[Ecrofirt]

or you could get a call that your father was in a terrible car accident is in critical condition. Your ass would laugh away at the movie, while your father's ass would die.

how would that feel?

You goddamn phone had better be on vibrate when that call comes in though, or I'll kick your ass and put you in the bed next to your dying daddy.