I don’t know about you, but when I pay for a movie theater experience I do not feel the need to be “wired in” to the rest of the world. That’s why I go to the theater instead of just watching a movie at my house.
I am giddy when the lights go down, the curtain goes up, and the previews begin. That lets me know that I am going to be able to escape for approximately 1.5-2 hours into someone and somewhere that is not me, and is not here. The theater is purposely set up in a way that we, as an audience, can escape into the screen.
So when I am ripped away from that screen and that experience because some jackass can’t wait for 2 hours to check their FaceBook status, yes, I get irate! There are people that have gotten their faces bashed in over such things. Not by me (yet), but I have certainly been angry enough to do it.
That little blue screen on your cell phone is not as dim and unobtrusive as you think it is. And the worse part is, the jerk who is texting or updating their status knows that it is as frowned upon as talking during the movie, but they CHOOSE to do it anyway. What, you can’t possibly wait to tell your friends (who are probably sitting beside you) that you are watching this movie?
My biggest fear about all of this however, is that they don’t know. That mega cell phone users and all around “plugged in” society that we live in, has lost all understanding of common courtesy and respect for other people.
I hope that this is not true. I hope that I am not the only person out there who takes great enjoyment in unplugging from the world, eating some popcorn, and just enjoying something for a couple of hours. When I go to the movie theater, I don’t want to think about any responsibilities, or interruptions, or bills to pay, or errands to run. I want, and have the right, to take those 2 hours, to just relax and enjoy some time for me.
So the next time you want to go to the movie theater, pay $8-12 just so you can text your friends and play FarmVille, please just stay home and turn on NetFlix. And let the rest of us have just 2 hours to relax and enjoy the movie that we paid to watch, without interruption.
Thank you.
Geek Peak 