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DC, it is about the business being clear on their policy before people choose to patronize it. If a written policy states no cell phone use in the auditorium, that is what a customer should expect. If not, then you get conflicts that can lead to bigger problems like this one in Florida.
The texting not stopping after the lights go down is something I have observed, as well as people using cell phones on planes and not wanting to stop once they are already in use, even after being told to shut them off. Why should everyone have to listen to ushers and flight attendants have to run around correcting and disciplining grown adults who don't respect the rules or anyone around them.
This is all about trying to avoid conflict, which is what we all hopefully want.
I appreciate your point of view.
I just think it's important to understand that Mr Oulsen didn't feel entitled to break the rules. He felt entitled to do what everyone else does. It is commonplace and usual for people to use the time before a movie starts to do things like check their messages. And frankly, it is incomprehensible that someone's texting is more disruptive and irritating than people bumping your head and seat while they try to get settled into their own, or little Tommy spilling his Coke and his mother telling the people below, "Feet up, sticky mess heading down", or Mr Reeves' son evidently planning on coming in after the movie starts, and people having to stand up or shift around in their seats so that he can sit next to his parents. It is commonplace to see people using their cell phones in the theater BEFORE the movie starts. It is NORMAL. And it's actually very considerate for people to text, keeping their conversation silent and private, rather than actually making a phone call.
And I think it's important to point out that Mr Reeves' irritation isn't because the texting was so distracting. Mr Reeves' irritation was because the breaking of rules was so distracting to him. Never mind that he himself was breaking the rules by carrying a gun into the theater. When people are irritated over other people breaking rules, and not by the action per se, that's a control issue. It's not about how rude Mr Oulsen was, it's about Mr Reeves need to control his environment. And I understand that. Mr Reeves was a man who was accustomed to controlling his environment. It was part of who he was. I suspect it was a key part of his identity. But even the most controlling of us need to pause sometimes, take a deep breath, and understand that we can't always be in control. Mr Reeves was infuriated about that. IN A FURY. This was a pet peeve of his, evidently. And it sent him over the edge. But it cost Mr Oulsen his life. And that's simply ridiculous.
I just think it's important to understand that Mr Oulsen didn't feel entitled to break the rules. He felt entitled to do what everyone else does. It is commonplace and usual for people to use the time before a movie starts to do things like check their messages. And frankly, it is incomprehensible that someone's texting is more disruptive and irritating than people bumping your head and seat while they try to get settled into their own, or little Tommy spilling his Coke and his mother telling the people below, "Feet up, sticky mess heading down", or Mr Reeves' son evidently planning on coming in after the movie starts, and people having to stand up or shift around in their seats so that he can sit next to his parents. It is commonplace to see people using their cell phones in the theater BEFORE the movie starts. It is NORMAL. And it's actually very considerate for people to text, keeping their conversation silent and private, rather than actually making a phone call.
And I think it's important to point out that Mr Reeves' irritation isn't because the texting was so distracting. Mr Reeves' irritation was because the breaking of rules was so distracting to him. Never mind that he himself was breaking the rules by carrying a gun into the theater. When people are irritated over other people breaking rules, and not by the action per se, that's a control issue. It's not about how rude Mr Oulsen was, it's about Mr Reeves need to control his environment. And I understand that. Mr Reeves was a man who was accustomed to controlling his environment. It was part of who he was. I suspect it was a key part of his identity. But even the most controlling of us need to pause sometimes, take a deep breath, and understand that we can't always be in control. Mr Reeves was infuriated about that. IN A FURY. This was a pet peeve of his, evidently. And it sent him over the edge. But it cost Mr Oulsen his life. And that's simply ridiculous.
This, exactly. When my daughter's first grade classmates (usually very indignantly) try to correct each other for breaking the rules, her teacher tells them "You are not in charge of So and So. You are not the boss of anyone but yourself, thank you".
Mr Reeves was not the boss of Mr Oulsen. Telling the manager is sufficient. If nothing is done, then his beef is with the establishment. It was not up to him to enforce the rules.
This, exactly. When my daughter's first grade classmates (usually very indignantly) try to correct each other for breaking the rules, her teacher tells them "You are not in charge of So and So. You are not the boss of anyone but yourself, thank you".
Mr Reeves was not the boss of Mr Oulsen. Telling the manager is sufficient. If nothing is done, then his beef is with the establishment. It was not up to him to enforce the rules.
Your theater hasn't existed since well before the advent of cel-phones and texting. Curtain? Are you being serious? They abandoned the curtain when too many motor driven articles in theaters could fail and disrupt the viewing pleasure and timing. No one noticed the absence of the curtain.
The lights don't go down until a good twenty minutes of previews and announcements then they partially dim while the warning about cel-phone use and other disruptive behaviour, then the leaders to the main feature starts with louder volume so that those later arriving patrons still walking up the ramps and climbing loge stairways get the message to hurry up and get seated, THEN and only then do the lights go to full dim.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge
Your theater must be lovely. I haven't seen a movie curtain in about twenty years. And at the theaters I go to, which include a Cobb, the lights are up while they play commercials, then the lights go to half-power during the previews, then they play the message about shutting off your phone (lights still on but dim, because it tends to be easier to shut off your phone when you can see it), then the lights go down except for the runners along the main aisles, and the exit lights, and the movie starts.
Ok, I stand corrected about the curtain. Most of my movie-going experience is from many years ago when movies were better and people were more considerate. I've probably gone to a theater a half dozen times in the last 10 years and I walked out of the last one I went to. It will take an extraordinary film to ever get me back.
So yes, now that I think about it, I haven't seen curtains lately. How easy it is forget the very forgettable movie experiences of recent years. But those from watching great films at iconic theaters like Omaha's sadly gone Indian Hills Cinerama are with me for life.
But this discussion is hardly about curtains or other trivia and my contention still stands. Cell phones should be off and people should be in their seats and quiet at the movie's scheduled start time. I don't care how many previews come before the feature, it is still annoying to have people still filing in, talking, walking in front of you, etc., etc. etc. Cell phone use is especially aggravating if there is a clearly posted prohibition of them.
The shooter should not have brought his gun to the theater, but he had every right and reason to be aggravated....and to verbally challenge the 43 year old adolescent.
Can't believe there are some here still defending this man.
This killer will never have a moment's peace. If only he had left his firearm at home, he wouldn't have killed and had prison as his future home. If only.
DC, it is about the business being clear on their policy before people choose to patronize it. If a written policy states no cell phone use in the auditorium, that is what a customer should expect. If not, then you get conflicts that can lead to bigger problems like this one in Florida.
The texting not stopping after the lights go down is something I have observed, as well as people using cell phones on planes and not wanting to stop once they are already in use, even after being told to shut them off. Why should everyone have to listen to ushers and flight attendants have to run around correcting and disciplining grown adults who don't respect the rules or anyone around them.
This is all about trying to avoid conflict, which is what we all hopefully want.
Ok, I stand corrected about the curtain. Most of my movie-going experience is from many years ago when movies were better and people were more considerate. I've probably gone to a theater a half dozen times in the last 10 years and I walked out of the last one I went to. It will take an extraordinary film to ever get me back.
So yes, now that I think about it, I haven't seen curtains lately. How easy it is forget the very forgettable movie experiences of recent years. But those from watching great films at iconic theaters like Omaha's sadly gone Indian Hills Cinerama are with me for life.
But this discussion is hardly about curtains or other trivia and my contention still stands. Cell phones should be off and people should be in their seats and quiet at the movie's scheduled start time. I don't care how many previews come before the feature, it is still annoying to have people still filing in, talking, walking in front of you, etc., etc. etc. Cell phone use is especially aggravating if there is a clearly posted prohibition of them.
The shooter should not have brought his gun to the theater, but he had every right and reason to be aggravated....and to verbally challenge the 43 year old adolescent.
I'm sorry you are disappointed by the quality of current movies. I've enjoyed many extraordinary films over the years, even recently. But I'm a big (HUGE) fan of old movies, too.
And you're right, that this discussion isn't about curtains or other trivia. I agree, cell phones should be off and people should be in their seats and quiet when the movie begins. But the commercials and previews are intended to give people time to file in and get settled. And part of getting settled today, when so many of us are wired to technology, is to get disconnected from that technology. Sending messages, and checking messages is part of that disconnect process. And I will point out again, Mr Reeves' son was going to be one of those people who arrive late and aren't in their seats when the movie starts, who disrupts the show for everyone else.
I'm sorry, times have changed. Mr Oulsen wasn't acting like a 43-year-old adolescent at all. He was acting like a father, checking on his daughter, before he would be unreachable for a couple of hours, letting the babysitter know which theater he and his wife were at, what movie auditorium they were in, how long they would be. Parents have done this forever. The difference is that they used to line up at the payphone in the theater lobby. That payphone is GONE. It's not there anymore. Because cell phones have become a fundamental part of our lives.
Ok, I stand corrected about the curtain. Most of my movie-going experience is from many years ago when movies were better and people were more considerate. I've probably gone to a theater a half dozen times in the last 10 years and I walked out of the last one I went to. It will take an extraordinary film to ever get me back.
So yes, now that I think about it, I haven't seen curtains lately. How easy it is forget the very forgettable movie experiences of recent years. But those from watching great films at iconic theaters like Omaha's sadly gone Indian Hills Cinerama are with me for life.
But this discussion is hardly about curtains or other trivia and my contention still stands. Cell phones should be off and people should be in their seats and quiet at the movie's scheduled start time. I don't care how many previews come before the feature, it is still annoying to have people still filing in, talking, walking in front of you, etc., etc. etc. Cell phone use is especially aggravating if there is a clearly posted prohibition of them.
The shooter should not have brought his gun to the theater, but he had every right and reason to be aggravated....and to verbally challenge the 43 year old adolescent.
How about getting up and changing seats? It was a Monday matinee and theater was empty.
Or since the film hadn't started yet wait and see if the person continues texting?
Many times you get people who talk amongst themselves while the previews are being shown, but quiet down once the movie starts. If they don't quiet down than you can say something.
There were other options.
We can't control the behavior of others. But you can control your role in that situation.
It's like driving, you have someone around you doing something stupid, you get away from them as soon as you can.
Ok, I stand corrected about the curtain. Most of my movie-going experience is from many years ago when movies were better and people were more considerate. I've probably gone to a theater a half dozen times in the last 10 years and I walked out of the last one I went to. It will take an extraordinary film to ever get me back.
So yes, now that I think about it, I haven't seen curtains lately. How easy it is forget the very forgettable movie experiences of recent years. But those from watching great films at iconic theaters like Omaha's sadly gone Indian Hills Cinerama are with me for life.
But this discussion is hardly about curtains or other trivia and my contention still stands. Cell phones should be off and people should be in their seats and quiet at the movie's scheduled start time. I don't care how many previews come before the feature, it is still annoying to have people still filing in, talking, walking in front of you, etc., etc. etc. Cell phone use is especially aggravating if there is a clearly posted prohibition of them.
The shooter should not have brought his gun to the theater, but he had every right and reason to be aggravated....and to verbally challenge the 43 year old adolescent.
We'll just have to agree to disagree over this one aspect of timing of use of cel-phone, bathroom going kiddie settling, coat removal, etc..
There is a reason why they leave the lights turned up until just before the start of the main feature and if you are not distracted by those lights being brighter or all of the other stuff to the point of complaining then certainly, silent texting should not bother you either.
Way, way back in the time of yore when everyone seems to characterize it as a more polite time. It was not uncommon to have an usher with a flashlight escort late-comers to their seats AFTER the feature movie had already started and I don't recall ever hearing a "Dudley-Do-Right" kvetching about it and certainly no one ever got shot for it.
Had anyone ever taken that much umbrage to the point of getting in someone's ear over something and then getting the expected response from another adult, all those "polite" people would have chorused "take it outside you two" in unison.
Can't believe there are some here still defending this man.
This killer will never have a moment's peace. If only he had left his firearm at home, he wouldn't have killed and had prison as his future home. If only.
He did not shoot the guy because he brought is firearm to a movie theater. He shot the guy because he was angry and in my opinion, either could not control it and/or had absolutely nothing left to live for. If it is the latter, then he would have gone off on the next person that agitated him.
The rare times I frequent a movie theater, I am armed. I have not shot nor plan to shoot anyone in the future.
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