As I waited for the MARC train to depart Union Station, I read an article in the Washington Post Express about theaters having to crack down on movie goers because they are using their smart phones, cell phones, tablets, etc. while they are watching the movie. If I wrote the article, I would ask “do these folks really think they can do two things at the same time?” Or why do I always end up in front of the guy who puts his knee in the back of the seat?” Instead, Christy Lemire asks “why must we talk, text and tweet in the middle of a movie? And, what can theaters do to stop this erosion of cinema civility?”
As to why, she briefly mentions generational differences and as to how, she refers us to Rotten Tomatoes’ “10 Commandments for Movie Audiences”.
I don’t think the cause of decreasing civility is as simple as a gap in generations. My elderly friends act like they were born with a cell phone sticking out of their ear just like the neighborhood teens. What’s different now is communication is predominantly electronic. Communicating through something creates an emotional distance between the speaker and the hearer. Emotional distance increases insensitivity towards others.
The other culprit is our national obsession with instant information, easily translated to instant gratification. One fine day this obsession will do us in. All that needs to happen is for an entire power grid to go down and the electronic-device zombies will stare at their dead electronic “friends” in a panic.
My personal and professional experiences tell me that enforcing move theater civility is a tough order to fill. May the force be with them.
As to why, she briefly mentions generational differences and as to how, she refers us to Rotten Tomatoes’ “10 Commandments for Movie Audiences”.
I don’t think the cause of decreasing civility is as simple as a gap in generations. My elderly friends act like they were born with a cell phone sticking out of their ear just like the neighborhood teens. What’s different now is communication is predominantly electronic. Communicating through something creates an emotional distance between the speaker and the hearer. Emotional distance increases insensitivity towards others.
The other culprit is our national obsession with instant information, easily translated to instant gratification. One fine day this obsession will do us in. All that needs to happen is for an entire power grid to go down and the electronic-device zombies will stare at their dead electronic “friends” in a panic.
My personal and professional experiences tell me that enforcing move theater civility is a tough order to fill. May the force be with them.
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