Etiquette expert Emily Post never had a chance to cover cell phone manners.
With no official book on “civilizing” this relatively new technology, its misuse — particularly with text messaging — in movie theaters has become a point of contention for many.
While people of various ages text message at theaters, the reasons often define a divide along generational lines.
In a theater, silent texting may seem like a safe way to communicate with those outside; however the light the phones emit often disrupts others, many say.
Bill Maston 58, avoids the temptation altogether.
“If I’m in a movie or a restaurant, I turn the phone off,” he said. “It’s almost always disturbing. There is never a need to be involved in someone else’s life.”
Sixteen year-old Seth Daniel of Hixson said another person’s insistent text messaging recently prevented him from enjoying a movie.
“Some kid was texting the whole time,” Seth said. “And it was making us mad. There was a strong light on in front of us. We were kind of like ‘Stop. Stop.’ ”
Fiona Battersby, 16, of Signal Mountain found herself in a similar situation during a recent showing of the film, “The Dark Knight.”
“There was someone in front of me who was texting the whole time, and I wanted to rip their head off.” she said. “If I’m having a conversation with someone, I’m not going to stop because I’m in a movie.”
“I usually do text through the previews,” said Tiffany Vick, 19, of Dalton, Ga. “I’m just texting all the time.”
Though Ms. Vick says she rarely texts during the actual movie, sometimes occasion calls. Ms. Vick says she leaves the phone on in case her mother tries to reach her.
As a frequent movie-goer, Dan Hartmanstorfer, 49, of Kenova, West Va., agrees that texting is a problem.
“With some people, it seems like they’re not even there for the movie,” he said. “They’re there to text.”
Some movie theaters have attempted to thwart the problem with technology. In 2006, John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners in Washington, D.C., said he would challenge the Federal Communications Commission’s block on jamming cell phones at an industry trade show.
While blocking cell phone signals will likely remain illegal, the proposal may come as a testament to just how disruptive texting and other cell phone use can be inside a theater.
