Movie Theater Owners Hope To Jam Up Phone Users
from the this-won't-make-the-films-any-better dept
Actively blocking radio signals is illegal in the US, but a group of movie theater owners plans to petition the FCC for permission to jam cell phone signals in their theaters to try to cut down on rude behavior. While we get annoyed by morons answering their phones during movies as much as anyone, letting theater owners block the signals seems a little bit extreme, as well as tempting a lawsuit from an angry parent when their kid’s babysitter can’t get through to tell them he swallowed some antifreeze. There’s little question that movie theaters need to improve the movie-going experience, but assuming that everybody that comes in with a phone is going to be rude and talk on it during the film isn’t the way to do it. In any case, jamming radio signals is illegal, with good reason, and “to stop rudeness” really isn’t valid justification for making an exception.
Comments on “Movie Theater Owners Hope To Jam Up Phone Users”
No Subject Given
Justification for “needing” to answer cell phone calls in movie theatres is a call from your babysitter? How did people survive before they had cell phones implanted into their heads?
Oh, right they didnt. Children died, people got lost in traffic, and companies closed because those busy executives and super-moms just werent available.
Re: No Subject Given
Not hardly, but if your in a theatre, watching a movie, and your pocket begins to vibrate, you pull out your phone, look @ the display, you see that it’s your home #, or your babysitters cell. So you step out and you take the call or call back.
Or, the babysitter just sent you a text message that you can read and even quickly reply to without disturbing a single other moviegoer.
The fact that you can recieve cell phone calls in the theatre isn’t the problem, the problem is the idiots who *answer* their phones in the theatre.
The most ideal situation would be a signal that all phones were required to obey that would automatically disable their ringers and prevent you from answering incoming calls (though not prevent you from seeing that they are coming in).
Also, jammers are not that discriminate, they are most likely going to have to block entire theatres, if not entire city blocks just to ensure that you phone can’t be answered inside a single small room.
Re: Re: No Subject Given
Perhaps you should check your facts about jammers!!!
Re: No Subject Given
wow. I couldnt agree more. Nobody needs cell phone. life as we know it has been going on and goes on.
Re: Re: No Subject Given
“Nobody needs cell phone. life as we know it has been going on and goes on.”
guess what smart asses, life goes on without cinema theaters as well (if not more). I can’t believe people are addicted to their precious cinema experience so much as to kill our communication in favor of watching a god damn movie.
Re: Re: Re: No Subject Given
Okay first of all, I normally wouldn’t support giving a movie theater chain the ability to block cell phone signals, and it probably will never happen due to emergency responders(firefighters and doctors and such)
With that said I wish they would do it, as people have proven to be too rude and stupid to be trusted to do the polite thing and turn your damn phones off. Seriously, I don’t care if your kid dies, or your mom, or your dog. No one else in the theater gives a shit about you or your so-called “emergency” either, in fact in a more perfect world you would be more concerned about getting your ass kicked for disrupting everyone else’s movie.
Even if it was a real medical emergency, so what? what are you gonna do about it that can’t wait until after the movie? by leaving your phone on in the theater, you’ve already proven that your a disruptive nuisance, so it’s probably best that you weren’t around while the EMT’s or firefighters were handling the emergency as you would probably annoy the shit out of them and make the situation worse.
The right thing for all of you self-important, inconsiderate, cellphone using dickheads would be to turn your phones OFF in the auditorium, and if you were that worried about an emergency, get off your ass, walk out into the lobby and check your messages every 15 minutes or so.
Re: Well I suppose every argument has strengths and we
Complete and utter elimination of cell phone conversations in movie theaters ABSOLUTELY needs to be pursued. If, as one person said, your mother is deathly ill and potentially going to die any moment, and you are so horrendously worried about not being informed of said death, then don’t leave her side until she goes. Simple. Otherwise, recall that death is a part of life, and there’s simply no convenience associated with it. Therefore, if you happen to miss a call on your precious cell phone, (astoundingly) up will not become down, black will not be white, and so on. The world will still turn.
This is not to say, however, that I support blocking. I don’t support it, because of the utter lack of any need for a backbone. Anyone who is too afraid to confront rude customers and eject them from your place of business, has no business running a theater, or any other franchise for that matter. You’re a failure, and you need to pursue a far less complex career.
Also, the stupidity involved is amazing; let’s pay thousands and thousands of dollars for permits and equipment to block cell phone signals, when we could pay less money to hire someone brave enough to tell people to leave when necessary. Absolutely asinine.
And for those of you who assume I don’t own a cell phone, you should know that I’m a particularly involved Computer Science major who is regularly in the presence of the most high tech equipment the general populous has never seen. However, when I go to my parents’ place for 3 months each year, I have no computer, and no cell reception for the entire stay.
So yes, life can exist without high tech toys. And in all honesty, I prefer those 3 months to the rest of the year. I only put up with technology because of the ridiculous amounts of money involved if you manipulate the right people.
Re: Re: Well I suppose every argument has strengths an
Jam them. Backbone may get you shot these days or at the least assaulted. Often times it’s a bit more complicated than simply asking someone to leave.
Besides, even if the theater manager/employee confronts an unruly cell user, you still have a major distraction on your hands. Better to jam the stupid phones quietly. Being incommunicado for 90 minutes won’t kill you.
good!
this is actually something I support. people being incosiderate and talking on their phones throughout the entire duration of the movie (not exaggerating) is a big reason why I’ve stopped going to the movies.
No Subject Given
I’m a theatre owner. As much as I would like to see this happen, I also see the importance of a emergency call. If you start jamming signals for us, then who else do you jam them for. Our policy is “No cell phone use in the auditorium. Silence your ringers or vibrate only. Go to the lobby to answer your call. Strike 1 and you are out” We advertise this policy on our pre-show ads. Since we started enforcing it we have only had to ask 2 people to leave. Education. !
Re: No Subject Given
OK.. Fair enough.. that seems the logical thing to do.. but now that i have the attention of a theater owner…lets talk about the 30 minutes of commmercials you make me watch before the movie..That is just as annoying. You wonder why your business is dying? duh.. For your information, at ten bucks a seat, I am your sponsor for the movie im watching. If you don’t get this I won’t be coming back.
Re: Re: No Subject Given
Sorry,
We dont charge $ 10.00 a head our’s is $ 6.00. We dont force you to watch any commericals. We limit the number of previews to 3. All our ads and policys are shown prior to the start time of the movies on our pre-show. And we don’t soak you for concessions either. Our business is good.
No Subject Given
Go for it. More public establishments should do it whether it’s legal or not. I also say they put up a gallows in the lobby, and just hang the violators. Let them talk on their phone then!
no need to jam
One of the movie theater chains in my area uses passive RF blocking wallboard (like that used in military Tempest type applications). It’s pretty cool; I’ll have 5 bars on my cell phone and it drops to “no service” in the span of just a few feet after entering. All of the theaters are covered. The manager said that it cost more than “active” (illegal) rf jamming equipment on the grey market, but is perfectly legal.
Re: no need to jam
That’s a nice idea. I think that the theatre’s themselves should just pay the extra and buy this instead of going through courts and such.
Re: Re: no need to jam
Well, it’s a business risk. My wife and I would not attend a movie at a theater with passive or active blocking technology. Not ever.
I won’t risk an emergency with my children for the sake of, well, you.
Re: Re: Re: no need to jam
Like any situation, this has its pros and cons. It’s hard for me to support it but hard for me not, so I suppose I’m neutral.
911 can always be called in case of an emergency but naturally a babysitter will be distressed if she or he can’t reach the parents and the parents would always expect a call in case of emergency.
Why not allow enough signal to get a ring in a theatre but not an actual ongoing conversation without leaving the auditorium or such? Is that possible?
Re: Re: Re:2 no need to jam
No, not really. There’s a fine line between enough reception to get a call and enough to talk. Often times it’s all or nothing, and especially with all the different providers, there’s no way that will work.
Re: Re: Re: no need to jam
Whatever did you do before cell phones? Never let your kid leave your side? If you can’t stand to have the sitter just leave a message, then don’t go to movies – that’s what DVDs and rental stores are for.
Jamming is not the answer though, as it generally works by disabling all cell towers in the vicinity. This should definitely remain illegal. Passive jamming is what the theatres should be using. They can apply some of that way overpriced popcorn money they get to doing it right.
Re: Re: Re:2 no need to jam
Jamming does not work by DISABLING cell phone towers, please do not post false information.
Re: Re: Re:3 no need to jam
I stopped going to the movies a long, long time ago. I truly loved movies but I could not enjoy them.
Cellphones are a problem but people use them in the theater because they are rude. this rudeness also allows them to chat and otherwise distract and annoy the other patrons.
Its a sign cultural decline. We’re politically correct but uncivil.
Re: Re: Re: no need to jam
Inconsiderate SOB comes to mind.. then YOU should pay for my ticket if YOUR f***in’ phone rings…or better yet.. stay yer ass at home.. business risk my ass. It’s entertainment.. Rude bastards like you make the rest of us miserable.
Re: Re: Re: no need to jam
Then stay home or pay me the price of my ticket if your phone rings. What a moron. And its supposed to be entertainment.
Re: no need to jam
Yeah, baby!
Where do I get some of that!!! I’d gladly pay a little extra for the silence. People really are too rude to care who they’re interrupting. Every single time I’ve encountered people talking on their cellphones during a show, it was a teenager obviously on with a friend, not a heart surgeon (they DO have backup, you know!)
Every theater should have this!!!
Re: Re: no need to jam
This is just one part of a larger problem. People are rude at movie theaters. If they couldn’t get a phone call, they’d be talking or kicking my chair, etc.
I think the only answer is what the movie theater owner said. Enforce consideration. Any violation gets you kicked out of the movie.
Movie goers
I would allow this jamming device only if… They reduce the price of going to these movie theatres. You wont see me going to the movies especially paying $10.50 for a premier.
...right
cell phones should be a convenience, NOT a necessity. people who NEED to have a cell phone should get a life. i work at a small town movie theater and i find it extremly anoying when people talk on the phone. unfortunatally my boss does not give me athority to throw people out of the theater (because i would gladly do so) but just telling people doesn’t work. they just keep doing it again. if this were legal, i would climb up the wall and install jamming devices myself. i hope the fcc says yes.
I agree with it
I say go for like some others, Im paying for a movie and Im sick of stupid ass phones “and cryng kids” ban phones and ban kids…If there is an emergency , call the theater , or for that matter call 911 idiots…what? your kid smashes the head on the tile floor and you are gonna call the mom and dad , WTF for they cant do shit anyways , you call 911 foolios. If there was not a problem, then these devices would not excist , but it is and they do…so use them.
scuz me I got to answer my cell
Re: I agree with it
I’m pissed by the ass hats that call OUT on their cells as well as take incoming calls. I paid a big chunk of money to see a movie, and I expect to be able to enjoy it without the interuption of someone (usually a worthless POS) who thinks they are of vital importance to the world and can not cut off communications with the outside world for the time it takes to WATCH a movie. Let’s find technology that makes the phones explode!
Faraday Cage?
My knowledge of the physics might be faulty, but if a room is lined with a wire mesh, aren’t all electromagnetic signals into it blocked? It seems that a theater, with all the soundproofing insulation and stuff they put on the walls, could easily be constructed to block signals.
Is that sort of interference illegal? It’s purely passive.
No Subject Given
I agree with the theater owner that education and enforcement would be the best way to go, BUT most theaters have no one monitoring what is going on during the film. People taking calls in the theater was the last straw for me. It’s un-f’ing-believable! I stopped going to the theater 2 years ago.
Don't allow Signal Jamming, Signal Blocking is alr
I don’t know the details about possibly building faraday cages around each theater, or putting up lead paint that blocks signals. Either of those should be entirely legal ways currently of blocking the radio signals that cell phones use. The idea of a theater blocking signals by transmitting other signals bothers me, because it means that your cell phone wouldn’t work if you were in the lobby, or perhaps outside waiting for your friend to arrive.
Theatres' Jamming Cell Phones
I see no problem with jamming. What did we do before cell phones? Not being reached by the babysitter was common. That’s why you called before and after the movie at the pay phone. If you can’t be out of touch that bad, you shouldn’t have left the house.
If the Theaters are so Interested in the customers
If the Theaters are so Interested in not annoying the customers, get rid of all the commercials before the show. I’m tired of getting to a show early enough to get a seat and then being forced to watch 20 minutes of commercials after the shows advertised start time.
No Subject Given
Why jam cell phone signals? That’s throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Just pay security to remove rude customers without a refund. That should settle it.
Ridiculous!
Cellphone – $250
Movie tickets for 2 – $20
Popcorn and Drink for 2 – Another $20
Having your cellphone blocked as your mother tries to call you from the scene of an accident while dieing…. priceless.
First of all, technology exists to allow phone makers a second option, vibrate-only zones. This has already been tested for places such as restaraunts and theaters. So, a complete blackout is obsurd. Easier yet, just tell people to use vibrate-only, and to exit the theater area to talk… or be kicked out.
Second, if a close family member of mine was in an accident, I’d like to at least feel my phone vibrate with a text message telling me they are in the hospital. You can bet people start getting pretty damn upset if they started losing emergency calls.
And, god forbid on-call doctors, emt’s, firemen, or police go to watch a movie (or eat at restaraunts that will undoubtedly follow suit if this goes through)!
Label this story as Yet-Another-Reason-to-Stay-Home-And-Watch-DVDs. Thanks, but no thanks, the **AA’s have enough control over our lives. I’m someone who uses their cellphone once/twice daily, and is mostly for emergency purposes and web-surfing while I stand outside in the snow having a smoke. They can come get my cell phone from my cold dead hands!
Get one of these!!
I got one of these about a year ago, and I love it.
http://www.globalgadgetuk.com/Personal.htm
No Subject Given
please stop using the, “what did people do before cell phones” argument. It is old and invalid.
Thats like saying we should ban cars cause hey, “what did we do before cars? we survived, we dont need em”
Times have changed, cell phones or some type of communication device is here to stay. Granted, the babysitter should call 911 first, if i was a parent, I would want to know that my child is in the hospital.
Forget the babysitter, how about your own mother? She has a heart attack and is in critical condition in the hospital and she isnt going to make it thru the night. Someone is trying to call you to let you know so that you can be with your mother in her last hours, but they cant get thru to you because of the blocking. Is it really worth it? Is having a ring-free movie experience worth the risk of not being able to tell your mom goodbye and that you love her? I dont think so.
Simple solution like one of the movie managers here already implements is one strike and your out. If your cell phone makes an audible ring during the movie, you will be asked to leave, simple as that. Would that really be that hard to implement? And guess what, it costs the theatre ZERO dollars to implement this.
Usher
Theatres don’t need Faraday cages, or jamming devices. What they need is a public that is not afraid to rebuke those who ruin the experience for others. Unfortunately, noone seems to have the balls for that these days.
I say bring back the theatre usher. They can act as the “uber peer”, and provide the needed social conscience that has as of lately vanished.
What exactally is blocked by the jammer?
Firstly, would the jammer just block the conversation, or the notification of call? Cell phones have a control frequency which is used to tell cell phones they are receiving a call, and which tells them which frequency to use. If one was selective enough, they could block cell phones so that one would be notified of a call, but unable to answer the phone while in the theatre, so they would have to get up and leave the theatre before figuring out what the call was about.
Secondly, if we are going to block cell phones in theatres, why not also install jammers in cars. Safety is a lot more important than customer satisfaction; I would rather prevent people from talking on their cell phones while driving than sit in a theatre without rings. At least in the theatre I know some soccer mom isn’t going to kill me with her minivan!
Finally, if someone is in an emergency, I hope they don?t waste time calling parents, or whoever is in the theatre as that is useless. Call the Paramedics or whoever.
Fuck Cell Phones!
One final thing, most of the jerks who talk on cell phones in theatres are airhead tweens, and business people who recieve a business call, but this is just what i have observed attending the type of movies i go to.
WELL...
In my school hall somehow there is no reception so there should be a way of “jamming the signal” without breaking any law but it would probably cost a lot (forgot what type of material blocks it)
Eithier way I support it.
v
Once this problem was so bad, with everyone around the offenders shushing them and groaning and sighing, and people consistently asking them to be quiet, I threatened them with a barrage of profanity and violence and I was prepared to back it up. It was all quiet after that. After the movie, people actually congratulated and thanked me. I hated to do it and I didn’t feel good about it, for personal reasons I won’t mention but that’s the alternative we’re getting left with?? I used to love going to the movies, even with the outrageous prices, for the audio and visual experience. But it is fast becoming extinct like the drive in because people overestimate what they have the right to do in a public place. Their right to a cell phone (and lack of etiquette and rudeness) is messing up an experience I paid good money for and they don’t have the right to ruin other’s moviegoing experience.
FYI, when I have to have my phone on, I #1, put it on vibrate. #2 if I have to take the call, I get up and walk out of the theatre.
blocking signals
I’ll just say it like this. If some company owner blocked a signal of my cell phone and that call happened to be an emergency, I would not sue him. I’d track him down and personally beat him to within an inch of his life. take his cell phone crush it, and hand it back to him and let him know how it feels to be out of contact during an emergency. If this seems violent and extreme to you…… GOOD maybe it will wake you up and perhaps you will realize that there are more important things in life than a little distrubance in a movie theater.
Theater owners are opening yourselves up for lawsuits and if that doesn’t work, people will take matters into their own hands. I for one will do more than just talk about freedom… I will fight for it like my forefathers.
Leqave signal blocking to the places it needs to be, where top secret information has to be guarded. I feel sorry for any of you owners the first time a federal agent has to make a call concerning national security and can’t get through. I really do
Now don’t get me wrong. i am a very polite person. I can get very very rude when i see my rights being violated because you know what….. the courts and people in this country are to pussy-whipped to stand up for freedom any more.
I would never use a cell phone in a situation like a theather unless it was an emergency. However I had damn well better be able to do so if necessary or some one will pay and pay a lot for that prevention.
Re: blocking signals
“MY RIGHTS”!! What an ignorant, self-serving whine fest. Is it really your right to receive a cell phone call at the expense of the rest of the people around you? On what grounds do you think that theater owners should be sued for this? You mistake “freedom” for the complete desire to do anything you want at the expense of others. Somehow I don’t think your forefathers meant for the 9th Amendment to relate to your cell phone usage. Don’t go to the damn movies if you’re that concerned of an emergency call – you’re not the only one there.
Another voice in support of jamming
I also support the rights of private locations to enact jamming on their premises, if they so desire. Maybe it would be better to simply stand at the door and inform people that they are not permitted to have active cellpones in the theater. Unfortunately, too many people think that it is their right to ignore your establishment’s rules.
Everyone has a choice as to whether they want to enter or not – if you miss “an emergency call” because you were asked to turn off your cellphone, that is your problem; you could just as easily have not patronized an establishment that asks you to turn it off.
As far as it being too late to argue that we used to live without cellphones, but now they are a necessity, I say “poo”. If you live paralyzed in fear twenty-four hours a day that you might miss an emergency call, don’t go out. When people have emergencies they are supposed to contact the authorities, not your cellphone. And, if you are purposely going to a place when you will not be reachable by cellphone, you have to leave instructions for someone else to deal with the emergency who will be available.
In the meantime, those of us who have been suffering from rude noisy people will finally have places to go where silence is enforced; that is our right, and our choice, as well.
Yehuda
Cell Phone Blocking
While at a movie I watched a man have a heart attack. While several people tried to find someone to turn on the lights and get help, half a dozen cell phones were calling 911. Before management even made it into the theater, paramedics were already at the door. Using your cell phone, or just talking for that matter, in a theater is rude and unnecessary. Blocking cell phones is dangerous and anyone who thinks it is a good idea needs to re-evaluate their position.
Can't believe you guys
Honestly what am I hearing here.
Let’s just weigh in the worst thast can happen in both cases:
– if someone rude is present in the theater he might talk and annoy you
versus
– if the phone is jammed you’ll be unable to take emergency/urgent call or make one.
True that cellphones didn’t change the world overnight when they were invented, but now that we DO have them, the other people rely on this communication.
If you need to take an urgent message but you’re in a phone-jammed cinema hall, how would you explain this to your kids/parents/friends? “Sorry been at the movies, not a care in the world except keeping quiet during the movie”.
It’s embarassing.
Plus DVD rent/purchase has always been a lot better experience to me. Obsession with “bigger is better” just doesn’t hold ground anymore.
Technically you stay closer to your TV/projector and the room is smaller for the speaker system you have, so you should be getting same if not better experience out of your modest home cinema setup.
No Subject Given
There’s a few times I remember, but this one was the worst. This group of 5 or 6 collage kids at a movie that I haven’t seen before were talking, drinking beer, using their cell phones, and getting up every 2 minutes to go have a smoke or piss. Much less to say, 5 mins into the actual movie, the police showed up to escort them out. Much less to say, Everybody else in the theater was given a free pass to their next movie.
No Subject Given
Two years ago I was in a movie theater when my cell phone went off, I walked outside to take the call and found out my father was about to die. I barely made it to the hospital in time to see him before he passed away. This is ridiculous, which is probably why the FCC will allow it to happen.
Middle Ground
About a year ago there was some talk of a “courtesy mode” as a new standard in cell phones. If your phone was in “courtesy mode” it would automatically switch from ring to vibrate in the presence of a courtsey signal. Then theaters, churches, etc. could transmit this signal and at least stop phones from ringing.
Cell phone jamming at movie theaters
I think the answer is pretty simple. Post a sign at the movie theater entrance that states those who use their cell phones in a theatre during a picture will be asked to leave. If its an emergency call from the babysitter Im sure they wouldnt be hanging around for the end of the movie, anyway. But if its Joe Shmoe telling his buddies on the cell what the movie is about he can do that from the street after he’s shown the door.
out of their bounds?
people using their cellphones does suck. But you can ask em to take the call outside or somethin. Since most cellphones used inside a theatre area have horrible reception, anyway.
A bigger problem
Why don’t they work on jamming up stupid people talking during the movie? That is a much bigger problem than cell phones. I would gladly pay an extra $0.50 per ticket to have an employee sitting through every screening (the extra money would more than pay for their hourly wage) and kicking people out of the theater who chat during the movie.
No Subject Given
The idea of disabling cell phone traffic in theaters is apalling. Let’s stop trying to cram manners down peoples’ throats. It’s your right to be a rude, talkative jackass in a theater.
Theater operators, it is your right to remove rude, talkative jackasses from your theater… How about you all make it a rule that people that make excessive noise in theaters be removed without hesitation? I bet a rent-a-cop would be cheaper than jamming technology or a faraday cage.
Besides, if you start to jam the signal(s), you’re bound to get escalation. You get a jammer, jerks get a stronger signal, then you get a stronger jammer, then I switch to microwave transmission…
Great!! I am glad to see that technology will once again make our lives better.I am sick and tired of inconsiderate dumbasses that live with their cell phones glued to their faces.You don’t need to live with the phone attatched to you 24/7 and the people that think they need to do ths just want to feel important.
This is the cause of a lot of irritating public behavior such as the people who get on it while driving and can’t seem to go the posted speed,thus making you late for work.Also the rude loud cell phone talker who breaks your eardrums while screaming into their phone wherever they are.Popel use cell phones in front of others mostly to get attention because it is a status symbol,not because the user is a rich, powerful business person that must be in touch with their empire at all times.Most cell phone conversations are BS,not business,and certainly not necessary.
As far as theatres go I applaud the technology and I think that if you cannot go 2-3 hours without your cell phone to connect you to anyone and everyone,then you need to stay home and be a shut-in with your phone.
If being connected means so much,then don’t leave your kid’s side,ever.Don’t go anywhere if your noisy kids are not welcome.Stay home instead of annoying everyone else with your damned cellphone and rude, noisy kids.If your kids are rude noisy apes,chances are you are too, and you need to stay out of public areas too.Rent DVDs and give the rest of us (the majority that get annoyed with you and your entorage)some peace and quiet.
People go to the movies to relax and escape.Get a clue,rude asses! Don’t bring along your ill-behaved pets,ignorant kids and noisy cellphones to public areas.Stay home for the good of mankind!
cell phone
The owner should have the right to block the cells if he can do it as not to block the cells out side the theater. I would think a way to block in side his theater would be out there. He could always impond the phone a kick the rude people out( with out a refund) after all he ownes the place, has he and the others who pay to see and hear a show anyrights. What do the RUDE people do a few yaers ago when cell phones were not around and people think that thay will not live if the cell phone is not in there ear.
no need to jam
A bit extreme.
Movie goers
What’s the connection?
Too Funny!
Laughing my ass off at this whole comment page.
I don’t think Techdirt had the Identicons back in 2005, but looking back now you can see that 90% of these comments are from the same IP address.
This person’s head must be more crowded than Sybil’s with all those different personas and conversations in there.
no need to jam
then dont go