02-14-2003, 12:57 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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New York Bans Mobiles in Theaters
"After banning smoking in bars and restaurants, New York is tackling what many see as another major public annoyance.
From April, requests to switch off your mobile phone before a play or concert begins will be backed up with the threat of a $50 fine."
Being an occasional theater/concertgoer myself, I can appreciate this. Ringing phones, especially during a classical concert or Broadway play, are quite annoying. And if you can't set your phone to vibrate, you deserve to suffer.  However, is this the best way to enforce it?
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02-14-2003, 12:58 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 68
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Re: New York Bans Mobiles in Theaters
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
Being an occasional theater/concertgoer myself, I can appreciate this. Ringing phones, especially during a classical concert or Broadway play, are quite annoying. And if you can't set your phone to vibrate, you deserve to suffer. However, is this the best way to enforce it? |
I don't think it is. First of all, I almost always turn it off myself. But I've also forgotten to do so. Is that a crime worth $50? Don't think so.
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02-14-2003, 01:22 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 130
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Re: New York Bans Mobiles in Theaters
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Originally Posted by malcolmsharp
I don't think it is. First of all, I almost always turn it off myself. But I've also forgotten to do so. Is that a crime worth $50? Don't think so.
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I personally consider piercing phone rings to be noise pollution.
My cell phone always starts in vibrating mode and then resumes to a quiet polyphonic midi music, but if I�m in a theater and the show begins with a reminder to turn it off (not to mention a $50 fine warning), well that�s what I do.
I was recently enjoying a movie with my wife at a local theater when some guy�s phone rang loudly and instead of embarrassingly shutting it off, he just let it ring several times and then carelessly started talking: �yeah, I�m at the movies, etc.�!! We were outraged!
It shows that a lot of people are really inconsiderate and antisocial...
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02-14-2003, 01:26 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
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Woo hoo! Score one for the people who want to strangle people like that. I went to the midnight showing of LOTR: Two Towers. I got up on my seat and yelled that if anyone�s cell or pager goes off during the movie the collective audience will beat you into seat stuffing. Had the entire theater cheering. Surprisingly no cells went of during the entire movie. So the solution presents itself: Make public beatings legal. 
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02-14-2003, 01:32 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
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Seriously though. What should be made law is that cell phones can accept a signal to turn off the ring and enable vibrate (Also should be required) when in public locations. (Read: BlueTooth) Unfortunately BT phones aren't pervasive enough and you invariably would have people complaining that this is unconstitutional or something. :roll: The right to play a bad replica of Star Wars on your phone! :P
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02-14-2003, 01:42 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 56
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I say we go the public beatings route.
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02-14-2003, 01:43 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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It's interesting how this is actually fairly narrow in focus. I can think of a LOT of situations beyond concerts that should be without noisy interruptions.
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02-14-2003, 01:45 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 140
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$50 fine is a great start. Maybe people will start to remember to either shut off their phone or set it to vibrate so people can enjoy the show that they paid for. C'mon, the theatres already ask to shut that stuff off, why can't people just listen and shut off their phones when they see the reminder, or at least double check to make sure it is off or on vibrate. Is it that difficult? :evil:
Oh, and public floggings? That would be fun, but I can see everyone sueing everyone else.
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02-14-2003, 02:09 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 300
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Re: New York Bans Mobiles in Theaters
I don't think this will prevent people from leaving their phones on. How are they going to enforce the fines in the first place? Approach the person after the play? During the play?  We�re not talking about a bunch of kids here and it�s not quite the same as giving a speeding ticket or something. Also, it is hard to pinpoint in the dark the person with the ringing phone, unless someone is completely obnoxious and just lets their phone ring. Other than that, I just don't see it happening. The threat of a fine is a nice deterrent, but that�s about it.
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02-14-2003, 02:10 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Brad Adrian
It's interesting how this is actually fairly narrow in focus. I can think of a LOT of situations beyond concerts that should be without noisy interruptions.
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Well, you'd never get consensus on anything further. The majority do get annoyed by cell phone rings in public performances...
--janak
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