Something I enjoy doing most in my leisure time is going to the cinema — the movies — to watch a great film. It's two hours of relaxation and escapism from real life.
But when I kick-back in my seat to enjoy the film and tuck into my box of popcorn, I'm often irritated by seeing someone next to me texting on their mobile phone or worse still, talking to someone.
It's no surprise that a proposal by a US cinema chain to let people use their phones during some film screenings was met with such outrage, that the company had to withdraw the idea.
People said it was "the worst idea ever"! Surely, going to watch the latest blockbuster is just that — watching not dual-screening. And if you're out with a friend it seems very antisocial or just rude.
I certainly get distracted by the click-click on someone's mobile keyboard as they text and the glow of the bright small phone screen — why aren't they concentrating on the big screen?!
But with the availability of streaming films at home and cheap DVDs, cinemas are struggling to keep their customers. Some places now offer comfortable seats with complimentary snacks and drinks so maybe trying to attract a younger audience by allowing the use of mobile phones is the way forward?
A survey in 2012 found that a majority of 18-to-34-year-olds believed using social media while watching a movie would add to their experience.
Sociologist, Julie Albright, says "Millennials have become very good at multi-tasking so they think nothing of looking at their phone while doing other sorts of things including consuming films and television and other media."
However, not every young person wants to multi-task at the movies. Many of us still get annoyed by the theatre staff who appear not to do anything about it.
Of course, we could ask the offenders to turn their phones off but as Adam Aron, head of AMC Entertainment, said in Variety magazine, "when you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don't ruin the movie, they hear 'please cut off your left arm above the elbow'."
Clearly this is not what I would like to see but if you are tempted to use your mobile phone in the cinema that I'm at, please don't sit next to me!
What do you think
is the right thing to do?
Source | Chinadaily
HACOS,Business Services Solutions Master