Harkins Theaters: No texting during movies

by Bob McClay/KTAR (September 9th, 2010 @ 11:43am)

PHOENIX -- A Valley theater chain is trying to get people to stop texting during movies.

"We're finding more and more, as new technology emerges, that there's really a need for new social rules," says Bryan Laurel of Harkins Theaters.

"It used to be that people would talk on their phones during films. Now that texting has become more mainstay, they use texting and they think since they're being quiet that they're not disturbing the people around them."

However, Laurel said your keypad lights up when you text and that bothers your neighbor.

So Harkins has launched a campaign to convince movie-goers to stop texting.

The Harkins Tempe Marketplace theater has taken down all of its "coming soon" posters in the lobby and replaced them with huge white posters with "NTDM" -- "no texting during movie" posters. The campaign will be at all of the theaters in the Harkins chain on a rotating basis.

"Our hope is that people will take an extra moment to pause -- instead of maybe checking their phone or texting during the film, that they can wait until after the film to check that or maybe step out in the lobby to do so if it's something important. But, really, the bottom line is we're asking them to be considerate of their fellow movie-goers and not ruin the movie for everyone."


Last 5 Comments

  • Reply Abuse Vote
    I always try
    Rudy123
    To see R movies so the little brats aren't there. I hate them, they don't pay $30 to see a movie, their parents pay it. I say there should be an adults only movie theatre. Good job Harkins!!
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Yeah, right!
    Howdy
    FYI - if you complain, you will get a free movie pass!
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Texting during a movie
    Nhlfan1360
    Is just plain UNNECESSARY!!! If there's an emergency nobody is going to text you they are going to call. And if you are so important you can't leave a phone behind for 2 hours, you've got a problem. Our society is out of control with cell phones. NOBODY, save for doctors who are on call and the President, is that important. Americans are the most thoughtless people on the planet.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    oh,
    elvenwolfsong
    I usually solved this by "quietly" telling my friend "boy, the person texting is such an insensitive butt." or kicking their chair. if they get snippy I reply "oh, i thought it was insensitive "jerk" day."
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Ruby Dog is correct- self centeredness
    cincykid
    is in quite evident in today's society. I would love to transport people- especially those under 35- back to the fifties when families had party lines in the homes. One could pick up the phone and listen in on conversations in the neighborhood- but only for a second or so. Your mom or dad was probably nearby and made sure that you do the right thing. Oh, the phones were attached to the wall. And then... there were phone booths. One doesn't have to vailidate another's existence ,or vice versa, every 5 minutes. Talk about insecurity!
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