I disagree with what you're saying here, Sexy Celebrity. I think that there really should be a zero-tolerance policy towards cellphone use and texting in movie theatres, because, even if the phone is on silent or vibration, the bright light is still very distracting to people. Most people pay to come see the movie at the theatre, and not be rudely distracted by these rude, cellphone using, texting individuals. I say...let the rude texters/cellphone users stay home. This sort of "if one can't beat them, join them and adapt" attitude is a cop-out. Good for the manager at the Alama Drafthouse Theatre in Austin, TX for kicking that little b**tch out! She deserved it!!
Well, I like how you say there should be a zero-tolerance policy. I agree with that. In that case, though, you need the fiercest of movie theatre ushers to be willing to stand around and kick out people caught using their phones. Normally, every once in awhile during the movie, you have that goofy usher person come in and waltz around up and down the aisles, check the fire escape, etc. -- during the movie -- and that's it. Smart people will know to keep their phones off or hidden during these moments, then bring them back up for use when the usher is gone. In order to get proper expectations of the Zero Tolerance on Cell Phones policy done, you need to:
A. Let everyone know there's a Zero Tolerance policy on cell phones - if they see it, you're gone.
B. Install a Terminator-like usher into each theatre, perhaps during the whole movie, to keep careful watch of people and their phones and other behavior.
Now, B isn't that bad of an idea, BUT, it requires hiring a bunch of fierce people to stand around during each movie - and not leave, like they do. I suppose they could sit, but sitting would make it hard to watch everybody. Standing for that long is painful.
Oh, well, I don't need to go into everything. I just think it could be hard to really keep everything under control. It's a movie theatre. It's a darkened room. When movie theatres were created, nobody predicted people would soon be carrying their own telephones around, that flash as bright as flashlights and make lots of annoying sounds. I agree that these things shouldn't be in use in movie theatres, but it might be a real toughy to get everything completely wonderful again.