People who go to the cinema and sit on their phones for the whole film, why?

I wouldn't actually do it, but I am tempted sometimes.

My son has a card that entitles him to have someone to accompany him, which is usually me. He likes horror films, but I don't.

So the person on the phone might, in some circumstances, be the companion who is there because their loved one wanted to go but has no interest in the film.

Doesn't excuse them though, it's very distracting and I wouldn't do it. I just shut my eyes and think of unicorns and fluffy things.

It really is.

But you could have waited. Yiu just chose not too. You chose to irritate the “very few” people there (who cares how few?) to save yourself the mild inconsequential irritation of waiting for the credits. And that, in a nutshell, sugar this thread is about.

Apologies in advance because this is going to sound snooty but we only go to highbrow films now (few and far between) because the popular films attract the worst audience behaviour.

Foreign language film? No problem. Popular half-term blockbuster - prepare to sit amongst the food smells, eating noises and mobile phone shenanigans.

Same with the London theatre these days. I wouldn’t waste my money on a West End musical because of the uncouth audiences - once was enough!

@Magpie50 but it IS annoying to the few people who have paid for their ticket to see a film. If you can't stand to wait, go outside for a moment. Inconvenience yourself not anyone else..and yes you moving about will be less annoying than your phone screen.

In answeŕtòthis (me on my phone to find out who voiced the animated film I was watching) I couldn't wait till the end as it was driving me nuts!
Also I go in the afternoons when there are very few people to annoy.

I think there is a difference in quickly checking your phone if you are waiting for a text or desperately need to know that, yes...that cartoon wolf is Sam Rockwell and spending an entire film annoying people with a bright screen.

Is it fanciful to think the world will move online? If people can’t be bothered with anything in the real world anymore and resent being taken away from their phone /online world? Any off the phone time is seen as a boring worthy chore?

Read an interesting article that a young professor has tracked the reduction in birth rate to the widespread adoption of smart phones. Think she’s onto something there.

Absolutely. Seriously, I'd love to hear the defence of this. Sit in the lobby if you're waiting for someone else. Kids films, suck it up.

Then leave.

Don't be a selfish prick and ruin the experience for the other people who have paid money to be there.

Then walk out. Why distract the people who want to be there with your phone?

I have done it before myself, some movies are that rubbish.

It’s just grim, so grim that people can’t look up, enjoy their surroundings, perhaps strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to them and sit comfortably for a few minutes alone, without needing to get on their phone to mindlessly scroll practice french conjugations.

Deaf people?

What for?

Live captions?

The hero we all need 😆

If you haven't got a programme (you do realise not everyone buys them, they're pretty expensive), are you allowed to go on your phone then or just stare blankly into the distance for 15 minutes?

If people pulled out a book or started practicing french conjugations you'd probably think they were intelligent and approve wholeheartedly - for all you know that's exactly what they're doing on their phone.

Recently went to an arena tour, an event which needed lots of pre-planning to get tickets and cost about £70 per ticket. Two girls in front spent the night on their phones, not even photographing / fiming the event, mostly messaging, checking social media etc. it amazed me not only for the complete disengagement with the event but the wasted cost and lost opportunity for people who would engage to be there. Through DS Ive seen bands/shows/films I’d never choose, but throw myself into them, so I can hopefully be pleasantly surprised!

Yes everyone behind can see it too.

I did go to the opera and this very old man next to me had his mobile out. The usher came and asked him to put it away. He looked at me really upset and said that he was only trying to look up the plot. I told him that the problem was everyone can see the light and it was very distracting. He apologised and said he really didnt realise.

You do realise it's not only the people next to you that see your phone light up?

Oh god yes, those wankers. Just hogging a machine, scrolling, going way beyond any rest time. Just sitting there.
I ask if they’re finished and make it clear I want the machine.

This is so true. I have teenagers and when we're watching a tv series or movie together as a family which we do every week, they are really disappointed if I check my phone (so I don't). They want me to engage with what they've chosen, and I enjoy it much more when I throw myself in - even when it's something I didn't think I was interested in to begin with. And they're screen-obsessed teens! I think it's really shitty for littler kids to see their parents disappear into a phone rather than take an interest in what they're doing - and I put in some mind-numbing hours playing cafes or trains or whatever when they were small, I know it can get a tad soul-sapping after a while. It's so worth it though. Even when it means sitting through Cars 2 for the fourteenth time.

Why are people so uncomfortable with being bored for a couple of hours!?

'Oh, oh, I actually have to go on my phone because I don't like films and I only went for the kids and it was a bit boring-'

Deal with it then!? Why do I have to be distracted by your screen (YES even if it's dimmed) just because you can't fathom the idea of being slightly bored during an activity you've chosen and paid to do.

And to the suggestion of listening to an audiobook, I would go into orbit if I sat next to someone and could hear a book coming out of their headphones. If you're at the cinema just watch the goddamn film and get over yourself!

Indeed - and it is especially sad that parents cannot engage with their children's activities because they would rather be on their phone. Yes, your children's choice of film may not be yours. The playpark may not be your favourite place. But try being in the moment rather than sitting glued to your phone, so you can talk to your children and be part of their world. Children's faces light up when their parents acknowledge them - is it too much to put the damn phone down sometimes when you are with your children? We all used to manage to parent our children without constantly staring at a phone.

I know, perhaps it wasn't an accurate guess, but the only one i could come up with 🤔