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

[Ahsoka2002]

I'm genuinely curious

Some people are addicted to their phones and can’t leave them alone for 5 seconds.

There seems to be a pattern in which people treat places like the cinema, theatre, planes etc as if they are in their own living room. Either they actually don't care about people around them or are too thick to realise.

People on their phones are one of the reasons I now only go to the first daily screening of movies. There never is anyone else there or if there is they know to behave.

This thread has been an eye opener for me. I have 3 concerns.

1. Smartphone addiction.
2. There are grown adults who cannot face being bored for even an hour.
3. There are people who are either so incredibly selfish or utterly lacking in imagination to not realise that what they do affects those around them.

In fact these issues explain a lot of what's wrong with the world at the moment, including climate change.

Great post.

I hope the people on here who have said that they thought being on their phone isn’t affecting anyone else have listened to everyone else saying “Yes, it is” and will now not do it.

(Unless they were not being honest and know full well it’s antisocial but have their own logic that it somehow doesn’t apply to them and will just carry on trying to get away with it…)

Yeah, that’s really poor of you.

Go out and sit in the cafe/foyer if you want to play a game on your phone.

It doesn’t matter if there is just your friends next to you ( who probably wanted to enjoy the film or else why did any of you go?!?) - the light from your phone is distracting to anyone in the cinema who have it in their eye line.

Which is why the cinema asks people to turn off their phone when the film starts. If you didn’t understand why they ask this before then hopefully you do now.

Sorry, it lost my quote - that was to @Jotunn9

Yeah, this is why I no longer go to the cinema. Sad really. I do go to the theatre occasionally which is almost as annoying unfortunately. It seems people can't sit through performances anymore without getting up for the toilet or to get food or drinks without waiting until the intervals or end. Once one person gets up, it's like a sodding relay race. It must be so distracting for the performer/s to see and hear people charging in and out and up and down stairs.

I definitely mean groups of people, couples or parents with children. Quite often if you’ve gone in a couple you’re on your own for time during the interval if your friend or partner nips to the toilet. If you’re there on your own it’s for the love of theatre, of course- though looking at a phone during the interval is no different to nipping outside to have a cigarette 🤷‍♀️ is it habit, bit of a break to switch off from your surroundings (when you could be reading the programme instead?) or addiction which means you can’t comfortably miss time on your phone…

Yes! I’ve been fascinated by this thread. I just had no idea people couldn’t sit for 90 mins and just BE, and I speak as someone who struggles with phone addiction.

It’s a Venn diagram of all 3 of your concerns

I'm not one of them but I'm guessing.. someone who has been dragged to see a film they don't want to, by their partner?

If I’ve boug(t a programme I’ll have read it all before curtain up. It’s because why shouldn’t I amuse myself o; the phone when it’s affecting nobody else - nobody wants to talk to me, nobody else can see it, it’s the interval. It actually makes it easier to be a solo person in a social space if you have something to focus on. Nothing to do with addiction.

They need to say they’ll meet them after. If someone is physically dragging you somewhere it’s a problem. Or just watch - you never know, you might like it. Don’t make your boredom someone else’s problem with a distracting phone light through.

If someone is being dragged to see a film they don't want to, they have bigger issues than being addicted to their phone. I would just say to my DH, I'll go shopping/sit in the bar/stay at home etc and meet them afterwards rather than pay and sit through a film I don't want to see.

This is a known phenomenon around people who are incapable of enjoying the moment, they're too busy taking photos of events to put on SM to show what exciting lives they lead.

They can't tell you anything about the emotions they felt, the enjoyment they experienced or even the detail of the event itself, because they only care about looking good to others not the happiness of the moment.

addiction to a new dangerous dysfunctional level.

Mhm, you don't say. I'm thankful I've never come across this. People checking the time on their phone once or twice during the film, sure, but I've never encountered anyone on their phone during the film. But this was just my guess as to why someone might.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

The hero we all need 😆