Why would you text at the theatre?

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Unless you're an idiot?
Rosamund Pike calls out audience member for texting during show

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0723zgdp0eo

Given how many posters there are here, there must be those who think it's reasonable behaviour to text or film during performances.

We watched RP in this play (Inter Alia) and it's an incredibly intense experience. I just can't understand the mentality of someone who would pull out their phone and text during a performance.

If they were texting not acceptable but do you realise how inaccessible the theatre is for people who can't hear well. Theatres refuse to give out scripts for people to follow due to copyright, don't provide subtitles/bsl etc. ai allows many to at least understand what is being said, it's all done on their phone. Most people would rather be looking at the stage but sometimes in order to experience the theatre it's the only way.

Selfish people who can't switch off their phones for a couple of hours are going to ruin theatre eventually, because people like me won't carry on shelling out quite a lot of money to see a play if we have to put up with our enjoyment being ruined.

It's high time that theatres employed bouncers to physically miscreants who disturb the perfomance either you use of gadgets or being drunk & disorderly or anything else.

I have sat behind people scrolling ( looked like a bored husband) and several women taking selfies, with plenty of hair flicking and pouting and changes of camera angle - all involving blocking people's views.

Inter alia is one of the best things I have ever seen on stage and it blows my mind that people felt it appropriate to be on my phone during it.

There’s literally no example on this thread that justifies actively texting during a performance to the extent it is disturbing the cast.

I think the issue is that in some cases (hearing aid/diabetes monitoring) it might be understandable, and unavoidable to use a phone.

Other issues are more grey areas. For checking on children or pets its arguable whether you could wait another eg 20 min and do it at the interval. And a range of what people consider urgent, essential or an emergency...

You legging out would distract me more than a quick glance at the phone. why are you allowed go to the cinema with a terminally ill relative but no one else should be allowed go if they can’t switch off completely? Surely you should suck it up and not go, the same way you expect everyone else to avoid leaving the house.

But it's like guide dogs - someone with diabetes or a hearing aid managed by their phone should be able to use it (and won't be scrolling and tapping at length, but rather doing a quick check or adjustment). Just like someone disabled can bring their service dog who will sit quietly and cause no disruption.

The people texting because they're bored or have an unhealthy compulsion to continually check on their chil dren or simply must respond to the pony group chat at once are like someone bringing a bonkers cockapoo who barks and licks everyone. Except the cockapoo would be more adorable.

Ok I’ll stay at home - no fun for me, ever! 😆

People really do like to be outraged.

I always put my phone/watch on DND, but I find people getting up and leaving more disturbing then people on their phone dropping a quick text.

People just like to enjoy the experience they've paid a lot for without disruption.

It isn’t quickly glancing at their phones that is the topic of this thread. It’s people actively texting or scrolling. Me sitting on the end of an aisle and standing up to leave (like many people do when they need the loo) without having to push past anyone is a split second distraction. Someone texting takes longer and distracts many people around them. The glow of screen can be seen by many others.

(FYI there was only 4 other people in the cinema the day I needed to leave anyway. And if when I booked the ticket the aisle seat next to the exit was not available guess what I would have done? Not gone.)

From what I can tell - no one knows the reason the person was texting. Even then, it’s no one else’s business. Her job is to entertain not to call out audience members for being on their phone. It’s presumptuous and entitled.

how often do people really get up and leave in the middle of a play?

Just choose fun activities where you texting the group chat won't spoil other people's enjoyment - there are plenty of leisure pursuits that don't require silence and concentration. Do some of them instead!

Loads of other things to do for fun. But you know that.

It wasn't the actress being presumptuous and entitled in this scenario.

To answer a text? This is ludicrous and would cause more disruption.

If I could I would put inhibitors in theaters and cinemas so messages can’t arrive or be sent. Essentially rendering the phone useless.

Do we know the reason why the person was texting then? Or on there phone?

Theatre tickets are not expensive enough yet, if rude entitled people still buy tickets but waste their time on their phone - and are a nuisance for everybody around - instead of watching a play

Theatres should just ban them from coming back after the interval for a start.

This! It is completely unacceptable in any circumstances to text during a performance.

if if was that critical, they wouldn't have been in the theatre in the first place

If it is that much of an emergency that it needs answering immediately then I’m sure everyone would be understanding that the person needs to leave immediately and will not be coming back. If it is not that much of an emergency that the person needs to leave immediately then it can wait until the interval no?

Some gigs require attendees to seal their phones in magnetic pouches - Bob Dylan does I think. Ideally, theatres and cinemas would offer showings where this was mandatory and others where people could use phones if needed. Then we could all book accordingly!