Drabble by Kevin Fagan for February 05, 2024

PUT the phone down, turn it off!

Put the phone away, Honeybunch.

And they talk too much in the theater.

Who the heck is she texting?

are… they the only ones in the theater?

And I thought June would be the one to obey the theater’s rules.

Believe it or not, ol’ Ralph’s handling this perfectly. Besides, if June was watching this movie alone, who’d answer all her questions?

Be careful when texting in movie theaters. In 2014, in Florida, a retired cop complained to some guy who was texting, not during the movie, but during the pre-movie ads. The guy was texting to his kids’ babysitter. The guy turns around and throws popcorn at the retired cop. The retired cop shot and killed the guy, and was acquitted in 2022. He claimed he “feared for his life”.

Why go to the movies if all you’re going to do is text? You could have done it at home, where there at least there’s better lighting!

The multitasker—-not really, in this case!

Me watching Argyle with my girlfriend Saturday

Gee Mr. Hand. I’m I going to pass History?

Or she needs to not text while he’s not paying attention.

One of the reasons (among many) I like to see movies at the Alamo Drafthouse chain of theaters. They have a strict no-talk, no-text policy. Violators are ejected after one warning, and they make this policy loud and clear on the big screen just before the movie starts.

And it appears that the warning is sufficient, because I’ve never seen anyone need to enforce the policy in all the years I’ve been going there.

I know someone that does puzzles while ‘watching’ the TV. She claims she can do both at the same time and still keep track of what’s going on in the TV show or film. I certainly couldn’t do that and called BS a few times. On one occasion, I piped up saying “Oh wow, I wasn’t expecting that”, indicating towards the TV. She had no idea what she’d missed (mainly because I made it up – partly – but she didn’t dare mention anything as it would demonstrate the BS. Who knows, maybe she can do it and I just caught her out that time.

I think most theaters would ask them to turn it off or leave. Just ask Lauren Boebert how that goes.

…or realize that this is the FIRST TIME EITHER ONE OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE STINKING SHOW, SO ENOUGH ALREADY WITH THE QUESTIONS JUST WATCH THE STINKING SHOW WOULD YA?

No texting was known to happen during “Ex Machina!”

I’ve asked people to get off their phones (talking, texting, whatever) during movies because the screens are too bright and distracting. Almost all put their phones away. I had to get an usher once because it was a group of teens who wouldn’t stop and the theatre was too crowded to move.

Think that’s what started the fight, that got the texter killed in the theater back in 2014.

Yep. My wife and I watching TV last night. Silent movie . . . you had to keep track of subtitles. She was texting. Wanted me to let her know when dialog was displayed. Did it the first few times, then quit. She asked “what’s going on?” Made stuff up. Fun.

One of the reasons I quit going to movies.

This isn’t supposed to happen in a real theater. As far as I know, every theater has a “no smartphone in operation” rule. And if they don’t, they should.

Senior discount Tuesday

Ralph can’t multitask, eat and watch the movie too.

“Will he be a bad guy?” “Dunno, honey, I’m seeing this for the first time, too.”

No dear, you need to get your head out of your apps.

His next response should be : “Give me your phone. Now.”