As controversial or as offensive as this might be to some people, I refuse to turn my phone off and put it away during a movie. If you don't agree with me, that's certainly OK, as you are entitled to your opinion, as well. But know that this is not because I am trying to be rude or disrespectful to everyone else in the movie theater. It is because I am an incredibly busy person, who has to be available to answer her phone pretty much all the time. As Editor in Chief of my Odyssey community, I have made it a number one priority to immediately answer any messages from my team members. I like them to know that I care what they have to say and am always available to help. I am also in the application and interview process for a post-graduation job, so I have to constantly be available for potential employers, as well. This is not to say that I will sit in the theater and talk on my phone if I receive a call. I would absolutely walk outside for that. But I have absolutely no problem answering an email or text.
Recently, I attended the Arts Array film of the week at the local movie theater. For those of you who are not familiar with Arts Array films and their purpose, they are free of charge for students at local colleges and universities that participate in the program. Most of the movies have some sort of educational value that makes us well-rounded students and fits into the broad curriculum that my school, Emory & Henry College, teaches. So, in order to fulfill the last of my needed Lyceum credits to graduate, I found myself attending the movie of the week.
I won't go into detail about the movie, because that isn't really relevant to my story. However, I will explain my experience. Keep in mind that senior citizens also receive free admission to these movies, so they actually make up a grand majority of the attendance. As one of the first people to arrive, I had a vast selection of where I would like to be seated and chose to sit towards the middle of one of the top rows. As the theater filled up, I was left with just one empty seat on each side of me, which left plenty of room for comfort, considering I didn't know these people. About halfway through the movie, I felt my phone buzz repeatedly, and I proceeded to pull it from my pocket and check the messages. Suddenly, an older lady sitting to the left of me on the other side of the empty seat reaches over, grabs my arm and tells me that I need to put my phone away or go outside to talk because I was disturbing her and everybody else.
This situation baffled me for a number of reasons. First of all, there was no announcement made at the beginning of the movie or a sign posted anywhere that said cell phone use was prohibited. Secondly, I thought that trying to scoot past an entire row of people would be far more of a disturbance than taking one minute to reply to a few emails and text messages with the brightness levels of my screen turned down as far as possible. Next, nobody else even seemed to turn a head at the sight of my phone, if they even noticed. Lastly, I sure as hell did not say anything to this same lady when she spent several minutes rummaging through her purse for the snacks and drinks she brought from home instead of buying them at the concession stand. I could have just as easily called her out for that one, but I didn't.
I'm not someone who cares much for controversy, and I typically let a lot of things slide to avoid it. Rarely do I stand my ground and usually only do when my patience has completely hit its limit. However, I decided that it was about time that I stand up for myself. After all, I am an adult now and a soon to be college graduate for that matter. I think I'm very much entitled to my own opinion at this point. Therefore, I responded without a beat, "These messages are work related and important. So, no, I will not leave, and I will not put up my phone." She looked completely shocked that I even fired back a comment, but it sure did shut her up. If she hadn't been rude to me about it in the first place, I more than likely would have smiled and put my phone away. But this was not the case. Was this the ideal time and place to stand my ground? In all honesty, probably not, but I had to start somewhere.
A little irritated by this whole exchange, I may have possibly fueled the fire a little by answering more text messages than necessary. This was my own act of everyday resistance. Even though she sat with her arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed for the remainder of the movie, I enjoyed the rest of the movie with a smile on my face knowing that I succeeded in standing up for myself. I'd like to think that I even heard the lady on the other side of me chuckle when she noticed my resistance.
So, I choose not to put my phone away during a movie, and I also will not apologize for not doing so. After all, why should I?
