Texting in movie theater sparks fatal shooting

[Midtowner]

Texting is pretty annoying in theaters. Folks don't seem to realize how bright their phones are in a dark room. The last time I encountered it, I asked the guy to put it away and he did. Sometimes, all it takes is a little polite confrontation.

Who knew that could result in getting shot by a gun hugging wack job.

[okcboomer]

Guns are the answer to everything. Duh. I mean, that inconsiderate douche won't ever disrupt people from watching their movie ever again. Boom.

[sacolton]

This, and many other reasons, is why I built my own home theater. 100" screen. 1080p projector. 7.1 surround sound. Nice comfy reclining chairs with cup holders. Using custom PC running XBMC on two 4 Tb drives with all my movies at my fingertips. Popcorn machine too!

[BBatesokc]

This, and many other reasons, is why I built my own home theater. 100" screen. 1080p projector. 7.1 surround sound. Nice comfy reclining chairs with cup holders. Using custom PC running XBMC on two 4 Tb drives with all my movies at my fingertips. Popcorn machine too!

This is our outdoor setup and we love it.....

16' screen.... 16' QuikScreen | Outdoor Theater System, Projector Screens - Backyard Theater Systems LLC

Epson HD projector.... Epson Home Cinema 5030UB Projector

and outdoor speakers.

We even add heaters by our outdoor loveseats so we can do outdoor movies in the late fall and early spring.

We fire it up and the neighbors start migrating over like some Walker herd from the Walking Dead!

We even set it up a few evenings on the public balcony space at 444 in Deep Deuce and it was a big hit.

[tomokc]

I wouldn't mind some type of software that disables phone use while you are in the theatre. Lobby phone use only.

My wife's job requires that she be available via cellphone at all times (unless prohibited by law, such as FCC prohibition on airline flights). This would make it where she/we couldn't see a movie. When she receives a call or text, she covers the screen and walks outside to address the issue. She does this in a few other places that also prohibit phone calls.

But to the larger issue of a movie theater paying for the installation & maintenance of this hardware & software, why should they have to do that? The policy is a reasonable one, clearly stated and easily understood. I haven't seen many infractions, but if management would immediately & decisively respond to complaints, then this will cease to be a issue. In this case, a customer complained, he was ignored, and he escalated things out of control.

Management doesn't need hardware & software, they simply need to enforce their own policy.

[BBatesokc]

And soon it will be..... "please silence and dim your cell phones and smart watches"

[kelroy55]

another school shooting

CNN) -- Two children were taken to a hospital after a report of a shooting at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, New Mexico, a spokeswoman for the hospital said Tuesday.

They were taken to Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, where their conditions were not immediately available, she said.

The state Department of Public Safety said in a news release that state and local police were called to the school at 8:11 a.m. and that "there are preliminary reports of injury," though their number and extent were not immediately known.

State Police Public Information Officer Emmanuel Gutierrez said the threat had been "alleviated" and children were being bused from the school.

The Roswell Police Department's Facebook page said a suspect has been apprehended.

[PennyQuilts]

This. Does being of an older age make people care less about the consequences of their actions?

Perhaps this man was at his "I don't care anymore" age range.


I think there needs to be more studies and research dedicated to the moral decay in elderly people, who are usually suffering in many categories of life. And consequently, help these elders go out on happier steps.

Thus speaks youth. Seventy-one does NOT feel like you are on death's door. It feels a bit like 45 with more aches and pains. Now, he might have a terminal illness but it hasn't been my experience that such an event triggers homicidal behavior.

And moral decay? Are you serious?

Besides, every study I've ever seen says that people in their golden years are significantly happier than thirty somethings. That's an odd world view you've got there, bubba.

[Just the facts]

If everyone in the theater had a gun they could of prevented this, or so the NRA says.

'If the texter had a gun he might still be alive, or he could have just done what the theater asks - and put his phone away. I'm not saying texting in a movie is punishable by the death penalty but it is pretty clear that he didn't think the rules applied to him, and sometime people with that attitude have bad things happen to them. If people would just do what they are supposed to do and be courteous they can live a long time.

[Just the facts]

Sid - I was responding to this...

If everyone in the theater had a gun they could of prevented this, or so the NRA says.

So YES, if the texter, or his wife had a gun, he might still be alive. Here is the deal though, at some point no matter how right you think you are, when possible death enters the equation you have to revaluate just how right you want to be at that moment.

[Just the facts]

Nope. I'm happy to be wrong and not live my life by the fall of a bullet. It's a pointless plight.

My comment went both ways. The gunman is also going to have live with his decision. If you ask him today if his decision was worth it I am sure he would say no, it wasn't.

If people would just do what they are supposed to do and be courteous they can live a long time.

[jerrywall]

On a related note...

Man, 77, Busted For Walmart Checkout Rage | The Smoking Gun

[Anonymous.]

Thus speaks youth. Seventy-one does NOT feel like you are on death's door. It feels a bit like 45 with more aches and pains. Now, he might have a terminal illness but it hasn't been my experience that such an event triggers homicidal behavior.

And moral decay? Are you serious?

Besides, every study I've ever seen says that people in their golden years are significantly happier than thirty somethings. That's an odd world view you've got there, bubba.

This is why I said there needs to be more studies and research dedicated to this. There has already been some, and specifically one that looked at even people in their 60s. But there is not enough evidence pointed at this, which is the entire premise to my post earlier.

Just put yourself in someone who is 70+ years old, dementia setting in, whose family doesn't visit him in his assisted living home, and doesn't understand modern technology... Now how much easier is it for this person to commit a crime over someone younger (for this example, in their 40s)?

These are the questions we should ask, IMO.

[jerrywall]

I think the common thread isn't age... but FLORIDA. Can we cut it off into the ocean yet?

[PennyQuilts]

OMG - dementia settling in at age 71? Assisted living? It can happen but it isn't typical. Seventy-one???? This guy was out at the movies. I don't know anyone that age who isn't out and about living their life like anyone else unless they are seriously ill. The kind of debilitation you seem to be concerned about is about a decade further down the line and even then, most old folks are doing well until about two years before they die. Plenty of people - probably most - who die in their early seventies were either very ill with some chronic ailment or they died pretty suddenly and were healthy up till then.

[PennyQuilts]

I don't mean to pick on you and after this, I'll stop. I recall when I was in my twenties telling my father in law that if I could just live long enough to get my kids raised I'd die happy. He shot back that he suspected that when that day came about, I'd be renegotiating with God. . It is tricky to get a feel for how older people see the world if you've never been that age. Here's a link of stats concerning the elderly just for giggles. Resident Profile

[Just the facts]

I think the common thread isn't age... but FLORIDA. Can we cut it off into the ocean yet?

We don't need to cut Florida off but maybe we could ban New Yorkers from retiring here. .

[kevinpate]

Not to worry JTF. If we decide to float FL on its merry way, we'll keep the panhandle section and give you enough time to make it there.

[Mel]

My wife's job requires that she be available via cellphone at all times (unless prohibited by law, such as FCC prohibition on airline flights). This would make it where she/we couldn't see a movie. When she receives a call or text, she covers the screen and walks outside to address the issue. She does this in a few other places that also prohibit phone calls.

But to the larger issue of a movie theater paying for the installation & maintenance of this hardware & software, why should they have to do that? The policy is a reasonable one, clearly stated and easily understood. I haven't seen many infractions, but if management would immediately & decisively respond to complaints, then this will cease to be a issue. In this case, a customer complained, he was ignored, and he escalated things out of control.

Management doesn't need hardware & software, they simply need to enforce their own policy.

Your wife sounds like a polite Lady. I wish everyone would behave that way but so many people live in a bubble of self importance. I am planning to see "Lone Survivor" this weekend. At the new Penn Square Theatre of course. The seats power back and just about all you see is the screen.

[Stan Silliman]

At 71 that won't be too long.

Hey, that's my age. Don't be so wishful.

[kevinpate]

FWIW, 71 is the new 50. Get used to it.

[Stan Silliman]

Rewrite Casablanca:

"Of all the crazy states, all the wacko places in the world Mr. Gun could've walked in, he walked into mine.
He came in with your displaced Yankees, you're self obsessed druggies, your homophobic rent-a-cop wannabes
and your good ol' boys who can't stand the carpetbaggers grabbin' all your swampland.

Yeah, Mr. Gun, you're right at home in my phallic shaped state. You and your holder can occupy your little piece
of paradise, blast off at guys with their loud boom boxes and teach lessons to guys disturbing us in all our theaters
because you walked into my gin joint of a state. I might be crazy but I'm going to make it legal to use you however you want."

Then the fog lifts, Bogey is talking to his gun, a plane taxis up out of fog, door opens, stair ramp lowers and Tim Tebow descends.