How did we live without cars? Being a Luddite is your prerogative and all, but the reality is that cell phones are part of today's world.
In today's world, the people who actually do go to theaters (not old fogies or Luddites that don't go anyway) simply do not want to be cut off from the world for 3 hours.
"In today's world, the people who actually do go to theaters (not old fogies or Luddites that don't go anyway) simply do not want to be cut off from the world for 3 hours."
Silliness! I'm an old fogie at 60. I'm far from a Luddite. I have a cell phone on my person at all times. It is off, unless I need to make a call.
I have a good bit of disposable income. Some of that I use to watch movies at movie theaters, where I also buy popcorn, hot dogs, and sodas, at inflated prices. I see a movie in a theater, with my wife, at least once a week.
A ringing cell phone is an abomination in a theater. Worse is some clown talking on a cell phone during a movie. But, fear not, I speak right up and complain if the person is near me. I also ask talkers to can it if they're near me. I do this quietly, and politely, but very, very firmly. So far, that strategy has shut up every single person committing the breach of etiquette right away, and they've stayed shut up through the rest of the movie.
It is only required that those in the theater refuse to tolerate rude behavior for it to end. If that happens frequently enough, pretty soon such behavior is no longer commmon.
People have to stop being afraid to ask rude people to stop their rudeness. If you ask them, they'll stop, especially if it's clear that you are not one to tolerate any further disturbances.
You're confused if you believe that only rude, young, or technically addicted attend movies. Indeed, it's just the opposite. Folks with time and money also attend, and lots of them are older.
This old fogy, Luddite is.
LOL!!