Amen.

If the person texting is near me, I'll tell them to stop, but sometimes you can see that screen from really far away and would have to get up and walk around the theater to tell them to cut it out. I always will the people behind him to say something, but they never do.

You'll enjoy this, it's from BBC's Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo's Film Review, called The Code of Conduct. Really funny and spot on.... they cover phones!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/5live/films/code_of_conduct.jpg

Oh man, I love that video, I really do ... she can't help but come off like an obvious asshole ...

@jwebb66: I've updated the OP with your 'code of conduct.' Thanks!

I'm ambivalent about the video, for numerous reasons. One of which is that I don't find texting that irksome, as long as I don't hear the buttons clacking. But whatever.

Second, I wonder which is worse, a glimpse of a glowing text screen, or the disruption of a flashlight-wielding usher booting said texter who decided to raise a ruckus?

This leads to my final point: based on the audio, the offending theater goer sounds to me like a young woman or a teenager; a spoiled brat, essentially. Safe to say she's someone whose resolve to preserve her overweening sense of entitlement is fairly week in the face of institutional enforcement. Easy.

But what about someone not like her? For instance, I tell you right now that this policy would never work in NYC -- where it's certainly needed. No usher would be foolish enough to risk getting his head stomped by a douchebag thug (or wannabe thug) with a massive chip on his shoulder and a predilection for violence -- especially if he's with a group cronies.

Or, it could be someone who would most certainly turn their defiance into a screaming, hair-pulling spectacle that makes certain urban fast food establishments look like oases of tolerance and tranquility.

It's easy for us to point fingers of condemnation at a stupid girl. But when faced with real class acts: dudes in the theater shouting at the screen or at each other, kicking chairs, their girlfriends bringing cranky infants to a midnight screening of an R-rated movie, we will shut up and take it.

Or more likely, stay at home and watch Netflix.

I'm all for people maintaining some polite decorum when watching a movie, but this theater pub seems to be laying down some thick ass Austin-hipster self righteousness.

By the way, I've banned texting at my house while watching TV. I'll toss out my own son if he dares text during "Real Housewives of Orange County" just one more time, so help me God.

Hey CRANKY, I hope you sit next to a crying baby next time you see a movie. Just kidding. I live in Austin and really like the drafthouse. I don't go a lot but I like being able to eat and have a beer in a theater. Restaurants don't let you bring in your own meal, librari1es ask you to be quiet, and strip clubs don't like cameras. If a person can not follow an establishments rules then they should shove off. I've seen the drafthouse staff ask people to stop talking or texting. There are no flashlights, it's very discrete, and wasn't made into a scene. I like they actually enforce some rules. And for Pete's sake if you can not go 2 hours with out looking at your phone your life sucks. Oh God, I'm ranting...

HAHAHHAHAHHAHA!

That video is an awesome advertisement for Alamo Drafthouse. I like that the girl called in, thinking she was going to bring them down and in turn created a very effective endorsement.

On a tangent:

I don't like texting or calls in a theater. I don't like excessive talking.

But I LOVE it when audiences participate in the movie.

I'd hate to see people getting booted out for talking. People laughing, screaming, crying, yelling, "Don't go in there!" all adds to the movie experience for me.

It's something you don't get watching a movie at home.

I loved SPEED RACER (which was critically panned) mainly because I watched it with a friend, his kid, and an audience of 500-ish filled to capacity with mostly children and their parents.

It changes the experience.

I don't want to own SPEED RACER on DVD, nor really see it again. But I enjoyed the film experience. My money was well spent.

Boyd, I too enjoy a libation while watching second run movies without the distractions of self important iphone owning douchebags. Here in pdx you can't swing a dead cat by the tail with out hitting a theater-pub -- or self important iphone owning douchebags.

I have to say I'm with daveed on this one. I just think it's important to point out there's not all that much to be admired about sitting on a high horse and advertising that fact with a viral web video.