A stamp of approval for texting, tweeting in theaters

A stamp of approval for texting, tweeting in theaters
An artist’s rendering of the future Tateuchi Center
A stamp of approval for texting, tweeting in theaters
An artist’s rendering of the future Tateuchi Center

A stamp of approval for texting, tweeting in theaters

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An artist's rendering of the future Tateuchi Center

The New York Times reported late Monday that a theater near Seattle, the Tateuchi Center in Bellevue, has announced it will allow “nondisruptive” cell phone use during at least some shows. (“Artists booked there can request no phone use,” says the Times.) Yahoo’s Buzz Log notes that the Tateuchi Center received $2.2 million from Microsoft, whose headquarters are nearby, in support of the center, expected to open in 2014.

Though Tateuchi executive director John Haynes calls this “the wave of the future,” online commentary seems to be overwhelming negative. Even from the self-described young. Even on GeekWire, where only one writer gave the move a thumbs-up.

I find the outpouring of wrath and dismay at this innovation highly comforting, myself.