I was talking to my house manager the other day, and he mentioned that, instead of ushers using a flashlight at Cats to stop cell phone usage, they use laser pointers instead. I had asked him if that was legal to do, he said that it was teetering on the edge. I think that it's a bad idea because in this world we live in, with random acts of gun violence happening, there are guns that use laster pointers to aim. As an usher, i'm all in favor of stopping cell phone usage, but does anyone here think that laster pointers are the best way or not as an alternate to the flashlight?
I'm guessing on just ignorant on this topic, but what about using laser pointers (other than pointing them at an aircraft) is teetering on the edge of legality?
Some people associate laster pointers with guns. Many long range guns use them as a way to aim. The teetering legal question is that is this a legitimate way to stop one person from cell phone usage if there's a chance that it could have either the cell phone user in question or those around him in potential danger.
But in anycase, do you know if they use red or green pointers? because guns are usually the red ones.
Also I dont really think anyone that sees a red dot on them while on their cell phone would assume right away that they were about to get assassinated.
The only other 'legal' issue i can see is that sometimes if they accidently hit the person directly in their eye it could cause problems as y'all love to sue people over anything
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
I saw it just two days ago (Nov. 16), and I did not see any laser pointers, but there were multiple occasions I saw the ushers still using flashlights (surprisingly discreetly) on people trying to take photos.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
It astounds me cell phone usage and photos are still this common. Every show I've seen in the past year I'm told at least 3 times to turn off (not silence) my phone and sometimes a preshow announcement saying no photos, turn off phones, etc. Anyone who claims they didn't know or understand is either lying or just doesn't care which leads me to the real issue here, self-absorption. Anyone who texts or takes a photo is 100% saying "my personal choice greatly out-weights the needs and enjoyment of the hundreds of people around me."
A woman next to me started to text during the last few minutes of the second act of The Front Page, during the intermission I asked her not to and she gave a terrible excuse but said she wouldn't do it again. Wrong, all during the third act she'd text, answer an email, etc. I looked for the users behind me (I was in the last row of the mezz) but saw none. I politely pointed to her phone and she looked me in the eye before continuing to text. I was tempted to grab it from her and just drop it behind me, but figured I could be sued for property damage or something.