I can't imagine being on my phone during a ballet. What's the point of even being there then? Might as well have just stayed home and scrolled from the comforts of bed and saved some money
My partner and I watch a lot of movies at home—last year I logged over 350 on Letterboxed. Getting to put my phone down for a few hours and live in another world is one of my favorite feelings! Why would you not want that!
This was great! I completely relate to your experience of going home to constant TVs and an inability of family members to watch anything without using their phone. Last year, I was so overwhelmed due to not one but two background TVs on at all times plus the teenagers scrolling through TikTok without headphones. The fact that everyone else seemed use to this level of stimulation bothered me more than the noise level did.
i love love love love all the connections you made!! this was awesome! some thoughts I had:
-I always tell my friends I love watching movies where nothing happens (ie roma, perfect days, once upon a time in hollywood) quite the opposite of netflix movies, where it’s more cinematic rather than getting “captivated” impossible to see without phones, which I guess is what I love about it
-i am still so so intrigued how far from actual reality getting info from tik tok will take us—trump is just a symptom of a larger picture, how i wish college would be free :(
My mom and I watch movies together because it’s pretty much the only thing her work schedule allows us enough time for. So when I see her on her phone during a movie I get so annoyed! She will even do it while I’m talking to her. These boomers complain about Gen Z but I honestly think they’re worse than us.
The way some people act in the cinema at the moment blows my mind. I try not to be a hater and to remember that other 90% of people there are great but the ten percent who are just getting up and walking in and out constantly even is mind blowing. And the talking!! Why are you talking?!?
Urgh it was very frustrating reading this because that’s exactly how it is when I share any media with my own parents — they don’t pay attention, don’t try to understand, and immediately call the thing “bad” or say they didn’t like it. Anyway, great read, I had a good time discussing these points with my bf over breakfast. It’s so meaningful to find friends in life that DO want to create opinions with you!
Very well-written, so much so it makes me angry. Apathy is the right word because people refuse to go back into their mind and remember learning about Ancient Greece and learning about the Odyssey. If something doesn't immediately come to their mind when they hear a word, they refuse to do any work to remember it.
Completely agree. I’ve been actively working on not needing my phone for every lull in my day or when I’m watching something long form. It’s slowly getting better, but it’s definitely worse when I’m anxious, so sometimes I wonder if phone addictions are a bandaid for everyone’s anxiety. Some of the only times I definitely won’t use my phone are when it’s inconvenient — reading, cleaning, cooking — so I try to make time for those each day.
Couldn't agree more. My favourite thing about watching a film or performance is getting absorbed in it, lost in the experience. It's sad that we're losing that (and I speak for myself too, I do resist the urge to pick up my phone when watching films at home but it's hard, especially after a laztly Christmas).
it’s kind of a crazy concept but it’s genuinely difficult sometimes! just reminds you how hard these algorithms work to literally make us all screen addicted
I can't imagine being on my phone during a ballet. What's the point of even being there then? Might as well have just stayed home and scrolled from the comforts of bed and saved some money
My partner and I watch a lot of movies at home—last year I logged over 350 on Letterboxed. Getting to put my phone down for a few hours and live in another world is one of my favorite feelings! Why would you not want that!
This was great! I completely relate to your experience of going home to constant TVs and an inability of family members to watch anything without using their phone. Last year, I was so overwhelmed due to not one but two background TVs on at all times plus the teenagers scrolling through TikTok without headphones. The fact that everyone else seemed use to this level of stimulation bothered me more than the noise level did.
i love love love love all the connections you made!! this was awesome! some thoughts I had:
-I always tell my friends I love watching movies where nothing happens (ie roma, perfect days, once upon a time in hollywood) quite the opposite of netflix movies, where it’s more cinematic rather than getting “captivated” impossible to see without phones, which I guess is what I love about it
-i am still so so intrigued how far from actual reality getting info from tik tok will take us—trump is just a symptom of a larger picture, how i wish college would be free :(
My mom and I watch movies together because it’s pretty much the only thing her work schedule allows us enough time for. So when I see her on her phone during a movie I get so annoyed! She will even do it while I’m talking to her. These boomers complain about Gen Z but I honestly think they’re worse than us.
The way some people act in the cinema at the moment blows my mind. I try not to be a hater and to remember that other 90% of people there are great but the ten percent who are just getting up and walking in and out constantly even is mind blowing. And the talking!! Why are you talking?!?
Urgh it was very frustrating reading this because that’s exactly how it is when I share any media with my own parents — they don’t pay attention, don’t try to understand, and immediately call the thing “bad” or say they didn’t like it. Anyway, great read, I had a good time discussing these points with my bf over breakfast. It’s so meaningful to find friends in life that DO want to create opinions with you!
Very well-written, so much so it makes me angry. Apathy is the right word because people refuse to go back into their mind and remember learning about Ancient Greece and learning about the Odyssey. If something doesn't immediately come to their mind when they hear a word, they refuse to do any work to remember it.
Completely agree. I’ve been actively working on not needing my phone for every lull in my day or when I’m watching something long form. It’s slowly getting better, but it’s definitely worse when I’m anxious, so sometimes I wonder if phone addictions are a bandaid for everyone’s anxiety. Some of the only times I definitely won’t use my phone are when it’s inconvenient — reading, cleaning, cooking — so I try to make time for those each day.
Couldn't agree more. My favourite thing about watching a film or performance is getting absorbed in it, lost in the experience. It's sad that we're losing that (and I speak for myself too, I do resist the urge to pick up my phone when watching films at home but it's hard, especially after a laztly Christmas).
this is really fascinating and well written
Ty!!
Just read the whole thing and it was quite enlightening 🫶🏽
it’s kind of a crazy concept but it’s genuinely difficult sometimes! just reminds you how hard these algorithms work to literally make us all screen addicted