Spin Off: Movies in public

[sam_gordon]

This is a spin off of a thread on the Controversial Board. We're talking about The Hunting Wives (Netflix show).

Someone brought up it's not a good "airplane show" because of the nudity and sex scenes.

So I thought I'd break out, where's the "line" when it comes down to watching movies "in public" (plane, train, subway, park bench, whatever) on your personal device? I think we can all agree that porn shouldn't be watched in public, but where's the line? I'll admit I've watched some shows where the action gets a little steamy (with or without nudity) or intense (think Squid Games). Sometimes I don't know it's coming.

If this should get moved to the CT board, so be it, but there's more people here and I thought it could be an interesting discussion.

 

[soccerdad72]

I would think excessive violence or sex/nudity would be something that people should be wary of watching in a public setting where random strangers could see it. The obvious situation is on airplanes to me, but I also don't take a lot of other public transportation normally, nor am I usually in a public space (like a park, etc.) and viewing something on a device. I suppose the device itself plays a part too - if I'm watching a movie / show on my phone on a plane, I might be less concerned than if it's on the in seat screen or something like a laptop or iPad, simply because of the size of the screen.

I don't know if I could give a concrete line that shouldn't be crossed, however.

 

[kdonnel]

I have seen several complaints on various social media platforms about Delta in particular.

Whatever service Delta procures movies from doesn't seem to edit them for content anymore.

Here is one such thread on Reddit complaining about someone watching Oppenheimer on the seat back entertainment within view of their child.

Some interesting arguments both for and against editing the movies are made in this thread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/delta/comments/1av6qgd/why_can_airlines_show_r_rated_films_on_screens_in

Me personally, I don't care what people watch and would have no problem with someone watching whatever the airline provided. If they are watching their own content and you have an issue with that content, I think it should be ok to ask the person to watch something else. Then it is up to them if they want to temporarily conform to your moral values or not. That should be the end of the confrontation. You might get your way, you might not.

I have always found it fascinating that Americans are generally fine with violence in movies but draw the line at a nipple.

 

[citruscurtis]

Well ... frequent rider of coast starlight Amtrak... the train was moving real slow 2:00 am so awake and this guy in front of me is watching on his device... black and white... Over his shoulder I watch Chinatown... Jack Nicholson nose ... that is the line.....nah...saw it coming

 

[BrianL]

I would say just use common sense. There's no real need to watch something too graphic in public anyway, but if there aren't any kids seated near you, then it might be okay depending on what it is. Just be considerate and aware.

I do kind of miss the days when we didn't have the ability to watch screens literally anywhere - it wasn't even a concern back then!

 

[sam_gordon]

I would say just use common sense. There's no real need to watch something too graphic in public anyway, but if there aren't any kids seated near you, then it might be okay depending on what it is. Just be considerate and aware.

I do kind of miss the days when we didn't have the ability to watch screens literally anywhere - it wasn't even a concern back then!

The problem is, when it comes to things like "where is the line", everyone's line is different. So "common sense" doesn't help. Same with qualifying "too graphic".

I mean, we can all agree that X (and higher) rated stuff shouldn't be watched in public. So, yes, that's "common sense". What about MA rated content? R rated? Does everything need to be PG13 (or lower) rated before watching in public?

 

[fla4fun]

I think planes and long distance trains are going to be in a category of their own. Most ground based transportation would be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction they are in. So if you are on a bus in Orlando watching adult content on your phone, you would be subject to any obscenity laws on the books in Orlando. If it’s not illegal, there’s not much that can be done about it. On a plane, there isn’t a local governing body to answer to so it would fall back to what society in general feels is appropriate, which is where the disagreements occur.

The bigger issue from my point of view are films supplied by the travel provider, not a person on their personal device. I read that Delta information linked above. If Delta had a history of providing censored films with R ratings (similar to what happens on network television) and changed that policy without informing their passengers, then I can understand why parents in particular would be upset. When you are on a plane, you are a captive audience. It may be the person sitting right next to your child who is watching that R rated movie. It’s not practical or safe to leave your seat and stand somewhere else on the aircraft for the duration of the film (especially with all the turbulence lately). In a traditional movie theater setting most parents are not going to take preschool and elementary school kids to see R rated movies. The ratings are there for a reason.

Personally, I don’t have a problem with uncensored R rated films on an airline so long as that is clearly stated during the booking process. It shouldn’t be buried in the small print of a fifty page carrier contract. All they have to say is something along the lines of we offer uncut theatrical releases rated from G through R. If someone is adamant about their child not viewing R rated films, give them the info so they can choose whether to use your airline or a different one. By the same token, if your airline only has family friendly entertainment, be up front about that too so that adults who want to watch more mature content have the option to fly elsewhere if they choose.

I feel like most people in a public place watching films with adult content on their own devices are going to be more discreet about it, tilting the screen away from others in a way you just can’t with fixed seat back screens.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

The problem is, when it comes to things like "where is the line", everyone's line is different. So "common sense" doesn't help. Same with qualifying "too graphic".

This is a really good point.

Any sort of violence can be seen as "too violent" for some folks when kids are around.

 

[tvguy]

We have a six screen drive in theater right next to a major 8 lane Freeway that is still in daily operationg (except in foggy weather). Been in operation over 50 years and you never know what you will see on those huge screens. I'm sure it has generated lots of complaints over the decades, but they never change anything. As far as personal devices, I guess you should use good taste as a rule as to what to watch, but everyone's definition of good taste is different. So there is no perfect answer. Last movie I watched on a plane was The Lego Movie.