Please Switch Off Your Phone
You know, Dear Reader, it's the kind of notice you see at the beginning of a cinema showing, it's probably in your programme at the theatre and it definitely comes up ahead of our Sunday morning services. "Please switch off your mobile phone"
Why? Because what we are doing here is more important. Because you don't have to immediately look to see that something you posted on Facetime or Twitgram or Instabook has been 'liked'. Because those around you want to watch the film or play or worship Almighty God undistracted.
It's bad enough having people who keep talking to each other, even if they have the courtesy to whisper. Look, if you wanted to chat, why didn't you go to a cafe? I know hipster coffees tend to the expensive, but they're cheaper than modern cinema or theatre tickets, and in Church you're supposed to be concentrating on God!
Then there are the compulsive sweet eaters - who have chosen something in a stiff plastic/shiny metallised plastic bag, which are also wrapped in stiff, and therefore 'rustly', wrappers. If you want to scoff sweeties, at least have the decency to bring something in quiet wrappers. If you're hungry - why didn't you eat before you came?
One musician, possibly Fed Up with people who thought they 'needed' to be contactable at concerts, has done something with those oh so intrusive ringtones.
Young musician, composer and general all-round musical prodigy Alma Deutscher has done something similar with the Nokia ring tone (she was 7 at the time and doesn't appreciate comparisons with Mozart!)
If you have never heard of Alma, (who, despite her name and accent, is British) Dear Reader, it could just be because the various British TV 'Talent' shows tend to be looking for 'the next pop soloist/band' so that someone can make a quick few thousand bucks on the back of their 'stardom'.
Alma is a 'classical' musician and apparently Britain doesn't do 'Classical Talent'. It's seen as 'elitist', or something silly and divisive. H is very impressed with her. I think she's pretty good too.
But please, if you're going to a concert/the theatre/the cinema/church do switch off your mobile. The rest of the world will go on very well without you monitoring it, Dear Reader, and those around you will be so glad you didn't distract them.
Come to think of it, if you switch off your phone, you might just find your mind switches on. Now there's a potential threat!
Y'all have a good day now!
BTW - the Trio (see Music, below) is here.
Another young girl who wants to progress in her chosen field, this time robotics. What a thoughtful response. Good. For. Them.
Why? Because what we are doing here is more important. Because you don't have to immediately look to see that something you posted on Facetime or Twitgram or Instabook has been 'liked'. Because those around you want to watch the film or play or worship Almighty God undistracted.
It's bad enough having people who keep talking to each other, even if they have the courtesy to whisper. Look, if you wanted to chat, why didn't you go to a cafe? I know hipster coffees tend to the expensive, but they're cheaper than modern cinema or theatre tickets, and in Church you're supposed to be concentrating on God!
Then there are the compulsive sweet eaters - who have chosen something in a stiff plastic/shiny metallised plastic bag, which are also wrapped in stiff, and therefore 'rustly', wrappers. If you want to scoff sweeties, at least have the decency to bring something in quiet wrappers. If you're hungry - why didn't you eat before you came?
One musician, possibly Fed Up with people who thought they 'needed' to be contactable at concerts, has done something with those oh so intrusive ringtones.
Click to viewYoung musician, composer and general all-round musical prodigy Alma Deutscher has done something similar with the Nokia ring tone (she was 7 at the time and doesn't appreciate comparisons with Mozart!)
If you have never heard of Alma, (who, despite her name and accent, is British) Dear Reader, it could just be because the various British TV 'Talent' shows tend to be looking for 'the next pop soloist/band' so that someone can make a quick few thousand bucks on the back of their 'stardom'.
Alma is a 'classical' musician and apparently Britain doesn't do 'Classical Talent'. It's seen as 'elitist', or something silly and divisive. H is very impressed with her. I think she's pretty good too.
But please, if you're going to a concert/the theatre/the cinema/church do switch off your mobile. The rest of the world will go on very well without you monitoring it, Dear Reader, and those around you will be so glad you didn't distract them.
Come to think of it, if you switch off your phone, you might just find your mind switches on. Now there's a potential threat!
Y'all have a good day now!
BTW - the Trio (see Music, below) is here.
Another young girl who wants to progress in her chosen field, this time robotics. What a thoughtful response. Good. For. Them.