Another Stupid Idea From A Donk

Coming soon to a theater near you: movie listings that print the start time for the main feature.

Frustrated with lengthy advertisements and previews that delay movies and chew up viewing time, a state lawmaker wants theaters to be honest about when a movie actually starts.

State Rep. Andrew Fleischmann is proposing legislation to force movie listings to print the time the previews start, and when the movies start.

“We’re being robbed of our freedom of choice because we’re not told when the actual movie will begin,” said Fleischmann, a Democrat.

Movie ads are big business for theaters. A report from the Cinema Advertising Council, an industry group, found that on-screen revenue for its members grew 45 percent from $190.8 million in 2002 to $315 million in 2003.

Freedom of choice?

When you decide to buy furniture, yes, you get a choice. Which color, which style, and all that.

When you buy a car, yes, you get a choice. Which make, which model, which color, and all that.

When you buy bananas, yes, you get a choice. Ripe ones, green ones, large ones, small ones, and all that.

BUT

Once you make a decision to buy any of these items, and you have chosen your product, you are done with your choices. If you don’t like what you purchased, choose something else.

I hate ads at the movies as much as the next guy, and if I had my way, there would not be any. BUT. They are big business for the theaters and I do not see them pulling them out anytime soon.

One thing I hate more than ads…. People deciding that government must regulate things like this.

When you buy your furniture, do you want government regulating which pieces you are allowed to purchase based on the styles already in homes across the nation?

When you buy your car, do you want government regulating which color you are allowed to purchase based on the color of those cars already on the road?

When you buy your bananas, do you want government regulating how many you allowed to purchase at one time?

Ridiculous yes? So is regulating that movie theaters list the “real start time” for movies. If you don’t like the ads, go buy some popcorn, smooch on your wife, or pick the gum out of your shoe, but don’t you dare let the government start telling you what to do when it comes to watching a damn movie.

Go ahead people, vote Democrat. See what that will get you.

[Hat Tip: Insignificant Thoughts]