Interesting point. Especially given the current "bigger is better" trend for smartphone screens these days. That's why it'd be important for Tattlr to offer a short process to report the disturbance.
Look at it this way: If I pull out my phone to use Tattlr to report a person chatting it up on his phone behind me during a movie, I'm simply piggybacking on the existing disturbance as opposed to creating my own disturbance. Who's going to notice me using Tattlr when the guy behind me is being a far greater nuisance? Everyone's attention will be on the jackass talking on the phone, not the jackass tapping the screen on his smartphone.
OR
If a shouting match breaks out in the back of the auditorium. Will people be more worried about getting nachos and soda thrown on them or the guy 2 rows up illuminating the place with his smartphone?
Now there is two jackasses causing a disturbance in my movie. Some guy being noisy and another with a bright light from a phone. Sorry, I think your whole premise is flawed.
I would assume most people would view the bright light as far less abrasive than the guy being noisy talking on his telephone in the middle of a movie. Besides, 3 quick button presses ensures that most people will hardly notice the brief illumination in the theater you'd create with Tattlr.
I like how you assume all these concerns away when this is the top comment and repeated multiple times. Light is visible from basically an entire dark theater. Sound, on the other hand can vary from a slightly loud neighbor to a loud guy the whole theater can hear. So, you, my loud neighbor may be disturbing me and maybe 8 others in your immediate surroundings, but I, with my cell phone distract everyone behind me, all 100 of them. You want feedback, don't just tell me I am wrong, listen to your audience. I don't want cell phones being turned on while I watch a movie for any reason.
Look at it this way: If I pull out my phone to use Tattlr to report a person chatting it up on his phone behind me during a movie, I'm simply piggybacking on the existing disturbance as opposed to creating my own disturbance. Who's going to notice me using Tattlr when the guy behind me is being a far greater nuisance? Everyone's attention will be on the jackass talking on the phone, not the jackass tapping the screen on his smartphone.
OR
If a shouting match breaks out in the back of the auditorium. Will people be more worried about getting nachos and soda thrown on them or the guy 2 rows up illuminating the place with his smartphone?