[deleted]
Life without a cell phone
21–26 of 26 posts
Re: Life without a cell phone
#22This article reeks of the familiar vogue of people bragging about not having Facebook accounts: It's probably not that hard for you if you have an underwhelming social life, don't date, and aren't that connected to those around you to begin with.
I lost my phone last month, but my contract restarts in 3 days so I've been holding out to capitalize on the free phone they give me. I'm 22, and it's been miserable because I have an interest in the opposite sex (among other reasons).
And when I do have a cellphone, I possess the willpower to keep it in silent mode until I wish to check it. Someone made the point that possessing a phone instills the expectation in others that you'll respond to their pings in within a reasonable amount of time. I challenge that. It doesn't take long to train people to understand your mobile availability. And moreover, who's keeping track?
Re: Life without a cell phone
#23I don't get folks who feel so chained to their mobile phones. I have a cell phone. When I feel like using it to make calls, I make a call. When I feel like using it to answer a call, I will answer it when a call comes in. If I don't feel like answering a call, I simply don't. If the call is important, the caller will leave a message and I'll return it at my leisure. If the call is not important, often the caller will…
Article sounds similar to the anti-Facebook camp who outline a hypothetical 'if I did have a Facebook account' world where every one of their Facebook friends is spamming them with virtual Farmville goods and quips about Japan deserving the earthquake because of Pearl Harbor.
In reality, it doesn't really happen. I have zero tolerance for people who interrupt a moment that demands undivided attention (like a date) by incessantly checking their cellphone. But all of my friends seem to have a reasonable handle on that.
Uncourteous people are uncourteous people, but I certainly wouldn't evade a technology for fear of my friends being uncourteous.
Re: Life without a cell phone
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
That sounds like a loss of freedom to me. How about the freedom to not answer your phone when you don't want to be bothered?
Part of it is the social contract that is implicitly engaged when someone knows you have a cell phone. Basically, those people have a reasonable assumption that they can call you, and if they can't talk to you, at least they can leave a message which you'll probably respond to within a few hours. A lot of people seem to think that turning your phone off while you take a hike is as the same degree of freedom as never…
I'd actually reverse the point.
Possessing a phone seems to give people the addiction of reaffirming their social value with little "New Text Message" nuggets throughout the day. Or the need to cater to every correspondence whim by immediately returning calls and texts.
I think the loss of freedom is less contingent on getting a phone, and more indicative of the general social insecurities most of us share.
Re: Life without a cell phone
#25I did this until last year when I broke down and got a phone because I wanted to get into mobile development. It was worth it (financially), but the freedom she talks about in not owning a cell phone is real - and I miss it.
What requires people to respond to cell phone calls/messages/texts promptly? I only respond if I want to and when I want to.
It's a social shortcoming. Neediness.
It's why you shouldn't feel compelled to instantly respond to the texts of that girl you started talking to. Instead, waiting longer between conversational responses portrays more dominance, control, and "I have other shit going on in my day".
Re: Life without a cell phone
#26I've got a business idea. I'll make this thing, you'll pay heaps for it, then pay each month to have it. Then, whenever someone wants you to do something they can press a button and get you and get you to change your plans. I bet no one likes my idea though. Additionally, I'm damned if I know how I fell into the trap of cell phones. Sent from my iPhone.