Live data from Hacker News

I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

ploum.net

71–80 of 267 posts

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> He's complaining about being required to use apps for hundreds of small interactions every day This is the exaggeration that makes these claims fall flat for me. How are you getting to hundreds of smartphone interactions per day that require apps?

Just because you don't need to interact with all of them today does not mean that interaction isn't required when needed.

Right, but “two or three out of potentially hundreds” doesn’t mean the same as “hundreds”.

That’s the hyperbole the parent was pointing out.

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tried to remove the browser from my smartphone and it was impossible because of all these stupid QR scanning requirements everywhere.

The word "requirements" is doing a lot of work there. I've never met a QR code where scanning it was required of me.

So you'd leave the restaurant if it has a QR menu?

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> On the other hand, I have turned my laptop into a dumb computer using cold turkey blocker. Very easily bypassed at least on MacOS unfortunately.

Not if you set up a separate admin account and demote yourself to standard user.

The only way I can see this working, is if you give your admin pass to a friend, and tell them "Never believe me when I say I need it, always act as if I'm lying".

And hope when you call at 2am needing a fix, they don't give in.

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#74

I wonder if the author has actually tried the QR code menus. It's actually incredibly convenient and some even let you pay right on the website so you ever are having to wait on some server to come by your table. You can get more information about the items on the menu than a physical menu and it is just more pleasant to read in general.

strong disagree. much harder to browse the menu in a tiny screen, many of those websites are written by the cousin and barely work at all, nefarious ux, etc.

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#75
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The word "requirements" is doing a lot of work there. I've never met a QR code where scanning it was required of me.

So you'd leave the restaurant if it has a QR menu?

yes

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#76
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The word "requirements" is doing a lot of work there. I've never met a QR code where scanning it was required of me.

So you'd leave the restaurant if it has a QR menu?

I certainly would, unless it was something I was doing for someone else's sake (like a birthday dinner for someone). Why would I do business with a restaurant that can't be bothered to provide a good experience for customers?

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#78
post #68
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The example could be hyperbole, but Home Depot and Lowes both offer a wide selection of "smart toilets" and if we think "oh this is just a weird niche thing that will never catch on" let's remember how difficult it is to not purchase a Smart TV when television shopping these days.

I cannot envision what a traditional, but smart toilet may do. By traditional, not Japanese or anything of the sort. I'm sure it's also not taking medical samples. So what on earth could it do?! Report the flushes!?! Why? Are you going to magically decide not to crap as much? Just baffling.

The whole point of the label "smart" is to fill in vague positive thoughts for the customary "..." that comes right before "profit" in the standard /. business plan. And the real problem is that it works.

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> On the other hand, I have turned my laptop into a dumb computer using cold turkey blocker. Very easily bypassed at least on MacOS unfortunately.

Not if you set up a separate admin account and demote yourself to standard user.

I don't think that would patch it. You want me to say what it is?

Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't

#80
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The word "requirements" is doing a lot of work there. I've never met a QR code where scanning it was required of me.

So you'd leave the restaurant if it has a QR menu?

Depending on what type of computer (if not smartphone) you have at hand, you can probably use a search engine to find the same menu. Or ask somebody at your table. Or ask the server. Or point at somebody else's food and say you want what they're having. Or eschew the menu entirely and ask to be surprised. Chef's choice can be fun.

Or leave yeah, I think that's valid. TFA is predicated on the notion of pretty-much-lying to people by telling them you don't have a smartphone even if you do. Leaving a restaurant if you can't find a menu seems like it'd be on similar ideological footing.

Post reply on HN