2 Key events in my life :
1. Purchased an iPhone1 10 years ago - changed my career & life.
2 Purchased a Nokia 3310 1 month ago - suddenly, the physical world around me has expanded. I feel I just woke up after 10 years.
Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
11–20 of 274 posts
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#12Smart phones are great but also a great source of distraction. It has taken me a lot of practice and discipline to not use it to zone out on various social media or political news.
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#13I don't see why you can't just control your cell phone habits. Swearing technology off is like cutting off the nose to spite the face.
The optimal setup for me is the basic apps installed (mail, messenger, uber/lyft, finances) with all notifications turned off. Less distraction while retaining the utility of having a smartphone.
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#14I don't see why you can't just control your cell phone habits. Swearing technology off is like cutting off the nose to spite the face. The optimal setup for me is the basic apps installed (mail, messenger, uber/lyft, finances) with all notifications turned off. Less distraction while retaining the utility of having a smartphone.
Some people have less impulse control and thus need to erect larger barriers between themselves and their addictions.
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#152 Key events in my life : 1. Purchased an iPhone1 10 years ago - changed my career & life. 2 Purchased a Nokia 3310 1 month ago - suddenly, the physical world around me has expanded. I feel I just woke up after 10 years.
'physical world around me has expanded'
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#16I had a similar feeling when I removed all social media apps and games from my smart phone.
Whenever there's a lull in activity (like waiting for a bus, at the doctor's office, etc) I used to mindlessly swipe and scroll away. Now I pay more attention to the physical world around me (the bus stop has a map, what kind of magazines does the doctor like, etc)
But I wonder if the author could get the same benefit by cancelling her mobile data plan.
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#17I obliterated one of my smartphones last year after dropping it on concrete while getting off the bus. I freaked out, had no clue what to do since I was low income and couldn't afford anything for quite awhile.
For a few days it was like I was an addict, constantly feeling my back pocket vibrating, constantly reaching to check my phone. After a few more days, I felt very liberated. I felt very free. I started enjoying life more. I started noticing how much the world (at least USA) depends on their phones for everything. I would go out to Reddit meetups without my phone and notice times where everyone would have their heads down, checking various social media platforms and not talking to each other. People would ask how I lived without a phone. I noticed how dangerous the distraction is with people doing simple things like walking crosswalks with their heads down staring at their phones. I noticed a lot of the time the entire bus full of people were looking down at their phones, most doing nothing of any real meaning.
After a week or so I learned how to cope without. I would look up directions and bus routes on my computer before I left. I would check my bank account before I left to do anything that cost money. I brought a notebook with me to keep notes of things I thought about and wanted to look further into when I got home. I noticed new things I've never noticed and learned more about the city I live in, especially the streets and landmarks so I could get around without GPS. It noticeably helped my anxiety and gave me a viewpoint of the world that I feel I hadn't been a part of since the first iPhone was released.
I'm not saying smartphones aren't useful, but I strongly recommend to anyone to take a break from their phone. It really is eye opening in very beneficial ways.
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#18Life with a smart phone is so much better than life before a smart phone. It's hard to realise how recently they came around. I've probably only had the internet on my phone for five years (I've had a smart phone for longer, but I couldn't get the data to work and data was expensive enough at the time I didn't care). I can communicate with my fiancee even when she's in another country (international sms = fail). I ca…
> you'll work out how to waste your time without your phone and you'll be back to square one.
I had a dumb phone for a year or so until maybe half a year ago. The ways I found to waste my time without smartphone were refreshingly different. Most importantly, thinking and wandering in my own mind without the urgent need to check every new thought from the internet. Long story short, there is now nokia 8110 with 4G and wifi available, I am likely going to get one of those soon and turn my smartphone off until I really need it.
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#19Life with a smart phone is so much better than life before a smart phone. It's hard to realise how recently they came around. I've probably only had the internet on my phone for five years (I've had a smart phone for longer, but I couldn't get the data to work and data was expensive enough at the time I didn't care). I can communicate with my fiancee even when she's in another country (international sms = fail). I ca…
I’m not a Luddite by any stretch and I’ve had smart phones since they were quite dumb, but your reasons don’t ring for me:
> I can communicate with my fiancee even when she's in another country (international sms = fail).
It facilitates instant communications. Email across the planet has been around since day one.
> I can have a fiancee who's in another country.
I can assure you this was possible pre-smart phone.
> When I'm on the train I can do something meaningful to me.
The counter point to this is millions of man years wasted streaming mind numbing video.
> When I'm not on the train, I can know when it's actually going to arrive so I can do something fun instead of waiting on the platform.
Mass transit has had posted schedules for many years. It is nice to see an updated one with up to the minute tracking but it wasn’t that inconvenient either.
> If I'm having a discussion with friends I can call up the information I'm missing.
I’m probably showing my age but I miss having a pointless yet heated argument that couldn’t be settled in 15 seconds on a smart phone. The feeling of being right when you finally do get to confirm the answer is worth so much more.
> I can listen to music and podcasts while I go for a walk or a ride.
You don’t need internet for that, just some planning to have the content downloaded in advance.
> I can plan my trips instead of listening to the boring parts of conversations.
If you’re describing zoning out of the real world people around you to doodle on your phone that’s sad.
> I can take nice photos when I didn't expect it.
Okay this one I agree. The best camera is the one you actually have. Counterpoint is we’re approaching peak photo.
Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone
#20Anyone have tips on some good US flip phones that work with modern networks (4G)? In a perfect world, with GPS (but not required)?