Posted on 08/08/2009 5:47:39 PM PDT by SkipJames
I don’t like carrying cell phones. When it came to buying a wireless phone, I was one of the last holdouts. My house is a bit remote and to this date it has absolutely no cell coverage. Back in 2001, almost everyone I knew already had a cell phone. Finally, I broke down and bought a top of the line Motorola. It was in the $300 plus price range with a two year contract. I even bought a serial port Outlook synchronization device to download contacts and calendar information. I did have fun learning to use all of the device’s options, but after mastering it, the thrill soon wore off and it was placed in the glove compartment for emergency use.
A few years later in 2005, I was given a Blackberry to use. Excited once again, I downloaded Eclipse and the BB SDK and was soon creating sample applications and having some fun with our internal BB server. After mastering the device it seemed to lose it’s luster. To this day, the site of four or five people simultaneously reaching for their Blackberries still reminds me of some absurd synchronized swimming event. Sometimes I would send them messages myself, just to see the coordinated reach. I di tell them that I certainly don’t use it while I’m driving, I can’t use it at home, as I have no coverage and I don’t use it while I’m here because you folks already look silly enough at the meetings. That’s when they took away my BB and reminded me of the monthly cost.
In 2005 I dropped the Motorola and switched to a cheap no name camera phone. I took and sent a few pictures for 25 frigging cents a pop, learned all of the features and then once again placed it in the glove compartment. It only came out once every few months for the occasional call or to be recharged. It was a sturdy and reliable little phone. It lasted 3 years and over that time, I believe I actually made several calls. I let the contract expire and went without a phone for a few months. I never missed it.
Then, last year, I received a very interesting gift. I received an IPhone. I immediately downloaded the SDK and free XCode development environment to my IMac. I had fun breaking the IPhone 3 different ways and downloading ripped DVDs. I applied to the Apple Development Center and waited and waited and I mean waited! Months went by with no response. Finally I gave up and gave the IPhone to my wife who loves it and actually puts it to use.
So here I am with no phone again. Do I care? Should I? Well I don’t and I don’t give a damn. If you want to reach me, call me at work or home and leave a message. Better yet, try talking to me in person. You might actually like it, unless you pull out you cell phone during our conversation.
I see no need for a cellphone. It is just something else to have to carry around. And when I am out of touch, I want to be out of touch.
I take the opposing view though, I see no reason to have a landline, so I skip that in lieu of a cell phone. As for not wanting to be reachable, I simply don't answer it when I choose to not be bothered.
I have one but only very rarely use it.
They have off switches.
I call three people on mine...once a month that’s it. It’s good to have on a vacation though.
Good grief - people still make telephone calls with the things?
I’ve got a $14 Tracphone that I bought almost 3 years ago. No bells and whistles at all. I got a deal on 1000 minutes and I pay $3 a month to keep those minutes active.
After 3 years I still have 485 minutes of use.
Finally I gave up and gave the IPhone to my wife who loves it and actually puts it to use. So here I am with no phone again.
Welcome Skip. Nicely written!
Ever heard of a prepaid cell phone? Good for emergencies and cheap.
And when someone can’t reach you, especially a family member, there are recriminations. I have seen that with others and I it definitely does not help to kindle in me a desire for a cell phone. I just do not feel a need to be constantly wired to everyone else or to not have an excuse for declining endless pointless chitchat.
We have cell phones and a Magic Jack
I’m guessing you don’t get caught in a lot of snowstorms down there.
Emergencies is the primary reason I have mine. I got it after an ice storm took out my utility pole and left me without a phone for nearly a week.
I hate phones but my husband insisted that I get a cell phone about 8 yrs ago, I kept forgetting it and one day I came home from town and he asked where it was and that he had been calling me all morning. I went and found it, handed it to my son and said “here, have a phone”.
4 years later I did get another one but I still don’t like it and I accidently leave it home or at work or in the car, or forget to charge it, so I don’t know why I keep it.
Is anyone who posted on this thread less than 85 years old? Cause it sure doesn’t seem like it.
The story is told that Alexander Graham Bell absolutely refused to have a phone in his house. In is senior years the family insisted he have a phone for security and safety reason. He finally gave in, but with the stipulation it would have no ringer! All he cared to do was call out when the fancy struck him, he wanted NO incoming messages. He was very outspoken about what an intrusion on life his invention had become!
Have no idea how true this is, but it would be ironic to say the least!
What I really hate is how people have come to feel you have some obligation to answer their call or return their call. The get absolutely incensed if you don’t pick up or call them back. There are people that I simply have interest in talking to and I avoid them like the plague. Thank goodness for caller ID!
Remember all the static that came about before caller ID was approved? Somehow people thought they had the right to call you without you knowing who was calling. My solution is to have my phone ring only when the caller is identified and even then I feel it’s my right to ignore anyone I want to ignore!
LOL we’re confused and disoriented. The government will be along to take us to a happy sleepy place soon enough.
I love my cell phone. I have no land line. My name and address are not in a phone book. My wife a couple of close friends and a few family members are the only people who have the number. I may get and/or place 10 calls a month. I do not get robo calls, telemarketers, RNC calls or other annoying calls.
I think elderly people should have one too. There is a feature that can be aded to contacts called ICE. If someone winds up in an accident or emergency room & cannot give any information, the ICE is programmed to dial their emergency contact so that info is immediately available. It could save someone's life. Most emergency crews & hospital ERs know about it - look for it & dial family or whoever the contact # belongs to.
My purse has a little outside velcro pocket to carry my cell phone. I don't leave home without it.
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