Why I Ditched My Smartphone And You Should Too

Thomas Dishaw ^ | 6-4-15 | Thomas Dishaw

[thomasryan]

(Thomas Dishaw) As a blogger and concerned citizen I try to put my money where my mouth is. I believe voting with my dollars is a way of life, therefore I do my best to only support companies, products, and people who I truly stand behind morally and politically. I came to an understanding long ago that the only way to get a point across criminal corporations is to affect their bottom line.

Over the last few months I have been having discussions with friends and family about getting rid of my smartphone and downgrading to a cheaper, less traceable flip phone. Sounds crazy, right? Most people think so, but at these critical times when everybody is distracted by their smartphones, a major social breakdown in society is happening . What used to be sounds of conversation, laughter and happiness surrounding us has been replaced by an eerie silence only filled with email and text alerts. We have become slaves to our devices, almost never looking up in fear of missing something from our glowing screens that continues to sell us propaganda and unhappiness for pennies on the dollar. Most acknowledgements like “Hello” or “How are you” are returned with dirty stares and confusion from people forced to look up from their personal enslavement devices.

So this really got me to start thinking “why am I paying a AT&T to spy on me?” I give them $110.00 a month for access to my own personal information, but what am I getting out of this deal? This is the question I often asked myself. I carry around a big brother tracking device that sends everything I do to EVERY alphabet agency on the planet, and ANY corporation that would pay a dime for my psychological profile and buying habits. You may be thinking, like a lot of people, “well if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn’t care.” Well I have everything to hide and I do care, and so should you.

smartphone-collection

PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE DANGEROUS

I decided I needed to make a change. As most continue to go high-tech, I made the unpopular decision of going lo-tech. After weeks of toying with the idea of ditching my smartphone I finally did it. Called AT&T, dumped my $110 a month service and switched to NET 10 for $35 a month unlimited phone & text (no internet). With that move alone I am already saving $75 per month and almost $1,000 per year. But more importantly I’m proving to myself and others that you don’t just have to put up with these phone companies because it’s the status quot. There are other options that allow you to still be connected but without giving up your freedom of privacy. I know I can’t stop 100% of the unconstitutional spying but I can start by controlling who I support.

In a weird way I actually enjoy the stares I get from people when my Nintendo sounding ring tone signals an incoming call when I forget to turn the vibrate on. I know people are secretly judging me, but I don’t care. “He must be a drug dealer, a criminal, or that’s a second phone for his mistress.” “He must have bad credit, or even worse he’s poor.” The main stream media wants us to think this way. They used the same narrative when attacking Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones who was caught talking on a flip phone. The media made fun of Jones, attacking his lack of style and financial stature as a reason for using such an “outdated” device. I’m sure Jerry’s having the last laugh as he is making million dollar phone calls from his secure satellite phone.

Over the last month I’ve noticed that I need my phone less and less. Prior to this my cell phone used to follow me in trips to the bathroom, at the dinner table, and in the bedroom. Now I find it easy to abandon on the kitchen table and barely use a full battery. The biggest shock to me is that I don’t even miss it. I’m getting more accomplished everyday, I’m not wasting time on Facebook or getting sucked into the smart phone trance that often distracts us.

Some things are taking a little while to get used to though. I don’t have the luxury of taking a quality photo with my flip phone. I can’t get driving directions with my navigation app. I can’t look up a business or phone number on the fly. Texting is really tough compared to ease of my old “big brother tracking device”. And yes people will notice the difference. I recently got a text from a friend saying we don’t talk as much, and I found that it was too much to type a whole explanation on my flip phone. I guess I’ll just have to explain in person.

I don’t like to make bold predictions, but I don’t ever see myself going back to a smart phone. I know over the next few years the temptation will be great with all the new technology that continues to be developed. But to me the pros outweigh the cons:

PRO’S

Voting with my dollars

Saving money

More productive

Cut the surveillance drastically

Eliminate the radiation risks

Engaging in more conversation

I’m not texting while driving

I’m less distracted and more aware of my surroundings

CON’S

Cant take a good picture

It’s a hassle to text

Can’t Email

Can’t surf the web

Can’t get driving directions

Can’t enjoy the internet from my bed

The pro’s drastically outweigh the cons, so stop being a slave. If the opportunity ever arises to ditch your cell phone try it. I guarantee it will be one of the best investments in time and quality of life that you ever make.

[bray]

I have my smartphone for free and you can too.
Pray America is waking

[__rvx86]

The smartest phone I would ever own would only have GPRS or EDGE dial-up service.

Nothing fancier. I usually place calls and texts. Unless I’m patching my cel phone to my computers, I only *need* GPRS/EDGE.

A Motorola RAZR would suit me well, if I could find either an unlocked model, or one locked to VoiceStream Wireless...I don’t remember Big Magenta ever selling the RAZR...back then, they were the laughingstock of the wireless industry...

[AnalogReigns]

2 years ago, for the first time in about 20 years, I went without a cell phone completely. I simply used an old fashioned answering machine at home...checked my messages regularly—and, had a very peaceful social life away from home.

I did get a smart phone finally last year. I use a cheap T-mobile plan. I don’t check email on the phone (too small to look at!), and I make a point of not fiddling with the phone when there are people to talk with present. So far, so good. And I notice a lot of people are getting more social....NOT being slaves to their phones.

Some business people are still slaves—and are rude and interrupting because of that (why are all calls more important than the present conversation?) with a blue-tooth stuck in their ear. However, I’m noticing more and more people are not using their phone for everything, all the time....it just takes discipline now, to be courteous.

[House Atreides]

They can have my smartphone when they pry it from my cold, dead hands. :^)

[minnesota_bound]

I have a LG G3 that I bought at Ebay.
I use T-Mobile and pay $30 a month. I get 100 minutes of talk and 5gb of data. I use Skype for the telephone service which uses the data. A minute of a call uses 1mb to 3mb so I really have well over 1,000 minutes. If Skype cannot connect I can use my T-Mobile app for the call. I do this rarely as it is not needed much.

[bluejean]

Gee, I’d have never seen this if I hadn’t been Freeping on my Smart Phone...

[MamaB]

I have an iPhone but I am not chained to it. I have always hated talking on the phone. When I get in my car, I turn it off. If anyone wants to get in touch with me, they can wait until I get to my destination. I do use it on trips. I let a family member know where I am on the road since I go out of state to see relatives. I do use the text feature to send messages to family members especially when they are at work. I had rather be reading!

[minnesota_bound]

I need a phone to talk to people. ATT has been tapping our calls forever. Now you are lost in the crowd. The NSA, FBI are not interested in you. You can remove the apps off a LG phone as they let you unlike some other phones and carriers.

[caww]

I had a cell phone for about two months and let it go. Haven’t missed it a bit and n plans to get another.

I have a computer and landline phone that is sufficient for what I desire to be “connected to”.

I talked with a volunteer fireman who stopped by who had three phones....one for family, another for work and a third for emergencies. He said he’d like to be unhooked as it seems one or the other of his phones are always ringing.

I enjoy being unhooked....more importantly choosing when I want to engage in real time and otherwise.

[ConjunctionJunction]

How do you have your smartphone for free?

[dila813]

I use a smart pocket notepad to place notes on people’s doors

[murron]

I just switched to T-Mobile, paid $20 for the smartphone online, and have unlimited talk, text, and data with rollover if I don’t use it all in one month for $45 monthly. My husband also has a smartphone, but with AT&T, and he has unlimited talk and text for $30. He’s not into data usage so we got a plan that doesn’t include that. And these are no contract phones. We can change our plan any time we want to.

[TexasGator]

PRO’S

Voting with my dollars:ok

Saving money :my smartphone saves me money, gps, price comparisons, gas app in car

More productive :My smart phone increases my productivity, google, apps, etc

Cut the surveillance drastically :somewhat. All cellphones are 'tracked'.

Eliminate the radiation risks :LOL

Engaging in more conversation :That is your problem, not mine

I’m not texting while driving :dumb phones can text, too.

I’m less distracted and more aware of my surroundings :My smartphone is a tool that allows me to interact with my surroundings more

[GraceG]

My mom basically just needs a “Portable dial tone” old person phone, i wish they actually made them.

[LookingUp]

I use Republic Wireless. $10+ 3 tax. Unlimited phone and text. Wifi. It works for me. We went from $70 a mo. for the two of us with no texting and only 550 min. at Verizon. To $26 for both smartphones.
My grandsons found this co. There are other plans for more needy persons.

[bray]

Through Flash Wireless with unlimited Text, Voice and Data. Email me and I can send you to the website.

[GailA]

I bought a Jabra Tour for my older non Blue tooth Corolla, not a perfect solution but better than trying to fish the cell phone out.

I wear twin hearing aids and to use any cell phone I have to use the speaker phone.

I don’t use my ‘smart’ phone much, just to look up stuff or email or txt family. We are all getting older and need what it can provide. I do NO banking on my phone.

[VanShuyten]

I’ve got a 3G AT&T Go phone. 10ct/min, $25/ 3 mos minimum with rollover of unused $, text @ 20ct/text.
I could get data, but don’t. Plenty of wifi around for the IPAD when I really need it.

Cell phone is for people I like. All others get the answering machine on the land line, which we’re thinking of dumping.

I could see having a smart phone if I were a traveling businessman, but I’m not.

[Secret Agent Man]

I have a smartphone tracfone. I pay $80 for a year of service and 1200 minutes plus the previous minutes I had from an earlier phone. I be set.