[quote]Call 911 when no other phone is available. If I’m not mistaken, if you have one with GPS, they can utilize that to find you.[/quote]
True. But I have dialed 911 in my life exactly 0 times. Odds are I never will. And if “they” can find me in an emergency, they can probably find me anytime, which doesn’t seem like privacy.
[quote]Keep in touch with your kids. With a cell, they have no excuse for not calling you, a cab, or a tow truck.[/quote]
Somehow kids survived pre-cell phone. Yes, I’m definitely old-fashioned, and believe in planning in advance. Also, my teen daughter does carry one, but not because I buy into the “helicopter parenting” trend. It’s only because she wanted one (she doesn’t want to be socially handicapped like her Dad) and she earned it.
[quote]Receive a text or call from your otherwise silent car alarm that someone is messing with your ride. Disable the ignition or fuel supply remotely, then call the police or vent some anger issues.[/quote]
That is cool (is this capability really available for civilians? Wow). But again, I must cite the odds. It may be a legitimate use of a mobile phone, but I’ve had my car stolen exactly 0 times in my life, and odds are it never will be. Plus, I keep hoping somebody steals my 1990 Volvo.
[quote]You can live without it. You can drive back to the store to get the bread you forgot to put on your list. But it does make life run more smoothly.[/quote]
But I think some people are turning off their brains to depend on these devices. I have friends who cannot remember a single phone number or address, because all this information is in their device and omitted from their brain. Why even bother trying to remember bread or any other groceries when shopping? –Just call up the house and find out what you’re out of (and try to not annoy the other shoppers with one side of a banal grocery discussion — chances are they’re on their phones, too, so no worries).
All of the uses above are legit. I just decided that, for me personally, they’re not worth the hassle and expense of carrying a phone. And I know I am in a tiny minority.
