OT: Am I the only one who doesn’t have a cell phone?

[afx114]

OX
…get off my lawn!

[northparkbuyer]

[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.

Don’t even get me started on Facebook!

[northparkbuyer]

[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.

Don’t even get me started on Facebook!

[northparkbuyer]

[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.

Don’t even get me started on Facebook!

[northparkbuyer]

[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.

Don’t even get me started on Facebook!

[northparkbuyer]

[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.

Don’t even get me started on Facebook!

[Coronita]

[quote=briansd1]One thing to be careful about the cell phone: it’s a tracking device.

If you’re having an affair, your jealous spouse could easily plant one in your car and find out where you’ve been.

I remember when they were advertising cell phones for safety. I knew that people would use it for tracking, just because they can.

If your employer pays for your phone, they can find out where you go.[/quote]

…the battery life of a smartphone probably can’t last over a day or two with wifi/3g/bluetooth/gps on and active. If you really want to track the car, you just tap into the car’s Onstar, BMW assist, Mercedes SOS, (insert your favorite car tracking system here)…Or have the FBI stick a tracking device on your car’s bumper and then tell you that you are “boring”.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/10/fbi-tracking-device/

[Coronita]

[quote=briansd1]One thing to be careful about the cell phone: it’s a tracking device.

If you’re having an affair, your jealous spouse could easily plant one in your car and find out where you’ve been.

I remember when they were advertising cell phones for safety. I knew that people would use it for tracking, just because they can.

If your employer pays for your phone, they can find out where you go.[/quote]

…the battery life of a smartphone probably can’t last over a day or two with wifi/3g/bluetooth/gps on and active. If you really want to track the car, you just tap into the car’s Onstar, BMW assist, Mercedes SOS, (insert your favorite car tracking system here)…Or have the FBI stick a tracking device on your car’s bumper and then tell you that you are “boring”.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/10/fbi-tracking-device/

[Coronita]

[quote=briansd1]One thing to be careful about the cell phone: it’s a tracking device.

If you’re having an affair, your jealous spouse could easily plant one in your car and find out where you’ve been.

I remember when they were advertising cell phones for safety. I knew that people would use it for tracking, just because they can.

If your employer pays for your phone, they can find out where you go.[/quote]

…the battery life of a smartphone probably can’t last over a day or two with wifi/3g/bluetooth/gps on and active. If you really want to track the car, you just tap into the car’s Onstar, BMW assist, Mercedes SOS, (insert your favorite car tracking system here)…Or have the FBI stick a tracking device on your car’s bumper and then tell you that you are “boring”.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/10/fbi-tracking-device/

[Coronita]

[quote=briansd1]One thing to be careful about the cell phone: it’s a tracking device.

If you’re having an affair, your jealous spouse could easily plant one in your car and find out where you’ve been.

I remember when they were advertising cell phones for safety. I knew that people would use it for tracking, just because they can.

If your employer pays for your phone, they can find out where you go.[/quote]

…the battery life of a smartphone probably can’t last over a day or two with wifi/3g/bluetooth/gps on and active. If you really want to track the car, you just tap into the car’s Onstar, BMW assist, Mercedes SOS, (insert your favorite car tracking system here)…Or have the FBI stick a tracking device on your car’s bumper and then tell you that you are “boring”.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/10/fbi-tracking-device/

[Coronita]

[quote=briansd1]One thing to be careful about the cell phone: it’s a tracking device.

If you’re having an affair, your jealous spouse could easily plant one in your car and find out where you’ve been.

I remember when they were advertising cell phones for safety. I knew that people would use it for tracking, just because they can.

If your employer pays for your phone, they can find out where you go.[/quote]

…the battery life of a smartphone probably can’t last over a day or two with wifi/3g/bluetooth/gps on and active. If you really want to track the car, you just tap into the car’s Onstar, BMW assist, Mercedes SOS, (insert your favorite car tracking system here)…Or have the FBI stick a tracking device on your car’s bumper and then tell you that you are “boring”.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/10/fbi-tracking-device/

[Scarlett]

[quote=UCGal]Ox – I’m not quite as luddite as you – but close. I have a cell – but it’s dumb… it does calls and txts – but no surfing, email, etc. Only a small circle of people have the #.

My thinking is like Ox’s… I don’t need to be that connected. There are places the phone should NOT reach you. (Pet peeve of mine – cell phone use in public (or private) restrooms.)

It’s convenient, though, to be able to call up the hubster while at the grocery store and confirm that we need more milk, or if we have enough…
[/quote]
I am the same way – I don’t care about texting – so my cell phone is well, only for phone calls. No email or web surfing. Only my family and people who I know wouldn’t call just to chat have my number.

It’s very useful in the stores, especially the grocery store as you mentioned, checking with your spouse about various things and sizes etc. I also find very useful for coordinating a meeting point and time when one party is out doing stuff that doesn’t know for sure how long it will take. Or if you are stuck in traffic, or delayed for other reasons – to let other people you are supposed to meet know.

When you have kids, you do want to be able to be reached at any time in an emergency by the school teachers. Also useful if you get stranded somewhere, an accident or something, where you may not be able to reach easily somebody with a phone.

[Scarlett]

[quote=UCGal]Ox – I’m not quite as luddite as you – but close. I have a cell – but it’s dumb… it does calls and txts – but no surfing, email, etc. Only a small circle of people have the #.

My thinking is like Ox’s… I don’t need to be that connected. There are places the phone should NOT reach you. (Pet peeve of mine – cell phone use in public (or private) restrooms.)

It’s convenient, though, to be able to call up the hubster while at the grocery store and confirm that we need more milk, or if we have enough…
[/quote]
I am the same way – I don’t care about texting – so my cell phone is well, only for phone calls. No email or web surfing. Only my family and people who I know wouldn’t call just to chat have my number.

It’s very useful in the stores, especially the grocery store as you mentioned, checking with your spouse about various things and sizes etc. I also find very useful for coordinating a meeting point and time when one party is out doing stuff that doesn’t know for sure how long it will take. Or if you are stuck in traffic, or delayed for other reasons – to let other people you are supposed to meet know.

When you have kids, you do want to be able to be reached at any time in an emergency by the school teachers. Also useful if you get stranded somewhere, an accident or something, where you may not be able to reach easily somebody with a phone.

[Scarlett]

[quote=UCGal]Ox – I’m not quite as luddite as you – but close. I have a cell – but it’s dumb… it does calls and txts – but no surfing, email, etc. Only a small circle of people have the #.

My thinking is like Ox’s… I don’t need to be that connected. There are places the phone should NOT reach you. (Pet peeve of mine – cell phone use in public (or private) restrooms.)

It’s convenient, though, to be able to call up the hubster while at the grocery store and confirm that we need more milk, or if we have enough…
[/quote]
I am the same way – I don’t care about texting – so my cell phone is well, only for phone calls. No email or web surfing. Only my family and people who I know wouldn’t call just to chat have my number.

It’s very useful in the stores, especially the grocery store as you mentioned, checking with your spouse about various things and sizes etc. I also find very useful for coordinating a meeting point and time when one party is out doing stuff that doesn’t know for sure how long it will take. Or if you are stuck in traffic, or delayed for other reasons – to let other people you are supposed to meet know.

When you have kids, you do want to be able to be reached at any time in an emergency by the school teachers. Also useful if you get stranded somewhere, an accident or something, where you may not be able to reach easily somebody with a phone.

[Scarlett]

[quote=UCGal]Ox – I’m not quite as luddite as you – but close. I have a cell – but it’s dumb… it does calls and txts – but no surfing, email, etc. Only a small circle of people have the #.

My thinking is like Ox’s… I don’t need to be that connected. There are places the phone should NOT reach you. (Pet peeve of mine – cell phone use in public (or private) restrooms.)

It’s convenient, though, to be able to call up the hubster while at the grocery store and confirm that we need more milk, or if we have enough…
[/quote]
I am the same way – I don’t care about texting – so my cell phone is well, only for phone calls. No email or web surfing. Only my family and people who I know wouldn’t call just to chat have my number.

It’s very useful in the stores, especially the grocery store as you mentioned, checking with your spouse about various things and sizes etc. I also find very useful for coordinating a meeting point and time when one party is out doing stuff that doesn’t know for sure how long it will take. Or if you are stuck in traffic, or delayed for other reasons – to let other people you are supposed to meet know.

When you have kids, you do want to be able to be reached at any time in an emergency by the school teachers. Also useful if you get stranded somewhere, an accident or something, where you may not be able to reach easily somebody with a phone.

[Author]

Posts