# Do you carry your cell phone with you at home? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 26, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390 "2024-03-26T14:33:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/141 "2024-03-27T16:48:11Z")
I’m disabled so I carry my phone in case something happens. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it for an emergency, yet. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/142 "2024-03-27T16:54:34Z")
You are 100% right - you couldn’t do that with a landline. So instead there was a social convention that people didn’t make non-urgent phone calls between 9pm and 9am unless they knew for certain a particular person didn’t mind. And if someone called me to chit-chat at midnight and woke me up, they didn’t act like it was my fault for not turning the ringer off or taking the phone off the hook. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/143 "2024-03-27T17:20:20Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > And if someone called me to chit-chat at midnight and woke me up, they didn’t act like it was my fault for not turning the ringer off or taking the phone off the hook. I doubt anyone is _calling_ you at midnight. Texts, unlike calls, are an asynchronous medium, and so there is nothing wrong with sending a late night text since there is no expectation of an immediate response. So you might be getting _texted_ at night. Luckily, your phone is mutable with like, 3 clicks of a button. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/144 "2024-03-27T17:23:59Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I regularly told them, if they ever needed a call, they could call me at any time, with no repercussions at the time (tho possible discussions in the morning. When my son was 17 he called me one Friday night after midnight. He had me on speaker so his friends could hear. He reminded me I told him he could call me any time with no repercussions if there was a situation dealing with alcohol. So, his situation was that he wanted to `know if I’d buy a case of beer for him and his friends. I was silent for a bit, then I heard his friends all laughing. He told me it was worth a try and hung up. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/145 "2024-03-27T17:39:37Z")
People did occasionally call at midnight back in those days - but they didn’t say " well, you could have just turned the ringer off". They apologized. That’s kind of my point - you’ve decided it’s OK to send me a text anytime it’s convenient for you since I’m not expected to respond immediately. And it’s my responsibility to mute my phone if I don’t want your 2 am text - even though there’s no way I know of to mute your text but not my daughter’s or mute most phone calls while letting the unknown number that might be the police or hospital through. And when I’ve blocked people who have called or texted too late/early , they get mad , as if I’m somehow obligated to use _my_ phone for _my_ convenience rather than theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/146 "2024-03-27T18:07:09Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > you’ve decided No, I didn’t. Society did (just like how back in the stone age they decided that you shouldn’t call a landline at midnight). You can adapt to the times, or you can yell at clouds. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/147 "2024-03-27T18:17:05Z")
Whoops - supposed to be And when I’ve blocked people who have called or texted too late/early , they get mad , as if I’m somehow obligated to use _my_ phone for **their** convenience rather than mine. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/148 "2024-03-27T18:43:56Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > And when I’ve blocked people who have called or texted too late/early , they get mad , as if I’m somehow obligated to use _my_ phone for **their** convenience rather than mine. At the risk of being whooshed and explaining the obvious - you are not supposed to use _your_ phone for **their** convenience; you are indeed supposed to use your phone for your own convenience by allowing you greater access to communication with others. When you block someone’s number, you are telling them that you do not wish to communicate with them further. Surely you see why someone might be offended by that. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/149 "2024-03-27T19:04:20Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > When you block someone’s number, you are telling them that you do not wish to communicate with them further. Surely you see why someone might be offended by that. Of course I can see why that might offend someone if it came out of the blue - although I’m not actually telling them that I don’t wish to communicate further. I’m telling them future communication will be at my convenience, when I call or text them. That’s what annoys me- it’s one way. They want to text when they want to text - they don’t need to think about my wishes but I’m supposed to think about theirs. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/150 "2024-03-27T19:11:23Z")
I work from home. My wife does not. For both of our sakes, I want to be available. So, yeah, I carry my phone. My home office also has very steep stairs to it. My phone in that case is security in case I fall or otherwise have problems. I’m a creature of habit with my stuff. Car keys always in left front pocket. Pocket knife, right front. Wallet right rear pocket. Phone on a holster on my hip. Always. I never have to wonder where this stuff is. It makes life easier. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/151 "2024-03-27T19:12:17Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > How else am I going to count my steps? If I put it down, I won’t get credit for those steps! Also podcasts and audiobooks. And if I think of something to go on the grocery list, it’s on my phone. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/152 "2024-03-27T19:28:04Z")
Yep. I sleep near to it as well. It’s my alarm clock. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/153 "2024-03-27T20:14:22Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > You can adapt to the times, or you can yell at clouds. Times don’t move unless somebody moves them. Whether this particular cloud is worth yelling at may be another matter. As is what type of yelling, if any, will have any beneficial effect. > [@Babale](#): > > you are not supposed to use _your_ phone for **their** convenience; you are indeed supposed to use your phone for your own convenience by allowing you greater access to communication with others. Only when I find it convenient. When I find it inconvenient, it is in no way to my convenience. I would be massively annoyed by somebody who insisted on contacting me in the middle of the night (actual emergencies aside) after I had told them this was disturbing me. If they wouldn’t cut it out, I’d be furious. My friends and family can email me any damn time. The devices I get email on are all asleep when I am; I’ll see my email when I get around to it. The phone (which does not get email) is on vibrate, but my bedroom’s quiet enough that even that will sometimes wake me up. The landline is turned on. Somebody might actually need to reach me at 3AM. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/154 "2024-03-27T20:33:23Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I would be massively annoyed by somebody who insisted on contacting me in the middle of the night (actual emergencies aside) after I had told them this was disturbing me. If they wouldn’t cut it out, I’d be furious. > > My friends and family can email me any damn time. The devices I get email on are all asleep when I am; I’ll see my email when I get around to it. The phone (which does not get email) is on vibrate, but my bedroom’s quiet enough that even that will sometimes wake me up. The landline is turned on. Somebody might actually need to reach me at 3AM. Oh yeah. Nobody calls me after 8pm. Even telemarketers and that BS (guess I’m lucky). If I get a call late at night, it’s serious. Pack a bag serious, so I will answer. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/155 "2024-03-27T23:40:33Z")
At night I keep my phone in the other room on its charger, but the door between is open. So if it actually rings when I’m asleep it can wake me up. On those rare occasions, I check it and usually block the number in the morning. I have various alert sounds for email and texts, and if I’m already half awake I might hear them, but they are short so it is easy to ignore them and go back to sleep. My in-laws in Japan very occasionally get the time difference wrong (usually the one who drinks) and calls in the middle of the night. Fortunately, she calls the landline which is upstairs, and I don’t hear it. I have also remembered that my father, after my mother died and he was living alone, carried his flip phone around at home in his shirt pocket, in case he fell and hurt himself or something. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/156 "2024-03-28T00:18:03Z")
I pretty much just use my phone to tell the time, so it may stay in my pocket until a day or two after the battery dies. When I notice, I plug it into the charger and leave it sitting on my desk; usually it stays there for several days until I remember to unplug it and put it back in my pocket, where it will stay until I notice the battery is dead. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/157 "2024-03-28T10:33:03Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > That’s kind of my point - you’ve decided it’s OK to send me a text anytime it’s convenient for you since I’m not expected to respond immediately. And it’s my responsibility to mute my phone if I don’t want your 2 am text a text - unlike a call - does NOT intrinsically “ring” … unless you allow a.) for notifications of the text-app (whatsapp?) AND b.) notifications to make a sound … I get dozens of text per day w/out any sounds like “laser-firing” or “coin dropping” … I think there IS this big difference ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/158 "2024-03-28T14:13:34Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > a text - unlike a call - does NOT intrinsically “ring” … unless you allow a.) for notifications of the text-app (whatsapp?) AND b.) notifications to make a sound … > > I get dozens of text per day w/out any sounds like “laser-firing” or “coin dropping” … But but but, what if I’m afraid of technology, refuse to learn how to make my phone function, and demand that society cater to my preferences? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/159 "2024-03-28T14:19:50Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > But but but, what if I’m afraid of technology, refuse to learn how to make my phone function, and demand that society cater to my preferences? But but but - who is demanding any such thing? From the responses I see above, folk seem perfectly fine with leaving their phones silent and/or in the other room, and checking them when convenient for them. You can express a point of view without mischaracterizing the views of others. Who in this thread expressed a fear of technology? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390/160 "2024-03-28T14:58:19Z")
Who’s afraid of technology? Not me. Why don’t you explain to me how I can set up my phone to do what I want without having to change things twice a day or more - I want to be notified of all calls and texts during certain hours, I want to be notified of calls and texts from certain numbers at all times and I want to be notified of calls from unknown callers all the time. Which > [@Babale](#): > > Hitting the “volume down” button a few times on the way to bed and “volume up” button a few times when you wake up is not that big of a challenge will not accomplish. Those people who want to text me in the middle of the night for on-emergencies have been told they can could email me instead - but they don’t like email. I’m not sure why I should cater to their preference. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-your-cell-phone-with-you-at-home/999390.md?page=9)