# Do you get phantom cell phone vibrations? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320 "2007-02-08T04:59:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/41 "2010-09-15T16:41:08Z")
I’m not a fan of the belt clip and I travel light, so my phone is usually in my left pocket. Every once in a while, I will put it in my right pocket or simply not have it. Yet, I consistently feel the phantom vibration on the left side. I also noticed that the phenomenon seems to increase when I’m waiting for a call or expecting a call. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/42 "2010-09-15T20:13:38Z")
I almost started this same thread the other day. My old phone I wore on a belt clip and got this all the time. Luckily, at least part of the time, there was a genuine reason. When the phone was closed and you pushed the volume button, it would vibrate; so I figured the button might get accidentally pushed depending on how I moved. I’ve had my current phone for two years, though, and carry it in my pocket. It does not have that same feature, but I still get phantom vibrations a couple times a week. It’s weird, but I’m happy to know it’s not uncommon. ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/43 "2010-09-15T20:36:51Z")
This made me remember a relevant thread. [**So, I Was Standing At The Urinal**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4711712&postcount=1) Followed by [this great response](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4711869&postcount=3). ---
**Author:** ![tallcoldone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@tallcoldone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallcoldone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/44 "2010-09-17T16:53:58Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Just to be clear, it is a _physical sensation_, not purely psychological. There is a palpable spasm. Intestinal “processes”? :), but seriously, sometimes I think it’s my guts but it feels like my phone. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/45 "2010-09-17T20:26:26Z")
Back when I used to use the vibrate feature on my phone, yes I absolutely did. This would sometimes happen even when I didn’t have my phone on me. But when I stopped using the vibrate feature, I also stopped feeling the phantom vibrations. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/46 "2010-09-17T20:32:29Z")
This is going to be a very common phenomenon as we get older. Those of us that have had cell phones since our teens or 20’s are going to be old and demented some day, and we’re all going to sit around saying, “Is that my phone?” I do that now and I’m not even demented. ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/47 "2010-09-17T20:45:32Z")
This happens less to me now that I’ve gotten promoted out of tech support. When I was in TS, weeks in which I was on-call would be nightmares of phantom vibrations all the damn time. I was paranoid about missing calls, and I would get phantom vibrations at least once an hour. In my new position I’m not on-call, and no longer wear my phone on a belt clip all the time, so this has subsided considerably. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/48 "2010-09-17T23:25:34Z")
That’s just the cellular-induced tumor asking to be fed. ---
**Author:** ![dumbernapost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/77aa72/32.png) [@dumbernapost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dumbernapost)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/49 "2010-09-18T09:27:41Z")
…without wearing your foil hats. My hat stopped the alien probeing phantom vibrating thing. My prostate is fine, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/50 "2010-09-18T09:55:41Z")
I too get this and have NEVER mentioned it to another living soul. Thank you so much. It’s _not_ my fault. It’s _not_ my fault… ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/51 "2010-09-18T10:05:17Z")
> [@tallcoldone](#): > > > [@devilsknew](#): > > > > Just to be clear, it is a _physical sensation_, not purely psychological. There is a palpable spasm. > > Intestinal “processes”? 🙂 Not on my left medial thigh. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/52 "2010-09-18T10:59:48Z")
My first trip to Europe I went without a cellphone. For the first few weeks I constantly would reach into my pocket because I thought I felt my nonexistent cellphone ringing! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/53 "2010-09-19T01:30:39Z")
I have always chalked it up to the periodic checks on cell phone locations performed by the NSA. The simultaneous pulses from multiple cell towers overload the phone and cause a brief vibration. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/54 "2010-09-19T05:22:14Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > > [@tallcoldone](#): > > > > Intestinal “processes”? 🙂 > > Not on my left medial thigh. … the tingle happens coincidently or not at the largest muscular mass on my body, the thigh.. maybe specifically in the Vastus Lateralus or the Rectus Femoris. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/55 "2010-09-19T06:13:24Z")
> [@Hugh\_Mongoose](#): > > Ah! I thought I was all alone in this, and feared to make mention for thought everyone would think me more insane than they already do. You are alone, these are phantom postings. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/56 "2010-09-19T07:21:54Z")
I never get phantom vibrations. But I get phantom ringing all the time. I swear I hear my phone’s ringtone so I check it and… nothing. Happens at least once a day. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/57 "2010-09-19T16:51:59Z")
I had my heart checked because of this!! I keep my phone in my shirt pocket and thought my heart was doing strange things. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320/58 "2010-09-20T13:45:01Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Yep, I get it too (I just keep the phone loose in a pocket). I’ve noticed when it happens, though, that I can usually continue to feel the vibration after I’ve checked the phone. > > I’ve convinced myself that these vibrations are real – trucks passing by, people walking on nearby floors, micro earthquakes (I live in a place that supposedly gets 3000+ earthquakes a year, although I haven’t actually felt one in more than a decade), and other “natural” sources of vibration – especally since the impresion happens almost exclusively when I’m sitting (and therefore relatively quiet). > > I think that the vibrating phone has just trained me to be more aware of these things, because the “loose” phone vibration in my pocket is relatively subtle, anyway. I actually assume the vibration is just a slight shift in muscles that you would normally ignore, but because of the Pavlovian thing you mention, you believe it is important and pay attention. I’ve had a similar experience with anxiety. There are times when your vision goes blank or gets fuzzy, but you usually don’t notice–unless you are in a hyperarousal state. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-phantom-cell-phone-vibrations/391320.md?page=2)