# I just got a new cell phone. Let's have some fun with the old one. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 14, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199 "2004-02-14T10:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/1 "2004-02-14T10:50:45Z")
After a 2 hour ordeal in Worst Buy yesterday, I walked out with my spanking new Samsung VGA1000 (no relation to Andre “Ice Cold” 3000). It’s pretty bad ass, complete with a camera that I’m not sure I know what to do with. Wait, yes I do. 😉 The old phone is useless. I’ve already transferred the phone book and it won’t even check voice mail anymore. So let’s give her a good send off. What shall we do? I can document the adventure with my new phone and post the pictures somewhere. I’ve got some ideas but I want to hear some others first. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/2 "2004-02-14T11:12:27Z")
Cover it in chicken livers and suspend it in a piranha tank. Figure out a way to install a voice chip from a talking Barbie and keep it with you; if someone asks to borrow your phone you can watch them get frustrated when every time they push a button all they hear is, “Hey, girlfriend, let’s shop 'til we drop!” I think the piranhas would be more fun, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/3 "2004-02-14T13:41:59Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > Cover it in chicken livers and suspend it in a piranha tank. > > Figure out a way to install a voice chip from a talking Barbie and keep it with you; if someone asks to borrow your phone you can watch them get frustrated when every time they push a button all they hear is, “Hey, girlfriend, let’s shop 'til we drop!” > > I think the piranhas would be more fun, though. I do have a fish tank. How much are piranahas? Can I buy them in a pet store? What to do with them after the experiment? You see, I am _very_ serious about this. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/4 "2004-02-14T13:50:32Z")
Carry it around, when strangers ask to use your phone, give 'em the one that doesn’t work. When they say it doesn’t work, pertend to use it. Tell them it does work, and if they are going to go around asking to use poeple’s phones and then complain about it, they tough for them, they can not use your phone now. Ok, not many people walk up to strangers and ask to use their phone. I guess that idea might be out. Use it for a hockey puck. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/5 "2004-02-14T14:11:44Z")
When you say it’s useless, do you mean it’s impossible to make calls with it, even if you move the GSM chip from the new phone to it (assuming it is GSM or a similar technology)? I mention this because I needed to go back to my older phone once, because my newer one stopped working. If you can use your old phone as a backup I’d refrain from microwaving or passing it through the digestive system of a musk ox. ---
**Author:** ![xstalkerx89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f17d59/32.png) [@xstalkerx89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xstalkerx89)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/6 "2004-02-14T14:22:17Z")
All i can say is Gas+match+phone=fun ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/7 "2004-02-14T14:25:18Z")
> [@Bruce\_Daddy](#): > > How much are piranahas? Can I buy them in a pet store? What to do with them after the experiment? Oh come on, that should be obvious. You keep them for when you need to dispose of the _new_ phone, doofus. I say drop it off the Empire State Building. It still has a viewing gallery thing, right? If there’s an Arabic-lookin’ fella you might even get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/8 "2004-02-14T15:10:21Z")
Blast it with an AK74. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/9 "2004-02-14T15:41:59Z")
Most likely the least fun answer proposed in this thread: Donate it to any one of a [buttload of charities](http://www.collectivegood.com/donate_phone.htm) that have programs for donated cell phones. You can choose where it will go – environmental groups, humane societies, Make-a-Wish, etc. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/10 "2004-02-14T15:49:50Z")
> [@xstalkerx89](#): > > All i can say is Gas+match+phone=fun :eek: Remove battery FIRST!! unless that’s supposed to be part of the fun… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lurksfromwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@lurksfromwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurksfromwork)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/11 "2004-02-14T17:59:30Z")
Do u know how to make a spud gun? There’s a weird earls on spud guns if you want to get technical… phone in spud gun, aim at (brick) wall, let her rip…leave battery in. phonefooty? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/12 "2004-02-14T18:16:13Z")
Find a stranger on the street. Give them the phone. Walk away. Optional: say “The mangoes are coming”\* before you go and film their reactions. \*I came up with that line for the sole purpose of testing peoples’ reactions. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/13 "2004-02-14T19:52:06Z")
Lay it on a railroad track and let a train run over it. You might want to put a little loop of tape on the down-side so it doesn’t slip off the track. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/14 "2004-02-14T20:10:54Z")
:clap clap clap: Come on people!!! The following dopers have decent ideas: **misstee** , **xstalkerx89** , **ccwaterback** , **lurksfromwork**. The rest , may they be noble, exciting or technologically advanced, are WRONG because either they cannot be documented by digital camera properly, or they are too difficult to recreate. I ask you, what good is it if I can’t share the fun with my doper buddies? My favorite so far is the train tracks one. . . ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/15 "2004-02-14T20:24:09Z")
Paint it black, and stick a handle-thingy on it, then run up to the President real fast. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/16 "2004-02-14T20:48:11Z")
OOH! Matrix inspired! Send it to fellow employ via Priority Mail (or if you have internal mailing, just put in the packet addressed to them to be hand delivered and save the $3.95) Be around to take their picture as they open this envelope and find a phone! Bonus if you can set a timer on the phone on it to make it ring or something… (I used to have one that had that feature for an alarm) I know! One of those little greeting cards where you record a message before sending!! Buy one of those, rip out the electronics and tape it to the fold over flap! That way it’ll go off when opened with your special personalized message. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/17 "2004-02-15T00:01:09Z")
> [@Bruce\_Daddy](#): > > :clap clap clap: Come on people!!! > > The following dopers have decent ideas: > **misstee** , **xstalkerx89** , **ccwaterback** , **lurksfromwork**. > > The rest , may they be noble, exciting or technologically advanced, are WRONG because either they cannot be documented by digital camera properly, or they are too difficult to recreate. I ask you, what good is it if I can’t share the fun with my doper buddies? > > My favorite so far is the train tracks one. . . I’m disenchanted by this. You obviously haven’t been to [killacomputer.com](http://killacomputer.com), have you? [http://www.killacomputer.com/telephone.htm](http://www.killacomputer.com/telephone.htm) WARNING: This site contains images of guns and/or bullets, and misc. office equipment being destroyed by these guns. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/18 "2004-02-15T00:18:31Z")
I’d suggest you contact your County Women’s Shelter. There is a nonstop need for unneeded cel phones with batteries, to be wiped and reprogrammed and given to women who are in shelters, and women who are in transition to their own homes. Frequently just barely making it financially, they are in a position where being able to call 911 in an emergency from anywhere is vital. Do something that will make you feel really good. Donate it anonymously to a local Women’s Shelter, please. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/19 "2004-02-15T00:57:59Z")
Super-Glue it to the floor somewhere (work? the mall?). Hilarity ensues as various people try to pick it up and nearly fall over when it doesn’t come up easily. 😃 Actually, I second what **Cartooniverse** suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199/20 "2004-02-15T01:48:35Z")
When I have a dead piece of electronics equipment, I usually perform an autopsy on it. Take a screwdriver and go to town on that little sucker. Look at all the electronic doodads on it. Be careful of capacitors! I don’t think a cell phone has any caps that could cause damage. If you’re as geeky as I am, circuit boards make great objects d’art. Hang the guts on a wall and make visitors guess what all that came from. It’d probably be a better idea to donate it to one of the organizations previous posters mentioned, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-a-new-cell-phone-lets-have-some-fun-with-the-old-one/229199.md?page=2)