# I pit people who are constantly complaining about cell phones **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457 "2004-06-21T15:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/21 "2004-06-21T17:49:57Z")
30$ a month is not chump change for many, many people, and you insisting that it is only makes you come across as niave at best and nasty and condescending at worst. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/22 "2004-06-21T17:51:41Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > Phones are here to stay, they are **convient** and some people are willing to spend a bit of our lower tax bracket income to have **convience.** The fact that you don’t like it means nothing, because your post makes you look like a self-centered asshole. If you weren’t such a prick, your opinion would mean more to me. (bolding mine) :rolleyes: First of all, before I get started, please say it with me: **convenience** Second of all, I ask again: Who the fuck do you think you are? If people don’t want a cell phone, they’re automatically a selfish prick? Let me ask you this – how do you sleep at night, with that enormous head of yours leaking ego all over your pillow? I say, if you want a cell phone, **by all means HAVE ONE.** I never once called for the banning of cell phones for anyone, least of all self-important on-the-go students like yourself. Yet you seem to feel cell phones are not only an inalienable right, but a **requirement** for life on Earth. And this is why, I theorize, you are an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/23 "2004-06-21T17:56:41Z")
Ooh! Ooh! Can I pit people who pit people who are constantly complaining about cell phones? > [@YoudNeverGuess](#): > > I’m so, so tired of cell phone rants. They’re a fact of modern life. Get used to it. So are cars, TV, and computers. Do we have to stop pitting idiot drivers, idiocy on TV, and computer-related annoyances? For every **X** that is a fact about modern life, **X** -related Pit rants are also a fact of modern life. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/24 "2004-06-21T17:57:33Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > (bolding mine) :rolleyes: > > And this is why, I theorize, you are an idiot. Obviously it is you that are the idiot. I already said twice why I think you are a selfish prick. Let me give you a clue. It is because you are not willing to spend money for the conveinence of your friends or family. This isn’t about just cell-phones ya know. Let me tell you something pal. If you want to open your fucking mouth on the internet, you are going to get people that disagree. If you don’t like it, don’t fucking post. Simple as that. You seem to equate me disagreeing with you as having a big head, but you know what that equation means? It means you seem to place an extreme amount of importance on you own opinions. So which one of us has the big head? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/25 "2004-06-21T18:00:01Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > If it looks like I was getting on to him because of his anti-cell phone attitude, I appologize. I only took issue with the fact that he would rarely spend money to make it handy for his friends and family. (other people) If I had a friend that was that selfish we definiately would have issues. I don’t have a cell phone. My friends and family know that if they want to get a hold of me, they should first email me (as I’m always online) or call me on my landline. Unless there’s some kind of emergency–where my presence is absolutely necessary as soon as urgently possible–this works. And I don’t ever need anyone in my social network that badly that I can’t hold out until I get home (and there are those things called payphones). I live a simple life. If people need my presence so badly, they can buy _me_ a cellphone. (I’m actually getting myself one for work-related purposes this week. I’m going to be out in the field, and I’ll need to stay in contact with my supervisor. Also, it will be a lifesaver in case my car breaks down this summer. But I refuse to get so dependent on it that I start thinking of it as a necessity. It is not.) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/26 "2004-06-21T18:01:53Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > You had me all the way up until the last word. > 😛 > I agree wholeheartedly. lol unless you are in germany, then they are handys =) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/27 "2004-06-21T18:07:25Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > I don’t know who you think you are, but for some people, $30 **is** a lot of money. You throwing a fit because people don’t want to dole it out is one of the most snot-nosed, overprivileged, jackholish things I’ve ever read. Do you pay your own bill, or do mommy and daddy handle it for you? Consider this: When I had a land line I was paying about $50 a month. My cellphone bill is $30 a month. So, my cellphone is saving me 40%, partially due to things like voicemail and caller ID being free, and free long distance. Also, my phone is with me at all times, so I can be reached whenever I’m needed. Why might I need to be reached? Well, my brother is staying in the Ronald McDonald house in DC to be close to my nephew, who is in Children’s Hospital. If my brother or his girlfriend need anything at all, I’ve told them to call me. Also, if there’s any change in his condition, I want to know right away. Cellphones are not exactly a new technology, but they’ve just in the last few years become much, much cheaper. This means that a lot more people are going to have them, which means a lot more assholes are going to have them. Such is life. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/28 "2004-06-21T18:08:25Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > lol unless you are in germany, then they are handys =) :eek: OK, OK, I’ll call 'em mobiles, anything to get away from having to call them… handys??? * * * TellMeI’mNotCrazy, Cellular-to-Mobile Convert! ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/29 "2004-06-21T18:13:25Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > Obviously it is you that are the idiot. I already said twice why I think you are a selfish prick. Let me give you a clue. It is because you are not willing to spend money for the conveinence of your friends or family. This isn’t about just cell-phones ya know. You know, you’re making some big assumptions here. Maybe **Chastain** doesn’t have very many friends. Maybe **Chastain** doesn’t have family. Maybe **Chastain’s** friends and family don’t need to have 24/7 access to him. Maybe **Chastain’s** friends and family are perfectly content contacting him the old fashioned way. Maybe **Chastain** is an introvert and prefers not to be accessible 24/7. Maybe **Chastain** does not feel like adding yet another bill to his monthly routine. Maybe **Chastain** does not feel like being responsible for an easily lost, easily broken piece of plastic. All of these are perfectly reasonable, value neutral, and unselfish reasons for not having a cell phone. Hell, including the cost ($30 a month is almost $400 a year…that’s a lot to me), most of them are reasons why I don’t have a cell phone. And I, sir, am not a prick. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/30 "2004-06-21T18:17:46Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > More of a person than you apparently. I at least care enough about my friends and family enough to invest in an “expensive” (wow, 30 dollars a month, sooo expensive) decision so they can reach me. What _the fuck_ are you talking about? Why do you even bother to post here? This is such a stupid comment, I now have a huge red :smack: mark on my fucking face. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/31 "2004-06-21T18:20:04Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > Obviously it is you that are the idiot. I already said twice why I think you are a selfish prick. Let me give you a clue. It is because you are not willing to spend money for the conveinence of your friends or family. This isn’t about just cell-phones ya know. > > Let me tell you something pal. If you want to open your fucking mouth on the internet, you are going to get people that disagree. If you don’t like it, don’t fucking post. Simple as that. You seem to equate me disagreeing with you as having a big head, but you know what that equation means? It means you seem to place an extreme amount of importance on you own opinions. So which one of us has the big head? I don’t much care that you disagree with me, because as I said, I suspect you are an idiot. What troubles me at this point is, you have it in your head that we should all buy cell phones to make it convenient on each other. Since I already spend a goodly amount of time at home, other people are at present easily able to get in touch with me. So can you at least concede that some people do not require cell phones in order to be contacted, or would you like to hide behind your shoddy reasoning some more? I place no more importance on my opinions than you do. I do, however, have the benefit of understanding other people’s positions on the topic. As I already said, if cell phones work for you, so much the better. But it’s obtuse and naive to suggest we all need to have them because other people might want to get in touch with us at a moment’s notice. Having a debate on the internet is not a license to put your fingers in your ears and yell “LALALALALALALALA,” although I see it quite a bit. Be better than that. Try to understand other positions and viewpoints. All I ask is for people who use cell phones is to follow two guidelines: 1. Operate them while keeping in mind you **are** in public, and as such should not subject others to your overloud conversations if possible. 2. Don’t ignore the world around you simply because you’re so wrapped up in your conversations. Apparently, what your position on the topic is as follows: 1. Everybody should have a cell phone, regardless of financial hardship, to make it easier for everyone to speak to everyone else. 2. Not having one makes you a selfish prick. Am I understanding you correctly? ---
**Author:** ![aurelian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@aurelian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurelian)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/32 "2004-06-21T18:22:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Orignally posted by **monstro** : > I don’t have a cell phone. My friends and family know that if they want to get a hold of me, they should first email me (as I’m always online) or call me on my landline. Unless there’s some kind of emergency–where my presence is absolutely necessary as soon as urgently possible–this works. And I don’t ever need anyone in my social network that badly that I can’t hold out until I get home (and there are those things called payphones). I live a simple life. What **monstro** said. I’m either at home, at work (teaching - when a cell phone would be turned off anyway), at a friend’s/ relative’s house, or out and about. I have a fairly small network of friends and family, I don’t have any elderly relatives and my family lives on the other side of the country. I don’t have a cell phone, and it’s not because I’m some callous bitch, it’s because a) it would cost more than my phone plan (40/mo unlimited local and long distance) and I’m a graduate student, so money is tight; b) I have never missed out on a truly essential call c) my friends and family most certainly don’t consider me “selfish” because I am not available 24/7. The only times I have ever wished I had a cell phone are for trivial matters, for matters of **convenience** (ie, want milk and eggs instead of just eggs). **Epimetheus** , maybe I missed the horrendously offensive portion of **Chastain86** ’s reply, but you’re overreacting. I don’t have a cell phone, but I’m not a selfish person. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/33 "2004-06-21T18:27:55Z")
I’ll just add that as long as your not yapping while driving, or sitting next to me **TALKING LIKE THIS** , I could really care less about cell phones. (please remember if the reception is bad, yelling LOUDER will not make them hear you better) ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/34 "2004-06-21T18:30:03Z")
Perhaps you both are right, I overreacted. I have had friends with the attitude expressed, or at least the attitude I inferred. There are neutral alternatives. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/35 "2004-06-21T18:38:31Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > Depends on your definition of “forced.” My girlfriend has chronic health problems and may need to contact me at any time. I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. Of course you had a choice. A) Choose to carry a cellphone so that your girlfriend can get ahold of you if/when she needs to, or B) Choose to not carry a cellphone and tell your girlfriend she’ll have to rely on family and other friends in any necessary situations. You picked A. Good on you, btw; you’ve made a sacrifice for your girlfriend. Unless you bitch about it all the time. Not saying you do, but if that’s the case you’re kind of a prick. Anyway, I’m not going to tear apart each individual post here to try to get my point across, whatever that point may be. Cell phones are useful. It doesn’t matter if they’re only used in emergencies, or if their main purpose is so someone can gab with their friends during their lunch break. My cell phone is usually off unless and until I come across a situation where I might need it. “Need” can be calling a friend to see if they’re home because I’m in the area and might stop by to chat, or finding a hazard in the road, or coming across an accident of some kind. My phone is turned off in restaurants and movie theaters. No, cell phones are not a necessity. I have a lot of things that aren’t entirely necessary; a car, this computer, cable TV, etc. But I “need” a car to get to the supermarket, or the clinic. Sure, I could probably find other ways to get there, but I enjoy convenience. I “need” this computer for entertainment. Same with cable and a DVD player. Landlines are hardly even a necessity, but I have one of those, too, with long distance. I don’t agree with people ragging on cell phone users just because they’re cell phone users. I also don’t agree with \ certain people being dicks to other people just because they’re **not** cell phone users. Have a cell phone or don’t - it’s no skin off my nose. I like mine and I really do try my best to be polite with it. P.S. I pay about $20 every three months. Virgin Mobile kicks major ass. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/36 "2004-06-21T19:56:55Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > Perhaps you both are right, I overreacted. I have had friends with the attitude expressed, or at least the attitude I inferred. There are neutral alternatives. Without getting too worked up about it, you came out of the box with some pretty fucked-up allegations about me, and for what? Because my opinion didn’t match yours? > [@Epimetheus](#): > > This is why I could care less about you. You are a tool, a jackass and a fucking selfish fucknut. Your argument and your point all becomes moot because of this line. Fucking asshat. So you decide to apologize to save face, because the majority of the people in here can see and smell your bullshit being cooked? In the future, think about the things you’re inferring about people without knowing all the facts. In the meantime, get bent. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/37 "2004-06-21T20:16:20Z")
Well, I’ll keep ranting about them as long as I have to listen to attention-seeking idiots talk about every personal matter in their life in the middle of Osco. “OMG, can you believe he took her to a hotel room? I told him she’d get the wrong idea if he had sex with her. blah blah blah.” That’s an actual conversation that a very loud bitch was having on her precious cell phone. Fine if you need one. Fine if you can drive without the fucker glued to your ear. And fine if you can keep your conversations quiet enough that the entire pharmacy doesn’t have to hear your business. If you can do all that, I have no problem with your cell phone, but for everyone else. Fuck off! I’m tired of being cut off because soccer mom can’t wait to have her conversation and has to practically run me over in the street. It’s that sense of entitlement that people think they should just be able to do whatever the hell they want that bothers me. Cell phones are a courtesy? Bullshit. For every “emergency” call there are 100 people chatting about nothing. I can keep my business to myself, it’s too bad so many others have that need to share. Are they so afraid of being alone that they have to be talking while they’re in the grocery or in the car so they don’t get lonely? Frankly, I don’t understand. Until I become a neurosurgeon or a someone who must be within reach at all times, I won’t have a cell phone. If you think that’s not courteous, that’s your opinion, but I’m not delusional enough to think I’m so important that people need to get ahold of me at all times. Anyone who needs me usually knows where I am and how to contact me. Everyone else can wait. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/38 "2004-06-21T20:17:00Z")
Anyone else completely mystified by the misdirected anger in this thread? The OP is clearly ranting against people who don’t want a cell phone and bitch about them constantly. He then goes on to present normal arguments from these people, and presents a logical solution for those arguments. And then everyone else completely misread or misunderstood the purpose of that rant, and promptly shat their pants. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/39 "2004-06-21T20:24:27Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > I’m tired of being cut off because soccer mom can’t wait to have her conversation and has to practically run me over in the street. This is the exact reason I will be rolling around in a Hummer (or something bigger 😛 ) once I have kids. I plan to “win” any accident that some cell yapping asshole causes. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457/40 "2004-06-21T20:43:03Z")
I used to be anti-cell phone, until I realized that they are damn near the greatest invention to come down the pike in 30 years. Hell, I don’t even have a land line anymore. Why bother? If someone needs to get in touch with me, it’s easy. I don’t have my cell phone on all the time. I screen my calls, and I do NOT yell on the phone. And yes, I’ve had some folks give me a nasty look when I answer my cell phone in the grocery store. They either got a nasty look in return, a terse “What?,” or they got subjected to an “Oh, what? Sorry. Say that again. I was distracted by some prick who thinks it’s rude that I’m talking on the phone with you right now.” There will always be Luddites. Fuck 'em. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-are-constantly-complaining-about-cell-phones/251457.md?page=3)