# Is your phone always at/in hand? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001 "2025-10-15T18:20:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/61 "2025-10-16T15:02:47Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I have a television but haven’t watched OTA content in years, I watch all of my shows and movies on the phone. Have a PC, but rarely turn it on because I do all my computer work on my phone. All of the things I do on the internet are on my phone, including writing this. I would much rather watch shows and movies on a larger venue with other people to share the experience. I would rather type on a computer than deal with hunt-and-peck on a small screen. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/62 "2025-10-16T15:29:13Z")
I don’t “hunt and peck” on a small screen. Typing on the virtual keyboard with my right index finger or thumb (depending on how I’m holding the phone at the time) is as unconscious from muscle memory as touch-typing on a physical keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/63 "2025-10-16T15:58:37Z")
I can’t stand the idea of being physically attached to my phone. I do bring it with me (in my purse) when I go out, but when I’m home I usually leave it in the kitchen somewhere. I figure if someone pings me I can always get back to them. Re: the OP, I’m probably near your age and have also noticed the same thing about younger people. I mean how do they carry the phone around, or put it in their pocket without sitting on it? I have some cargo pants that are great carrying the phone, but no other clothing works for that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/64 "2025-10-16T16:07:20Z")
I’m 61. I virtually always wear Levi 501 jeans. Left front pocket wallet. Right front pocket phone. What’s the difficulty. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/65 "2025-10-16T16:22:36Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > or put it in their pocket without sitting on it? I see legions of young women, large or small, wearing form-fitting pants with a phone sticking out of one or another back pocket. Evidently it works for them. My phone rides in my right rear pocket of my relatively form fitting pants too. I can sit on it there, drive with it there, do almost anything with it there. With negligible risk of it extracting itself unnoticed. And no risk whatsoever of damaging the phone. As a general matter if I’m going to be sitting for long, e.g. dinner or a 15+ minute drive, I slip the phone out of the pocket just before sitting and set it on the table or car console. As I stand up the process reverses and the phone is back where it rides. Ladies who carry purses very, very rarely leave them behind someplace despite almost universally taking them off their body while seated. This bit with the phone is more of the same muscle memory. And for once, it’s something that affects both genders equally. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/66 "2025-10-16T17:49:50Z")
My phone is in my shirt pocket most of the time, home or away - but not until I get dressed, which is often after 10 am. At night it stays in my office charging. But I’m not promising to have the ringer turned on. I turned mine off when I went to the dentist Tuesday and just turned it back on. The phone is useful, but I’m not a prisoner of it. Much prefer my laptop to do anything useful, besides playing music on walks and GPS. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/67 "2025-10-16T17:57:32Z")
Yeah, I always have it. I’m the nerd with the belt clip. When my mother was ill, it was an absolute necessity to be able to contact me anywhere, anytime. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/68 "2025-10-16T18:15:12Z")
I have some days where my phone use is out of control. But I also have many days where it just sits in my kitchen. I don’t sleep with my phone, it’s usually in its charging dock in the kitchen by 9pm. One thing I did that helped is I bought a Pixel Watch. This enables me to receive important notifications while leaving my phone in the kitchen. So if my boss texts or calls, I know right away and can respond, but friendly texts, etc are on mute. I’m also someone who finds managing finances and tasks, etc easier on the phone. My husband and I also use Discord as our primary communication hub throughout the day, with different channels for different topics, for example we have a channel called #schedule and anything to do with scheduling, calendar or schedule changes goes there which makes it extremely easy to reference later. We have one for our son, one for research, finances, politics, etc and so we update it pretty frequently. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/69 "2025-10-16T19:10:34Z")
Yes always the phone is nearby, but not in my back pocket where I can forget it and then it might drop in a toilet. Close call once in a Porta potty, heart stoppage but I one hand caught it before it dropped with a plop. I practically dropped to my knees in gratitude. Most days I wear women’s carharts 5 pocket pants. The phone slides in the side leg pocket and is hardly noticeable. Safe and secure from toilets and pickpockets. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/70 "2025-10-16T19:19:29Z")
I just carry it in my purse. I’m rather fond of purses anyway, however impractical. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/71 "2025-10-17T02:13:28Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I’m 61. I virtually always wear Levi 501 jeans. Left front pocket wallet. Right front pocket phone. What’s the difficulty. Women’s pockets. But having installed men’s pockets on my jeans, right front pocket is the wallet and keys, left front pocket is the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/72 "2025-10-17T02:19:41Z")
45, phone is generally always near. If I’m driving, I’m listening to audiobooks over Bluetooth connection to my car stereo. If I’m watching “TV”, I’m streaming something to the TV from my phone, whether a video podcast or an old movie. Its my primary way of communication (via Discord) to my kids if I’m not at my computer, and half the time I am at my computer I need it for some form of 2FA anyway… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/73 "2025-10-17T02:47:21Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I’m surprised at the number of people who use their phones in place of computers or televisions. The screen is so small!! I’m impressed with the screen resolution. I wish I could run full-blown MacOS on it, and use it @ 1920 x 1200. When I’m on Teams or Zoom meetings using the phone, and someone shares a PDF or Word document, I can read it just fine holding the phone 4-5 inches from my eyes. Seems entirely large enough. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2025, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/74 "2025-10-17T03:40:39Z")
I tell myself that I’m training my habits so that it’s always nearby - so that my kids won’t have to have me chipped if I start wandering in a few years. But let’s face it. Even though I’m required to have one when I go out in the field, and even though the watch will auto-alert 911 if I fall, I’m mostly keeping it nearby because it blue-tooths audiobooks and podcasts to my hearing aids. I’m addicted to those. I talk back to the watch when it nags me to move/exercise. And when it sends me a notice that the noise level is too high. I also play pikmin every day so that my kids know I’m not dead. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2025, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/75 "2025-10-17T04:02:14Z")
Once I plug it in to recharge, it usually sits there on my desk for several days. In fact, it can be several days before I even think about it again. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/76 "2025-10-17T04:27:46Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > I mean how do they carry the phone around, or put it in their pocket without sitting on it? My phone is always in my left front pocket. It fits fine and I’m not sitting on anything. ---
**Author:** ![LegendHasit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/legendhasit/32/8246_2.png) [@LegendHasit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendHasit)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/77 "2025-10-17T05:22:27Z")
> These electronic marvels aren’t crutches, and they won’t cause us to lose IQ points-- they’re **TOOLS** to be used to make our lives safer and better. So true. When my widowed father entered his 80s we had the conversation and he got one but didn’t always wear it and reluctantly pressed the button on a few occasions when he fell and needed help. He preferred to use his phone and said it was always nearby. But it could be nearby and out of reach as well. One time he almost lost his life when he preferred to call my brother on the phone instead of pressing the button to get immediate help when he had a major heart attack and needed to be airlifted to a cardiac hospital 1.5 hours away for multi-bypass surgery and pacemaker. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/78 "2025-10-17T05:25:38Z")
Mine is pretty much always near to hand. I too am female, but one of the things I look for in clothes is a pocket large enough to hold a phone. About 18 months ago I bought a pair of jeans that had really big front pockets. I loved them so much I bought 4 more in the same size. They may last me the rest of my life. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/79 "2025-10-17T05:30:34Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > I mean how do they carry the phone around, or put it in their pocket without sitting on it? Phone lanyards or crossbody straps are becoming more popular/fashionable these days. [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=phone+crossbody+strap](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=phone+crossbody+strap) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001/80 "2025-10-17T10:19:18Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > Phone lanyards or crossbody straps That’s how the pouch I crocheted works. I used it all the time the last 2 times we went on cruises, but not at home. I really should get it out again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-phone-always-at-in-hand/1024001.md?page=5)