how does this plot device make sense? if i want to contact you anonymously, i’ll use a burner and not* give* you one to contact me.
I’m not sure I’ve seen this in a movie, but I can think of circumstances where it might make sense. It works if You are a private person and I don’t know your phone number. Where’d you see this?
In the Matrix, Neo receives a FedEx package with a phone in it that rings as soon as he opens the package. The caller, Morpheus, has some time-critical information to pass on and talks Neo through an escape using the phone.
I can see the usefulness of this plan if Morpheus wanted to ensure Neo would answer the call and not just let it go to voicemail. Morpheus could have hacked FedEx’s tracking system to know exactly when the phone was in Neo’s hand in order to time the call, but I can’t remember if the deliveryman had one of those electronic scanners or a paper clipboard. Anyway, that phone was HUGE! LOL!!!1!!!OMG!!!
I’m not about to pretend that anything in The Matrix made sense, or needed to.
Here’s the scene. Looks like Neo signs for the package and the deliveryman also electronically scans it.
ETA: yeah, I felt silly typing that up.
i’ve seen it used a few times. the latest one in Arrow where he sent one to the detective in order to contact the guy.
For the Matrix, did they need FedEx tracking? Couldn’t that guy just watch the code and know when it was delivered?
Presumably, you’re concerned that your target’s phone is being tapped or monitored by “them”. By sending a burner phone (and using one yourself), you create a relatively anonymous channel.
hey that makes sense. thanks.
It was the 90s.
Did they have burners in the 90’s when The Matrix was made? I’m sure you could get a stolen phone or something but I don’t think we were at the point of buying a cheap phone with 120 minutes at Walmart for $20 yet.