There is another thread asking whether folk wear their wireless devices. Made me realize that I didn’t even know for sure where my cell phone is.
We got it maybe 4 years ago to use when we go out and leave the kids at home. Simply easier than looking up and writing down the numbers of whatever restaurant/theater/home/etc we might be at. My wife did everything involved in getting it, and generally carries it with her when she is out running errands.
I, OTOH, have probably made calls from cell phones (mine or others’) no more than 10 times in my life. I guarantee less than 20 times. I wouldn’t be able to tell you my cell # if I didn’t have it written on a post-it stuck on my monitor.
I’m not afraid of them or anything. I just don’t particularly care for talking on the phone, and rarely am in the situation where I need to call someone at a particular instant.
I certainly have never received a phone call on a cell phone. And I don’t have any phone numbers or other info logged into a cell phone, PDA (don’t own one), or other device.
Anyone else out there see little need for cell phones, or am I alone in this?
(Note: I am not saying cell phones or technology are “bad things,” or in any way criticizing their owners/users. Nor have I intentionally chosen to fall out of step with the rest of society. Simply saying that I have only rarely had the need/desire to use a cell phone.)
I don’t have a cell phone and never intend to. Like you said, they’re not bad things, and cell phone users aren’t always assholes, and I’m not a neo-Luddite.
My feeling is that if I have a cell phone, I’m inviting people to call me on it. Yes, I can turn it off, but I already have enough of a headache sifting through voicemails on my landline. I’d rather not have to deal with that on a cell as well.
Plus if I’m ever in an emergency situation and need someone to call 911 immediately, odds are there’s a cell phone owner nearby.
I don’t have a cell phone, and can barely use one. I just don’t need to call someone right away very often, and it isn’t worth it to me.
I don’t have a PDA either, but my husband is very attached to his, and I borrow it momentarily sometimes. I have a planner myself and don’t feel the need for a PDA.
I have probably used a cell phone (borrowed, of course) fewer than five times in my life. I just don’t like them. Most of them have cringe-inducing rings, and I just don’t see the need for anyone to be able to reach me anytime anywhere. I personally have a pet peeve of people who drive with them, cell phone in one hand, steering wheel in the other, because it means no more hands for things like turn signals. It’s one thing if it’s your primary phone, or strictly for emergencies, but it just connotes a rather pointless self-importance for me.
As ** Eve’s** pit thread"hi–i’m On The Train. Nothin’ What Are You Doing?" so wonderfully describes, it seems that a lot of cell phone calls are pointless ramblings…which, heh, I don’t mind on the Internet but really don’t like when I stuck listening to someone else’s on the bus, or someone cannot limit themselves to just one lane.
I had one for about a year. Canceled when I realized that I had used around 5 minutes in the last 3 months put together. Now, I don’t even miss it though I’ll probably get another one when me and the wife start leaving the kids at home alone.
I agree with others who say that it’s generally a hassle. Extra complications in my life I can do without.
I’ve only used one once in my life and that was because the person I was in the car with handed it to me to say hello to the caller.
I have nothing against them (except for the tumors of course ), just have not found occasion to need one. It would probably be a good idea to get one for car emergencies now that I live in a less populated area.
I’m not a Luddite, neo or otherwise. My job is designing computer models of lasers.
Although I don’t like “chatting” by phone, I need the cell for work purposes. I also like the long distance feature for when I am out of town/state and need to make personal calls. It’s always cheaper than hotel phone charges.
I got a cell phone for my daughter to carry once she got her license. That way, I can get in touch with her any time and she can check in with me without trying to find a pay phone or borrow someone else’s phone.
My husband has a cell phone in place of running a line to the boat.
I don’t have one. I don’t want one. I don’t need one.
I rely on mine for work, since I travel regularly and need to be able to make calls to clients, managers, taxis, hotels and friends/family without planning ahead. I also need to be contactable – according to my managers – although I disputed that for a long time (and gave in eventually). I don’t use it for chatting much at all.
I don’t have a land line… just a cell phone. It’s not that I;m extra-important, it’s just a handy and flexible thing to be able to talk to people whenever and wherever I go without trying to find a pay phone when I have no change or waiting until I get home.
On my way home from a trip to the Bay Area? I’ll call and have pizza deilvered to my place and it will get there right as I get home.
Stuck on the freeway? Call AAA.
Stuck in traffic? Good time to call Mom and Dad.
Will I make it back in time to catch a movie? Call the theater for movie times.
Lost? Call information for directions.
Running late due to a traffic accident ahead of you? Call to let your friends know you’ll be a bit late.
People can’t intrude when I don’t want to talk to them. I send them to voice mail or turn the phone off.
PS: I don’t raise my voice to talk on the phone, I turn it off in theaters, I don’t use a loud musical ring, I have it set to only ring once, and I don’t use it when road conditions are sketchy.
I have a cell phone. Rarely use the thing. In fact, my voicemail message says “Leave me a message at home because I rarely use my phone let alone pick up messages.” I got it because I used to live in a not-so-great neighborhood and my parents were worried something would happen to me while I was coming home late from school and for emergency situations on the road.
Other than that, if I’m away from the phone, it probably means that I don’t want to be reached.
I’ve got one, but it stays in the car. I have the cheapest plan (a dual deal with my wife’s cell phone), and on last month’s bill, we used 6 minutes of airtime between the two of us.
It’s only there for emergencies or the very rare can’t-wait call.
What I hate is when people say, “You should get a cell phone.”
“Why?”
“So we can contact you.”
“It’s not like you guys ever contact me anyway. I hardly every use a phone and when I need to, It can usually wait. I don’t see any point in paying $30.00 a month for something I’ll use 1 every three months.”
“You’re just cheap.”
“When is that a bad thing? No point in PAYING for something I’ll NEVER USE! You fucking morons!!”
), just have not found occasion to need one. It would probably be a good idea to get one for car emergencies now that I live in a less populated area.