Living Without A Cell Phone

Cell phones came with a promise to change our lives and make communication convenient at all times while reality suggests the contrary. The purpose of this invention has been defeated since we started using it as a means of entertainment and these days our lives depend on them. Every second of our waking lives is linked to our cell phones in one way or another; it serves for every task except the one it was designed for i.e. communication. The modern age brought us smart phones, which really is a complete waste of time and energy if you scrutinize how they are being used. Every man and his dog uses a cell phone, the communication gap has increased instead of getting bridged, two people living in the same house do not talk for days because hey! Who needs to talk when you can text? Our emotions, opinions and greetings have been reduced to text messages. We have become socially inept while trying to be socially active.

 

No... No, they don't.

 

I don't have or want a cell phone.

 

My dog does not have a cell phone either.

 

i was socially inept before i ever got a cell phone.

having one has made communication much easier though.

 

I love technology, I can't wait for the day when humans merge with machine.

I think they could call the. something besides "phones" tho since they do so much more...

 

I like my phone, its like a transistor radio with a light and camera..

 

So, are you saying that our lives are the same now as they were before cell phones? And that having a communication device at your ready does not make communication more convenient?

Cell phones, particularly smart phones, have definitely changed the world and definitely make communication more convenient. Whether this is for good or I'll is debatable.

For most people, they've become a tool that aids in the dumbing down of the population. In my case, and others, it's become an invaluable tool used in a plethora of circumstances.

 

Same here........I value my (And my friends) privacy!!

 

Broke mine the other day. Took my little flip-phone and smashed it to pieces, now no more waiting to hear from the people I long to hear from or dealing with bs from most of the people who would call me.

Sure I'll get another one...eventually, and another cheap phone.

I couldn't agree more minimalist. Only thing I would add is that our addictions to technology are just one of many symptoms of a deeper societal illness. We are spiritually empty and trying to fill that hole in any way we can.

In other words, like anything in life, technology is what we make it. For me its about maintaining a healthy relationship with it...turning it on for only so long then shutting it off and keeping it off.

 

I've been living without one for a little over 24 hours... I loaned it to my daughter.

 

Cannabliss88

@cannabliss88:
so you're saying that the only reason for technology is to fill some sort of spiritual void and that our pursuit of knowledge and furthering our intellectual, and technological capabilities is in some way inherently flawed? if we were spiritually complete would we be happy living as primitive stone age humans?

 

I originally got a little cell phone (tracfone) about 6 or 7 yrs ago because traveling to work one way was 22 miles, and that was mostly down a lonely country road. Since I could afford the rather small charge of this (without a contract) phone, I felt then, as I do now, that it would just be stupid for a person traveling any distance on a regular basis not to have a cell phone.

I don't use my cell phone to get on the internet; but, at this time even my old ass can't imagine not having one. I feel I need it in case of a car emergency since I always travel alone.

I use it to "talk" to my son, who is much more likely to respond quickly to a text than to a phone call...he's a busy man.

I use it to let my out of state friend and relatives know they can call and talk to me on our house phone.

I feel a cell phone is like most anything else...you can let it get out of hand, or you can use it in moderation.

 

No thats not at all what I'm saying. Our pursuit of knowledge and furthering our intellectual, and technological capabilities is important and technology can even have the potential to help us save the word. I have not a thing against technology, just the way some of us use it.

I'm saying we have to control our use of technology because it is just another addiction for many people same as eating or sex addictions. These are habits in which we are subconsciously trying to fill a spiritual void that can't be filled by anything material whether it be alcohol and other drugs, overeating, too much sex, tv, the list goes on.

Technology has given us so many things and has so much potential for the future but it is also has the effect on society where we don't learn how to make real face to face relationships anymore because we've grown up engulfed in our video games and television. It's going to be a real issue for this next generation.

 

^I'm hearing what you are saying. Technology is great in many ways, but I too, do not want to be too dependant on it. I have lost electricity here for 2 weeks before, and had to rely on other things to keep myself busy....I like to strenghten other areas in my life, as well.....I heard that many kids these days are glued to their video games, internet, cell phones,, etc....Is there much physical activity anymore outside for some of them?......
What would happen in a major black out? Can people go anywhere without being glued to their cell phones like an appendage...? You see them walking with it....driving with it.....idk.....
Are all other skills being lost?

Moderation is key, for me, anyway..... as someone else said in this thread.....

 

I have an old style mobile phone that's just a phone, I can call friends on it. I don't take it with me a lot, often just leaving it at home. No intention of getting a smart phone, they're far too distracting. I like to actually notice what's going on in the world around me when out and about.

 

I never shut mine off. I won't even make it completely silent, preferring to set it to vibrate when I need it not to disturb others so that if I forget to turn the volume back on, but have misplaced it, or get a call I would rather not miss, I can have a subtle reminder. Even when i go to a hospital, I simply leave it in the car, but never shut it off. My family is 400 miles away, my boyfriend is 600 miles away, I live with a 93 year-old whose dimensia has caused the alarm company to call me back to my house on numerous occasions. When I sell something, the customer pays me through a device I plug into my phone. When I fly, I put it in airplane mode, and I watch a movie from my phone, or use it to listen to music while I read from my Kindle. If a person responds to more than two texts in a row immediately, I assume he or she is available and I call. Whenever I have a long wait somewhere, and the people near me do not seem to want to talk, I pull out my phone and surf the web, or read from the Tao and try to teach myself about peace and service. Before bed, when I meditate, the music comes through a soundbar, but it is sent there from my phone, as is the little chime which reminds me that 30 minutes has passed. A much more annoying sound comes from it when I need to wake up in the morning. When I have someplace to be, the GPS in my phone guides me there, and teaches me alternate routes if the original one goes to shit. Though when there are real people nearby I greatly prefer interaction, and have never been afraid to initiate it, I NEVER EVER shut off my phone.

 

i have rarely lived with one. the may have brought telecomunication to parts of the world previously too poor to provide landlines, and i won't argue aganst that being a good thing.

in my life, the principal thing i've seen them bring, is the loss of cheap and abundant landline access.

they're good for knowing what time it is, when/if you need that, and playing tetris on, while waiting for a bus.

never could understand the desirablity of living in a fish bowl, let alone what it costs to do so.

thanks to their dominance, i don't currently have communication of any kind, other then this internet.

when i walk out my door, i do not wish to carry social baggage with me. for this reason, even when i did have one, i seldom took it with me.