Do Dumbphone users discriminate against you?

MrX8503

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2005
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So I have a few friends who are dumbphone users and they get pretty upset when I'm on my iPhone. They are under the impression that I'm always texting someone, which is not the case.

Along with using it as a phone, I use my phone for bills, email(work/personal), planner, banking, surfing, and the occasional game. I feel like dumbphone users aren't aware of the capabilities of a smartphone and how much of your life can be organized within it.

My other friends who converted to smartphones seem to understand, but the rest who are on dumbphones finds it annoying.

What are your experiences with those who just use a phone as a "phone"?
 

Sheep

Golden Member
Jun 13, 2006
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I see just as many dumbphone users with their noses buried in their phones texting or chatting away as I do smartphone users.
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
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Sep 15, 2004
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I get a little annoyed with my one friend. He went from being the worst cellphone owner in the world, he wouldn't text, he barely returned calls, his voicemail wasn't even set up... it was bad. To being the second worst cellphone owner in the world with a Droid. He texts a little more, has his voicemail set up, but still doesn't answer calls much, but even with all that he still has his nose in it every minute, looking at emails and the news.

I have a picture of him from this year's New Year's Eve party, sitting in the corner looking at his droid with people dancing all around him. He was at dinner the other night, Droid in one hand, chicken sandwich in the other.

But no, none of my dumbphone owning friends give me grief.
 

MrX8503

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Oct 23, 2005
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I get a little annoyed with my one friend. He went from being the worst cellphone owner in the world, he wouldn't text, he barely returned calls, his voicemail wasn't even set up... it was bad. To being the second worst cellphone owner in the world with a Droid. He texts a little more, has his voicemail set up, but still doesn't answer calls much, but even with all that he still has his nose in it every minute, looking at emails and the news.

I have a picture of him from this year's New Year's Eve party, sitting in the corner looking at his droid with people dancing all around him. He was at dinner the other night, Droid in one hand, chicken sandwich in the other.

But no, none of my dumbphone owning friends give me grief.

lol that's just bad!

I'm on my phone if I'm just watching TV with friends, but if I'm at a party I can't even find my phone. Which I then proceed to freak out the next morning.

As for not texting back, calling back, or setting up a voicemail; I know what you mean. I have 2 friends who does the very same thing. I could text them that I just got hit by a car and they probably wouldn't reply. Setting up plans was always a pain.

I could send my 2 friends a message by pigeon and it wouldn't be any different than texting them.
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
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Sep 15, 2004
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lol that's just bad!

I'm on my phone if I'm just watching TV with friends, but if I'm at a party I can't even find my phone. Which I then proceed to freak out the next morning.

As for not texting back, calling back, or setting up a voicemail; I know what you mean. I have 2 friends who does the very same thing. I could text them that I just got hit by a car and they probably wouldn't reply. Setting up plans was always a pain.

I could send my 2 friends a message by pigeon and it wouldn't be any different than texting them.

What was really ironic was that my total luddite friend (his grad paper was on 17th century London gangs I think) was actually incredibly easy to get on the phone and we would talk all the time when he was still stateside. Little harder now that he is in Wales and on Zulu Time.
 
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Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
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I have a picture of him from this year's New Year's Eve party, sitting in the corner looking at his droid with people dancing all around him. He was at dinner the other night, Droid in one hand, chicken sandwich in the other.

You were at same New years Eve party I was?
 

mammador

Platinum Member
Dec 9, 2010
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I can't get how people still use dumbphones. but I guess it depends on the user's needs. If all one wants is just texting, then a dumbphone works.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
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I dunno what it's like outside of La La land in California, but everyone here has a smartphone in their hand it seems...
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
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I dunno what it's like outside of La La land in California, but everyone here has a smartphone in their hand it seems...

I work for a website and while most people have smartphones, there's still many people, my age, that still have dumbphones since they spend 99% of their time in front of a computer anyways.
 

gdansk

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2011
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Many people around here (semi-rural Wisconsin) still uses "dumbphones". I really don't think most people need any more, and a lot certainly don't want more. Then again all my siblings love to play games on my phone, so... I'd imagine they have some sort of interest in a smartphone. I'm a pretty poor phone owner myself, I won't answer unless I want to... I didn't set up my voice mail, and I have no plans to text back in a reasonable time. I'm just that lazy.
 

RiDE

Platinum Member
Jul 8, 2004
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I work for a website and while most people have smartphones, there's still many people, my age, that still have dumbphones since they spend 99% of their time in front of a computer anyways.

That's me. :hmm:
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
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I personally know one person that still has a dumb phone, and he doesn't have facebook, linkedin, etc. He prides himself on being an outcast.

Heck, even my fob ass parents have smart phones.
 

makken

Golden Member
Aug 28, 2004
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Bwhaha!

Then you have those smartphone users who use their smartphones as dumb phones.

heh. my sister brought an iphone 4 over the holidays. in the last 2 months, the only app shes put on it is angry birds.
 

sswingle

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2000
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heh. my sister brought an iphone 4 over the holidays. in the last 2 months, the only app shes put on it is angry birds.

My neighbor friend is like that. Had her Droid X for quite a while and all she did was text on it. Had to teach her how to install apps but I don't think she really has any still.

Thought the facebook app was opening the web browser and going to facebook.
 

Fallingwater

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Nov 28, 2010
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www.technfun.com
So I have a few friends who are dumbphone users and they get pretty upset when I'm on my iPhone. They are under the impression that I'm always texting someone, which is not the case.

Along with using it as a phone, I use my phone for bills, email(work/personal), planner, banking, surfing, and the occasional game. I feel like dumbphone users aren't aware of the capabilities of a smartphone and how much of your life can be organized within it.

My other friends who converted to smartphones seem to understand, but the rest who are on dumbphones finds it annoying.

What are your experiences with those who just use a phone as a "phone"?
It's irrelevant what you're doing with your phone, dumb or smart - your friends are probably complaining that you're spending too much time paying attention to the phone and not enough paying attention to them - a complaint I can certainly understand, as I find it extremely annoying when people do that.
 
Nov 29, 2006
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My guess is they say those things because you do it when in company of them. Which most people consider rude to surf the web when you are out to dinner or what not with friends. You are there to talk to them not chat and surf your smartphone. Pay your bills etc on your own time :)

I am a smartphone user who went back to dumbphones...for now at least lol HTC Hero sucked so bad my Samsung Rant was a relief :) I have internet access at work and home which is a good 90&#37; of my day so paying for a smart phone which i didnt use much of the "smart" features for wasnt worth it for me. I have my eye on the Virgin Mobile LG Optimus now since $25 sounds about right up my alley :)
 
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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
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I dont think you know what "discriminate" means, but if you mean "mouth off and make fun" then yes, they do.
 

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
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No, they don't. I try not to give them a reason to. Last thing they want is me showing off my cool gadget and rubbing their noses in the fact that their phones aren't as cool.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
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So I have a few friends who are dumbphone users and they get pretty upset when I'm on my iPhone. They are under the impression that I'm always texting someone, which is not the case.

Along with using it as a phone, I use my phone for bills, email(work/personal), planner, banking, surfing, and the occasional game. I feel like dumbphone users aren't aware of the capabilities of a smartphone and how much of your life can be organized within it.

My other friends who converted to smartphones seem to understand, but the rest who are on dumbphones finds it annoying.

What are your experiences with those who just use a phone as a "phone"?

There is a time and place for everything. Having a smartphone does not make it polite to do email, pay bills, balance checkbook, read websites and play games while you are having a conversation or dinner with your friends. If I went to a restaurant with someone, got my laptop out, started catching up on work emails, then got my checkbook out and started balancing it, got some magazines out and did some reading, got a PSP out and played some games in front of their face, my companion would discriminate against me too next time they decided who to go to dinner with.
 

MrX8503

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2005
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There is a time and place for everything. Having a smartphone does not make it polite to do email, pay bills, balance checkbook, read websites and play games while you are having a conversation or dinner with your friends. If I went to a restaurant with someone, got my laptop out, started catching up on work emails, then got my checkbook out and started balancing it, got some magazines out and did some reading, got a PSP out and played some games in front of their face, my companion would discriminate against me too next time they decided who to go to dinner with.

We were just watching TV.