The Cell Phone...

[SunnyD]

I'm trying to understand how people ever survived back before cell phones were wide spread.

Don't people ever feel the need to be ... out of touch sometimes?

 

[krunchykrome]

When I go camping, I keep my cell phone in my car. But 99% of the time, I want to be "in touch" with everything and everyone.

 

[Anubis]

cell phones are pointless for 90% of the world population

and yes being out of touch is awsome

 

[Capt Caveman]

I like touching myself.

 

[Xavier434]

Well, thanks to the internet and communication devices like cell phones the world has become a smaller place and business across the world has adapted to those changes to the point of relying on them. Once business has changed in such a way, it can be a very painful process to revert back to the old ways.

 

[robphelan]

i hate carrying a cellphone (but I do so b/c my wife makes me).

I miss being able to go to the grocery store, drive home etc... without the thought in the back of my mind that I could get a call at any second. I liked having the freedom that not being in contact gave me.

 

[Lola]

I agree... there is some time I don't want to be so easily accessible, but when I do not have my phone with me, I get a bit paranoid.

Having a cell phone is somewhat of a false sense of security for me.

 

[rh71]

Just like the automobile, it's for convenience.

If you want to be out of touch, turn it off or ignore the caller. It's in your complete control. Don't tell me it's not nice to have something that can save you time & effort.

 

[E equals MC2]

I love the cell phone.

I remember back as a teen, if couple of friends were driving into the city with multiple cars and the plan ever changes, we all had to pull over and walk up to each other's window and shit. Super annoying.

I remember beepers were pretty lame too (at least for teens). You had to find the nearest phone + change to call. Pretty dumb.

 

[Deeko]

I feel naked if I don't have my cell phone on me. It's pretty much a must have.

 

[Riverhound777]

I don't use my phone very often, maybe twice a week, plus a few texts. But I always carry it and feel paranoid without it. Mostly just when driving.

 

[OdiN]

I like the cell phone. I don't have a land line because I just use my cell. I can take my cell with me wherever I go. I don't have to use payphones now. I can take it while travelling and not worry about long distance charges if I'm in a hotel somewhere and need to call home or something. In fact, I don't have to worry about any long distance at all since with my cell there is none.

If I want to be out of touch (camping, etc.) then I'll just turn it off.

 

[rh71]

BTW, notice much how payphones in cities are disappearing? Complete strangers are even willing to let you borrow their phone.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
When I go camping, I keep my cell phone in my car. But 99% of the time, I want to be "in touch" with everything and everyone.

:thumbsup:

 

[blackdogdeek]

having children, i find my cell phone invaluable.

 

[krunchykrome]

Yes, it is a convenient tool, but it's also more of a safety item. I bought a cell phone for my mother even though she didnt want one. I wanted her to have access to a phone wherever she was. Although we all did just fine without cell phones for many many years, now that they are available, why not use them? Why put airbags in a car? We managed without them for soo long. Items of convenience are constantly being invented, and improved on, and it's what makes us contunually strive for better.

 

[nageov3t]

just because it rings doesn't mean you have to pick it up.

when I want to be disconnected from the world, I turn it off or keep it on silence, but keep it within reach for emergencies.

 

[HannibalX]

The only reason I have a cell phone is so my wife can call in an emergency. Before I was married I never had one.

 

[SlowSpyder]

I haven't owned or had one in probably 5+ years. I hate how after all these years of cell phones being mainstream calls still drop, or if I call someones cell phone often their voice will cut in and out. And, I just don't need to be in that much contact with anyone. I get annoyed half the time when our home phone rings. But, with all that being said some of the phones do appeal to the geek in me, but I'm not ready to buy one yet. It would be something I play with for a few days then curse that 2 year contract from that point on.

 

[dainthomas]

We went camping up by Crater Lake for a week last year. There was zero cell phone coverage and I loved it!!

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I'm trying to understand how people ever survived back before cell phones were wide spread.

Don't people ever feel the need to be ... out of touch sometimes?

Hey Sparky,

you know there is a power switch on a cell phone right?

 

[Canun]

Still don't own a cell phone. Don't really need one to be honest. When I'm at work, I have a number there along with email. At home, I have a landline. I'm not out and about all the time, so there is very little that would require me to have one.

 

[hellfreeze]

Smartphones are pretty essential for a college student needing to view PowerPoint files on their phone, email instructors, etc. Add in working and going to school full time and it becomes essential to staying on top of things you need to do and thoughts organized. People have carried PDA's with them for years before cell phones became so popular, so why not give it the ability to be a phone too?

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Smartphones are pretty essential for a college student needing to view PowerPoint files on their phone, email instructors, etc. Add in working and going to school full time and it becomes essential to staying on top of things you need to do and thoughts organized. People have carried PDA's with them for years before cell phones became so popular, so why not give it the ability to be a phone too?

I agree with your overall opinion that smartphones are very useful; although I don't see how any college student would need one. View powerpoints on your phone? Don't students have laptops and campus wifi? I understand the need to email professors, but how often are students really emailing their professors to the point where they need email access in their pockets?

Even now, as a working professional, I still don't need my smartphone. I just have one because I have money to spend and I like gadgets. I like the idea of having access to email and internet everywhere I go, but it's definetly not essential, at least for someone at this stage in my career.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Smartphones are pretty essential for a college student needing to view PowerPoint files on their phone, email instructors, etc. Add in working and going to school full time and it becomes essential to staying on top of things you need to do and thoughts organized. People have carried PDA's with them for years before cell phones became so popular, so why not give it the ability to be a phone too?

I agree with your overall opinion that smartphones are very useful; although I don't see how any college student would need one. View powerpoints on your phone? Don't students have laptops and campus wifi? I understand the need to email professors, but how often are students really emailing their professors to the point where they need email access in their pockets?

Even now, as a working professional, I still don't need my smartphone. I just have one because I have money to spend and I like gadgets. I like the idea of having access to email and internet everywhere I go, but it's definetly not essential, at least for someone at this stage in my career.

I agree. "Essential" is too strong when used to describe what a college student needs and smartphones. I can see how they would be useful though. I didn't have a laptop or a smartphone and the vast majority of my lectures made use of powerpoint and an overhead projector. The professors usually post the presentations on the web and many will even post them before the lecture so that the students can review them or print them out in such a way which allows easier note taking.