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I did this until last year when I broke down and got a phone because I wanted to get into mobile development. It was worth it (financially), but the freedom she

by ryandvm 16y ago

I did this until last year when I broke down and got a phone because I wanted to get into mobile development. It was worth it (financially), but the freedom she talks about in not owning a cell phone is real - and I miss it.

singer 16y ago
That sounds like a loss of freedom to me. How about the freedom to not answer your phone when you don't want to be bothered?
- mturmon 16y ago
  It's like that blinking light on the Blackberry -- ignorable in principle, but irresistible in practice.
  - singer 16y ago
    Out of sight, out of mind. And put your phone in silent mode if you don't want to hear it. It's all about self control. If someone does not have that, then maybe a cell phone really isn't for them.
- ryandvm 16y ago
  Part of it is the social contract that is implicitly engaged when someone knows you have a cell phone. Basically, those people have a reasonable assumption that they can call you, and if they can't talk to you, at least they can leave a message which you'll probably respond to within a few hours. A lot of people seem to think that turning your phone off while you take a hike is as the same degree of freedom as never having any of your extracurricular activities interrupted - ever. It's not. Are there downsides to not owning a phone? Of course. I was just commenting that habitually being incommunicado is, for me, a peaceful state to find oneself.
  - danneu 16y ago
    I'd actually reverse the point. Possessing a phone seems to give people the addiction of reaffirming their social value with little "New Text Message" nuggets throughout the day. Or the need to cater to every correspondence whim by immediately returning calls and texts. I think the loss of freedom is less contingent on getting a phone, and more indicative of the general social insecurities most of us share.
km3k 16y ago
What requires people to respond to cell phone calls/messages/texts promptly? I only respond if I want to and when I want to.
- danneu 16y ago
  It's a social shortcoming. Neediness. It's why you shouldn't feel compelled to instantly respond to the texts of that girl you started talking to. Instead, waiting longer between conversational responses portrays more dominance, control, and "I have other shit going on in my day".

by ryandvm 16y ago

singer 16y ago

That sounds like a loss of freedom to me. How about the freedom to not answer your phone when you don't want to be bothered?

mturmon 16y ago
It's like that blinking light on the Blackberry -- ignorable in principle, but irresistible in practice.
- singer 16y ago
  Out of sight, out of mind. And put your phone in silent mode if you don't want to hear it. It's all about self control. If someone does not have that, then maybe a cell phone really isn't for them.
ryandvm 16y ago
Part of it is the social contract that is implicitly engaged when someone knows you have a cell phone. Basically, those people have a reasonable assumption that they can call you, and if they can't talk to you, at least they can leave a message which you'll probably respond to within a few hours. A lot of people seem to think that turning your phone off while you take a hike is as the same degree of freedom as never having any of your extracurricular activities interrupted - ever. It's not. Are there downsides to not owning a phone? Of course. I was just commenting that habitually being incommunicado is, for me, a peaceful state to find oneself.
- danneu 16y ago
  I'd actually reverse the point. Possessing a phone seems to give people the addiction of reaffirming their social value with little "New Text Message" nuggets throughout the day. Or the need to cater to every correspondence whim by immediately returning calls and texts. I think the loss of freedom is less contingent on getting a phone, and more indicative of the general social insecurities most of us share.

km3k 16y ago

What requires people to respond to cell phone calls/messages/texts promptly? I only respond if I want to and when I want to.

danneu 16y ago
It's a social shortcoming. Neediness. It's why you shouldn't feel compelled to instantly respond to the texts of that girl you started talking to. Instead, waiting longer between conversational responses portrays more dominance, control, and "I have other shit going on in my day".