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> But smartphones are delivering no benefit to mankind. At all. You know better than that. You don't have to lie to try and make a point.

tboyd47 5y ago
Likewise; you don't have to accuse me of lying to make a point. Almost all of the arguments in favor of smartphones in this thread are based on caving to social pressure. Cell phones and texting are sufficient. And by the way, it's called hyperbole.
tharne 5y ago
> But smartphones are delivering no benefit to mankind. At all. This statement may be hyperbolic, but at its core is not wrong. Smartphones are very easily a net negative in terms of cost/benefit to society. They're ubiquitous because they're addictive, not because they're so wonderful. Everyone used to smoke too, then we came to see the massive damage cigarettes were doing. Smartphones are just cigarettes for the brain.
- Retric 5y ago
  Smartphones are simply tools. I use mine as a flashlight, notebook, calculator, camera, phone, book, and compass even without access to the internet. People would have lined up to buy an affordable device that did all of that in 1990. The internet is also more than just mindless entertainment and social media. GPS isn’t necessary, but they do more than just find stuff they also route you around traffic accidents and locate the closest drug store on a trip. Downloading an instructional YouTube video really helps with home repair, etc. In app purchases are toxic, but you can also just download a free chess app no gamification required.
- hypefi 5y ago
  Not only that, but smartphones are also bad for health, EMFs radiation all day long are no fun for the body...
  - yaomtc 5y ago
    Don't bullshit me. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electromagnetic-fields-and-public-health-mobile-phones https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electromagn...
- thrwyoilarticle 5y ago
  You're welcome to your opinions but they're not facts.

tboyd47 5y ago

Likewise; you don't have to accuse me of lying to make a point. Almost all of the arguments in favor of smartphones in this thread are based on caving to social pressure. Cell phones and texting are sufficient. And by the way, it's called hyperbole.

tharne 5y ago

> But smartphones are delivering no benefit to mankind. At all. This statement may be hyperbolic, but at its core is not wrong. Smartphones are very easily a net negative in terms of cost/benefit to society. They're ubiquitous because they're addictive, not because they're so wonderful. Everyone used to smoke too, then we came to see the massive damage cigarettes were doing. Smartphones are just cigarettes for the brain.

Retric 5y ago
Smartphones are simply tools. I use mine as a flashlight, notebook, calculator, camera, phone, book, and compass even without access to the internet. People would have lined up to buy an affordable device that did all of that in 1990. The internet is also more than just mindless entertainment and social media. GPS isn’t necessary, but they do more than just find stuff they also route you around traffic accidents and locate the closest drug store on a trip. Downloading an instructional YouTube video really helps with home repair, etc. In app purchases are toxic, but you can also just download a free chess app no gamification required.
hypefi 5y ago
Not only that, but smartphones are also bad for health, EMFs radiation all day long are no fun for the body...
- yaomtc 5y ago
  Don't bullshit me. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electromagnetic-fields-and-public-health-mobile-phones https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electromagn...
thrwyoilarticle 5y ago
You're welcome to your opinions but they're not facts.