4 ms·

I know my point of view is really unpopular, but in my opinion if you value your freedom and privacy you should buy a phone. Just get one that is cheaper or a u

I know my point of view is really unpopular, but in my opinion if you value your freedom and privacy you should buy a phone. Just get one that is cheaper or a used one if you can't afford the latest greatest. Would you take a subsidise laptop with a bunch of restrictions from your ISP?

laxatives 12y ago
Of course it is unpopular. You're treating freedom and privacy as a commodity. If I cared and spent enough money, could I also restrict other people's freedom or privacy? Neither should be a function of ability to pay. That being said, that is more or less how it is now -- you pay in cash/time/effort.
- ptaipale 12y ago
  I think he was saying precisely that: when you take a locked-in phone with a fixed deal, you're treating freedom and privacy as a commodity.
  - marcosdumay 12y ago
    Nope. They are lending you money (normaly with a huge interest), and taking your privacy and freedom away for free.
- dorfsmay 12y ago
  I think it is unpopular because people want the latest gadget but don't want to pay for it. > You're treating freedom and privacy as a commodity To the same extent that when I rent a car I accept the restriction on it. The difference is that I am more concerned about these restrictions than most people, and most of the time I will buy a smaller car or a used one rather than live by rental companies rules. To me the current situation in the phone market is like people leasing cars and crying to the government that the leasing companies' rules are unfair.
mgkimsal 12y ago
I bought a used one, but I think it's still locked, and I'm not using a major carrier, so they're not going to 'unlock' me now (was an AT&T iPhone 5s, now using net10). Maybe it's 'unlocked' enough to use net10, but I think it's not truly 'unlocked', and may never be.
- dorfsmay 12y ago
  Well, of course you need to verify that it is unlocked when buying used, this is as important as verifying that it is functioning.

laxatives 12y ago

Of course it is unpopular. You're treating freedom and privacy as a commodity. If I cared and spent enough money, could I also restrict other people's freedom or privacy? Neither should be a function of ability to pay. That being said, that is more or less how it is now -- you pay in cash/time/effort.

ptaipale 12y ago
I think he was saying precisely that: when you take a locked-in phone with a fixed deal, you're treating freedom and privacy as a commodity.
- marcosdumay 12y ago
  Nope. They are lending you money (normaly with a huge interest), and taking your privacy and freedom away for free.
dorfsmay 12y ago
I think it is unpopular because people want the latest gadget but don't want to pay for it. > You're treating freedom and privacy as a commodity To the same extent that when I rent a car I accept the restriction on it. The difference is that I am more concerned about these restrictions than most people, and most of the time I will buy a smaller car or a used one rather than live by rental companies rules. To me the current situation in the phone market is like people leasing cars and crying to the government that the leasing companies' rules are unfair.

mgkimsal 12y ago

I bought a used one, but I think it's still locked, and I'm not using a major carrier, so they're not going to 'unlock' me now (was an AT&T iPhone 5s, now using net10). Maybe it's 'unlocked' enough to use net10, but I think it's not truly 'unlocked', and may never be.

dorfsmay 12y ago
Well, of course you need to verify that it is unlocked when buying used, this is as important as verifying that it is functioning.