Living Car Free - anyone not use cell phones?

anyone given up or just never had a cellphone before.

i recently gave mine up to kind of detach from technology a little and im starting to try to use the computer less

but back on topic i find it kinda zen now that im not constantly checking text and im not worried about breaking it and my pockets are much more comfortable now

I've sometimes gone months without using my cell phone. I normally carry it when I'm on vacation, when I'm taking a trip somewhere or when I need to be in touch with people right away. Only a handful of people have that number.

On vacation, I use it to call in to the office once a week, just to make sure everything's working properly. Once I've made that call, I can rest easy.

if ima make a long voyage somewhere ill prolly get one of those prepaid phones

Funny ... I just now gave the following reply to a discussion in the Women's forum:


For years I absolutely refused to carry a cell phone. When I moved to Alberta, my father got me one, so I do carry it, but it's never on, and no one has my number except my parents. I don't even know what my number is! If I recall correctly the last time I used it was probably about 2 months ago ... and before that .......... I can't remember. Maybe 6 months or so.

And I have never texted anyone, or received a text message from anyone. I haven't the faintest clue how to do that. I don't even know how to retrieve messages from my cell phone!

About travelling with them ... I took my cell phone to Europe in 2007 with the idea that I might call someone I knew there. Nope! I guess there's some sort of device you need to attach to your cell phone to get it to work in other countries, and I didn't have that device. So my cell phone was dead weight for that entire trip.

If I really feel the need to contact someone when I'm travelling, I'll find a computer somewhere (tourist info place, library, internet cafe, etc.), or use Rowan's pocketmail, and email that person.

anyone given up or just never had a cellphone before.

i recently gave mine up to kind of detach from technology a little and im starting to try to use the computer less

but back on topic i find it kinda zen now that im not constantly checking text and im not worried about breaking it and my pockets are much more comfortable now

I never used a cellphone until about four years ago during a particularly cold winter when I realized that I could be up the river on my early morning commute if I seriously broke down. Even now I usually keep it turned off until I need to make a call.

Edit: BTW, it's 18 degrees out and I'll be riding 14 miles soon. I'll keep it in an inside pocket rather than in my trunk bag.

I love the new technologies, and I almost never leave the house without my Blackberry, even though I make very few phone calls and send even fewer text messages and e-mails. I like being able to keep in touch with my wife and--in case of an emergency--the proper authorities.

Go out on a commute or a tour without a cell phone? No way!

I use mine only for phone calls, and most of those with my immediate family or a few workmates during the day. If your number is not in my phone and your name doesn't show up when it rings, you get my voice mail. And I don't text, unless one of my texting daughters sends me a message because she knows I'm in a meeting or somewhere that I can't answer the phone.

But on days that I leave the cellphone at home, I feel so disconnected. It would be as bad as leaving your wallet at home for me. So yes, I try to avoid using it too much, but I would not want to go without it. I'm staying away from those "Crackberry" things as long as I can avoid them.

Unfortunately my job and travel require my having cellphones. The good part is my children (now adults) do send texts, emails and pictures to them on a regular basis.:thumb: So I know where they are and what they are doing. Great to be able to keep in touch when you are spread to the 4 winds. I don't let the cellphone intrude on my life if I can help it. I am not afraid to turn them off when I need to and I will let them go to voicemail quite often.

Aaron:)

I did without as long as I could.

Several years ago, my company provided me with one. It sat on my desk mostly and I only really used it when I was on the road. Hard times fell, and the company quit paying for the phone, yet still needed me to use one. That and the awareness that not having a cell number on my resume made me look like a bit of a luddite in a high tech field, I opted for a prepaid phone a few months ago.

Now I have two. I'm searching for a job not only where I live but in a far away metro area. With a friend's address and a cell phone set up with a number in that area code, I look more like a local there.

My favorite function of the phone is the clock, since I do not wear a watch.

Got by without one for undergrad, but need one for grad school. :D

I gave mine up over two years ago, and I haven't looked back. I can buy some nice bicycling equipment with the amount of money that the cell phone companies charge in a year.

I 'borrow' one off one of my housemates the few times I ever need one these days. If and when I do my bike tour in 09 I'll probly get a prepaid ... I so don't miss having one. Both my personal phone and the one supplied by my past employer...I hate to think about all the money both they and I spent over the years.

Got one as a gift last year but hardly ever use it. I'm reachable by land line at home or in the office most of the time; most other times (on bike, out on the town etc) I don't want any calls.
Have found it useful when traveling but that's about the only time. Will probably get a prepaid when current contract expires, mainly for emergencies.

I use only a cell phone--no land line. My previous phone company was unable to transfer my service when I moved so I said the hell with them. I hate talking on the phone, so I don't need much air time. I just use a prepaid phone and it costs me less than $30 most months.

I have a cheap Windows Mobile phone, costing me just £5 per month in addition to my broadband - I don't make many calls, send texts occasionally, but I use the calender and notes functions all the time - without it I'd simply forget many appointments. I also use it read free ebooks from project gutenberg - before I discovered that, I'd spend around £5 per month on paperbacks. So by using a cellphone, I am more organised, I cause fewer trees to be cut down, and I may even be saving myself money.

No landline so I use my cell as a primary phone

I was going to post something about this. I heard on the radio that the market has been so saturated that the companies are only devising new advertising for the very old and very young. They assume everyone else has one or more. Since I don't and never had one, I don't get marketed to. I hate the sound quality and the obnoxiousness of people yelling into their cell phones. I guess that the poor sound quality makes them think that they need to yell. I've seen young people going out together where each one is talking on the cell phone- no one in the group wants to interact with the people physically present in their lives. Its quite common in the dating area of DC to see couples out at a restaurant spend more time on their cell phones than with each other. Its also common to see people out biking and talking on their cell phones. I'm not talking about messengers talking to dispatchers either. Maybe I should get with the program and stop trying to be present in my own life and live a more corporate mediated life? In addition to the time spent online I could also spend time texting and cell phoning and dissociate even more from my environment and myself. On another thread someone asked about the music we listen to while biking. I responded that I find biking an immersive experience and didn't see the need to blunt it with music. I don't see the need to detract from my immediate social interactions by constantly cell phoning or texting. My cell phone friends don't like the idea that they need to keep appointments. What has been lost is the ability to make plans. They call it being flexible but when you blow someone off you are still wasting their time even if you call to say you'll be late. Last night we made plans to meet. We found each other at the event and had a good time without the barrage of "I'm here, where are you?" cell phone calls. We just walked around adding to the group as we found each other. We were actually present experiencing our immediate environment. Two people had cell phones but they must have turned them off, we had a good conversation without interruptions.

I have never owned one. The only time I needed one was Sept. 11th and the were not working downtown for most people. Leave a message, i'll get back to ya.

My cell is the only phone I have...no landline. Nothing wrong with cell phones as long as they work (and more often than not, they work just fine). If you want to get into tech that's not needed, let's talk iPods :D

^ That really depends on the person. If you're really into music, an iPod is like carrying a small record store's worth of albums in your pocket. Mine played a large role in helping me through undergrad.

^ That really depends on the person. If you're really into music, an iPod is like carrying a small record store's worth of albums in your pocket. Mine played a large role in helping me through undergrad.

True...I've never been into portable music. Never owned a walkman, Discman, etc...I guess iPods for me are just one of those things that everybody seems to jump on and I'm left sratching my head in wonder :)

If someone comes out with a cell phone with a direct line to HELL,so I can speak with my old friends,I'll think about it....

My cell is the only phone I have...no landline. Nothing wrong with cell phones as long as they work (and more often than not, they work just fine). If you want to get into tech that's not needed, let's talk iPods :D

I couldn't ride the Subway without an Ipod..

I don't have an IPOD but I do have an MP3 player. It is great being able to haul a sizable chunk of my music collection with me on the road while traveling, without the hassle of having to deal with CD's, tapes or records....now about the use of them I have issues with people so totally zoned out listening to them they have no clue who or what is going on about them.

I also agree with what gwd pointed out. I was having a similar discussion with one of upper management about how cellphones have pretty much ruined the younger generation of field managers, they don't appear to have any type of long range planning skills, it is "wait until the last minute, then pick up the cell phone and demand something" then you have the one that call you constantly and attempt to micromanage. My work cellphone quite often "accidentally" gets left on the desk in my field office:innocent:

Aaron:)

Divide and conquer:

http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia26/images/wonders/17_1.jpg

I wonder who I'd talk to 24hrs a day if I had a cell phone.

I have a cell phone and no landline. I started with a pre-paid phone but went through the pre-paid time rather quickly so I took over my mother's cell phone contract since she rarely used hers.

I use it regularly to call, receive calls, text, and take photos. The original phone was a hunk of trash and when I called the cell phone company about getting a new phone it turned out I'd have to sign up for a further 3 years of service to get a subsidized phone. I didn't want to lock myself into another 3 years and bought a refurbished phone and swapped the SIM card. It's a much better phone with a better 2megpixel camera instead of the VGA in the previous one. It's also smaller and the there is a lock feature so when it's in my pocket the buttons don't get pressed and activated messing up the phone. It also is a music player but I already have an ipod so I don't bother with it.

I was going to post something about this. I heard on the radio that the market has been so saturated that the companies are only devising new advertising for the very old and very young. They assume everyone else has one or more. Since I don't and never had one, I don't get marketed to. I hate the sound quality and the obnoxiousness of people yelling into their cell phones. I guess that the poor sound quality makes them think that they need to yell. I've seen young people going out together where each one is talking on the cell phone- no one in the group wants to interact with the people physically present in their lives. Its quite common in the dating area of DC to see couples out at a restaurant spend more time on their cell phones than with each other. Its also common to see people out biking and talking on their cell phones. I'm not talking about messengers talking to dispatchers either. Maybe I should get with the program and stop trying to be present in my own life and live a more corporate mediated life? In addition to the time spent online I could also spend time texting and cell phoning and dissociate even more from my environment and myself. On another thread someone asked about the music we listen to while biking. I responded that I find biking an immersive experience and didn't see the need to blunt it with music. I don't see the need to detract from my immediate social interactions by constantly cell phoning or texting. My cell phone friends don't like the idea that they need to keep appointments. What has been lost is the ability to make plans. They call it being flexible but when you blow someone off you are still wasting their time even if you call to say you'll be late. Last night we made plans to meet. We found each other at the event and had a good time without the barrage of "I'm here, where are you?" cell phone calls. We just walked around adding to the group as we found each other. We were actually present experiencing our immediate environment. Two people had cell phones but they must have turned them off, we had a good conversation without interruptions.

Excellent rant--and I mean that strictly as a compliment. :)

But another point is about using new technology appropriately versus not using it at all. Just because you have a cell phone dosn't mean that you're required to be rude and zone out from the real world.

I do think that we as a society are going to have to arrive at some better etiquette rules for cell phones in public places. Years ago I was annoyed for the first time by somebody talking in a restaurant. I thought, "This is going to be big trouble," but I think people are a little more considerate now.

One nice thing about texting is that it's quieter than a phone conversation. The scary thing is to see people texting while they pedal a bike, or worse, drive a car. :eek:

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/5163/080730pedtextingvmed12pwx0.jpg

I agree with better cell phone etiquette. If you wouldn't yell and raise your voice in public when speaking to someone inches away, you shouldn't yell and screech into a cell phone. That's incredibly intrusive for everyone in the vicinity.

The pacers are also irritating -- you know the people speaking on their phones and walking two feet in 1 direction, then turn and walk two feet in the opposite direction, constantly? Getting into everyone's path? Typically in a busy area? I want to feed them to piranhas.

When I am on my bike I take my cell phone with me but I wear a little Bluetooth ear phone so I can answer it without taking a hand off my bike. I also set a different ringtone for each important person in my phone book -- I only answer if it's from my husband, my mom, or my best friend. If anyone else calls I hear a generic ring and leave it for the voicemail.

I held out a long time. But I did get a cell phone about a year ago. I got a prepaid Tracfone. I didn't want to pay a huge amount every month for something I'd only use occasionally.

I paid $30 for the phone and I look for deals on buying minutes and I've gotten a lot of minutes for free. I don't keep a large amount of minutes on it, just a few hours worth, in case I lose the phone. I use it about 10 (or less) minutes per week. I can text with it but only do so occasionally. A friend of mine send me texts sometimes: "want to ride bikes?" I can reply with one word. Incoming texts are free, outgoing texts are .3 minutes charge. Cheap.

I took it on our bike tour. We used it to call home a few times.

I think of it as a calling card with a phone.

When I am on my bike I take my cell phone with me but I wear a little Bluetooth ear phone so I can answer it without taking a hand off my bike.

My stepson does that. He still crashes. :lol:

When I'm riding, I have my phone in a case, in the water bottle holder of my backpack. By the time I pull off the road and dig out the phone, the caller has either hung up or is on voicemail. :notamused:

I held out until after a bad crash on a solo ride in the country. My wife more or less insisted I either ride with someone, or carry a cell phone. To keep the peace I now carry one, but it's turned off. Technology is supposed to serve me, not the other way around.

Someday she'll get a call... "uh, I don't exactly know where I am, but there's this bike laying beside me and my head hurts... what's my name anyway?"

I used to have one of those cell phones family deals that cost $80 to infinity per month. We used to use it somewhat, but as time passed I noticed my wife didn't use many minutes and I was in the same category. I never figured out how to type messages on the thing, so it was becoming useless.

But since we have a fairly unreliable internet phone service at home, we thought having a cell for emergencies wouldn't be a bad idea. So I bought into T-Mobile's pay-as-you-go service. 1000 minutes good for one year... $100. That is working out to cost less than $10 a month.

Can anyone tell me how to send a text message? I'm all thumbs! :)

True...I've never been into portable music. Never owned a walkman, Discman, etc...I guess iPods for me are just one of those things that everybody seems to jump on and I'm left sratching my head in wonder :)


I've tried to use those things (I've had a walkman, a couple radios, and a couple MP3 players), but they just don't work for me. I discovered that ...

-- walking or riding the bus with headphones on makes me very dizzy ... to the point of being nauseated.

-- most ear buds are too big for my ears ... they either fall out or hurt terribly.

-- radio station reception gets pretty weak in the areas where I ride.

-- music files on MP3 players corrupt easily ... I have two MP3 players I can't use at all because they are completely corrupt.

So I figure ... why bother.

I've tried to use those things (I've had a walkman, a couple radios, and a couple MP3 players), but they just don't work for me. I discovered that ...

-- walking or riding the bus with headphones on makes me very dizzy ... to the point of being nauseated.

-- most ear buds are too big for my ears ... they either fall out or hurt terribly.

-- radio station reception gets pretty weak in the areas where I ride.

-- music files on MP3 players corrupt easily ... I have two MP3 players I can't use at all because they are completely corrupt.

So I figure ... why bother.

Try Satellite radio and headphones that hook behind the ear. Why bother?....riding without audio is IMO kind of unfocused, and not as enjoyable; it's like driving a car without audio (Please, I don't want to start any rants--some do and some don't).

I've tried to use those things (I've had a walkman, a couple radios, and a couple MP3 players), but they just don't work for me. I discovered that ...

-- walking or riding the bus with headphones on makes me very dizzy ... to the point of being nauseated.

-- most ear buds are too big for my ears ... they either fall out or hurt terribly.

-- radio station reception gets pretty weak in the areas where I ride.

-- music files on MP3 players corrupt easily ... I have two MP3 players I can't use at all because they are completely corrupt.

So I figure ... why bother.

I have the same problem with ear buds and I've settled on headphones. They may be cumbersome but they are much more comfortable.

I don't ride my bike and listen to music though. I'm concentrating on the ride and the music is distracting, but I love listening to my ipod on the bus or subway and it actually helps my motion sickness (especially those wicked sharp turns the bus makes going into the stations - ow).

Try Satellite radio and headphones that hook behind the ear. Why bother?....riding without audio is IMO kind of unfocused, and not as enjoyable; it's like driving a car without audio (Please, I don't want to start any rants--some do and some don't).

Where as I would much rather enjoy the sounds of nature. I get enough music and talk in all the other aspects of my life ... cycling is my time to get away from all that. :)

Oh, I also drive without audio from time to time. I'll use it to help me keep awake on my 1000 km/week commutes, but even then I'll sometimes just turn it off.

I like silence ... peace and quiet ... I often think there's too much noise in the world.

I don't want a cell phone but I might get a prepaid model. I bought a MagicJack for my computer. It is a device that lets one use their broadband internet connection as a telephone line. My first Magicjack did not work and I got a replacement this week. So far it is working. If I don't run any other streams of video or audio at the same time the audio quality is OK. I should get more RAM.

If the device continues to work well for a few weeks I'll end my telephone service and just pay for 7 megabits per second internet service. Then I'll buy a pre-paid cell phone so I can report power outages or for other emergencies, otherwise I avoid cell phones and riding in cars with them turned on.

The only safety standards for cell phones is regarding heat. There are no government tests requiring companies prove that the microwave transmissions are safe for brain tissue. Independent researchers have shown that cell phone radiation does cause nerve damage and neurological problems. Those tests were enough evidence to get the British government to issue warnings about letting children under twelve years of age use cell phones for very long periods of time.

Even though I am an old school telephone network techie / engineer, I no longer have a landline at home. I agree that the voice quality on cell phones is lousy compared to a landline, but I don't get "robo calls" or spam phone calls on my cell phone so that's a plus. I get by with a prepaid cell phone from T Mobile that gives me 1000 minutes for $100. That lasts me a year or so, which means less than $10 per month. Obviously, I don't spend a lot of time yacking on the phone. I don't carry the cell phone around unless I am going out of town, for a hike or long bike ride or to some place or event where I am meeting other people and might need to call to find them. It's a tiny flip phone with no bluetooth and no camera, which means less stuff to break. I don't feel attached or addicted to the cell phone, and I don't use it for anything but an occasional phone call.

True...I've never been into portable music. Never owned a walkman, Discman, etc...I guess iPods for me are just one of those things that everybody seems to jump on and I'm left sratching my head in wonder :)

Walkmans and Discmans were only as good as the amount of cassettes and CDs you were willing to burden yourself with. They were fun, sure, but I never realized what a hassle they were until everyone at work switched to mp3 players and suddenly we weren't carrying 100-disc "wallets" on trips anymore. Having my entire music collection in my pocket is very, very sweet. Digital video is the next logical step -- no more carrying DVDs on trips.


Can anyone tell me how to send a text message? I'm all thumbs! :)

Get a phone that makes sense and is easy to use. :thumb: ;) My parents can't figure out how to use the speakerphone function on their run-of-the-mill Nokia, but it's right there on my iPhone's screen during a call.

Me, I held out as long as I could, until I started working here in 2001 and it was recommended that I get one of some kind. That first phone was a Samsung something-or-other with a 7-line black & white screen. Now I only have a land line because my job likes having an alternate number to reach me.

The first time I used one, though, was seriously important. I was borrowing my parents' relatively new phone prior to a long trip. I was driving along in my Civic and some weasel-faced, greasy-haired loser with a chip on his shoulder in a Cougar started harassing me, yelling, "C'mere you goddamned c***sucker!!" I dodged around some traffic, made some e-brake U-turns, and each time I put some distance between him and myself and tried to take it easy, he persisted in catching up and threatening me some more. So, I called 911, told them where I was and what was happening, and they sent some cops to meet me at the Blockbuster not far away. I pulled in, the guy drive past about a minute later, and the cops arrived in another two minutes. One cop stayed there with me, and the other cruiser took off to try to find the guy. Never found out if they did, but man, it sure was easier to handle with a cell phone than if I didn't have one.

Wow. Am I the only person still living in industrial civilisation who doesn't have a cell phone and doesn't plan to get one? x___x

In my case, it's more economics than anything else. I can't afford a cell phone. I used to have one in my last year of high school, my parents bought it for me, and when I got a job, I took over the bills. For the first few months, it was cool, I was one of my only friends that had one (this was back in 1998, mind you). But then, I realised, the only reason my parents got it was so they could keep tabs on me. Not cool. Also, the bill was $44/month, and working part-time for minimum wage there were better things I wanted to spend my money on.

Now, I work as a freelance artist and my money comes in sporadically (and sometimes, not at all). I can't have a monthly bill every month, when I might not have income for three months and my savings is already spent on things like food or rent. I thought about getting a pre-paid phone, but then, did I want to pay that much for something I'm going to use twice a year? Just this last year, I can only think of two occasions where I needed a cell phone. 1) I got stranded with a flat tire 8 miles from home, too dark to ride. 2) I was out at a talk and it got too late for the buses and I had to call for a ride. In both cases, I had to find a payphone (no easy task in this world of cell phones) to call for a ride.

The other issue is cultural. If I'm not at home, I don't want to take a phone call. Sometimes, even if I'm home, i don't want to take a phone call. Leave a message, I'll get back to you when it's convenient for me. 90% of conversations I overhear on cell phones: "Hey. Where are you/what are you doing?" I'm not into small talk or talk just to talk. Most of my regular phone conversation is to do some kind of business, or to call and check on something. I'd much rather have the person in front of me to talk to, especially if it's a friend.

I like my mobile phone, and think it's pretty useful. It's nice being able to communicate when you're out and about. I especially like texting, because I don't like actually talking on the phone all that much, and prefer to keep things short and sweet until I see the other person face-to-face.

That said, there's nothing wrong with leaving the phone at home once in a while. When I'm hiking or on a camping trip, or even on a bicycle tour, I do not bring my phone. What's the point of getting away from the rat race if the other rats can track you down with a simple phone call? I also think it's cheating. If you're out in the wilds and run into trouble, you should be able to help yourself.

I remember a story a friend told me one time of a woman hiking in New Mexico who called the Forest Service on her cell phone, requesting a rescue. When the Forest service asked her what her injuries were, she said she had none, she was just tired. When the woman was informed that the Forest Service didn't really do that sort of thing, she became incensed and sued the Forest Service upon her return to Santa Fe. She lost, of course, but still, the whole episode does make one wonder:
1. Why do some Americans have such a delusional sense of entitlement?
2. What, if anything, does technology have to do with any of this?
3. Why is this story so easy to believe?

1. Why do some Americans have such a delusional sense of entitlement?


Perhaps because the corporate media constantly reinforces the illusion of Americans being better human beings than humans anywhere else on Earth.

I agree with better cell phone etiquette.
...
I also set a different ringtone for each important person in my phone book

Ringtones are the new bad etiquette, people seem to think everyone around them want to listen to some poorly made music rather than put their phone on vibrate so as to not annoy everyone else.

I carry a cell phone for the ability to use in an emergency and tend to rarely use it otherwise. To help make it worth carrying I bought a PDA phone. So I can carry a bunch of mp3's if I want to listen to music and don't have to hop on the ipod fad. I carry lots of pictures rather than having a few worn faded pictures in my wallet. I also use the calendar to keep track of things like the kids dr. appoitnments.

I worked on the cellphone industry for a decade. I had free company-paid cellphone during that period. Since then, I've been cellphone free; 3 years now. I will try to remain cellphone-free. It's not a necesity.

I was going to post something about this. I heard on the radio that the market has been so saturated that the companies are only devising new advertising for the very old and very young. They assume everyone else has one or more. Since I don't and never had one, I don't get marketed to. I hate the sound quality and the obnoxiousness of people yelling into their cell phones. I guess that the poor sound quality makes them think that they need to yell. I've seen young people going out together where each one is talking on the cell phone- no one in the group wants to interact with the people physically present in their lives. Its quite common in the dating area of DC to see couples out at a restaurant spend more time on their cell phones than with each other. Its also common to see people out biking and talking on their cell phones. I'm not talking about messengers talking to dispatchers either. Maybe I should get with the program and stop trying to be present in my own life and live a more corporate mediated life? In addition to the time spent online I could also spend time texting and cell phoning and dissociate even more from my environment and myself. On another thread someone asked about the music we listen to while biking. I responded that I find biking an immersive experience and didn't see the need to blunt it with music. I don't see the need to detract from my immediate social interactions by constantly cell phoning or texting. My cell phone friends don't like the idea that they need to keep appointments. What has been lost is the ability to make plans. They call it being flexible but when you blow someone off you are still wasting their time even if you call to say you'll be late. Last night we made plans to meet. We found each other at the event and had a good time without the barrage of "I'm here, where are you?" cell phone calls. We just walked around adding to the group as we found each other. We were actually present experiencing our immediate environment. Two people had cell phones but they must have turned them off, we had a good conversation without interruptions.


just for the record my last cell phone had much better sound quality than my home (cable) phone or any home phone ive ever had

I like my mobile phone, and think it's pretty useful. It's nice being able to communicate when you're out and about. I especially like texting, because I don't like actually talking on the phone all that much, and prefer to keep things short and sweet until I see the other person face-to-face.

That said, there's nothing wrong with leaving the phone at home once in a while. When I'm hiking or on a camping trip, or even on a bicycle tour, I do not bring my phone. What's the point of getting away from the rat race if the other rats can track you down with a simple phone call? I also think it's cheating. If you're out in the wilds and run into trouble, you should be able to help yourself.

I remember a story a friend told me one time of a woman hiking in New Mexico who called the Forest Service on her cell phone, requesting a rescue. When the Forest service asked her what her injuries were, she said she had none, she was just tired. When the woman was informed that the Forest Service didn't really do that sort of thing, she became incensed and sued the Forest Service upon her return to Santa Fe. She lost, of course, but still, the whole episode does make one wonder:
1. Why do some Americans have such a delusional sense of entitlement?
2. What, if anything, does technology have to do with any of this?
3. Why is this story so easy to believe?


its easy to belive cause most middle aged suburban women act like that

people have been so force fed the idea oif rights that they start making them up . i see it on forums all the time people start **** and get served then they cry about their right to free speech and they have to be constantly reminded that the right to free speech doesnt apply to privatly owned buildings or websites
theres at least a hundred other examples

I have a prepaid and barely use it, I put 300 minutes on it two months ago I have 270 minutes left. I do have a magic jack also at $40 a year it really can't be beat. It is nice to have a cell when needed like people who live in gated apartments like mine. My one pet peeve with cell phones is that phone etiquette is all but gone, due to them. Working retail all my life I have seen all of this slowly happen. We have customers who insist on talking to their friends while placing an order and don’t even bother on giving us their undivided attention, it is really pretty rude really. Or when they pick up their job and pay you will be surprised how often I have to repeat myself because they can’t negotiate two conversations at once. I could swear my mother taught me not to interrupt someone while they are on the phone now customers demand they be helped while they on the phone. If I am hanging it out with a friend or on a date I don’t answer the phone and it goes on silent. I had lunch with a friend last week and she was on the phone probably 70% of the time, really didn’t understand the point of going to lunch.

No land line since 1994. I've had a cell since then. I try not to yell into the phone or take calls when eating out, movies, anywhere that it might be rude to take a call. The phone sits on vibrate and it is always with me. I text daily, take pictures and know how to use the calender and other options on my phone. I have quite a few family members who are sick AND older. I certainly have no Luddite tendencies that need reinforcing.

It is a tool. No more or less.