Our obsession with mobile phones...why ?

[Mondeo Man]

I don't get this obsesion with phones.

I have an old phone, I've had for maybe 8 years. Someone gave it to me. Before that, I had another hand down, that lasted several years.

It doesn't have a camera (I've got a digi camera for when I need snaps). Doesn't play music (thankfully, I've got a radio, etc!), doesn't connect to the internet (I've a computer for that).

What it does do, though, is send text messages and connects to other peoples phones, when I've something I need to say. Every now and then, I put ten quid of credit in, and it lasts several months.

I've no desire to phone people up to babble on about what I'm having for dinner tonight. I've no desire for people I know to phone me, and babble on about what they are having for dinner tonight. I've no desire to contact family and friends when I'm on the way home, to say that "I'm on the way home" - they'll figure it out when I unlock the fucking front door.

It wasn't that long ago when people could actually pass the day without making pointless phone calls. 99.9% of communication btwn mobile phones is utter drivel: meaningless chatter, useless exchanges, naval gazing, self obsessed, narcissistic nonsense. If you are over 20, you can remember these times.

I can't remember the last time I was with a stranger and they DIDN'T start fiddling with their phones. It's fucking rude. It is actually possible to converse with strangers - you don't have to hide away with your little handheld social crutch, sending pointless messages, the equivalant of staring at your shoes in an elevator.

If I am talking to you, do not asnwer your mobile phone, it is bad manners: but when did that become normal? I've sat there having heart to hearts with friends, their phone beeps, and they've gone. Next thing they are exchange trifles over the line. Fucking cunts. See you later.

I am the only person I know who can ignore a ringing phone. The fattest, laziest fuck, moves like a sprinter when they hear their phone rings. Why? How important is it actually going to be? Chances are, not very.

Also, ring tones. What's with that shit? When did 'ring, ring, ring, ring' stop serving its function? People with the stupidest ring tones always have the loudest volume: you're not an individual, you're a cunt, so turn it down.

When I see people, walking the streets, in groups, and they're all... fiddling with their phones..... I think, just stop it, your freinds are next to you, enjoy their company, what the hell are you fiddling for?

[Bendy]

(over 20)

[blurredman]

I hardly use my mobile phone.

And when I did it was to make use of sending stupid pictures to ramdoms via bluetooth in college.

I may aswel not have a mobile as I never even take it with me anywhere.

Sometimes I wish I had a large 80's phone just to prove a point that, I don't care about trivial things like mobiles.


I would say though that the reason people are constantly on their phones are because of the deals that are constantly offered. Eg. 200 texts free a month or something. A standard rate of £whatever for however much you use your mobile, therefore using it more often is cheaper.
It's a captive market, if it's on offer it'll be bought and fully utilised.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[Marcg868]

Aye I think i was in Year 10 at School when the everyone had a Nokia 3210 with snake on phase kicked off.

Now you see 7 year olds with phones.
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[Im-a-Ridah]

My phones have touch screen, internet, cameras ect. I only use the txt and call functions though. The camera is nice as I can have a camera with me when I otherwise would not due to the extra size/weight.

[The Artist]

I like my phone. I can take pictures, listen to music, use the sat nav and it turns into a wireless hotspot to connect my netbook wirelessly to for internet access.

[Bendy]

The phone and text facilities of my phone are probably the ones I use least. I feel no need to be in constant communication with people and I'll happily ignore it for weeks on end.

This week I've mostly been using it as a remote control for xbmc.

[Frost]

I don't want a phone i want a small portable easy to use computer with mobile internet that i can receive a phone call on if ever the occasion should arise.

[Frost]

I'm on a very high spec laptop bought for me by someone else using stolen Wifi

[chrisw]

[Fizzer Thou]

I had one of these when they first came out
https://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc38/laura-adr/old-cell-phones-get-cingular-fee.jpg
and I hated it.Everyone thought that I was somebody important because of having one.

I was given a Nokia 6310.It fits the hands free bracket in my car which is more useful for recharging it than for receiving calls or texts.I spend so little on the thing it is hardly worth having it.But I never know when it might come in handy.When I came across someone in dire need of an ambulance it was handy then.Or when a lad in my group died as a result of an accident on the way home from the coast - I rang the wife to say that I would be home late and to not worry.

I have more modern mobiles (cellphone in USA & handies in Germany) but to be quite honest I cannot be bothered with using them.

My dear old Dad summed it up quite clearly before he passed away a few years ago.He was a bit of a technophobe.His friends said it was a good idea to have one,just in case he needed to contact them.But he said that he had a phone at home for that reason.His friends also said he ought to have a computer.He asked for what reason.They said for sending emails.He answered that a letter was just as useful.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[The999Kid]

my phone has a qwerty keyboard... and a camera... i use both regularly
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NDB 19/10/1989 - 1/11/2010 |Nowhere.Elyseum wrote: I get the distinct feeling that Tim should be our secret weapon for future trolling. I don't know many people that can rip the piss in Iambic pentameter

[bazza]

[Slacker24seve...]

[oldpink]

contract Blackberry
use the GPS to get to meetings etc, email on the move, BBM to chat on the move with friends
for travelling I use my laptop for movies etc 8 hr battery life, also have dongle for interweb

depends on what I'm doing / where I am what I use
there just tools I use to do my job (IT work)
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I have become comfortably numb

Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Al]

A lot of it is down to the common believe that we need to have the best of everything.
There are so many guides and experts around advising people that really have no interest or need for an amazing phone that they would be stupid or missing out if they didn't buy the best one available.
Its all a bit of a con, but I can see how it happens as its not just mobile phones its everything and its easy to get roped in.
I've watched TV for 20 odd years from a box in the corner of the room, but now apparently it's unwatchable unless it's in full HD and at least 42" wide.

As a rule if it's something I have no interest in I'll just go for cheap and basic, unless you're super rich you need to sacrifice somewhere which was something that seemed to have been forgotten until the recent credit crunch. I spend a lot (proportionality)on stuff that I enjoy and am interested in and save on stuff I'm not.
If phones are your thing then cool, but if there not it seems silly to waste a load of money on one for the sake of it. A bit like spending a load of money on one of those expensive coffee makers then drinking instant.
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[Im-a-Ridah]

Mobile phones must have done wonders for accident survival rates

[Visitor Q]

I have had the same 02 PAYG sim since I was 18 (with 300 free texts whenever you chuck a tenner on). I change phones to another cheap phone one whenever I (invariably) kill it. I've had second hand camera phones from ebay (d500's/d600's mainly).

There was a survey about Vietnamese women and what they most look for in a man... most said a nice mobile phone. Same mentality in most of Asia it seems. Most of my young students have I-phones, in 'poor' countries. So when I whack out my year old battered Samsung I bought in Thailand for about 15 quid, they all piss themselves laughing...

... until I smack it off my head/the wall a few times and smirk.

Idiots.

Granted, an iphone would be handy now and then, but mostly it's just another nail in the utter dehumanisation of the west. As you say, nobody can get by without a phone anymore. Meeting at set times is an alien concept now, and people have to be harassed constantly. It's like the whole world has ADD, and has to know everything RIGHT NOW.

That said, texts are great for flirting But I can do that with my piece of shite.I don't need to have the whole shebang.

As for the 'what if you get bored' collective. Random shots on a camera phone are seldom worth taking, especially if you have a 10mp digital nearby. Listening to music on a phone... piss that, ipod kicks it's arse. Want to watch tv/films, on a 2 inch display? Piss off. I have a little Acer laptop that is great for night buses etc.

And the great thing... when I JUST go out on the piss, I only risk a little expendable shit phone, the greatest risk will be losing numbers. Would you go out on the piss with 150 quid in cash bundled up... and flash it about every 10 minutes? No.

When you have a party, with tables covered in condensation or spilled drinks, do you put your laptop on the table... do you fuck. Yet everyone nonchalantly lobs their iphone on their.

More money than sense
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From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Bendy]

Its the manners thing, it should go real people > phone. Anything else is rude.

[Ayrton]

I use my phone for texting nearly all day long. I will probably go through 2 phones in 6 months, just because i break them so easily. Right now i have a vair touch 2 which cost £30 and i only spent that much because i cant use a phone without a qwerty keyboard.

[Visitor Q]

[doggone]

You soon lose the infection round here as there still isn't any signal.
We've all perfected shouting really loud.

I have a nokia 3510 on PAYG I take (turned off) in a pocket in case of breakdown.
If everyone was like me they'd all go bust then where would we be

I like gadgets generally speaking, and was quite impressed with friends iphone which he patched into my wifi since it was otherwise useless here.

[bazza]

[Germ]

I have only owned 2 mobile phones in my life and both were forced on me by work so they could demand I come in on days off etc.

When did we suddenly need to share everything with everyone the instant we had a thought? I remember back as a teenager if we missed a call we didn't know we'd missed it or care.People called,if no one answered we assumed they were out and called back later or asked my mam to give me a message.
I'm considering renewing my sim in my Razer V3 but only for emergency purposes on the bike.....broken and bloody,trapped under a Bandit in a ditch it might be nice to let someone know I'm there and would like them to rescue me and bring some very strong drugs with them
People keep asking me what my mobile number is,I have no idea! I applied for a job where they demanded the mobile number on the application....I had no credit,didn't know my number so I had to phone my mate and ask him to phone my mobile (to ensure it was the right phone) and tell me my number