Are cell phones overated?

[Neblasian]

Good day,

I am contemplating ditching my cell phone completely or at least going on a fast for a period of time. I have analysed the effectiveness of my cell phone use to my overall personal growth and have came to one conclusion IT IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS or rather VERY OVERATED. I will pin-point some areas in my life in which I thought the cell phone be a useful tool but proved defective.

Relationships: At first the cell phone came in handy in the area of dating. Getting and storing numbers was easy since the information was easily available. But however, this made me became very complacent in terms of socialising. At first when I first met a girl, I would make the effort to hang out and have fun with her. Even phone conversations were meaningful. Now the fact that I can reach them at anytime completely kills the magic. I have a bunch of numbers stored in my cell that I never called and some of them I have no idea who they are.


Finance: If you live in western part of the world you are probally being shafted by cell phone companies. My government recently added a cell-phone tax in their budget. Now I am being screwed by both sides. People argue that you need a phone in case you get an important call for a big contract. This is BS, I have a home phone with voice mail.

Cell phones also completely spoils moments. Instead of focusing I am doing, I fine myself checking my messages and voicemail. Unproductive.

It leaves out discretion. Most argue that the advantage of a cell phone is that people can get you anytime. About the have sex with your spouse, you answer your phone because you thought the call was important, and the person ask where are you, what are you doing. How many of us have been in that situation.

My conclusion, Cell phones are the worst invention for this century. Any thoughts?

[Brutha]

For once, cell phones were invented in the last century. Sit Coms, which are another important 20th century invention, are definitly a worse invention than cell phones in terms of productivity.

Most of your problem seem to come from the wrong use of cell phones. It's similar to email.
Both are inventions make it easy to do some meaningless tasks.
When you don't want to be disturbt you should just switch it off.

Constantly checking things whether your emails, how stocks you brought are doing or whether someone called your cell phone isn't productive.
You can just schedule checking your cell phone and email once a day.

[lasti]

I don't use a cell phone as I never needed it. No reason to get angry on the people who invented it.

[Jes]

I don't have a cell phone. Fantastic invention for emergencies and SOME business professionals, but otherwise, a heinous interruption.

[Playlife]

I think the biggest advantage of mobile phones(as they're called around here) is that they are well, mobile. I'm not tied down to a wire, I can move around freely. I can move to another city altogether, and I don't have to renew some contract or whatever. My thinking is that I have no idea what home phones are for. And I can't switch that bugger off, either. At least I can switch my mobile phone off when I have sex with someone.

I think cell phones are underrated. But potentially overused.

[Neblasian]

Originally Posted by Brutha

For once, cell phones were invented in the last century. Sit Coms, which are another important 20th century invention, are definitly a worse invention than cell phones in terms of productivity.

Most of your problem seem to come from the wrong use of cell phones. It's similar to email.
Both are inventions make it easy to do some meaningless tasks.
When you don't want to be disturbt you should just switch it off.

Constantly checking things whether your emails, how stocks you brought are doing or whether someone called your cell phone isn't productive.
You can just schedule checking your cell phone and email once a day.

I agree Brutha. At first I was offered one, but refused. After much pressure I accepted one. My fault actually.

I think I shall revert back to use it what it was originally meant for. That is, convenience. It serves no purpose otherwise.

My main beef however, is the cell phone companies who I find have alot of hidden fees attached to their plans. Hey, they even try to rip off card phones.


Regards

[Remiel]

Well I for one think cell phones are a great tool but a horrible master . I myself use it for the convenience. I have a friend who seems to spend half his time on the phone with work related calls. I suppose it all depends on what your job is and how you use your cell phone.

[karinalynn]

Different things work for different people I suppose. I use my cell as a convenience, not a lifeline. It's just like anything in life...moderation.

[Andrew Brunelle]

On Natural Health Information Articles and Health Newsletter by Dr. Joseph Mercola, he is saying that cell phones are almost or as dangerous as cigarettes and will come with a warning label in the next decade or so. All that radiation right near your head cannot be good for anyone. Some people say it is a necessary evil, but no one had a cell phone 30 or 40 years ago and everyone got along fine. I do not own a cell phone, other than the TracFone I keep in my car in case of an accident. I have 60 minutes on it and never use it.

[Remiel]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

On Natural Health Information Articles and Health Newsletter by Dr. Joseph Mercola, he is saying that cell phones are almost or as dangerous as cigarettes and will come with a warning label in the next decade or so. All that radiation right near your head cannot be good for anyone. Some people say it is a necessary evil, but no one had a cell phone 30 or 40 years ago and everyone got along fine. I do not own a cell phone, other than the TracFone I keep in my car in case of an accident. I have 60 minutes on it and never use it.

So far everything I've heard about cell phone radiation is that it has been disproved time and time again. Besides if cell phones cause radiation what about wifi? Now you are really screwed .

I didn't see an article there specifically so I'm not sure what all he's advocating. Now driving and talking on the cell phone is a distraction and can be dangerous depending on who's using it.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Neblasian

My conclusion, Cell phones are the worst invention for this century. Any thoughts?

You're not using a cell phone properly.

Here's what I've done. I buy a pre-paid cell phone. I spend about $100 USD at the beginning of the year to buy me about 600-800 minutes that will last me an entire year. That gives me 11-15 minutes of cell phone time per week - more then enough. In fact, I'm using less then that right now. I don't spend another dime during the year on cell phone except that $100 or so I spent at the beginning of the year. So, no extra charges, no suprises at all. I know exactly what I'm going to be spending for the year.

Then, I use the cell phone only for situations where I want to make a phone call while I'm not home. For example, I'm driving somewhere to meet someone and I call them if I know I'm going to be late. Or I'm at the airport and want to let someone know I've made it. Or I'm at the store and want to ask if we have any such thing at home that I should buy. Or I'm driving and I think of something I really need to find out right now and I call. Or, I want to go hiking or drive the car long distance, I keep my cell phone with me to update people on what's happening and use it in case of emergencies. Etc.

Basically, I don't use my cell phone for any social purposes - I use my home phone for that. I use my cell phone for short-to-the-point conversations. All my friends and family know that I have a pre-paid cell phone, so whenever I do call them for info/whatever, I just let them know I'm on my cell phone and we keep the conversation short to the point. It's worked out great. When they call me on my cell phone, they also keep it short to the point, and if we want to have a social discussion, we figure out when I can get to my home phone.

So, I absolutely love my cell phone . I've been using my cell phone in the above way for a year and a half now. I can't imagine doing without it now, even sometimes when I don't use it for a while other then carrying it around. Having it gives me much more freedom.

[Lauxa]

The thing I like least about cell phones is that I have heard your conversations can be monitored through your cell phone mic even when you are not talking on the phone, even when the phone is turned off. Here's a story from ABC News for reference:

The Blotter: Can You Hear Me Now?

If you want to be "private" you have to actually remove the battery. A prepaid phone you could presumably get using cash and not have it traced to you.

That said, I do like having a cell phone for car trips (in case I break down, or so I can call and say I am stuck in traffic and will be late) and also when trying to do activities with a group (no problem getting separated in an amusement park because everyone has cell phones). I also enjoy the text messaging feature since I can send a quick text to someone where a call would probably take longer, and it is good for important info that they would need to write down anyways.

[Kenneth King]

Originally Posted by karinalynn

Different things work for different people I suppose. I use my cell as a convenience, not a lifeline. It's just like anything in life...moderation.

Excellent philosophy. I didn't even have a cell phone until '01 and I very quickly allowed it go go from being a business necessity into an electronic anchor. Realizing that it was there FOR MY CONVENIENCE and not everyone else's was a big turning point for me. Running out of gas, hiking in the woods, or bicycling late at night - glad to have it. A friend wants to chat about nothing for 45 minutes while they're driving about and I'm trying to work...voicemail!

[Brutha]

The thing I like least about cell phones is that I have heard your conversations can be monitored through your cell phone mic even when you are not talking on the phone, even when the phone is turned off.

But you should be aware that a lot of things can be used to monitor conversations. A directional microphone can work wonders.

On the other hand you can't trace a shut of cell phone. Someone can only use it to monitor communication when he is near you.

[silicon toad2000]

A cell phone is just a tool. It either helps you or it doesn't.
I'd imagine if you were a writer and carried around a laser printer with you everywhere you might get a bit miffed. A laser printer would be invaluable but you need to use it correctly.

[Trezker]

I think the cell phone is a huge improvement compared to the old home phone.
The best thing is that you can put it in silent mode and just ignore people when you don't feel like answering. Then you have a missed call list so you can call them back when you feel like it.

I barely use my phone at all. Most of my communication goes over the computer. IRC and IM is my preference. It's really sad that MSN is the dominating protocol though.

[Nicketas]

Originally Posted by Neblasian

Good day,

I am contemplating ditching my cell phone completely or at least going on a fast for a period of time. I have analysed the effectiveness of my cell phone use to my overall personal growth and have came to one conclusion IT IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS or rather VERY OVERATED. I will pin-point some areas in my life in which I thought the cell phone be a useful tool but proved defective.

Relationships: At first the cell phone came in handy in the area of dating. Getting and storing numbers was easy since the information was easily available. But however, this made me became very complacent in terms of socialising. At first when I first met a girl, I would make the effort to hang out and have fun with her. Even phone conversations were meaningful. Now the fact that I can reach them at anytime completely kills the magic. I have a bunch of numbers stored in my cell that I never called and some of them I have no idea who they are.


Finance: If you live in western part of the world you are probally being shafted by cell phone companies. My government recently added a cell-phone tax in their budget. Now I am being screwed by both sides. People argue that you need a phone in case you get an important call for a big contract. This is BS, I have a home phone with voice mail.

Cell phones also completely spoils moments. Instead of focusing I am doing, I fine myself checking my messages and voicemail. Unproductive.

It leaves out discretion. Most argue that the advantage of a cell phone is that people can get you anytime. About the have sex with your spouse, you answer your phone because you thought the call was important, and the person ask where are you, what are you doing. How many of us have been in that situation.

My conclusion, Cell phones are the worst invention for this century. Any thoughts?

This is a case of User Error.

Put the phone down. Leave it off unless you really really need it.

A Phone exists to make calls, not always receive them.