I only use my cellphones for:
- receving rare calls.
- reading SMS messages (ie two factor ID).
- wifi hot spot for my laptop.

/rant on

Bluetooth ear pieces.

First of all, you look ridiculous. You may have Lt Uhura fantasies, and that's great, dress up all you want. But unless you are in some command center, you look ridiculous.

Second, if you are standing there, not obviously holding a cell phone and you, suddenly say "hello, what's up?" don't act surprised if the actual human in front of you turns around and says hello back. There are still some of us who engage in human to human communication in public. This is how humans used to engage in communication. One person says hello and the other person says hello back. It's tradition.

This woman gave the dirtiest look as if *I* were intruding into *her* privacy when I thought I was returning a civil "hello" directed at me... a fellow human. What was I thinking?

Now I fear that if a real human actually engages me in communication by saying "hello", I will just assume they have a stupid thing in their ear and ignore them.

Then that person will whine on an Internets Tubes forum "I was standing in line at the grocery store and I decided to be sociable, so I said hello to this old fat bald guy and the jerk ignored me. What happened to human to human communication?"

And I can't win.

/rant off

:up:

When I retire I will use my cell phone for:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...bran111%29.jpg

Then promptly flush it.

When I retire (If I retire)

https://s14-eu5.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/...ticache=519795

I am retired (technically anyway), and the cell phone is my only phone. My sister calls me a great once-in-a-while, sometimes a bandmate calls me to say rehearsal is cancelled (he still works as a flooring contractor), and I like to have it with me in the car in case of emergencies.

I don't text unless I absolutely have to, it's not modern enough to effectively use online, and my average call time runs between five and thirty minutes per month.

It's a handy tool, nothing more.

It's a handy tool to be at the boss' bidding 24/7. That is what it has become. Decades ago one would leave work and go home to the paper and coffee. Work as left at work. No longer. The cell phone has brought many good things. It has also brought a tool to run a life off the clock with no compensation.

As I said, I don't have a boss. I therefore see no need to destroy or discard my phone.

I wonder if it is because you let your employer to exploit you.

I work my hours, sure I may work on long term projects in my own time, or help out in emergencies, but people that know me also know that calling me without an emergency is useless.

But I guess it is also because I hate phonecalls, so trying to work with me through the phone would be less productive than through emails and IM.

The Frau, when she was a contractor used to literally sleep with her cell phone. It was in the bed, not just on the night stand. She used to get E-mails and other messages in the middle of the night from her boss and she would get up and handle them.

She did not have a time critical job. Had to lay down the law on that one. No cell phones in the bed room. She slept better and surprising enough, her company survived just nicely.


Carlo Bounaparte's kid Napoleon

Like many here, I think Cell phones are a retrograde step. Cell phones have their conveniences but seem to be the bane of most peoples lives. One easily solution is what I did. People were made aware that when I retired for the evening, my cell phone did as well and I turned it off. As to be expected, there was a degree of infighting. I wouldn't budge. I rarely use my cell phone now.

I leave it on now and I don't get calls unless it's an absolute emergency. Home time is just that, time with loved ones and I don't let anything or anyone interfere with that.

I just broke my HTC One (M7) yesterday, but accidentally.. :D
"Spider app" as they say (=broken glass looks like cobwebs), but all still works. Heard the three-year-old device will not be repaired anymore, so either repair it myself (parts can be bought) or get a new (other) one.

Found it very practical in Rome or wandering, using "Komoot", "Google maps" or "Here we go". There are also compass apps, an altimeter and a lot of other practical stuff, but of course it is not absolutely precise. Using the phone for communication, internet, taking pictures along with translation apps, this "roaming" in Europe did not cost extra, because of the EU.. nice.

Then the public transportation apps for cities with schedules, tips, opening hours, booking guided tours or being informed on belated flights or changes.. although i'm aware of the Google kraken it was nice to have for orientation and search. Then you can use it as a remote control at home for some smarthome devices like Hue, TV and whatnot.

I usually switch the position off, but connecting to the cells it still gives away your metadata while you move around – who can really control this thing. Even switching off is not sure, and the batteries cannot be removed anymore with those newish devices.

So it is practical, but be aware of what it might tell to unwanted listeners. :hmmm:

I don't see why everyone is blaming the phones as if they're the tool of the devil, when the actual problem are the users. They are the ones abusing the possibilities.

It can be a tool of the devil. A tool to bully, ruin a marriage/relationship, work in constant contact. The cell phone is invasive and demanding of our time. Some exploit that "feature".

@Catfish

It also came in "Handy" at Laboe.:D

As a person who grew up with a telephone that hung on the wall and a cord that was never quite long enough, I think the cell phone is a wonderful thing. I can say without a doubt that I'm not infatuated by it but that it simply makes my life better and easier in so many ways. Some cool things....my Son sends me Instagram pics and videos of our year old granddaughter. I like that. When away from my computer I can log on to SubSim. I like that. It's handy at work if I need to find out something which I had to do today.

Some things I don't do. I don't play games on it. I don't call or text people if I'm bored. I'm not on Facebook. We got rid of our home land line and what I like about that is that if my phone rings now it's for me. Like all modern tech toys you have to be the master. I see lots of abuse especially among the very young users but that's not going to ruin it for me.

Oh yea... did I mention it's got a flashlight.:D

@Schroeder shsh don't reveal our navigation skills :wah:

edit: ah you mean calling the Uncle! Yes, would have been difficult without a mobile :D

Soo... "guns kill people!" afterall?

"Smart" guns probably would.

My smart phone is always deciding to do things I didn't want it to do. If you're such a smart phone why are you opening up ebay? Have you ever seen me do that in the three years we've been together? Don't you think I just meant to make sure the volume was up? Oh, and why is the volume down in the first place if you're soooo smart Mr. phone? :D As soon as I don't have to answer every call I receive I'll be cell phone free for the rest of my life, contact me with email. I might check that once a day if I feel like it.

...and USPS I'm pulling out just like Kramer. :03: No way I want to receive my someday deceased mother's mailings from hundreds of flim flam charities. :up:

...and the new grocery store thing I really don't like is the get in line before your minions have returned with all the items you're looking for. If they haven't made it back yet, make everyone behind you wait till they do. Maybe have a cell phone conversation or text yet while you wait for them. lol

What does this have to do with the price of eggs in China? :hmmm: