I am seriously considering giving up my cell phone

[Captain Neon]

My work requires me to have a cell phone, and I hate it. One more thing to carry in my pocket. I prefer my landline and an answering machine. If some one really wants to get in contact with me, send me an e-mail and I will get back to you within 24 hours. If I thought that I could, I would get rid of both the landline and the cell phone. I hate talking on the phone.

 

[randooch]

And this is precisely why the dismemberment of Ma Bell was a crime against the nation. In less than thirty years we've gone from the most dependable communications network the world had ever known to a hodgepodge of chintzy, unstable, outsourced technologies passed off on a gullible public on the basis of price and gimmickry. "Progress," they call it.

Hear hear!

 

[Cicero]

I gave up my cell phone a few years back.
And i do not miss it at all.

 

[Edward]

All depends what suits your own needs, and that's what should, IMO, make the difference, rather than some crazy notion of vintage authenticity. And yes, I said that here, of all places.

We've not had a landline for nearly 10 years. I don't think there has ever been an occasion where I've missed having one.

You're lucky.... I managed without one for two years, didn't miss it for the phone, but it was the only practical way to have home internet for me, so I had to get one in. I only use it maybe twice a week when my parents call, would never dream of making an out-call on it. But for the web, I wouldn't have it.

I'm actually torn betweem Samsung galaxy ace and htc desire S.

Samsung seems to have a bigger and better screen.. i really can't decide [huh]

Samsung have really gotten their act together since the last phone I had from them (of which I went through four, all of which developed the same screen fault after two months apiece). HTCs I am a big fan of, though they do have new models out that are ahead of the Desire (my current handset until September next).

 

[HeyMoe]

One thing to consider is if you go to jail and have to call somebody, you can only reach them if they're on a land line.

Just remember the line "You'll never take me alive, copper!" and act with appropriate level of violence of action. there will be no need to make a phone call. Notification of death maybe.

Or, just dont get arrested.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I've never had a cell phone...although my son does. They can be handy..but also obsessive.
The cell phone trance: My wife and I were walking from our car through a shopping mall parking lot. A woman came out of the store absorbed in conversation with a cell phone to her ear. Stepped off of the curb without looking up..as a line of traffic screeched to a halt. Scared the hell out of the car in front who honked. Again..without looking up..she waved and proceeded on to her car in the lot. Got in...drove off..still engrossed in conversation. Oblivious to what had happened. My wife and I looked at each other..and shook our heads. Then standing in line during checkout..we had to listen to a loud cell phone conversation of a woman explaining just where she was at...where she was going next and why. It is now a common phenomenon whether you find it interesting or not. You're gonna hear it!
I am seriously considering never getting a cell phone.....
HD

 

[Travis Lee Johnston]

The only major accident I've been in was because a lady was on her phone not paying attention. Slammed into a car which caused a three car collision.
What's more hazardous than the 'winter tourists' here is someone who can't wait to talk about their trip to Ikea with their boyfriend and drive at the same time. I understand why it's illegal in places.

 

[C-dot]

I'm not sure how much belief I would have invested in this. I know personally of someone whose family member was in a serious accident. No one could contact her to inform her of this because she had her cell phone shut off...not only was her service provider able to turn it on remotely but able to find her instantly so they could airlift her to the hospital to be with her family member.

I took CPR-C in early 2009, and we all know how fast technology advances these days, so I'm sure it's much better now. However, as others have explained, to be traced in an emergency successfully you would need to have certain features, such as a cell with a built in GPS and a community with a sophisticated system. Fortunately, I'm in the big city so I don't worry about the latter, but my cellphone is not at all smart (it doesn't even connect to the internet - the horror!) and my cellphone provider would not be able to turn it on if it was powered off.

Thus, I still invest belief in a landline being a better bet in an emergency!

 

[PoohBang]

I would keep the cell phone especially if you're out of work, as I assume you're currently looking for work and would need to know when you get a call for an interview.

but if you're not looking for work, then get rid of it and you won't have the cost of keeping it.

 

[fortworthgal]

I feel that both have advantages, and it depends on one's individual lifestyle. Personally, we haven't had a landline in 7 years.

 

[MissMittens]

I gave up my cell and got a pre-paid since I have a work Blackberry. No one has my pre-paid #, only a handful of people.

 

[Tomasso]

to be traced in an emergency successfully you would need to have certain features, such as a cell with a built in GPS ..... my cellphone is not at all smart......

Thus, I still invest belief in a landline being a better bet in an emergency!

You better hope that you're not out and about when calamity strikes.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I would keep the cell phone especially if you're out of work, as I assume you're currently looking for work and would need to know when you get a call for an interview.

but if you're not looking for work, then get rid of it and you won't have the cost of keeping it.

I do not give out my cell phone to potential employers. I have had too many issues with too many people having my number in the past.

 

[PoohBang]

I do not give out my cell phone to potential employers. I have had too many issues with too many people having my number in the past.

not to point out the elephant in the room... but how does an employer contact you then to set up an interview?

 

[scottyrocks]

I do not give out my cell phone to potential employers. I have had too many issues with too many people having my number in the past.

Do we assume by this that you do give out your land line number to potential employers? I'm not asking to be difficult. It's just that I found when I had only one phone, regardless of whether it was a cell or land line, that's the number I'd (have to) give out to people if I wanted them to be able to reach me. It only matters to me that I people can reach me by phone. In my case, for the last 5+ years, the best way to reach me is on my cell.

Technology can suck. Sometimes there's no going back.

 

[Connery]

I do not give out my cell phone to potential employers. I have had too many issues with too many people having my number in the past.

I only give out my land-line telephone number. My GPS is hooked up to my cell by Bluetooth, but, I would not answer it. My car is a place where I can grab 5 minutes to myself.

 

[Talbot]

You better hope that you're not out and about when calamity strikes.

Or even just plain old misfortune.

An ATM machine accepted my card and after I entered my PIN it froze at the 'how much do you want screen?':eeek:

I was able to call the bank immediately and get my card stopped. Walking off to find a pay phone was not a satisfactory option.

If you are going to give up cell phones, you'd also better consider giving up ATM and credit cards.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

not to point out the elephant in the room... but how does an employer contact you then to set up an interview?

I still have a land line.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The reason I do not give out my cell number anymore is because I have had an issue in the past where my number was 1 digit off of some drug dealers number in Gary. Getting calls at 2 AM asking for a fix gets real old, real fast. So is getting texts from girls who think it is cute to only use a phone to text you, but not to reply when I call back. If I want to talk to them, I MUST text them.

 

[Tomasso]

The reason I do not give out my cell number anymore is because I have had an issue in the past where my number was 1 digit off of some drug dealers number in Gary. Getting calls at 2 AM asking for a fix gets real old, real fast.

How would keeping your number private have prevented this situation?