I am sorry for starting threads which are not long hair related but I am planning to share more pictures of my wife's long hair and read more of the long hair topics in the very near future ::)


Anyway, what do the people here think of cell phones?  More and more I see people using them and they are one of the most used modern forms of technology today (I would guess second to the internet and e-mail).


I think they are very practical but overused especially when people are driving (this is a pet peeve of mine because accidents have happened because people were talking on their cell phone and not paying attention to their driving).
And I have also noticed people using them just for the convience of having them when they should tell the person they are talking to that they are busy for a minute and do whatever they are doing which requires non cell phone attention (such as paying for something in a store).

My wife and I have a trac phone and we use it mainly for when I am on the internet and a family emergency might occur (which has only happened once so far).
I do not take it to work and my wife does not take it to work either.
We sometimes take it when I am driving but mainly if we go on long trips where if we needed it for an emergency it would be nice to have.

So, I am not against cell phones but I think people get too spoiled and even addicted to them :o

Jerry

Were not cell phone fans, we only use one in winter that hubby gets from work for emergecys like snow storms and stuff.

I have to agree with you, Jerry.  I think many of us have become dependent on cell phones.  Just like televisions and microwaves, its a technology that we now couldn't imagine being with out, but at one time we did just fine without them. Now for younger people, that's the only thing they will know.  All of my neices and nephews (and their friends), ages 9 to 14, have cell phones.

I do admit that they are convenient and good to have for an emergency, but can also be like an electronic leash.  I have a cell phone that I keep off and save for emergencies.  I like being able to have "personal space" througout my day. But I'm guessing that is part of the appeal of the cell phone.  With this little gadget, you can have your people "with you" all the time if you want.

I guess I have to be the dissenting opinion, then... Paul and I have our cell as the main/only phone line. It's the business phone, personal phone, paul's dad calling to whine phone, etc... It's a godsend, honestly. If we're out in the field doing an installation, his dad can call up and let us know we need to go elsewhere, or pick something up on the way back.. not to mention, if someone calls that you don't want to talk to at the moment, "my reception is breaking up, what'd you say?" plausible deniability, people... PD...
I do have to agree about phones and driving... Especially with our truck's seriously messed up steering and the manual transmission... *paul on cell goes to shift* *truck starts veering to the right* he won't grasp the concept "put the darn thing on speakerphone"

I hate cell phones.
Sorry. I hate using the word hate ( :D) but.. yeh.

:-*

I am never without mine.
For one, I have many long-distance friends/relatives and my cell makes it easier to keep in touch when I otherwise would not be able to. Land lines, snail mail and even e-mail just don't cut it. I like being able to text and talk with everyone in real time...without long distance fees up the yin-yang. >_<

For two, tooooo many times have I been stranded on the road (my previous cars had a nasty habit of breaking down spontaneously) and ended up having to walk over a mile just to find a payphone...then walk back to my car and wait for help to arrive. NOT cool - especially when you live in sweltering SoCal. Should something ever happen to me while I'm out somewhere, my cell phone can be a life saver.

For three, the only purpose that the land line at my house serves anymore is a call screener. 90% of incoming calls to my house are solicitors, so my family usually doesn't even bother with the land line. If someone wants to contact us, they have our cell #'s. It also saves us the trouble of "it's for you." Keeps things a little more private.

I absolutely NEVER use my cell phone while driving. That's just reckless ignorance and disregard for yourself and those around you. In fact, it will be illegal in the state of CA next year.
   If I'm busy, I just don't answer. Plain and simple.

Technology isn't the enemy - it's people that put it to negative use.

Hubby and I each have cell phones.  His is attached to his hip - at all times - due to his work.  Sometimes he has 2 phones to carry around.  His company has a strict rule about driving and talking on the phone.  They are to pull off the road to answer the phone.  It is a good rule, even if it means I end up driving a lot of the time, so that he can be on the phone.  I don't use my phone nearly as much, I too, need it for work.  I like the convenience of having a phone at the ready when I need it.  We have a land line at home but it is seldom used anymore.

My son and his wife are part of the cell phone generation.  They have no need for a land line - their cell phones are the only phones they need.  They use them ALOT.  But I know they both use hands-free modes if they are driving and need to use the phone.

I am adamant about cells and driving.  I have been hit twice by cell phone users who were inattentive.  I report drivers who do dumb things while talking on their cells.

I also do not appreciate being forced to listen to people talk loudly on their phones when I am in a restaurant, theater, or on planes!  

wrote on Sep 4^th, 2007 at 1:17am:

For two, tooooo many times have I been stranded on the road (my previous cars had a nasty habit of breaking down spontaneously) and ended up having to walk over a mile just to find a payphone...then walk back to my car and wait for help to arrive. NOT cool - especially when you live in sweltering SoCal. Should something ever happen to me while I'm out somewhere, my cell phone can be a life saver.

Oh but being helpless can be just the dramatic thing someone needs every once in a while!  :D

Thank you for the responses so far :)


I do understand where some people need a cell phone for work or emergencies but what bugs me the most are these people who are addicted to their cell phones like they are going to miss something if they are either not talking on it or checking for messages every ten minutes :o

I can see a cellphones anonymous in the future ::)

The main reason we still have a land line is we go through dial-up internet and even if we did not have that I don't know if we would use a cell phone enough to pay $30 or  more a month for service :-/

But then I said I would never buy an automatic vehicle ::)

Jerry

I don't have one. My wife and son have theirs. Son lives on his.

Wife: Why don't you let me put you on the family plan? It's only $10.

Me: NO! People will start calling me....  ::)

rodent wrote on Sep 15^th, 2007 at 2:55am:

I don't have one. My wife and son have theirs. Son lives on his. Wife: Why don't you let me put you on the family plan? It's only $10. Me: NO! People will start calling me....  ::)

Hee, hee - that's why I don't give out my number!  ;D

Smart woman!! ;)

My husband and I are one of those who don't have a land line.  Our reason is (partly) we don't want to be found at the moment.  

We got cell four phones, with one for our 10 year-old, and one for our 14 year-old.  Now I said I would NEVER get my child a phone until s/he NEEDED one.  

But our children walk home from school.  Both phones are equipped with GPS tracking devices.  If they leave a certain area, we get an alert.  We have trained the 10 year-old in how to hit 911 on speed dial without even taking the phone off his belt.  

Paranoid?  Yes, unfortunately.  I have never lived in (OMG, I just realized this) since I have been married I have NEVER lived in a city where a child was not abducted or there was not an attempted abduction IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.  Until I went overseas.  Is it THAT common?

However at the risk of a lynch party I do admit to using the phone while driving, although I don't start the engine and dialing at the same time.  I do try and keep it short, since it does distract me and I know I don't drive as safely.

I understand what you mean, Jerry, and I agree.  It's another symptom of "multitasking" but what it does is enable the person on the phone to never really BE where they are.  And it is annoying.

I don't know about other countries but the United States is becoming a multitask country more and more which in my opinion can be both good and bad.

I happen to be one of the multitaskers and my wife is not a multitasker.

But, lots of people complain because they don't have enough time in a day to get stuff done and that is probably the excuse most people use to say why they drive and use a cell phone.


Jerry

Jerry wrote on Sep 19^th, 2007 at 7:26am:

But, lots of people complain because they don't have enough time in a day to get stuff done Jerry

Ha-ha! I just sleep less.  :P Do one thing at a time, do it well, move on. Do two, you do them both halfway or it still takes twice the time.

I was watching the news yesterday and they had a report about people who do texting on their cell phone and drive at the same time :o

To me, that is ten times worse than just talking on a cell phone :o

California passed a bill/law which prevents teenagers from driving and texting but I think they should have a law which prevents everybody from texting/talking on cell phones while driving.

But, I don't see that happening until more people die from distracted drivers on cell phones, blackberries or whatever they might be doing besides paying attention to their driving >:(

Jerry

bikerbraid wrote on Sep 17^th, 2007 at 8:43am:

rodent wrote on Sep 15th, 2007 at 2:55am: I don't have one. My wife and son have theirs. Son lives on his. Wife: Why don't you let me put you on the family plan? It's only $10. Me: NO! People will start calling me....  ::) Hee, hee - that's why I don't give out my number!  ;D

But those two that live with me would be the ones constantly calling me!

My workplace wanted to pay for one for me. Uhghghgh! Then THEY would call me at all hours of the night. NO THANKS!