Cell phones vs landlines

Cin · 11-01-2015, 09:59 AM

I truly do not understand the lure of the cell phone. I can't work out why I would want to pay at least 5x the price for sub standard phone service. I do get that it isn't about the ability to actually talk to other people that makes cell phones so popular, it's the convenience, the texting and I guess the access, via a tiny little window, to the internet ,while you walk about the world unchained. It is more pracitcal, I suppose, than lugging around a laptop or even a tablet. So while I understand what the attraction is, I just don't get why it's attractive.

In all fairness I really don't have a ton of friends, and of the ones I have I don't have many who I want a constant connection to. And I don't want to have to explain to anyone when and why I have turned off my cell phone. The only person I want a constant connection to and to answer to as to my reasons for not being available to her is my wife. And contrary to popular belief, I don't need a cell phone to do that.

This is not to say that there haven't been times when I wished I had a cell phone, like if my car breaks down or I need to call for help for some reason. Pay phones are relatively non existent. But the once a year need is not worth the price of admission. I do, however, resent how owning a cell phone is becoming almost a necessity rather than a convenience with the disappearance of pay phones.

I also resent how mobile games, which allow google and apple big % cuts in the revenue, are pushing web browser games into obscurity simply because they don't get the cuts from them. That's really the reason although there is a smoke and mirrors thing about adobe's inability to provide security. There is not a financial incentive for them to try for security because mobile games are much more lucrative so nobody wants to continue to support web browser flash games. Because of cell phones and other mobile devices the death of flash player is pretty much a given and the days of web-browser-flash games are numbered. This makes me sad since I really enjoy my web-browser-flash games. If cell phones fell off the face of the earth and took tablets, notebooks and even laptops with them I for one wouldn't cry.

Kätzchen · 11-01-2015, 11:53 AM

So, last time I posted here, I had a tiny cell phone that no one on earth could use, but I cut services to landline phone and Internet service because I couldn't afford to ship my notebook overseas to have it fixed (reconfigured, fixed). What's left of my Linux notebook still sits on my dining room table.

Since then, a close family friend gave me a smart phone to use.
I pay for a part of the family plan (my usage fees).

I'm closer to 'smoke signals' than I've ever been because I won't pay outrageous fees for internet, land line phone service or even singular mobile / cell phone service.

My mom is pissed off with me that I won't participate in her version of relentless texts, which happens at all hours of the day or night. I finally banned my mom from texting me because I refuse to text (P E R I O D).

I like having this smart phone but my sanity comes first .

theoddz · 11-01-2015, 01:46 PM

When cell phones first became popular, I vowed that I wouldn't get suckered into that "trap" of constant availability. I was able to effectively shun the cell phone trap until my aging parents, who lived far away from me, began to develop health problems. I finally broke down. I never disconnected my land line, though, and still have one to this day.

In my world, just because a phone rings does not mean that I am required to answer it.....period. I am not Pavlov's dog. I rarely answer my cell phone...ever. This is a carryover from my working days in a busy hospital, in a profession that made it very difficult for me to get interrupted from what I was doing in patient care. This is why I don't usually give my cell number out to anyone. If I do, I always state that, for the most part, I will not answer it. The phone is there for my convenience, not yours. I pay the bill and this is my prerogative. Even with my land line, I don't always answer the phone, even if I'm sitting right next to it. It depends on if I feel like talking. I find it very, very difficult to "visit" on the phone. If you call me and get me on the phone, tell me what you're calling about and get to the point. I don't do "small talk" on the phone. It's just how I am. This is why I have an answering machine (voice mail for the cell phone). It's a quick way to tell me what you need to say and make sure I get your message.

I know, I sound like a "heel", but I'm really not. I'm just an extremely private person. I the past years, I've noticed that there are really quite a few folks who are like me, too.

~Theo~

Tuff Stuff · 11-01-2015, 07:17 PM

I need both,so I have both...

Bèsame* · 11-01-2015, 09:59 PM

There is no landline here. At my old house, I had one just for alarm purposes.

I do have a cell phone. I fought it long and hard, because I didn't want to be available to anyone at anytime. But then came single, flirting purposes...lol

I have a smart phone and I rarely get phone calls. This phone has become my map, calculator, note taker, camera and keeps me being a miss know it all!

Last week, I impressed my Mom, with just asking it stuff. She would just say...just ask your phone! too cute, Mom.

not2shygrrl · 11-02-2015, 08:15 PM

I live in the woods, and need phone service. Analog phones as I knew them growing up (home phones) are becoming a thing of the past. Chances are if you have a bundle for service then your phone service is digital. I hate this, the digital service for home phone sucks where I live. I do not have an option for analog.

Cell reception was non existent until I am about a mile and a half away from my house. I just bought a used (ebay) network extender for verizon service and it works wonderfully!! I have cell reception throughout my house and yard area!! Like, 4 bars... Yippie!! My plan is to drop the bundle, use my cell, (network extender) and my just bought smart tv with channel apps, and a movie service and just pay for internet.

The purchase of the extender was a one time thing, there is no monthly fee to activate it on your account, but you do need internet service to plug into.

My monthly savings will be $40-ish by doing this. Hey, that is a tank of gas, or a chunk out of my electric bill, or pay my insurance and so on. I am all about that !!

imperfect_cupcake · 11-03-2015, 04:46 AM

I have a cell phone and no landline.
Landline is more expensive and I get plagued by people selling things on it. I haven't had a land line in.... 10 years?
Couldn't afford them.

I don't get interrupted by my cell phone if I don't want it to interrupt me because I
A) turn it off if I don't want to be disturbed
Or
B) put it on "select calls only" which mean it will only notify me if its my parents, my best mate, my next door neighbour or my flatmate. I select who is on that list for emergencies. If I don't answer it, they can leave a message or text me.
C) I don't have to return the text till I feel like it which won't be while I'm doing something (in class, at a store, or working).

Sometimes if I go for a walk I just leave it at home. There is no law that says I have to take it with me.

11-01-2015, 11:53 AM	#2
Kätzchen Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, please. Relationship Status: Attached to my granddaughter & chosen friends and family.. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Enjoying life @ home ツ Posts: 16,111 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,707 Thanked 33,534 Times in 10,656 Posts Rep Power: 21474868	So, last time I posted here, I had a tiny cell phone that no one on earth could use, but I cut services to landline phone and Internet service because I couldn't afford to ship my notebook overseas to have it fixed (reconfigured, fixed). What's left of my Linux notebook still sits on my dining room table. Since then, a close family friend gave me a smart phone to use. I pay for a part of the family plan (my usage fees). I'm closer to 'smoke signals' than I've ever been because I won't pay outrageous fees for internet, land line phone service or even singular mobile / cell phone service. My mom is pissed off with me that I won't participate in her version of relentless texts, which happens at all hours of the day or night. I finally banned my mom from texting me because I refuse to text (P E R I O D). I like having this smart phone but my sanity comes first . __________________ “If you’re ever in doubt choose yourself,” — thehannahcollective.

11-01-2015, 09:59 PM	#5
Bèsame* Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femm Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: loved by many Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Closer to the waves Posts: 15,383 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,124 Thanked 40,947 Times in 10,734 Posts Rep Power: 21474864	There is no landline here. At my old house, I had one just for alarm purposes. I do have a cell phone. I fought it long and hard, because I didn't want to be available to anyone at anytime. But then came single, flirting purposes...lol I have a smart phone and I rarely get phone calls. This phone has become my map, calculator, note taker, camera and keeps me being a miss know it all! Last week, I impressed my Mom, with just asking it stuff. She would just say...just ask your phone! too cute, Mom. __________________ kisses A kiss is a whisper in your mouth. Can I borrow a kiss? I promise to give it back.

11-02-2015, 08:15 PM	#6
not2shygrrl Member How Do You Identify?: as a Lesbian Preferred Pronoun?: she/her Relationship Status: under the cover of starry starry nights...enjoying a warm fire in the pit ! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: in a cabin in the woods Posts: 636 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 8,068 Thanked 2,454 Times in 546 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	can ya hear me now?? I live in the woods, and need phone service. Analog phones as I knew them growing up (home phones) are becoming a thing of the past. Chances are if you have a bundle for service then your phone service is digital. I hate this, the digital service for home phone sucks where I live. I do not have an option for analog. Cell reception was non existent until I am about a mile and a half away from my house. I just bought a used (ebay) network extender for verizon service and it works wonderfully!! I have cell reception throughout my house and yard area!! Like, 4 bars... Yippie!! My plan is to drop the bundle, use my cell, (network extender) and my just bought smart tv with channel apps, and a movie service and just pay for internet. The purchase of the extender was a one time thing, there is no monthly fee to activate it on your account, but you do need internet service to plug into. My monthly savings will be $40-ish by doing this. Hey, that is a tank of gas, or a chunk out of my electric bill, or pay my insurance and so on. I am all about that !!

11-01-2015, 09:59 AM	#1
Cin Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: Truly Madly Deeply Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: In My Head Posts: 2,814 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,333 Thanked 10,404 Times in 2,476 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	I truly do not understand the lure of the cell phone. I can't work out why I would want to pay at least 5x the price for sub standard phone service. I do get that it isn't about the ability to actually talk to other people that makes cell phones so popular, it's the convenience, the texting and I guess the access, via a tiny little window, to the internet ,while you walk about the world unchained. It is more pracitcal, I suppose, than lugging around a laptop or even a tablet. So while I understand what the attraction is, I just don't get why it's attractive. In all fairness I really don't have a ton of friends, and of the ones I have I don't have many who I want a constant connection to. And I don't want to have to explain to anyone when and why I have turned off my cell phone. The only person I want a constant connection to and to answer to as to my reasons for not being available to her is my wife. And contrary to popular belief, I don't need a cell phone to do that. This is not to say that there haven't been times when I wished I had a cell phone, like if my car breaks down or I need to call for help for some reason. Pay phones are relatively non existent. But the once a year need is not worth the price of admission. I do, however, resent how owning a cell phone is becoming almost a necessity rather than a convenience with the disappearance of pay phones. I also resent how mobile games, which allow google and apple big % cuts in the revenue, are pushing web browser games into obscurity simply because they don't get the cuts from them. That's really the reason although there is a smoke and mirrors thing about adobe's inability to provide security. There is not a financial incentive for them to try for security because mobile games are much more lucrative so nobody wants to continue to support web browser flash games. Because of cell phones and other mobile devices the death of flash player is pretty much a given and the days of web-browser-flash games are numbered. This makes me sad since I really enjoy my web-browser-flash games. If cell phones fell off the face of the earth and took tablets, notebooks and even laptops with them I for one wouldn't cry.

11-01-2015, 01:46 PM	#3
theoddz Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Cranky Old Poop Preferred Pronoun?: Mr. Beast Relationship Status: Married Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,538 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,115 Thanked 9,927 Times in 2,510 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	When cell phones first became popular, I vowed that I wouldn't get suckered into that "trap" of constant availability. I was able to effectively shun the cell phone trap until my aging parents, who lived far away from me, began to develop health problems. I finally broke down. I never disconnected my land line, though, and still have one to this day. In my world, just because a phone rings does not mean that I am required to answer it.....period. I am not Pavlov's dog. I rarely answer my cell phone...ever. This is a carryover from my working days in a busy hospital, in a profession that made it very difficult for me to get interrupted from what I was doing in patient care. This is why I don't usually give my cell number out to anyone. If I do, I always state that, for the most part, I will not answer it. The phone is there for my convenience, not yours. I pay the bill and this is my prerogative. Even with my land line, I don't always answer the phone, even if I'm sitting right next to it. It depends on if I feel like talking. I find it very, very difficult to "visit" on the phone. If you call me and get me on the phone, tell me what you're calling about and get to the point. I don't do "small talk" on the phone. It's just how I am. This is why I have an answering machine (voice mail for the cell phone). It's a quick way to tell me what you need to say and make sure I get your message. I know, I sound like a "heel", but I'm really not. I'm just an extremely private person. I the past years, I've noticed that there are really quite a few folks who are like me, too. *~Theo~*

11-01-2015, 07:17 PM	#4
Tuff Stuff Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Woman Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Married Join Date: May 2013 Location: California Posts: 695 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 904 Thanked 1,315 Times in 505 Posts Rep Power: 9408454	I need both,so I have both...

11-03-2015, 04:46 AM	#7
imperfect_cupcake Senior Member How Do You Identify?: feminine dolly dyke Preferred Pronoun?: Your Grace Relationship Status: I put my own care first Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In a gauze of mystery Posts: 1,776 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,426 Thanked 9,710 Times in 1,611 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	I have a cell phone and no landline. Landline is more expensive and I get plagued by people selling things on it. I haven't had a land line in.... 10 years? Couldn't afford them. I don't get interrupted by my cell phone if I don't want it to interrupt me because I A) turn it off if I don't want to be disturbed Or B) put it on "select calls only" which mean it will only notify me if its my parents, my best mate, my next door neighbour or my flatmate. I select who is on that list for emergencies. If I don't answer it, they can leave a message or text me. C) I don't have to return the text till I feel like it which won't be while I'm doing something (in class, at a store, or working). Sometimes if I go for a walk I just leave it at home. There is no law that says I have to take it with me.