I hate modern cell phones!

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous' started by Jayson1, May 18, 2017.

  1. Jayson1

    Jayson1 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Mar 21, 2017
    I'm 41 so maybe I am to old to see the appeal but I think I hate everything about them. To me a cell phone should be able to make calls, hold phone numbers and have voice mail and that is it. Every time my sisters comes over or I see my nieces or even my mom it seems all they want to do is look at some dumb little box in their hand. Why would anyone watch or listen to something on such a small device and also it would be nice if people actually wanted to talk anymore.
    Plus I have a hard time using them. Whenever I swipe I never seem to find what I need to get to and the ability to use the phone option always seems to be some super obstacle instead of the most easy thing to do. I wish flip phones would come back because that was what a cell phone should look like. I can't even pretend like I am talking to the Enterprise anymore without a flip phone which was one of it's biggest charms. The upside is with new phones I can pretend I am Al giving Sam Beckett important information by looking at my hand link but that only works in theory because my hatred of the phones drain any primitive joy out of it.

    Jason
     
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  2. Trekfan12

    Trekfan12 Captain Captain

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    I still remember a time when there were no cell phones, or PCs for that matter. And if you wanted to talk to someone you either talked to them in person, mailed them a letter (yes it's now called Snail Mail but since there was NO e mail back then you just dropped a letter in the mailbox) OR you picked up the phone and talked to a human being. no answering machine/voice mail. I don't have a smart phone, as of yet. I do use my phone for phone calls and texting. But I mainly talk to people in person or e mail, text or via FB.
     
  3. MacLeod

    MacLeod Admiral Admiral

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  4. Stephen!

    Stephen! Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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  5. Janeway’s Girl

    Janeway’s Girl Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I do think people are too tied to their smartphones. I prefer talking over texting but no one seems to do that anymore. It annoys me to no end when I see people on their phones walking around and because they aren't paying attention, they bump into me, sometimes nearly knocking me over.

    But having said that, there are some uses to a smartphone that flip phones didn't have. Looking up directions and cab companies can be very helpful. It's also nice to just go online whenever. A really long boring bus ride can be made entertaining.

    With the exception of work, I almost never use a computer despite having one. It takes too long to turn on.
     
  6. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I fly a lot, and I find it very useful to have my boarding passes delivered straight to my iPhone. Ditto for baseball game tickets.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2017
  7. Ar-Pharazon

    Ar-Pharazon Admiral Premium Member

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    Far North Chicago Suburbs
    I'm 50, and not really addicted to my smartphone, but I do like to play a few games, look at google or IMDB if I'm not home, check facebook occasionally.

    I have apps for my bank and credit card companies, youtube and even one that gives me an old style dialer for making calls when I'm feeling retro.

    I text a few people, mostly pics I found on facebook.
     
  8. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I leave my computer running 24/7. That said, I like my smartphone, and find many of the features handy, but I do miss the days when a phone could go three days without being charged, and still work.
     
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  9. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    Sometimes I take out my cellphone and let the 12 year old kid from the 80's in me just stare in amazement at this super computer with more power than a Cray I can carry in my pocket. Then I feel like I am under utilizing this amazing piece of technology by only making phone calls and getting the occasional text.

    It is nice for those moments of "mental blocks" to be able to pull it out and instantly search for that bit of information you need. Which seem to be more often as I get older.
     
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  10. Captain Crow

    Captain Crow Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I've got a flip.

    I've got zero interest in owning a "smart" phone. Partly because they've got useless functions I don't need with the phone function as an afterthought. Primarily because I dislike touch screens.
     
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  11. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Yeah, I'm really starting to dislike touch screens. My Windows 8 phone was a solid phone, but it died. The Huawei Pronto I have is a nice phone, and has Android KitKat 4.4.4, which is nice, but it seems so convoluted at times.
     
  12. Smellincoffee

    Smellincoffee Commodore Commodore

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    I'm with the luddite crowd -- Neil Postman got under my skin a long time ago about amusing ourselves to death, and I only take my phone with me when I'm going out of town. Otherwise it's an alarm clock. This isn't some sort of premature old codgerness...I think smartphones encourage compulsive behavior and take us out of the present moment, and present company.
     
  13. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I have a flip phone but I do enjoy being able to look up information if necessary. However, the temptation to use it all the time is a bit annoying. So, I typically will leave it in my wife's purse when I don't need it. Less of a temptation.

    My only frustration with the flip phone is that sending pictures becomes problematic and I like being able to send pictures to family members.
     
  14. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I think size is the biggest factor with me. My Nokia 520 (the Windows 8 phone) had a small, 4 inch screen. It fit into my pocket easily without any discomfort. My Huawei Pronto, as pretty as it is, is much larger, and is much more noticeable when I keep it in my pocket, especially when I sit down. My brother told me once, about my Nokia, that the screen was too small to watch movies. I replied, "why would I want to watch movies on a cell phone?"
     
  15. Relayer1

    Relayer1 Admiral Admiral

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    I've still got one of those, but due to it's software and lack of power, it won't work with a couple of sites I frequent. It's got to go.

    The OP needs to stop thinking of them as phones - they're mobile tablet computers - I'd be surprised if my son ever used his to phone someone...
     
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  16. Brefugee

    Brefugee No longer living the Irish dream. Premium Member

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    I love my phone, I've had it a couple of years now and may need to upgrade it (it's a Galaxy 6S), I use it to come on here, keep in contact with family and friends back home, email, keep track of the News here and back home, occasionally watch videos on it, listen to music and even make the occasional phone call with it, plus I have mHealth apps that allow me to have a better idea of how my overall glucose control is and another that I can quickly see the Carb values of a myriad of foods and portion sizes.
     
  17. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Just like newspapers used to do. ;)
     
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  18. Ar-Pharazon

    Ar-Pharazon Admiral Premium Member

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    Agreed on the "useless functions". My last phone was a Galaxy 4S, which I was able to root and disable or uninstall quite a bit of the garbage. The 4S, like the previous 2 phones, died because the USB port broke due to plugginf the charging cable in over 2 years.

    My current one is a Galaxy 6S, which I have been unable to root and it sucks the battery dry in 2 days even if I don't use it at all. This one charges wirelessly, so it won't break the same way.

    I like touch screens OK on this type of device. It takes a light touch to do things like fast scroll through facebook or whatever.


    Damn Devil's handiwork is what it is, moveable type and whatnot.
     
  19. Awesome Possum

    Awesome Possum Moddin' Admiral

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    I have an iPhone 7 Plus. I feel weird if I don't have it with me.
     
  20. CommanderRaytas

    CommanderRaytas DISCO QUEEEEEEN Rear Admiral

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    I think smart phones are practical, but really, we got by fine in ye olden days of the mid 90s, too. I use my phone mostly to keep in touch with my family and to listen to music. Before that, I used public telephones and a walkman. It's all easier these days, of course. What I just find super irritating is when you have people over and all they do is stare at their phones. I can only scroll through FB or Twitter for a finite amount of time before I get bored.