What the heck is it about cell phones????

[RoJoHen]

I know very few people who have landlines anymore. It's just not worth the extra expense when you already have a cellphone that works just fine.

Expense? I pay about twenty bucks a month for my entire phone service. A cellphone plan would be three times that! And that's WITH those stupid fucking idiot 2- or 3-year contracts they make you sign!

Besides, with my home security system, I have to have a landline.

My cellphone costs me about $30 a month with all the fun little features. And since most of the time I use my cellphone when I'm not at home, it would be silly for me to have a landline at all. And I've never had an issue with any contracts.

So, for me, it's either Cellphone OR Cellphone + Landline. Why would I pay for a landline when I already have a working cellphone?

Family members get an exception. But some stranger? They should stay the fuck at the house until it's over. Trust has its limits.

I would never hire a stranger to watch my kids in the first place.

 

[Star Wolf]

We didnt have them when we were kids. We either had babysitters or were in school. Seriously a 6 year old doesnt need a phone.

We didn't have a lot of things. Like video games, computers, bike helmets, pads for skating, soccer in lieu of football and on and on.

Yeah. I understand that but a cell phone plan for a 6 year old???? Why not just get them their own personal internet plan, car etc??? A cell phone is over the top. No way to justify imo. I have a feeling that since they are becoming more like toys for many people that they feel its a good reason to get it for kids. I dont remember people getting them for their kids at this rate 8 years ago. 20 years ago how many 10 year olds had their own private land line to talk to friends?? Im betting not many.

I don't know what is up with all the different models and new technology being added to phones. But i know they are replacing stand alone games and music (I guess video too now) players. Instead of carrying 3 or more little boxes around you have one probably with Uhura's inspired earpiece on one ear.

 

[Tulin]

Imagine when they announce that mobile phones cause brain cancer and the hyper over-protective parents rip the phones from little six year old Jordan and Madison's ears.

 

[MNM]

But i know they are replacing stand alone games and music (I guess video too now) players.

Not really they arent, especially the games. You want a handheld thing to play games, get something like a DS or PSP, you dont buy a phone. Same with music, you buy a dedicated music player.

 

[Delta1]

It's the ultimate ego trip. People have cell phones because they want to be SEEN using them. They want everyone to see how busy and 'cool' they are.

Preposterous. You may not need to talk to people, but that doesn't mean the rest of us are affecting that need in order to impress ... I have no idea who that could possibly impress, actually.

And what if a babysitter or whatever takes their kid out around town?

Then the family should get a new babysitter.

That's an after-the-fact solution. In other words, no solution at all.

Expense? I pay about twenty bucks a month for my entire phone service. A cellphone plan would be three times that! And that's WITH those stupid fucking idiot 2- or 3-year contracts they make you sign!

I pay less than that for my cell, and I haven't signed any contracts. I just pay for the airtime I use.

If and when I ever have kids, they're getting phones as soon as they can learn how to use them, and I'm using them to geolocate their butts.

 

[Brent]

I didn't get my first cell phone until 21, and I'm 29 now

 

[RandyS]

There's no such thing as being too young to have a cell phone. My nephew is only six years old and has one so my sister can keep in touch with him when she's at work. He knows how to work his cell better than I do.

Plug 'em into the Collective early, I guess...

We didnt have them when we were kids. We either had babysitters or were in school. Seriously a 6 year old doesnt need a phone.

Agreed.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I pay less than that for my cell, and I haven't signed any contracts. I just pay for the airtime I use.

The only problem with those prepaid jobs (I didn't know any of them were still around, actually) is that the minutes expire if you don't keep buying. If I could get a prepaid unit and just leave it for emergencies, I'd do it, but you have to keep reloading them or else the minutes expire. Since I have to have a landline (for my security system) that kind of kills the deal for me.

 

[Dar70]

I didn't get my first cell phone until 21, and I'm 29 now

Yeah I got my first one in 2001 when I was 31. Cells went mainstream around 2000 or so.I had no use for one until phone booths starting disappearing at alarming rates and I was tired of hunting for one.

 

[Snaploud]

They make child cell phones with programmable speed dials. Basically, they're for emergencies or talking to parentally-approved numbers only.

A couple events that might require a cell phone:

-getting lost

-an accident in which a parental figure dies or passes out

 

[Kelthaz]

Come on guys, you're supposed to be Trekkies. Embrace the future. Enough of this "Back in my day we had to walk 5 miles in 3 foot deep snow to school, even in the summer, uphill both ways" talk. There are plenty of good reasons for anyone to carry a cell phone, even kids.

 

[RandyS]

Come on guys, you're supposed to be Trekkies. Embrace the future. Enough of this "Back in my day we had to walk 5 miles in 3 foot deep snow to school, even in the summer, uphill both ways" talk. There are plenty of good reasons for anyone to carry a cell phone, even kids.

Aside from the convience, name one.

I have a cell phone that I use only to talk on. No internet, no games. And, my talking on it consists of

Me: Hello?
My friends: I'll be there to pick you up in 15 minutes.
Me: Okay, bye

Click.

Except for this one friend who acts like his phone is his whole life. He's ALWAYS staring at the thing, and becomes a vegtable when he does. When he's not on it, he fidgets alot and comes up with reasons to stare at it. Even when he's driving!

These things are not about "embracing the future", they've become tools for turning people into mindless morons.

 

[Kelthaz]

Come on guys, you're supposed to be Trekkies. Embrace the future. Enough of this "Back in my day we had to walk 5 miles in 3 foot deep snow to school, even in the summer, uphill both ways" talk. There are plenty of good reasons for anyone to carry a cell phone, even kids.

Aside from the convience, name one.

What's wrong with convenience? 99% of the technology we own or use is intended to make our lives easier.

 

[JiNX-01]

My brother's 12-year-old twins don't have cellphones.

 

[RandyS]

Come on guys, you're supposed to be Trekkies. Embrace the future. Enough of this "Back in my day we had to walk 5 miles in 3 foot deep snow to school, even in the summer, uphill both ways" talk. There are plenty of good reasons for anyone to carry a cell phone, even kids.

Aside from the convience, name one.

What's wrong with convenience? 99% of the technology we own or use is intended to make our lives easier.

Nothing. With my disability, I agree, having a cell phone does make my life easier, but when that convenience is abused as I explained above, then it becomes dangerous, and potentialy life threatening.

A cell phone is a tool. Not a toy, and most younger people today can't seem to tell the difference.

And you still haven't answered my question: other than the convenience, what's so good about the constant use of a cell phone? The games? The internet?

What?

 

[iguana_tonante]

It's the ultimate ego trip. People have cell phones because they want to be SEEN using them. They want everyone to see how busy and 'cool' they are.

That was true until about 10 years ago. Now, when 99% of people have one, that's not the case anymore. Nowadays, a mobile is as common as shoes. Nobody will notice your, until you don't have them.

Also, what home phone? Please. You think those will exist in 30 years? You want Jim you call Jim. You want Mary you call Mary. Why would you call a house? You don't want to talk to the house!

Absolutely. I don't call my friends or relatives on land lines anymore, usually. I just call them on their mobile phones. I think the only one in my family that doesn't have one is my 95 years old grandma, and only because she is hard of hearing.

Are there that many homes that have no landline?

I have a landline just because I wanted DSL, and in case of emergency if my mobile breaks up.

 

[Dar70]

Come on guys, you're supposed to be Trekkies. Embrace the future. Enough of this "Back in my day we had to walk 5 miles in 3 foot deep snow to school, even in the summer, uphill both ways" talk. There are plenty of good reasons for anyone to carry a cell phone, even kids.

I think most of us do embrace them. I have one and enjoy having one. Its not as prevalent in my life as say a teenagers. I enjoy if or what it is. An easy way to communicate with mmy peers. But thats it. I usually get the basic phones.(though even the basic ones are what a high end phone may have been just a year or two ago)

The whole point of this thread was what does a child need with a cell phone. I can see as they enter teenage status. They are more responsible when it comes to the proper care of the phone.(ok maybe many are not but they do try.) BUT a kid 10 years old or as mentioned above, SIX. At that age they will have to have a new phone every month or so. A six year old should have no use for their own cellphone. They should be in the constant supervision of an adult. At the very least in their immediate area where they can be checked on. Again just because phones can now be carried around doesnt mean a child should have their own plan and phone. Yes kids can use phones but usually its to call grandma when they are under supervision.

 

[Kelthaz]

^ I admit that six years old seems young, but I'm thinking that parents are buying cell phones for their kids so they always have a way to be in touch with them. If their kids are at a friend's house or even out with grandma, the parents can talk to them any time they want to.

My point is that there is no disadvantage to getting a cell phone for little Timmy. If the parents have the money, why not buy him one? It might come in handy if the parents lose him at a shopping mall, grandma's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, or they forget the kid on their rush to the airport. Things happen, so why not be extra prepared?

 

[C.E. Evans]

There's no such thing as being too young to have a cell phone. My nephew is only six years old and has one so my sister can keep in touch with him when she's at work. He knows how to work his cell better than I do.

Plug 'em into the Collective early, I guess...

We didnt have them when we were kids. We either had babysitters or were in school. Seriously a 6 year old doesnt need a phone.

Agreed.

It totally depends on the situation. If a 6-year old kid is by himself for a good chunk of the afternoon after school, you bet a phone is necessary in keeping track of him.

My nephew knows that his phone is only for emergencies or for something really important. A lot of kids today are more mature than we were at their age, generally because circumstances force them to be.

 

[RandyS]

We didnt have them when we were kids. We either had babysitters or were in school. Seriously a 6 year old doesnt need a phone.

Agreed.

It totally depends on the situation. If a 6-year old kid is by himself for a good chunk of the afternoon after school, you bet a phone is necessary in keeping track of him.

My nephew knows that his phone is only for emergencies or for something really important. A lot of kids today are more mature than we were at their age, generally because circumstances force them to be.

You're right, it depends on the situation. The cell phone-dependant friend I've been describing is 25, and he turns into an absolute vegatable when using his cell phone. His eyes glaze over, and he tunes out the world completely. It's one thing if we're sitting in a resturant, or in my living room, but he does this while DRIVING for chrissakes!

I recently took a picture of him staring at his phone so he could see for himself how pathetic he looks. And he still can't see it. If I could post attachments, I'd put it here, but don't have enough posts yet.

I don't know about kids being more mature than we were at that age. I've heard that all my life, and I can tell you, that my friend is definately LESS mature than I was when I was 25 (there's a 14 year age gap between us). I'm not saying that's always the case, but in my experience it can be.