Neither one of us has a cell phone.
That, of course, makes me eccentric. Which is funny, because evidently what’s not eccentric is walking around with a little Bluetooth gizmo sticking out of your ear. Also not eccentric: Walking around looking like you’re talking to yourself while wearing a little Bluetooth gizmo sticking out of your ear. Oh yeah, I’m the weird one.
Some people are incredulous that I can live, breathe, and — perhaps most amazing — travel without a cell phone. It does make you wonder how we lived for so long without these devices. Just think, up until 1979 there were no cell phones. Do you realize what that means? It means Columbus discovered the new world… without a cell phone! The Pilgrims came without cell phones. International trade was carried on for centuries without cell phones. And yes, man went to the moon and back several times without cell phones.
You’re all stunned, I know. And you’re saying, “yeah, but this is 2008; people went without indoor plumbing and microwaves and dishwashers for centuries, too, but you’ve gotta get with the times, Ceej.” Well, not all technology is created equal. Some are more useful and necessary than others. There have been major advances in coffee-making technology, too, but since I don’t drink coffee, I don’t own the latest and greatest coffee maker. It’s unnecessary in my life; I don’t need it.
And that’s the same reason I don’t have a cell phone: I don’t need it. I have a phone in my house, and I have a phone in my office at work. If you call while I’m not in either of those places, you can leave me a message and I’ll call you back. Simple, just like Thoreau advised. I’m not waiting for a kidney transplant. I’m not carrying the nuclear football. So whatever it is, it can wait.
only problem with this is that pre-2000 there were more payphones around if you got stuck someplace. TRAC phones are nice for those emergency situations, and you can leave it off and not give out the number, but have it available if you’re broken down on a country road or such.
I respect your decision, though, and don’t think you eccentric, but somewhat bold and counter-cultural. 🙂
We keep a cell phone for travel and emergencies, beyond that it doesn’t get used much. I do not understand these people who seem to talk on these things nonstop. I would love to get a cell phone jammer but sadly they are illegal.
Eccentrics unite!
CJ thank you for coming forth as a non-cell phone person. I too do not have a cell phone, but most people considered me an old fuddy duddy and let it go at that. But in your case you have vilified my not having a cell phone as my being of sound mind. Thank you.
Just like many other inventions out there thats supposed to make our life easier, hasn’t. Being at everyone’s disposal no matter where you’re at doesn’t simplfy. I also agree that “Sam Citizen” looks a little silly walking through Walmart with a Bluetooth attached to his head talking to his wife about what brand of detergent he supposed to buy:)
All making light of cell phones but it appears you all have a computer do make light with and I’ll bet some of you have a computer with enough CPU power to run the national power grid. Myself? I don’t have a cell either. I have a Blackberry.
I share your sentiment, CJ. While we do have cell phones, they rarely get used. For one, neither of us have the need or desire to fill “dead time” with chit chat. I quite like drive time being a chance to catch up on audio books or new music. The idea of that rare private time being fair game for others to invade isn’t one I embrace. As for the spontaneous, “what brand of detergent do we need?” calls, I think a little planning (a list!) goes a long way, and at the end of the day the wrong detergent is probably fine anyway.
“I have a Blackberry. ”
elitist
I had a cell phone in 1998. I never liked it. I used it so seldom that when I did need it is was invariably dead. I too have a phone at home but sometimes choose not to answer it. One day my engine blew up on the Interstate and I was thankful to have the phone. Even more thankful, however, that I had brought my dog along with me. So, I do borrow my spouse’s phone when I’m traveling.
I know it’s a cliché at this point, but I do get offended when my coworkers turn away from a conversation to check their buzzing or chiming device like they are sure Obama is calling them about some Cabinet position. I usually just walk away. I am also offended by people who talk on their phone while in line at the supermarket and completely ignore the checker and the bagger or the customer they just bumped into. It’s rude people. And if you’re over 30, I know your mamma taught you better.
mahkno: 🙂
I originally got my cell phone several years ago when I was grocery shopping for my elderly mother. It came in very handy if I had to check on whether she wanted this or that. At Christmas time when shopping or any other shopping for others, I frequently call to check on sizes, etc.–to save having to return gifts later. Then I use it for probably really stupid stuff like relocating people with whom I am shopping–although I find it very convenient because people I shop with wander off frequently. Now I find it to be a source of security when driving, etc., in case something happens, etc. I definitely don’t live on my cell phone–don’t like it all for long conversations. I use it mostly for checking messages on my house phone–the family with whom I spend most of my time often have little emergency needs for child care, so I want to be available to them. I finally reluctantly added the text-messaging feature to communicate short, scheduling messages with friends who can text at work, but can’t talk on phones, etc. Personally, I probably would be lost without my cell phone even though I don’t use it that much.
Yeah, but your refusal to carry one is inconvenient for ME when I need to reach you when you are between home and work.
Shape up, Mr. Luddite.
😉
And if you’re over 30, I know your mamma taught you better.
Tulip, your semantics aren’t lost on me. In other words, if you ignore what your Mamma taught you and you are under 30, its forgiveable, right? 😉
Funniest thing I heard all week was when a friend replied to my e-mail within seconds of me hitting “send”. When I teased him about it he said “They don’t call them crack-berries for nuthin”. It was cute.
I’d gladly chuck my cell phone in the river most of the time, although it does allow me to be mobile on my call days. I am thankful for that.
Good topic. I have neither a home or office phone as my cell acts as both. Cheaper and only one number to remember.
Brought to you by Google – free local number and a lot of other features: http://grandcentral.com
Cell phone numbers are going to be disposable, but we will all have a VOIP phone number that we can keep for life…..which will of course spawn a whole new set of issues. http://a2iq.blogspot.com
LOL – I know you’re either a user or not a user, but like some others here I make sure my wife carries hers in her purse for emergencies sake and I keep mine in my car. Neither are ever turned on unless we are making an outgoing call, which typically is only calling home. I have never given either of our cell phone numbers to anyone. Furthermore I even have a nasty sounding (so I’m told) message on the cell phones answering function warning people to NOT leave a message as I NEVER check this message box so don’t bother! You might ask since I’ve never given the numbers out, then why do I think someone might call…well I did check once and some angry drunk female obviously had the wrong number and called three times that she was going to kick my *ss amongst other things and then a 4th call came from her from the Peoria County Jail sweetly(?) asking me to come bail her out! Guess she blew her one call, didn’t she? hehehe
One last point why I still prefer having a land line and will continue to do so..with caller ID if we call 911 in our rural community then they already know our property address. While I do not have a phobia about fire it is calming to know that if we called in such a rattled state of mind we don’t have to give our Fire Code ID number.
I have a cell phone that I rarely use. I talk on the phone all day at work, so don’t want to when not working. I do not have a home phone, my cell phone is all I have.
I get annoyed at people that are on their cell phones, on a bus, while driving, or while trying to push a cart through a store but can’t because the are holding their phone.
I don’t have a microwave, and never would have save for the fact that my friend gave me hers from college about 15 years ago. I used it maybe 12 times a year, and when it died a few years ago, I was done with it.
I do have a cell phone. I used to have a job that required it, and got used to having one, but I make about two calls a month other than touching base with my husband.
I did run into tons of people a couple of Saturdays ago at Target who were stopped dead in the middle of aisles yapping on their phones, blocking all of the rest of us up. And oh, how it warms my heart to pull up next to that weaving car on the highway only to see Miss Teen USA texting her friends while driving…