No Cell Phone

[G-Man]

Been without my cell phone for over a month now.  It's in the house somewhere, probably in a coat or jacket.  Haven't looked for it and I DO NOT MISS IT AT ALL.   

[John Schmidt]

I have to laugh about that, my wife is constantly giving me the business about mine. Because of her health issues, I often take it with me when I leave the house. Problem is, I either don't turn it on or if I do(she does it for me before I leave), I leave it in the car or on the bike. Her question is....if you don't turn it on or take it with you, why have one? I said "good question" and end up leaving it on my workbench. Don't miss it at all. Even my girls give me the business, especially because the phone is about four years old and will make/receive calls, can take pictures but never use it. They tell me I need to move into the 21st century, I tell them I didn't even have a cell when I moved into this century and I struggled through it just fine. They shake their heads and just walk away.

[PAVALKER]

My daughter recently "upgraded" me to a Blackberry on her plan... neat phone, I like it.  Previously I had the same phone for about 9 - 10 years.... didn't have camera and was a "monochrome" screen... but it worked (as well as Sprint worked wherever I was).  It worked for the most part for my purposes.... being able to reach out and touch someone.  I didn't get one for anyone to reach out and touch me of course.... but sometimes you have the take the bad with the good.   

I do like this new phone.... I can get my texts or email on the go and delete the trash before I get back on the computer.  I can take (or receive) pics and send them via text or email from the phone.  I can play my MP3's either thru the phone speaker, the ear buds or Bluetooth and even on the Valk speakers via the Aux port.  It makes outgoing calls quite well and I can still ignore the vibration or ringing of the incoming calls when I want to....   

[olddog1946]

I have a blackerry curve, that is always with me..I use it to check email, have loaded Google Maps, which works great and I use that a lot,,,the damn thing takes better pics than my old digital camera..I never answer it on the road, but do check to see if it's important when I stop somewhere.

[alph]

Been without my cell phone for over a month now.  It's in the house somewhere, probably in a coat or jacket.  Haven't looked for it and I DO NOT MISS IT AT ALL.   

that's why you haven't been returning my calls!!  i thought i pissed you off again and you were giving me the cold sholder!!

[Oss]

Alph he doesnt return most calls I make to the house either.

When I got my last cell 5 yrs ago I wanted the BIGGEST display numbers as I dont wear a watch

Bonnie always is on my case for forgetting to charge the thing and leaving it off

If I need it I will turn it on  Otherwise I would just as soon send her an email during the day

On the road on the bike its on and in my pocket so I can feel a call coming in and ignore it

[Willow]

On the road on the bike its on and in my pocket so I can feel a call coming in and ignore it

Now that's technology at its best.     Good technology is all about more available choices.   

[Jess from VA]

Me neither.............. I have NEVER owned a cellphone (or ATM card).   

[PAVALKER]

Me neither.............. I have NEVER owned a cellphone (or ATM card).   

Wow....      that is either impressive or almost unbelievable in today's environment when darn near every kid 10 and above have a cell phone.   

[Jess from VA]

Well, I had no kids, and no one with disability to be responsible for.  My wife was pretty competent, and carried a TS clearance and Glock 22 and 50 rounds for a living.  The only reason for me to have a cellphone was as a tether to her every wish and whim..... which I absolutely refused to do, to her chagrin.  She could get me at work or at home, that was good enough.   We permanently separated last year (and the cell phone was not an issue). 

Now that I'm retired and plan to ride 20K miles per year, it might be a good idea to have a cell for roadside breakdown, but I will not incur a monthly expense.. period!   Maybe one of those throw-away, pay-up-front-for-minutes deals..... but as soon as I get one, the bike will break down..  LOL          I have ridden 40 years without a cell phone with no problem.

[G-Man]

Alph he doesnt return most calls I make to the house either.

That's cause I verrrrrrry rarely get the messages!  It took seeing your post here asking about my Dad for me to find out you had stopped by the house.  Gotta love those teenagers! 

[Marcel]

Leave mine in the truck or off and it drives friends and family crazy because I don't really care to

use it until I am good and ready.

I don't need a leash.

[NiteRiderF6]

<rant on> I have been in the oilfield for most of my adult life and endured a status of "on call" for most of that time during most of my waking and many of my sleeping hours. I have been "called out" more than a maternity doctor for every reason under the sun and usually had to "go somewhere" in order to fulfill my mission and accomplish a paycheck. I have carried every variety of "communications device" from a two way radio to several generations of pagers, one way, two way, digital and every generation of "wireless" phone up to the most modern of smart phone, simply to be available (all paid for by the company, of course). I have now graduated through all variations of the iPhone in addition to most of the Blackberry models. I have come to hate them all. This June will mark 35 years of such status...... so, if I ever do get to the point so that I can "retire", I am going to destroy, and in dramatic fashion mind you, every piece of communicatoins equipment that I own.  <rant off>

I love my job, just hate the "on call" part of it.... really!

[hotglue #43]

I don't hate my cell phone.......it's mine and I pay the bill for it.....I use it when I want, and answer it when it rings, or not....same with the house phone.  they are a convienience, but I don't feel the need to stop what I'm doing to answer the phone...... of course being retired makes that easier....just leave a message

[NiteRiderF6]

Yeah.... but you ain't "really" in the oilfield hotglue... you worked for a MAJOR for all of your life.... I worked for a lowly bottom feeding "service company", never really had a schedule and had to be ready to move on about 10-20 minutes notice.... .kind of like a fireman, except without any women around. 

[hotglue #43]

Yep I had a schedule...the last 6 years I worked.... it was 3 each 100 hr weeks....one 80 hr week ......then....2 days off.....then 3 more 100 hr weeks and so on....  kinda a suck schedule.  the cell didn't work 150 mile offshore on the boat.... but they knew where I was...LOL..on call....that meant someone knocked on my door 24 hrs a day ......ain't the oil patch great....   36 years was all I could stand...LOL
We would ocasionally have women on the boat....FB asked me if they were pretty....... I told her I had not been out there long enough for that ta happen.....even after an 11 week hitch.. . BTW... that is way too long offshore!!!!!

[NiteRiderF6]

You are correct; I was never out there that long; almost 6 weeks a couple of times was long enough for me, I needed some Coke, a few beers and some real food by then! Not to mention my other necessaries; like pizza, burgers and well you know....... BBQ!

[hotglue #43]

LOL 

[tybme]

I fought against getting a cell phone for years. I refused to have one. Eventually I gave in and now own an iPhone. You almost never find me without it now. It has replaced many other gadgets in my life.

My iPhone functions as:
phone - no longer have a home land line
computer - I rarely get on my home PC anymore
music - 14 gb's of music
tv - I can watch netflix movies stream to my phone (handy in an airport with a 3 hour layover) and have several apps that allow me to watch news, weather, sports and even some network programming
GPS - there's an app for that (actually several) as they say. Turn by turn directions - etc. And I don't have to have access to a satellite for it to work.
Camera - both stills and video
Video games - I never was big on video games - but it's a nice distraction while waiting in a doctors office etc. to play some card games
small child entertainment center - my kids are older and I don't have grandkids yet - but when a nephew or niece is bored - I just and it over and they stay busy.

There are so much more I can do with it and I really don't know what I would do without it but the best thing - if I'm riding (or whatever) and don't want to be disturbed - I just turn it on silent - and keep going!

[Momz]

What do you guys think of the free cell phones for welfare recipients?

[Jess from VA]

  What do you guys think of the free cell phones for welfare recipients?

I think the costs should be personally born by the politician(s)/bureaucrat(s) who thought it up and voted for it.  Not a red cent to taxpayers.

[RedValk]

Me neither.............. I have NEVER owned a cellphone (or ATM card).  

Wow....     that is either impressive or almost unbelievable in today's environment when darn near every kid 10 and above have a cell phone.  

well, i didn't have ANY cell phone until several years ago. Sherry insisted i at least have some "basic" phone...for emergnecies. Of course, i didn't carry it...and then i broke down one day on the Valk (alternator)...and thought maybe i better start carrying it with me....and ...so i did. BUt i wouldn't turn it on FOR MONTHS (ask anyone who ever tried to call me!). i only turned it on when i went on trips...business or pleasure...without Sherry...and then...just to keep in touch. This went on for years.

and finally, with my new company...who said they'd pay 40% of my bill...and ...hint-hint...they pretty much insisted i get a phone. So i broke down and got one of dem' dere' smarthpones...an LG Android. Dang, i didn't know what i'd been missin' all these years! i love it. i use the web feature...apps like the weather...MP3 downloads for  my DJ activities...movie times...maps and navigation...you know, the list goes on and on and on. Some of the technology...amazes even me!

now then, i do NOT leave it on day and night. In fact, it's only on select times...like when traveling back and forth to work...etc. but when i want to use it, there it is and all it's amazing features. But i'm still not "attached" to it like many...........


oh, ATM card? Nah, still have never had one...never used one.  When i want money, i go to my "Sugar Momma ATM Machine"....Miss Sherry. I say " i need some money"...and she gives me some. i know she has an ATM card. I just get money from her...or use credit cards. I sign/use a check about once or twice per year. Even when i go on the road, i just figure how much cash i think i will need...and go to the "Sherry ATM Machine"...and say "$200 please"....within hours...out spits some money from her hands....it's amazing!       I could probably figure out how to use an ATM card i figure. Figured out that smartphone......ya' know.......

[Jess from VA]

Well on a pauper's pension, I flat will not incur any monthly bills, beyond the absolutely necessary.  If I get to riding all over, I may go Radio Shack and get some kind of throwaway with minutes (no bells and whistles), which will never be turned on, unless I am calling for a tow....... or ambulance or hearse.  LOL

But I hear the minutes disappear if not used after a certain time... figures.

[Stormrider65]

Being a trucker, having a cell is great at times, but a lot of times I wish there was no such thing.  Its a love/hate relationship.  I have been with just about every major and a few minor cell companies and it amazes me that some work here but not there and the others work great there and not here.  I used to run 48 states and I have not found a cell company that can keep up with me.  Now I run a 7 state region around Texas and still after all these tech breakthroughs they still have not came up with a good company.  I guess I have to pay more for the recieving and making calls, but nobody has that plan yet.


Walt

[Varmintmist]

What do you guys think of the free cell phones for welfare recipients?

Guess where I was on Thurs afternoon?
Department of Pubic Welfare working on a T1. As I cooled my heels waiting on a drone for access, I watched some fine specimens of human debris, and every one had a cell phone. The way I know that every one had a cell, was that every one of those very important people were taking calls, sending photos, texting on their keyboard style cell phones.

BTW, it stunk in there to.

I have a cell that is provided by work. It spends as much of its time in the O-F-F position as I can keep it. I carry it for work and it goes along on trips. I refuse to text or receive texts because that is the largest waste of time and effort that could have ever been invented.

[Bama Red]

When my wife and I got our cell phones last year, we immediately started getting advertisement texts from various companies, including the cell phone provider. After a few days of this I went back to their office and asked if I could have all texting abilities blocked on our account. The young girl behind the counter looked at me like I had suddenly sprouted two heads and said, "But then how will you get messages from anyone?" I told her they could call and TALK to me.

We don't get texts anymore.

[Momz]

My wife and I were elliigible for phone upgrades last year, so we we went shopping fo some conveinient and upgradeable phones if we felt the need to. We went to "Best Buy" as they have a great selection and knowledgeble sales associates.
We kept getting steered toward certain phones because "they are easy to text while driving". I hate to use my phone while driving, but at times I? do need to take a call. At those times I prefer to use the speacker so that my hands are on the steering wheel. But it seems that here in Metro Detroit most drivers prefer to text as soon as they start the cars engine. I'm in fear of my life every time I need to drive/ride within the city limits.

[Stormrider65]

When Lisa and I got our upgraded cell phones, the dealer wanted to know if we wanted texting added to our account.  I looked at the salesman and told him "If I want to tell someone something, I will either call them or leave them a voice mail."  For some reason, salesmen don't like a response like that one.   I understand the reasoning for texting though.  Being a trucker/biker, I see my share of people texting while driving, even putting on makeup, changing clothes, preforming intimate acts on each other, changing a baby's diaper, ect.  Theres a time and a place for everything. .  A lot of people have gotten to the point they would rather text and not talk to the person than actually taking the time to have a face to face conversation.  I guess thats the reason why I don't get phone calls, come to think of it       Being popular was never my stong suit.


Walt