NationStates Jolt Archive

I feel the need to rant a bit again.

Ever since the sixth grade, Ive been surrounded by phone-slaves, people who, if they were parted from their cell phones, would most likely go insane. Ive seen people in college recently, who do nothing but sit in class and text other people.
Ive seen people in book stores, usually in the attached Starbucks, who will sit at a table hooked up to at least three electronic devices like theyre on life support. Its like looking at the Borg invasion. The worst part is, the Borg dont hobble up to you and jab nanotubes into your neck, they go directly into your brain via television, the computer and society in general.
All this time, I find myself wondering...
Why would peopel WANT to be able to talk on the phone anywhere? I can kind of understand it with teenagers, talking to your friends and such, but with adults it seems like the cell phone is basically an electronic leash designed to allow people to call you and send you wherever they want you to go.

I personally hate cell phones, I only own one because our college doesnt have any public phones, pay or otherwise. Thus my only way of contacting people off campus is via the horrible little device >_>

If I could build a device to cause every cell phone on the planet to short circuit, I would do it in a heartbeat. Then I would build a thosand or so more and launch them into orbit, to ensure that any future cell phone would fry as well.
Economy be damned, Im tired of hearing people bitching to their girlfriend/boyfriend in Safeway.

I use my cell just for emergencies and general communication, nothing more.

Some people really do give the impression that they would drop dead tomorrow if they lost their phones. It's as if people have lost the simple art of being out of touch, and having some quality time alone.

And why is it that people on mobiles always think that everyone around them wants to hear the conversation? Talk normally; they may be 100 miles away, but you don't have to shout the distance.

Anyone know if its true that casinos have systems that can block the signal.If so would resturants please get them.!!!

Anyone know if its true that casinos have systems that can block the signal.If so would resturants please get them.!!!
Lots of places block the signals now, cinemas and theatres especially.

Anyone know if its true that casinos have systems that can block the signal.If so would resturants please get them.!!!

Ive heard of schools in the UK installing such systems. I wish they had done so while I was in high school.

I think the best solution to the whole problem would be to pass legislation in congress establishing a minimum size for cell phones. About the size they were in, say, 1985.

Mine's just a phone to me. If I need to call someone, I do. I don't do the text messaging or get news through it or any of that. I think it's very annoying that so many people seem to be unable to live without them.

Lots of places block the signals now, cinemas and theatres especially.
Can't wait till its cheaper.Imagine a portable version that would block a signal in a 50 meter radius of ones person.

I get fired if I dont keep my phone on me at all times ... I think I is going to keep mine

If I could build a device to cause every cell phone on the planet to short circuit, I would do it in a heartbeat. Then I would build a thosand or so more and launch them into orbit, to ensure that any future cell phone would fry as well.

EMP.

Phones aren't so great. I don't use them and manage just fine. I don't have a mobile, and I don't give friends my house phone number. They get irriated with me though, and keep telling me to buy a phone. I tried it out once, when a mate gave me his old one. I just left it at home, most of my jeans pockets were to tight to fit it in. I also couldn't be bothered charging it up all the time. I'm not too fond of arranging things in advance, I just see who's around and decide what to do right then. It seems easier that way.

EMP.
Wouldn't that cause everything else to fry as well, though?

Including NSG. :eek:

Wouldn't that cause everything to fry as well, though?

Including NSG. :eek:

*shrug* Let him figure that out. It'd also fry the other EMP devices, presumably satilites if he's after the whole world.

And with all the matinance, Jolt should be able to handle an EMP by now. If not, we go to the pony express to send our packets.

my husband is on call 24/7 so if someone is stupid enough to break their network, they call him. it sucks.

I have a cell and 5 people know the number, I keep it off almost all the time.

Spend a few days without any electronic gadgets, no phone, no computer, no internet.

You feel like you're missing part of your brain. I'm used to having absolute instant access to any information I need. Maps, traffic information, wikipedia. I visited my aunt for three days I had nothing up there. No computer, internet or cell phone (not that I have a cell anyway). It felt odd, usually when someone asks something I can look it up instantly up there I couldn't. Didn't care for that. Probably means I'm an addict, but if I had a cell it'd be worse.


Good thing I loathe the horrid things.

I have trouble enough, as it is, to call for more than 5 euro a month, while my friends may loose 10 euro a day :S

I get fired if I dont keep my phone on me at all times ... I think I is going to keep mine

See, this is one of those things I dislike. People forcing other people to carry their cell phones everywhere.

To the guy who suggested EMP...sadly, I cant afford a nuclear weapon and I dont have the means to get it high enough to generate an EMP without nuking my town :P

Spend a few days without any electronic gadgets, no phone, no computer, no internet.

Actually, I did that for about a week. Not so bad.

my husband is on call 24/7 so if someone is stupid enough to break their network, they call him. it sucks.

I have a cell and 5 people know the number, I keep it off almost all the time.

Same which is why I say I get fired if I don’t have my cell … we can do active network monitoring through the cell as well as text messages on system failure at any point

I am dependant on my cellphone, but not like other people are.

It's cost-efficiant in my house for us to have individual phones. It saves us the headache of listening to my dad curse and swear at Bell Canada every month. So, as a result, I'm stuck being reliant on my cellphone for all my phone needs.

Some people really do give the impression that they would drop dead tomorrow if they lost their phones. It's as if people have lost the simple art of being out of touch, and having some quality time alone.

And why is it that people on mobiles always think that everyone around them wants to hear the conversation? Talk normally; they may be 100 miles away, but you don't have to shout the distance.

I think the talking loud has more to do with hearing and being heard above the street noise, but otherwise yeah I agree. I have a mobile, and I use it, but any phone is only there for me to say things like: 'Okay so I'll meet you at 8:00 then' Or 'Yeah I'm on me way home now' Or 'Dude can you spot me £20 tonight?' all of which takes less than a min, so I really don't mind.

See, this is one of those things I dislike. People forcing other people to carry their cell phones everywhere.

To the guy who suggested EMP...sadly, I cant afford a nuclear weapon and I dont have the means to get it high enough to generate an EMP without nuking my town :P

...Who said anything about nuclear weapons? Sides, we can still run vacuum tubes it seems,.

Spend a few days without any electronic gadgets, no phone, no computer, no internet.

You feel like you're missing part of your brain. I'm used to having absolute instant access to any information I need. Maps, traffic information, wikipedia. I visited my aunt for three days I had nothing up there. No computer, internet or cell phone (not that I have a cell anyway). It felt odd, usually when someone asks something I can look it up instantly up there I couldn't. Didn't care for that. Probably means I'm an addict, but if I had a cell it'd be worse.


Good thing I loathe the horrid things.

My parents forced me to go on camping trips a lot, so I generally dont get electronic withdraw syndrom. That and I often visit my grandparents, who own a computer from 1998, which means that you can basically play internet FLASH games and nothing else. I tend to avoid it. It doesnt like me.

Oh yes, and this should be the minimum cell phone size:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1a/MotorolaCooper1982.jpg

And the creepy old guy has to follow you around with the battery for it.

Same which is why I say I get fired if I don’t have my cell … we can do active network monitoring through the cell as well as text messages on system failure at any point

yep. sounds like my husband's job ;)

I answered his phone once when he was sick, I talked them through the problem, not that I have any training in networking, I just had heard his side of the conversation so much that I knew what to tell them to check.

see how pathetic I am?

yep. sounds like my husband's job ;)

I answered his phone once when he was sick, I talked them through the problem, not that I have any training in networking, I just had heard his side of the conversation so much that I knew what to tell them to check.

see how pathetic I am?

No worries my gf can do the same thing now lol and she is no where neer a computer geek.

I spend too much time on the phone consulting

Personally, I don't own a cellular telephone and have absolutely no desire to get one. It would be horrifying being constantly tethered to society in that way.

My parents are so angry that I don't have one for some reason (I never call etc.) and even offered to pay for it if I would keep it with me at all times. Why not put a leash on me? I don't need some box harassing me when I'm trying to have a good time. If you want to talk to me call during hours when I'm home or sending me an e-mail message. Don't demand that I will respond to you on your time.

Personally, I don't own a cellular telephone and have absolutely no desire to get one. It would be horrifying being constantly tethered to society in that way.

My parents are so angry that I don't have one for some reason (I never call etc.) and even offered to pay for it if I would keep it with me at all times. Why not put a leash on me? I don't need some box harassing me when I'm trying to have a good time. If you want to talk to me call during hours when I'm home or sending me an e-mail message. Don't demand that I will respond to you on your time.
Be careful, first it's a "present", next its your only phone after they remove the landline from the house...

Also, Bananaphones own you all.

Personally, I don't own a cellular telephone and have absolutely no desire to get one. It would be horrifying being constantly tethered to society in that way.

My parents are so angry that I don't have one for some reason (I never call etc.) and even offered to pay for it if I would keep it with me at all times. Why not put a leash on me? I don't need some box harassing me when I'm trying to have a good time. If you want to talk to me call during hours when I'm home or sending me an e-mail message. Don't demand that I will respond to you on your time.

Yeah I understand this, but for a parent in this day and age, things are differant than it was for my mum and dad. The phone, wether mobile or land line has always been there so that worried people can keep tabs on teir nearest and dearest. While I agree that I will answer then phone when I want, and I won't be forced to conform to when you want to speak to me, but rather I'll do it on my terms, you must understand that your mum and dad only wish to keep you safe?

I have a cell phone that I keep on, charged and near me at nearly all times. The main reason for this is so my mom can get in touch with me if anything happens to my dad, who has a medical condition. But it's also convenient for me. I like being able to call my friends if I'm out so I can see if we're near enough to meet up, or arrange a spur of the moment party/dinner/whatever. I have no landline at my apartment, so cell phone and email are the best ways to get in touch with me. I don't give out my number to a lot of people, so I never feel like I'm "tethered to the world" or anything like that. I don't talk loudly on it in public places, I always have it on silent in theaters/libraries/what-have-you (and go outside if it's a call I have to take), and I don't use it constantly to text message or check email or anything like that. If I really don't want to be contacted, I just turn it off or don't answer the phone, which is really not that hard to do (I never understand people who have this compulsion to answer the phone every time it rings; that's what voicemail and answering machines are for).

I have a cell phone that I keep on, charged and near me at nearly all times. The main reason for this is so my mom can get in touch with me if anything happens to my dad, who has a medical condition. But it's also convenient for me. I like being able to call my friends if I'm out so I can see if we're near enough to meet up, or arrange a spur of the moment party/dinner/whatever. I have no landline at my apartment, so cell phone and email are the best ways to get in touch with me. I don't give out my number to a lot of people, so I never feel like I'm "tethered to the world" or anything like that. I don't talk loudly on it in public places, I always have it on silent in theaters/libraries/what-have-you (and go outside if it's a call I have to take), and I don't use it constantly to text message or check email or anything like that. If I really don't want to be contacted, I just turn it off or don't answer the phone, which is really not that hard to do (I never understand people who have this compulsion to answer the phone every time it rings; that's what voicemail and answering machines are for).

I feel answering machines are under-apreciated. *nodnod*
Rameria!

I use my cell phone as my home phone. I tend to use it as one would use a normal phone, and I am loathe to use it for text messaging. I get bonuses from the little, readily available camera, and it makes for a good pocketwatch. I never go anywhere without it, but that's because it's convenient, not because it's vital to my survival.

Yeah I understand this, but for a parent in this day and age, things are differant than it was for my mum and dad. The phone, wether mobile or land line has always been there so that worried people can keep tabs on teir nearest and dearest. While I agree that I will answer then phone when I want, and I won't be forced to conform to when you want to speak to me, but rather I'll do it on my terms, you must understand that your mum and dad only wish to keep you safe?

Well, as an adult I feel I can take care of myself without them harassing me to change my lifestyle.
Unfortunately, they have some bizzare reasoning that doing the right thing is actually doing what everyone else is doing. They have actually said this. Since everyone else has cellular telephones our society requires us to have them to be a functional society. I also don't drive a car and they say that it is impossible to live without a car. (What were people doing for thousands of years before the invention of the automobile?). It's silliness. I'll do things if it conveniences me enough to bother with it and if it is the right thing. Not because it's what is in vogue at the moment.

I have a cell because I am too lazy to get a landline phone. I absolutely hate using it (the voice of the Fiddles is to be used for face to face dealings only), though, and so it really just gets used to order Chinese food and deal with the occassional dire emergency.
Other people's cell phones don't normally bother me, with one notable exception: The man responsible for "Walky-Talky" features needs to raped to death by an African Elephant. Everytime I see someone yelling into their phone (and then holding it at arms length while the other guy yells back), I just want to grab the fucking thing away from him and shove it down his throat.

Well, as an adult I feel I can take care of myself without them harassing me to change my lifestyle.
Unfortunately, they have some bizzare reasoning that doing the right thing is actually doing what everyone else is doing. They have actually said this. Since everyone else has cellular telephones our society requires us to have them to be a functional society. I also don't drive a car and they say that it is impossible to live without a car. (What were people doing for thousands of years before the invention of the automobile?). It's silliness. I'll do things if it conveniences me enough to bother with it and if it is the right thing. Not because it's what is in vogue at the moment.

yeah, I so get where you are coming from, like I said earlier only 5 people know I have a cell phone and 3 of them live in my house. I get the "we can't find you when we need you" to which I reply "maybe I don't want to be found"

they also tend to call me on my landline and neglect to leave a message, I now have caller ID but didn't really tell anyone either (not sure if hubby knows) but they say "I called" and I say "but I didn't know you called because you didn't leave a message"

it goes on for hours.

I hate that other people seem to think that I should spend money on things to make it easier for them to annoy me and then get mad when I refuse.

All this time, I find myself wondering...
Why would peopel WANT to be able to talk on the phone anywhere?

Because I have a kickass plan?

I've got a cellphone instead of a land line. But far from being tethered to it, I leave it turned off except for when I want to use it. It's far more convenient than a landline:

NO sitting by the phone waiting for an important call to come in! A side-benefit of this is, if the other person never bothers to call, I haven't been stuck waiting all day for nothing.

NO having to find pay phones
NO paying exorbitant hotel phone fees


Also I get the Caller ID, call waiting, free long-distance, and voice mail included for less than I was paying for the landline.

I can't see why anyone would want one of those wired things! If you don't want to be bugged by cell, just leave it off when you're not actually using it.

I feel answering machines are under-apreciated. *nodnod*
Rameria!
They really are. I have a friend that sprained her ankle running down the stairs to answer her house phone. I always wondered why she was in such a hurry when she had a perfectly good answering machine.

Dinaverg! How've you been?

They really are. I have a friend that sprained her ankle running down the stairs to answer her house phone. I always wondered why she was in such a hurry when she had a perfectly good answering machine.

Dinaverg! How've you been?

Obviously some sort of subliminal messages in the ring.

Well. *nodnod* I don't have tuberculosis apparently, I suppose that's always good news. I have been running out of socks though...

I agree that a great many people should have their cell phones implanted in their asses and asked how they like that ring tone. It's also true that cells are just part and parcel of the technological complex that makes employers feel they can tap you whenever they want, along with pagers and e-mail, so you're basically always on duty. Luckily, the devices do come with on/off switches.

That said ([/rant]), they are wonderfully convenient.

cell phones were first made by Israel (dosent mean you have to start blaming Israel for everything) because they needed a portable phone for their military that didnt require wires. It was the United States, however, that decided to mass produce it

Ive heard of schools in the UK installing such systems. I wish they had done so while I was in high school.

I think the best solution to the whole problem would be to pass legislation in congress establishing a minimum size for cell phones. About the size they were in, say, 1985.

What if there's an emergency in the school? It's important for them to be able to contact people.

I feel the need to rant a bit again.

Ever since the sixth grade, Ive been surrounded by phone-slaves, people who, if they were parted from their cell phones, would most likely go insane. Ive seen people in college recently, who do nothing but sit in class and text other people.
Ive seen people in book stores, usually in the attached Starbucks, who will sit at a table hooked up to at least three electronic devices like theyre on life support. Its like looking at the Borg invasion. The worst part is, the Borg dont hobble up to you and jab nanotubes into your neck, they go directly into your brain via television, the computer and society in general.
All this time, I find myself wondering...
Why would peopel WANT to be able to talk on the phone anywhere? I can kind of understand it with teenagers, talking to your friends and such, but with adults it seems like the cell phone is basically an electronic leash designed to allow people to call you and send you wherever they want you to go.

I personally hate cell phones, I only own one because our college doesnt have any public phones, pay or otherwise. Thus my only way of contacting people off campus is via the horrible little device >_>

If I could build a device to cause every cell phone on the planet to short circuit, I would do it in a heartbeat. Then I would build a thosand or so more and launch them into orbit, to ensure that any future cell phone would fry as well.
Economy be damned, Im tired of hearing people bitching to their girlfriend/boyfriend in Safeway.

I am so glad I don't have a cell. I feel like giving myself the finger whenever I talk on one.

The saddest cell phone use I ever saw was groups of people who, when getting to the top of Mt Lassen (about a 2 mile hike straight up), pulled out their phones and started telling people they were at the top. :rolleyes:

I keep my keitai because it's a good way for my family back in the States to get a hold of me in Japan, no matter where I am. And I like the camera. I rarely talk on the bloody thing though.

I've only had a cell phone sense may. It's now being used as my home phone. I take it everywhere with me as if it were my ID. Becuase I use it for business.

cell phones were first made by Israel (dosent mean you have to start blaming Israel for everything) because they needed a portable phone for their military that didnt require wires.

Really? Evidence for this claim about Israel?

yep. sounds like my husband's job ;)

I answered his phone once when he was sick, I talked them through the problem, not that I have any training in networking, I just had heard his side of the conversation so much that I knew what to tell them to check.

see how pathetic I am?
I had a techie friend whose cell number was similar to a customer support number. After a few calls where he couldn't convince the person that they dialed the wrong number he would start faking it. He knew enough of the tech stuff to sound like he was helping but it would always end with, "You gotta send it in." And then he'd give them some random address, always a different one.
Fergi America;11713654']I've got a cellphone instead of a land line. But far from being tethered to it, I leave it turned off except for when I want to use it. It's far more convenient than a landline:

NO sitting by the phone waiting for an important call to come in! A side-benefit of this is, if the other person never bothers to call, I haven't been stuck waiting all day for nothing.

NO having to find pay phones
NO paying exorbitant hotel phone fees


Also I get the Caller ID, call waiting, free long-distance, and voice mail included for less than I was paying for the landline.

I can't see why anyone would want one of those wired things! If you don't want to be bugged by cell, just leave it off when you're not actually using it.

Yeah, I'm not the biggest cell phone fan by a long shot, but truth be told not having to find a pay phone when I need to make a call on the road is worth it all by its lonesome

With my work I need a cell phone, if I'm on a run and they need something else or I'm tracking something down or co-ordinating. It's pretty much gotta be there. When I'm not working it hardly gets used. Which is cool, cause I gotz rollover, so I acrue lots of minutes. So at some imaginary future point I can talk on the phone for like a day straight....

I want to get one with a built-in taser.

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/22-caliber-cell-phone-gun

I need one of these.

I have a mobile, but don't use it much. It's mostly used when I want to meet up with people. It's also handing for texting friends overseas (like when their footy team loses & I just have to let them know :p ).

What if there's an emergency in the school? It's important for them to be able to contact people.

That's the job is the school administration and faculty. They will contact your family if there is an emergency. Things aren't as chaotic that way.

I dont even know why my parents gave me a cell phone. I dont even leave it on so no one could call me anyway and no one knows my cell number except for my parents, in fact I dont even know my own cell phone number.

That's the job is the school administration and faculty. They will contact your family if there is an emergency. Things aren't as chaotic that way.

I know my High School hated cell phones, because the first thing that would happen after a lockdown would be every other kid calling their parents, who would show up and demand that their kid be let out, as if the potential psychotic murderer would just let them walk in and grab their kid.
I wont even go into the time a kid texted another saying that his entire classroom had been wiped out and he was the only one left alive (in AIM-speke of course), when in fact he hadnt.
Lets just say said kid didnt show up for school the next day.

We did have some good times during lockdowns though, like the day the kid had to go REALLY bad, so he pissed in a bottle in the corner. Good times.

I recently gave up and got myself a cell phone. Everybody kept bugging me about not having one, so I got one that would also work as an MP3 player. That way it’ll be somewhat useful – other than as a watch of course…

What I really really really realy really hate are those *bib bib bib* 3G phones that’s become so popular over that last few years. I don’t know how common they are in the rest of the world, but here in Denmark it’s a rare day that you can take the bus without being harassed by youngster who’s downloaded the latest MTV video to their phone and now plays it at maximum sound level. When I want to hear music, I use earplugs. Not so with these guys. For some reason, they think that the rest of the passengers want to hear their god awful music. I mean, wtf is wrong with youngsters today? Haven’t they got any kind of respect for their fellow human beings…?

I recently gave up and got myself a cell phone. Everybody kept bugging me about not having one, so I got one that would also work as an MP3 player. That way it’ll be somewhat useful – other than as a watch of course…

What I really really really realy really hate are those *bib bib bib* 3G phones that’s become so popular over that last few years. I don’t know how common they are in the rest of the world, but here in Denmark it’s a rare day that you can take the bus without being harassed by youngster who’s downloaded the latest MTV video to their phone and now plays it at maximum sound level. When I want to hear music, I use earplugs. Not so with these guys. For some reason, they think that the rest of the passengers want to hear their god awful music. I mean, wtf is wrong with youngsters today? Haven’t they got any kind of respect for their fellow human beings…?

Generally? No.
Thats why you should grab their phone and eat it. Seriously, if you can chew through the plastic you can generally avoid any form of retaliation. Even simply biting the phone in half leaves people speechless, usually. At least until you can get off the bus.
And usually they cant give anybody a good description of you as well.
Start working on those jaw muscles!

I constantly hear people ranting about how they need a more expensive cell phone. Everyone buys the most expensive models paying 400-600-1000 dollars to a cell phone! Yesterday I heard a man barely earning 300dollar a month was ashamed of using a 100 dollar worth cell phone, he was claiming its really low to use such a cheap phone!!!!! WAAAAAAGH!!! Little children walk with expensive cell phones, how can they afford it? People that constantly blame goverment for their poorness have the most expensive rare imported models :eek:

I personally only need a phone to talk and send sms. THATS ALL, WHY PAY FRIGGING 100s of dollars !!! I use a small and very simple model and use it until it starts breaking away. And I see that many of my friends who are also from good families all have normal phones, still not as cheap as mine but still economic ones :)