Phones are too smart

[ippy]

When I had a tyre blowout recently on a B road in the middle of nowhere, on a Bank Holiday with a car full of kids, my smartphone meant I could find the AA's number online, ring them, tell them about my change of address and arrange for them to come and sort it for me. Without it I would have been well and truly screwed.

Saved the life of my last dog she had an artery cut by a shredded ally can while I was out on a walk with her, on my own, I phoned my wife she came and picked us up in our car with various towels for strapping up the dog's leg, we then got to an emergency vet within about ten minutes.

ippy

[Sebastian Toe]

If people need me they can e-mail

Think of a text as an email but on your phone.
 Which you can access in the same way you can your computer.
Then you might not be so scared of it!

[floo]

Think of a text as an email but on your phone.
 Which you can access in the same way you can your computer.
Then you might not be so scared of it!

No thanks, I have no wish to carry a phone around with me.

[Aruntraveller]

No thanks, I have no wish to carry a phone around with me.

I have some sympathy with your viewpoint as being available 24/7 can be tiresome..but you can switch them off. Surely the real persuasive argument is in case of emergencies when you aren't at home. I actually can't see any reson not to have one even if as only a safety back up.

[Sebastian Toe]

No thanks, I have no wish to carry a phone around with me.

I never said that you should!

[Walter]

No thanks, I have no wish to carry a phone around with me.

I'm still considering whether to get electrickery installed Floo! 

[Nearly Sane]

I'm still considering whether to get electrickery installed Floo! 

Now I have an image of you as Catweazle

[Walter]

Now I have an image of you as Catweazle

you're not far off at that

[floo]

I have some sympathy with your viewpoint as being available 24/7 can be tiresome..but you can switch them off. Surely the real persuasive argument is in case of emergencies when you aren't at home. I actually can't see any reson not to have one even if as only a safety back up.

As long as I carry my phone when I am driving so I can use it if I have a problem with the car, that is the only time I would have a use for it. As I said no one has the number, so no one can phone me on it. Anything urgent can wait until I get home, I am never out for long.

[Rhiannon]

I find it extremely inconvenient and sometimes worrying when people refuse to text. It's inconsiderate tbh. But my dad is so technophobic I have to accept it.

[floo]

I find it extremely inconvenient and sometimes worrying when people refuse to text. It's inconsiderate tbh. But my dad is so technophobic I have to accept it.

Why is it inconvenient and inconsiderate, I don't get it? Why do people want instant communication? I would detest being in constant contact with people, even my nearest and dearest, I need time to myself throughout the day.

[Rhiannon]

Why is it inconvenient and inconsiderate, I don't get it? Why do people want instant communication? I would detest being in constant contact with people, even my nearest and dearest, I need time to myself throughout the day.

It isn't about constant communication. If I need to ask my dad a quick question I have to ring him and he has to get to his phone to answer. It takes up time and I feel I've inconvenienced him. When he rings me I often have to stop what I'm doing and deal with something that could have been put in a text quickly and dealt with later, probably by me calling him at a more convenient time. If he is somewhere that he can't take a call but I'm concerned about him, its possible to send a quick 'I'm ok text' discreetly. There's also the privacy issue when he rings me and I'm out shopping or whatever. Texting means that you don't have to worry about others overhearing. 

I also like a text before someone rings me. An 'are you free to chat?' text is extremely considerate.

[floo]

It isn't about constant communication. If I need to ask my dad a quick question I have to ring him and he has to get to his phone to answer. It takes up time and I feel I've inconvenienced him. When he rings me I often have to stop what I'm doing and deal with something that could have been put in a text quickly and dealt with later, probably by me calling him at a more convenient time. If he is somewhere that he can't take a call but I'm concerned about him, its possible to send a quick 'I'm ok text' discreetly. There's also the privacy issue when he rings me and I'm out shopping or whatever. Texting means that you don't have to worry about others overhearing. 

I also like a text before someone rings me. An 'are you free to chat?' text is extremely considerate.

Weird!

[Rhiannon]

No its not. It means I don't have to interrupt cooking or dinner, and I can get a cup of tea and go to the loo first. It means that the other person gets my undivided attention. What's not to like?

[Nearly Sane]

Weird!

in what way? Rhiannon puts forward a set of sensible reasons on the joy of text.

[floo]

in what way? Rhiannon puts forward a set of sensible reasons on the joy of text.

Asking permission to phone someone? YE GODS.

[Shaker]

Asking permission to phone someone? YE GODS.

It's called consideration, presumably.

[ippy]

No thanks, I have no wish to carry a phone around with me.

What if you're out somewhere on your own and you need help because you're incapacitated in some way but able to use a phone, of course.

This could save your life Floo, imagine, no Floo for me to be able to be rude about her Welsh weather, carry your phone Floo they can be life savers.

ippy

[Shaker]

Very true, ipples.

If you can't see the sheer convenience of having something so small that it fits into your pocket which not only allows instant communication as, when and if it's needed - sometimes in important situations as Rhiannon and I both noted or even in vital situations, as ipster said - but allows you to look up anything in seconds, get the weather forecast, sports results if that's your thing, the news, you name it ... well, why anybody would choose to limit themselves in such a way is something I'll never understand.

We did without such things in years past because we had to and had no choice - but now we do and we're the better for it.

[Rhiannon]

Asking permission to phone someone? YE GODS.

Don't distort what I said.

[Rhiannon]

It's called consideration, presumably.

Just had to get out of the shower to answer the phone for something that could have been put in a text. 

[Shaker]

Just had to get out of the shower to answer the phone for something that could have been put in a text. 

Quite.

And another factor for me at any rate is the sheer amazingness of the technology. I've had a mobile phone for twenty years but sending words through the air instantaneously anywhere on the planet is still fantastic witchery I've never quite become blase about.

[Walter]

Quite.

And another factor for me at any rate is the sheer amazingness of the technology. I've had a mobile phone for twenty years but sending words through the air instantaneously anywhere on the planet is still fantastic witchery I've never quite become blase about.

my daughter and young family live in Australia and WhatsApp has become indispensable especially as we are in a group where we can all see and join in conversations and share pics and vids ,bloody marvellous!

[floo]

What if you're out somewhere on your own and you need help because you're incapacitated in some way but able to use a phone, of course.

This could save your life Floo, imagine, no Floo for me to be able to be rude about her Welsh weather, carry your phone Floo they can be life savers.

ippy

I don't need it apart from when I am driving. Good grief in the days before mobile phones we managed to survive, now the whole situation has got crazy. People are using their phones almost all the time, which is daft!

[Shaker]

I don't need it apart from when I am driving. Good grief in the days before mobile phones we managed to survive, now the whole situation has got crazy.

We survived without a great many things, only on the basis that they didn't exist. Now that they do exist, and make life easier, who would choose to do without them?

People are using their phones almost all the time, which is daft!

Probably because phones now are so very much more than a thing that has only one function, i.e. make phone calls.