Tuesday, August 25, 2015

I Don't Want a Cell Phone

But I have a cell phone.

But I don't use it.

Well, I use it when I want to use it.

But no one has the number.

Well, my husband has the number and so does anyone who has my children when I don't.

I don't have the number memorized.

But it is written on blue painters' tape and taped to the back of the phone.

I don't check messages.

I often forget to turn it on when I say I will.

I like not being able to be reached.

But I like having a way to call someone should I need help.

I don't text.

But I feel a little sorry for folks when they text my home phone and I never get the message.

But not bad enough to consider learning to text.

I don't want a smart phone.

I'm already on my computer more than necessary.

I don't want to be lured out of reality more than I'm already lured.

My reality needs me.

I don't want a cell phone.

But it kind of feels like I'm the only one.



For those of you with questions:
1) No, I shouldn't start sentences with the word "but".  But I like to anyway.
2) Yes, I always let my husband know where I'm going in case I forget to turn my phone on.
3) I have an old model tracfone that I spent about $30 on.  Each month, for $10 I get continued service and a bunch of minutes I never use.  Cell phone tip: a phone that's rarely used looks new for a very long time.
4) When our kids learn to drive, they will get a nifty tracfone, too. Pin It

24 comments:

  1. Grammarians these days say it is OK to start sentences with conjunctions, so I think you're good there. ;) http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/conjunctions

    We do not have a smart phone. We also have a Tracfone. We bought it a few years back when we were going to be traveling and wanted something for emergencies. We put 1000 minutes on it per year, and do not come anywhere close to using them up by the end of the year. I do not give my phone number out because the phone is usually either off or dead (because if I turn it on I always forget to turn it off). We have it mostly for emergency use, but also as a way to communicate if wanted/slightly necessary.

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  2. Love the format of this post. I don't have a cell phone. I don't want one. People can't comprehend that I don't want a cell phone. I don't know of anyone else that doesn't have a cell phone. Our 18 and 16-year-old kids have tracfones and pay for their own minutes. Our 14 and 12-year-old kids don't have a phone They are the only kids we know that don't have smart phones. We all get so frustrated when people we're with are on their phones instead paying attention to what's going on around them. You've put my exact feelings into words. Thank you.

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  3. Every. Word. THIS. I very happy with my 'tin-can-and-string' :^)

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  4. This is me right down to the tracphone.

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  5. I'm with you. I just broke down and got a $25 pay as you go phone so I can call for help if I need it- every 90 days have to add some money. Came in very handy when my regular phone was out of service. That was the only day I used it so far.

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  6. I have a simple cell phone. I never carry it on me. It is usually in the pocket of a coat or buried deep inside my purse. Most of the time it is silenced. I only use it as a necessity. Cell phone users who are always using them are really a pet peeve of mine. Sorry. Thanks for sharing and have a blessed day.

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  7. Rest assured that you are not the only one who feels this way and acts accordingly - intentionally. I, too, have a simple cell phone that is used much as you describe. My friends tell me that I am such a good listener. Perhaps it's because I focus on our conversation rather than my phone. :) Having reared children through the driver's license/cell phone years, I recommend that you give them the gift of the responsibility of paying for their own simple phones. They - and you - will reap the benefits for years to come. Blessings. :)

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  8. I too have a tracfone, I only pay $20 every three months. I had to upgrade last year, because my old analog one would not work anymore... I keep mine in my car. And I don't know my phone's number, either. I prefer to talk face to face. :-)

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  9. Wow! other people that feel like I do. I get the weirdest looks when someone finds out I do not have a cell phone. I love that freedom of not being tied to it constantly. I sit at the Doctor's office or other public place and see everyone with their faces buried in their phones with headphones on and oblivious to the outside world and everything going on around them. Such a waste of life!

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  10. There was a time when I didn't have a cell phone or a land line phone and I was fine with it. It was out of necessity since we couldn't afford one. I didn't really mind it but my Dad didn't like not knowing if we were ok or not. (He once drove 5 hours to check on us). Now we have only cell phones - one for myself and one for my husband and one for our teens to use when away from us. We text periodically when needed, to send a quick message to someone or to check on our parents when time doesn't permit long conversations. We live so far away from them we don't see them often. When we got smart phones they became mini computers since we have wifi - both for educational purposes and for entertainment, checking email, etc. Sometimes I would like to go back to having no phones, but then I would miss out on keeping up with family and friends that don't live close. I don't use it constantly and sometimes don't use it at all. But I do like the convenience of instant messaging and phone calls when needed. I just don't like the cost. Cell phones have their place and can be useful tools, but like everything else we have to weigh the pros and cons for ourselves and work hard to keep them under control and not let them control us. 😀

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  11. I have a tracfone and I pay about $21/3 months worth. It is for if I need my husband to come change a tire or something like that. It is for if he...............or my grown daughters need me when not at home. I do not want a phone where you have the internet..............I am already spending too much time reading blogs.................but I DO love yours so much. I do not do Pinterest or FB b/c I already allot too much time to reading blogs. I am afraid I will become addicted. I already don't spend enough time in God's Word as it is. I am speaking only for myself and no one else................but I just don't need any more temptation.
    The director at the preschool where I work has to email me b/c there are only two of us who don't text. God bless her. I know this is extra trouble for her............but I just need to stay focused on things that are more important for me.
    Not unhappy for anyone else who enjoys these other things. Enjoy yourself.

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  12. I'm right there with you. Just purchased another tracfone card for $20/90 days. 60 minutes which was doubled with promo code. SO, have about 300 minutes now. I think that I need to go make a call. :)

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  13. Looks like I'm in the minority, but I do have an iphone and don't know what i would do without it. It allows me to stay in touch with my grown children. We text back and forth several times a day!! My husband is a farmer and he's working on the farm alone (I work full-time about 30 minutes away). I can't imagine each of us not having a phone so that he can contact me (or someone else) in case of an emergency. We keep track of the weather (which is really important for farming) and can actually see the weather radar on our phones. I get my office email on my cell phone, and it makes it easier for me to stay on top of work when I'm out of the office so I don't go back feeling quite so overwhelmed. My mom texts all of her kids and grandkids every night, telling them "good night" and reminding us all that Jesus loves us. Everyone has to make their own decision, but I sure wouldn't want to go back to not having a cell phone!!

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    1. I am right there with you. I keep up with my adult children mostly by text because they are mostly too busy to answer their phones. I was much more likely to get a reply from my college kids by text too. I think that needs change as children get older. I do have a smartphone and am glad to have the option of keeping up with email away from home since we are often out of town with grown children all up and down the east coast. I do not keep my face buried in it all day so that is not an issue for me. We cut the landline off about 6 months ago and love the peace and quiet of no more robo calls and we will not be getting those political calls either. For that I am very thankful. We own our phones and do no contract so our cost is much less.

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    2. I have had a smart phone almost two years now. It cost 1 cent with the upgrade. I have 5 adult children, the youngest still at home. My husband is a cabinet maker/ woodworker and his shop is next to our house but still too far for me to walk, in any hurry. I walk with a cane. We live in the country and I don't know anyone who does not have a cell phone. Many people do not have landlines anymore. My older girl runs the farm and her husband is a large animal vet...They keep in touch with employees and appointments and each other by cell phone.

      We do not have a digital camera. We had been thinking of getting one but a number of people said to just get an iPhone . We have been able to easily put pictures on the website now and send and receive info from clients. For us the data plan is a business expense.

      I am perfectly happy to receive texts and calls, at any time, when my children are traveling, or sick or just have news to share. I think if you don't want to use a cell phone, fine, but that is your choice, and if you choose to be unreachable, that is also on you. I personally am very grateful my 80 year old mother keeps her cell phone turned on and in her pocket wherever she goes.

      I don't love my phone, that would be silly for me, but it makes my life easier, safer and provides peace of mind.

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  14. Take heart, you are not alone.

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  15. Obviously from most of the comments, you are not alone. My hubby and I have one cell phone. I have the number taped on the back of it in case I never need to know what it is. It's strictly for emergencies or if one of us goes a distance away from home, he or I take the phone so we can let the person at home know if our schedule changes and we won't be home when expected. It is certainly handy for the way we use it, because it's nearly impossible to find a pay phone anymore!

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  16. We use Straight Talk, $45.00 tax for a month, unlimited talk and text all over the USA.
    I do not feel obligated to be tied to a phone. If it is an emergency they caller can leave a message or call again. My Father turned off the house phone at supper when we were small. These new phones are so all consuming, every bit of a person's information can be on them...then people wonder how they got their identity stolen. Good for you to stubbornly resist!

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  17. I don't have or want a cell phone. I love the reactions that people have when they say "what's your cell?" I just reply "I'm not in prison, sorry no cell." I love when people say I only have it for emergencies and during the time we are together they get 4 calls, 1 what's for dinner, 2 you should see what the dog is doing now, 3 are you going to the mall tomorrow? 4 can you pick up a red box movie on the way home?...hardly emergencies!
    it's so sad to be places and see everyone with their face in the phone instead of talking. Why do these people even bother leaving their homes? Why spend money to see a baseball game, or concert etc if you are just going to take selfies all night???

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  18. This post totally describes me. I could have written it myself. I thought it was hilarious the first time I found out that someone sent a text to my house phone, thinking it was a cell number. Lol! Mine is an old LG through Virgin Mobile and I pay $10 every other month. . .

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  19. Marie sent me. My wife and I have cell phones and we follow the same usage plan as you. We think of cell phones as "insurance." You have it, but hope you don't have to use it.

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  20. Love this post. I was talked into getting an Iphone last year by my husband and family, and really wanted it ONLY for the video purposes (I never use our video camera, it's such a pain.) Now the sound doesn't work on my Iphone, and I hate it. Why don't I go back to my old phone? I don't know, I am chicken and . I don't even have apps! My college kids text me but honestly, it's NOT the same as talking, I just don't think it establishes a healthy real connection? That's just old fashioned me.

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  21. I'm reading through your archives & this makes me smile. No, you aren't the only one... neither my husband nor I have cell phones & we don't want them.

    I have to laugh at the questions you answered especially #2. Modern people have become so afraid of being alone that we can't bear being without a phone...as if we cannot survive a catastrophe (real or not) without one. We helped our son buy a car at 16 & let him drive everywhere, at all hours...without a phone. I won't say I never worried about where he was some but I am sure parents for hundreds of years would say the same thing.

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Just a friendly reminder, if you know me personally please try to refrain from using my name. There are those who may try to locate me, break into my pantry and steal my pickled beets. Thanks:-).

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