Is phone considered a need?

[SacredFaerie]

I really think this is a case of taking frugality too far. I can't believe you're debating whether or not you need to be able to dial 911.

[neatdesign]

My husband and I aren't cell phone people, but we bought a prepaid Virgin cell phone about 5 years ago in case of an emergency when we take a road trip. I don't remember how much the phone cost (maybe $70?), but the service costs us $60/year -- we're charged $15 every three months. The per-minute rates are very high but we very rarely use the phone, only a handful of times every year.

We'd probably use it more but we get absolutely NO connection at home (we have to drive 2-3 miles before we get a couple of bars), and I get no connection where I work. Of course, we didn't have any way of knowing that until AFTER we'd bought the phone!

~ Jenney

[vole]

My husband and I aren't cell phone people,

~ Jenney

It's a generational thing.

At my son's college, only 4 students have landlines, the others have cell phones. And only 14 have desktop computers, the rest laptops.

Take a taxi in NYC. It's amazing how the drivers are talking away on the cell phone. Must have better plans than I ever got since they talk day and night. Surprisingly, it's not annoying. Maybe because it's in a language I can't understand and I just filter it out.

[disneysteve]

It's a generational thing.

At my son's college, only 4 students have landlines, the others have cell phones. And only 14 have desktop computers, the rest laptops.

Take a taxi in NYC. It's amazing how the drivers are talking away on the cell phone. Must have better plans than I ever got since they talk day and night. Surprisingly, it's not annoying. Maybe because it's in a language I can't understand and I just filter it out.

I think that's partly true but gradually changing as the technology integrates itself more and more into daily life. My 78-year-old mother has a cell phone and uses it regularly.

As for the taxis in NYC, I already feel like I'm taking my life in my hands when I get into one. If the driver was talking on the phone, I'd really feel in danger. I wonder how they react if a customer asks them not to talk on the phone while driving. I wish they would ban that nationwide and actually enforce it. It is illegal here in NJ but nobody pays any attention to the law based on how many drivers I see everyday talking on the phone.

As for college students and computers, laptops are the only way to go. They often need them in class as well as in their dorms, plus they can bring work home on weekends and breaks that way.

[Phenomenal Woman]

From someone who experienced going without a phone for several years, I could tell you that a phone is not a NEED! You could do fine without one but you will lose all the conveniences and may end up depending on others for help from time to time.

My experiences were not by choice. I am Deaf and the internet and text phones did not come out until later in my life. Before that, when there was an emergency in my home and I needed to call 911, I simply knocked at my neighbor's door and ask them to place a call for me.

Without a phone, I had more visitations from friends. I miss those days and it seems like a phone call is these days is sufficient and replaces 1 on 1 quality time together.

There were times it was tough, where I used to live have cities that are several miles apart. I had an accident on the highway one time and had to wait until a car drives by to get help. It can take a long time in states like Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and etc.

Today's time has a set of different problems if you go without a phone. A lot of accounts or forms you need to fill out requires a phone number to identify you and in some cases will not accept your form without a phone number. This makes it tough if you were trying to apply online for anything or make an online order. It gets kind of frustrating when you need a phone number regardless of using the phone or not. Before the text phone, I would just use my parent's phone number on these forms. I am also noticing a lot less working payphones in public.

I now pay a lot to have a PDA cell phone with an all data plan, but I enjoy the convenience and being independent completely. (I just have to remember to keep my phone charged at all times though).

I understand that my situation was different, but regardless I did all right without a phone. It probably made me more creative when it comes to resolving conflicts which in return made me stronger and more "free" in a sense.

[vole]

I wonder how they react if a customer asks them not to talk on the phone while driving.

I don't they'd understand you. It's hard enough just giving them an address.

I wish they would ban that nationwide and actually enforce it. It is illegal here in NJ but nobody pays any attention to the law based on how many drivers I see everyday talking on the phone.

Hands free units are legal to use when driving. I don't understand why holding a phone is more dangerous than a hands free unit.

CB radios allow you to hold a microphone. It's not against the law to use an electric razor, or for that matter to just keep you arm out the window. So, if it's the idea that driving with one hand is dangerous, it doesn't fit.

It would seem that the type of conversation on a phone is what is dangerous, regardless of whether you are holding the phone or not.

My personal suspicion is that every conversation while driving is dangerous. If you are talking to passengers, they see the oncoming danger and scream or react. If you're on a phone, no one is there to warn you. Accident.

-Dave

[vole]

Today's time has a set of different problems if you go without a phone. A lot of accounts or forms you need to fill out requires a phone number to identify you and in some cases will not accept your form without a phone number. This makes it tough if you were trying to apply online for anything or make an online order. It gets kind of frustrating when you need a phone number regardless of using the phone or not.

Guess it's a lot like having to fill in your SSN. I have a list of SSN to use on those occasions when some low level functionary insists on the number.

The phony number is well know to the SS Administration and large businesses. They just disregard it. The number is from over 60 years ago when a wallet manufacture put an ad in the newspaper. He had a picture of the new wallet and used his secretary's SS Card to show how the display window of the wallet worked. Sure enough, people just began to use that number when they had to fill out forms.

It's a lot easier giving the phony number than arguing with someone about keeping your SSN secure.

You should be able to come up with a phone number to use. Pick an unlisted number. I know there are several phone numbers that have a permanent "busy" signal. Or give someone's fax number?

-Dave

[Phenomenal Woman]

My personal suspicion is that every conversation while driving is dangerous. If you are talking to passengers, they see the oncoming danger and scream or react. If you're on a phone, no one is there to warn you. Accident.

-Dave

I am just asking out of curiosity here, (I am deaf so this is not my fort) what is the difference between listening on the phone and listening to the radio in the car?

I was thinking the accidents were more often caused by fumbling with the radio button or the fumbling with carrying the phone or pressing the keys which distracted one from maneuvering the car properly? Here is why I can see not using the handheld phones.

About the razor comment, I actually witness a guy shaving with an electric shaver in rush-hour on one of the busiest freeways. While this is not right, that day we were practically going 2 miles per hours for a good 30 minutes. It was quite a site!

[Phenomenal Woman]

Guess it's a lot like having to fill in your SSN. I have a list of SSN to use on those occasions when some low level functionary insists on the number.

It's a lot easier giving the phony number than arguing with someone about keeping your SSN secure.

You should be able to come up with a phone number to use. Pick an unlisted number. I know there are several phone numbers that have a permanent "busy" signal. Or give someone's fax number?

-Dave

I never thought about a mock SSN number! Wished I thought of that a long time ago. Normally I request a different form of identifications when I can, like at colleges and University. Many do not know that College and Universities can not legally require you to provide your SSN.

I have used fake numbers before bur merely just punching in a made up number. I wouldn't personally know a phone number that always get a busy signal (can't hear a phone anyways). I often wonder if I gave anyone a headache or if a rep gave out personal information’s about me when they called this made-up number.

[vole]

I am just asking out of curiosity here, (I am deaf so this is not my fort) what is the difference between listening on the phone and listening to the radio in the car?

I think it's the content of the speech. Talking with someone seems to be more intense. The radio is not much of a distraction in most cases.

I listen to tapes while driving and found that certain subjects were too complex for driving. I'd find myself not looking at the road but looking up to the right trying to follow something that was complex.

I was thinking the accidents were more often caused by fumbling with the radio button or the fumbling with carrying the phone or pressing the keys which distracted one from maneuvering the car properly? Here is why I can see not using the handheld phones.

Yes, the fumbling does cause problems. For most calls, the fumbling is just a couple of seconds at the beginning. Yet the accidents occur while talking-not just when dialing or connecting.

-Dave

[kork13]

I am just asking out of curiosity here, (I am deaf so this is not my fort) what is the difference between listening on the phone and listening to the radio in the car?

As a matter of physiology, it's actually not the listening that is so dangerous, but rather the speaking, and moreover, the combination of the two.

Simply listening to a conversation requires very little concentration. Your brain is trained to filter out background noises (ceiling fan, fluorescent lights, voices in a crowded room, etc.), so you can still concentrate on the road while listening to a conversation, or as Vole mentioned, the radio. The conversation/radio is just another 'noise' if you're focused on driving.

However, to actually speak, and hold a two-way conversation, it requires significantly more brain-power, thereby diverting your attention. Your brain cannot (for most people) form coherent, thought out sentences while maintaining total visual and aural (eyes/ears) situational awareness (which is how you know what's going on while driving). Normally, when you speak (or write--in this case--a text message), your visual/aural attention narrows, so that you only are totally aware of what is immediately in front of your eyes and what you are most predominantly hearing. In the meantime, your brain blends together the rest of your vision/hearing. This gives your brain the chance to figure out what to say, and to actually say it. So while all this is happening, you don't catch details as well--to include that car cutting in front of you. badda bing, badda boom, car crash.

[Phenomenal Woman]

Thanks Vole and Kork - your explanations helps me to understand a little more.

[vole]

I never thought about a mock SSN number! Wished I thought of that a long time ago. Normally I request a different form of identifications when I can, like at colleges and University. Many do not know that College and Universities can not legally require you to provide your SSN.

I'm not sure what these numbers are, but it looks interesting:
Fake Name Generator - US Social Security Number (SSN)

Here's the best SSN to use:
Social Security Cards Issued by Woolworth

I have used fake numbers before bur merely just punching in a made up number. I wouldn't personally know a phone number that always get a busy signal (can't hear a phone anyways).

These should be "always busy":
518 571-xxxx Albany, NY
717 980-xxxx Harrisburg, Scranton, and Wilkes Barre, PA
860 525-7078 Hartford, CT


-Dave

[disneysteve]

Hands free units are legal to use when driving. I don't understand why holding a phone is more dangerous than a hands free unit.

It isn't. Both are equally dangerous. As noted, it is the process of having the conversation that is dangerous. Both holding a phone and using a hands-free device should be avoided while driving and, in my opinion, should be illegal. If the call is that vital, pull off the road and talk.

I suppose holding the phone is a bit more dangerous because it takes one hand off the wheel and could possibly partially block your peripheral vision on that side.

[neatdesign]

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My husband and I aren't cell phone people,

~ Jenney

It's a generational thing.

Well, we're only in our mid-30s so it's not like we're super-old or something. We just don't feel the need to have a cell phone on us at all times.

Meanwhile, my husband's 80-year-old grandmother has no problems texting her friends and relatives several times a day. (She'd text us as well, probably, except we're here in the States and she's in Britain -- plus we don't have a cell phone so it's moot anyway.) I don't think she'd agree that it's a "generational thing"!

~ Jenney