Life without a mobile phone

[mattx]

I am seriously thinking about ditching my Mobile - it's my own, I've had the number since the year dot - [ 07970 number ] - but I am sick and tired of it now. OK I let the majority go to the answer phone but I really hate the fact that I can be contacted when ever...... I seem to remember not having one [ 15 year ago ] and it was nice. If someone wanted me then E-mail or leave a message on my land line - or how about actually coming over ??!!

Anyone been more than 4/8 weeks without a mobile ? I'm seriously thinking of trying it......

[elsiegee40]

I never used to take mine on holiday, but stopped that after my dad was taken seriously ill while I was away.

 

I was in the south of France and he was in Edinburgh. It was so difficult being without it, that I'd always have a mobile now. I am just selective about when I switch it on!

[SC-UK]

I think that now it is so easy to own one, it's silly not to in case of emergencies etc.

 

However, there is nothing to stop you turning it off except for when YOU want to use it, thought about doing the same many times before myself.

[Iosoma]

I havent used my mobile for about a year, and its great! There isnt really a time where I cant be contacted by land line or email, so I dont really see the point. Email is the best way to get to me as Ive always got my Ipod and am always close to a WAP.

 

There have been a few times that it has been a problem, such as various family members going into hospital, but luckily I only live down the road from them.

 

Turning it off is always a good idea, or call block!

[ozzy]

as good as, I gave up my contract after 16 years (my first no begun with 0585 a sony marsbar analog phone) and have bought a £10 cheap one from asda including £10 credit and that stays in the car incase of somthing happening. It was work that made my mind up ringing me on days off with stupid questions or can you come in coz x and y aint working:mad:, and the answer is no i don't miss it at all and I'm £20 better off a month:D

[cookie_monster]

I went without one for 6 months last year while travelling and I really didn't miss it, I think I'd find it to be a pain in general life but I know what you mean about how we used to get by. People have lost the ability to plan, in the past you would arrange to meet in the pub (or wherever) at a certain time and that's where you would meet. If someone wasn't there that second you would wait patiently until they arrived, this would probably be no more than 5 mins.

Mobiles have made people impatient and disorganised IMO and both of these are important skills.

 

EDIT: I mean being patient and organised are important skills

Edited November 5, 2009 by cookie_monster

[mjs_mjs]

If your work want you to have a mobile phone; they should supply and pay for it. You should leave it at work at the end of the day.

 

Your personal phone is exactly that; personal. And should not be used by your employer or anyone you work with unless you give your permission explicity to them, or there is an emergency.

 

If you employer (or someone you work with) uses your personal number given or gives it to another staff member to use against your permission, you could argue it was a breach of data protection.

[danIT]

I have a mobile paid for any supplied by work, given up on a personal phone. I have no need for a mobile phone other than for work.

[cookie_monster]

I have a mobile paid for any supplied by work, given up on a personal phone. I have no need for a mobile phone other than for work.

 

 

 

I suppose it just comes down to how you use phones and your lifestyle. I personaly don't use my landline as I don't sit still enough, I also spend alot of time outdoors so it's usefull then. I can always ignore it and generally if it's a number I don't know I do.

[russdev]

Well I have two phones (both owned by me) unlike certain ex admins who have 3 phones

 

One personal and one that is number that work can give out to suppliers and that I use as my edugeek.net contact so you lot can phone me.

 

As for if could give them up no but I make sure that EG phone gets put on silent after certain time.

 

Russ

Edited November 5, 2009 by russdev

[t4ll1f3r]

I love my iPhone.

 

I'm not giving it up for anyone.

[PiqueABoo]

Anyone been more than 4/8 weeks without a mobile ?

 

Yeah.. my entire life, until the current job gave me a cheap one, with the number only known by work folk + t'other half, and it's switched off and left in the car on my time. They tend to disrupt my concept of a hassle free life too much.

[Quackers]

Not a chance in hell would i give up my mobile. I've given up my landline, no phone plugged in that silly expensive thing.

[MatthewL]

Wouldnt give my mobile up, not fussed about a land line, just trying to reduce my mobiles from 2 to 1, one work one personal. Good to keep it seperate although key staff have my pesonal number.

[TwoZeroAlpha]

Two for me, one work which anyone and his dog can have but spends most of it's life on silent at the bottom of my kit bag (and gets voicemail checked occasionally) and a personal one which is used for keeping in touch with friends family etc.

 

If I don't want to be bothered I either turn it off or onto silent as others have said, too useful to give up.

[gibbo_ap]

few years ago my charger gave up and i couldnt be bothered to get a new one, an first it was like i lost a body part, couldnt arrange meet up with people etc

 

after a while i remembered how to operate without id call a mate from land line and say fancy a beer thurs? at x pub? at 8?

at 8 id be there if i was late i was late, if my mate was late he was late. couldnt find out

 

i actually found it made me be ontime as i couldnt get in touch if i was late lol.

 

i found it liberating

 

tho after about 2 months my gf at the time (who was away at uni most of the time) got annoyed and brought me a charger...darn her

 

oh well iphone on its way

[cookie_monster]

Besides, you never know when you might need it.

 

Yep I always take one walking and climbing, of course just because you have one doesn't mean you have to hand out the number

 

 

i actually found it made me be ontime as i couldnt get in touch if i was late lol.

 

Exactly what I was saying above, they make people lazy and disorganised. "Oh I’m running late I’ll text to tell the person I’m meeting" the amount of people that do this on the last minute. "I'm not late until 1 min before we should meet as I can instantly tell them", unfortunately the person you're meeting is already there waiting for your lazy ass.

Edited November 6, 2009 by cookie_monster

[tech_guy]

I used to hate mobiles as my life was ruled by one when I worked in finance from 1990 - 1995. I was always 'available' and as a consequence I was always working - evenings, weekends, and even when I was on holiday.

 

As well, I always used to think that a personal monthly mobile contract was the biggest rip-off ever.

 

Since I got my G1 my views have changed.

 

I will never give my mobile number to work colleagues - so they can't hassle me outside of work, and the G1 has become indispensable - almost like a part of me now. I literally couldn't manage without it as I use it all the time (Internet, Email, Google Maps, etc).

[dalsoth]

I dislike most teachers so i would never give my personal number out to anyone other than friends and family. Would never take a work mobile home from work even if they supplied one which they do not. Would change my own number if work ever got hold of it.

 

I put down a relatives number for emergency contact and make it quite clear that only an emergency such as a medical emergency should be the reason it is called. Otherwise they have my email that i do not check outside of work hours. If they want me 24/7 they can pay me top dollar.

 

As i stick to the above i do not see the need to get rid of my mobile. I only speak to those i care about on it. Also refuse to answer any number that is withheld. Mobile is handy in case my GF or someone needs my help if they break down on motorway or something like that happens.

[Pottsey]

I wouldn’t give up a mobile. Perhaps swap to a pay as you go mobile that almost always turned off. Just for the times when your car break down, get lost or some other such time a mobile phone is a god send.