Is it selfish not to carry a mobile phone?

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TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
A few years ago I had a mechanical while out. I couldn't sort it myself, and I had no mobile. I was therefore forced to walk for a few minutes to a pub, buy a pint :cheers: so as to get some change, use thier phone, and then eat sausages :mrpig: and roast potatoes:hungry: until SWMBO turned up with the car.
Boy, did I feel silly for not having a mobile!!
 
OP
OP
slowmotion

slowmotion

Quite dreadful
Location
lost somewhere
A few years ago I had a mechanical while out. I couldn't sort it myself, and I had no mobile. I was therefore forced to walk for a few minutes to a pub, buy a pint :cheers: so as to get some change, use thier phone, and then eat sausages :mrpig: and roast potatoes:hungry: until SWMBO turned up with the car.
Boy, did I feel silly for not having a mobile!!
I really don't know how anybody could admit to that.

Total loser.
 

hotfuzzrj

Guru
Location
Hampshire
I object to the mobile being seen as a way to contact *me* whenever someone wants to contact me; it should be a way for me to contact the outside world when *I* want to. I hate it when people call and I don't answer, for whatever reason, and they call again and again. I feel like picking up and saying 'if I wasn't going to answer it the first time, why do you think I would now?' The technology is there that I can see you've called, if I'm able to I will call back. Grrr.
 

Mad Doug Biker

Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
Location
Craggy Island
To me, a phone is a handy thing to have at the bottom of your bag, just in case, but it is by no means vital to me, and I quite enjoy going about without one, occasionally using phone boxes* (remember those?) instead.

Contrast that with my sister who seems to be obsessed with hers and is always foisting things on us, regardless of whether we want them or not, just because it is the latest deal or whatever :rolleyes:

Also, at the College, I feel as though I am the only person there who isn't glued to their phone. Glued, quite literally I tells you!

I hate it when people call and I don't answer, for whatever reason, and they call again and again. I feel like picking up and saying 'if I wasn't going to answer it the first time, why do you think I would now?' The technology is there that I can see you've called, if I'm able to I will call back. Grrr.

We accept you can see, but it might just be that you didn't hear it the first time or whatever.

* - Strike me down, I'm not worthy to live, this is the 21st century!!
By the way, what ever happened to all the fears about radiation, etc??
 

400bhp

Guru
If you think about it ringing someone is actually rude - you are interrupting them with no idea what they are doing at that moment.
 

400bhp

Guru
There was some bell cheese on the Cheshire Cat that simply had to answer his phone whilst travelling up some gradient or other.

So important, so kewl - such a twat.
 

tyred

Squire
Location
Ireland
Mine is an ancient phone and I very rarely use it. It tends to live in the glovebox of my car. I rarely take it with me anywhere unless I intend to make a phone call or expect to receive one. I do not want people ringing me up willy-nilly when I am in the middle of doing something.

I rarely take it on the bike or when hill walking and if I do, it is probably switched off, that is "me time", strictly do not disturb!:gun:

I never give the number to businesses, dental surgery, etc, even my own place of work. I tell them I don't have one, but some people refuse to believe that you can carry out your life without a mobile phone. I quite happily lived the first 25 years of my life without one. It is handy to have, but not essential.

If I do receive a call in a pub, cafe, someone else's house, etc, I will generally go outside to answer it. I don't want to hear anyone else's conversation and I doubt anyone wants to hear mine.

I don't hate them, they have many advantages, but like cars, I do think they are overused.

Oh, and I generally refuse to send text messages. Irritating things. Early telecommunications involved sending Morse code down the phone line, then some bright spark worked out a way to talk over them. It was called progress. Text messages are little better than sending Morse code and are a backward step imo.
 
'Stepping Stones', where the stone bridge is at the top end of the Derwent reservoir - No mobile signal at all. Bliss.
(I posted one of the Google Earth pics there - can see the back of my bike on it).

I ride to clear my head. The phone is an optional emergency accessory, not a life.
It lets me know the lady I love is ok on a long night shift, and alerts me if my Mum needs help.
 

dellzeqq

pre-talced and mighty
Location
SW2
Slo'mo' - I just wander what the context was? I do like people to bring their phones on rides, so that, if they're going to be late to the start, or they've got a problem on the ride they can give me a call. And, if they simply decide to go home (this has only happened once) they can let me know, so that I don't send out search parties.
 
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