Reliance on smartphone...

bestpud

I've had this sudden realisation that I am almost at the point of being unable to function without on tap Internet access!

My husband often moans about me using my phone a lot and a few days away with very little in the way of Internet has kind of made me realise what he means!

We had a bit of a crisis with the car and needed a mechanic and I struggled terribly with just a flaky phone signal and no Internet - I felt completely paralysed!

Thing is, I got it sorted with plain old word of mouth and asking around, so I really didn't need the www at all!

Not only that but I found myself reaching for my phone to check emails, Facebook etc etc whenever I had 3g access! We were only away 3 days - there was nothing that couldn't wait! I even found myself sitting in the car in a lay by answering unimportant emails with my daughter and dog itching to get to the beach!

Lastly, I use it as my diary, alarm clock, my only contacts list...

Sorry that was a bit long, but has anyone made the decision to go back to basics with a phone?

I do need a mobile but could get a basic one. I don't want to give up Facebook etc but can use a PC for that. I'd need to buy an alarm clock though, and a diary!

Am I alone with this?

Gloomendoom

i was an early adopter of smartphones (such as they were.) About 2001 if I remember correctly.

I rarely even know where my phone is now. I generally only find it if I'm going on a long journey on my own.

peachyprice

I don't feel the need to go back to basics in every day life, I need a lot of the information I receive through emails throughout the day and there are times I do need the internet, if not for me then someone else in the family needing information because they're stranded etc,.

However, I do turn off all email communication and purposely don't use the internet when we're on holiday or out as a family unless it's relevant.

Netwizard

All my bloody friends are the same. They drive me up the wall, every bloody single one.

I will never forget meeting up with a mate, who I dont see too often (maybe once a month), at the local pool hall for a few games and the odd beer. As soon as we got to our allocated table, his phone comes out, and to my frustration he kept checking the dam thing between every shot!!
I mean, what could you possibly miss in the 30 seconds since you last checked it? Bloody faceache, twitter etc. Then he kept asking if it was his shot, what the score was. He couldnt pay attention to real life proceedings for more than 20 fking seconds.

Then we have the works nights out. I dont bother going on these anymore. All meet up in the works social club, and straight away again, the phones come out, the facebooks are updated from the first second of the night out with pictures / status updates of where they are, who they are with etc.

People are sat next to each other in the pub, checking out each others facebook statuses and pictures!! !!!!!!??!! Your fking sat next to each other!! Why do you need to comment on each others statuses??!!And so it goes on.

Go for lunch with friends in somewhere like whetherspoons? Phones out straight away. I feel like the odd one out, but then again, im quite happy with my £20 nokia! I almost feel nowadays, I would get more response from my friends if I posted on their facebook whilst sat next to them rather than actually talking to them!!

I know smartphones have their place and are usefull when out and about, but I refuse to believe that 99% of things could not wait an hour until lunch has been finished, or the few pints we came out for have been consumed!

I know im in the minority here, but ive never needed the use of a smartphone while out and about. Anything facebook / email related can wait, if I need directions to somewhere, I have a tomtom, and if im going anywhere I might need to take a picture, ill take my canon point and shoot which fits in my pocket and if I breakdown, I have my breakdown membership and my trusty £20 nokia with its week long battery life.

This post isnt aimed as a rant or anything personal at you OP but im constantly frustrated by peoples lack of ability to do anything without messing about on their phone We never used to have smartphones and constant access to email /internet, but now everyones emails have suddenly become so important, they cant wait. Go back 10 years and it would have to wait, and people could enjoy their lunch hour chatting to friends rather than glued to phones.

/edit - and dont even get me started on those that take them on fcking holiday!! Why!! Your on holiday, switch the dam thing off and enjoy yourself. Although whats really annoying is those that take them on holiday, use them how they are intended to be used, then moan about the £5, 000 roaming bill they come back too. You would think it would teach them a lesson but no

puppypants

I have to say I completely agree with Netwizard! I hate, hate, hate the mobile phone culture nowadays!!

Hermia

bestpud wrote: »

Sorry that was a bit long, but has anyone made the decision to go back to basics with a phone?

No way! I love my phone/computer/ipad and I find they are so useful and give me so much enjoyment. When I think how long things took pre-Smartphone it makes me shudder!

Having said that I do generally keep everything switched off when I am out and I do frequently have periods where I don't go online when other things take priority or simply because I fancy a break.

lyrolee

Netwizard wrote: »

All my bloody friends are the same. They drive me up the wall, every bloody single one.

I will never forget meeting up with a mate, who I dont see too often (maybe once a month), at the local pool hall for a few games and the odd beer. As soon as we got to our allocated table, his phone comes out, and to my frustration he kept checking the dam thing between every shot!!
I mean, what could you possibly miss in the 30 seconds since you last checked it? Bloody faceache, twitter etc. Then he kept asking if it was his shot, what the score was. He couldnt pay attention to real life proceedings for more than 20 fking seconds.

Then we have the works nights out. I dont bother going on these anymore. All meet up in the works social club, and straight away again, the phones come out, the facebooks are updated from the first second of the night out with pictures / status updates of where they are, who they are with etc.

People are sat next to each other in the pub, checking out each others facebook statuses and pictures!! !!!!!!??!! Your fking sat next to each other!! Why do you need to comment on each others statuses??!!And so it goes on.

Go for lunch with friends in somewhere like whetherspoons? Phones out straight away. I feel like the odd one out, but then again, im quite happy with my £20 nokia! I almost feel nowadays, I would get more response from my friends if I posted on their facebook whilst sat next to them rather than actually talking to them!!

I know smartphones have their place and are usefull when out and about, but I refuse to believe that 99% of things could not wait an hour until lunch has been finished, or the few pints we came out for have been consumed!

I know im in the minority here, but ive never needed the use of a smartphone while out and about. Anything facebook / email related can wait, if I need directions to somewhere, I have a tomtom, and if im going anywhere I might need to take a picture, ill take my canon point and shoot which fits in my pocket and if I breakdown, I have my breakdown membership and my trusty £20 nokia with its week long battery life.

This post isnt aimed as a rant or anything personal at you OP but im constantly frustrated by peoples lack of ability to do anything without messing about on their phone We never used to have smartphones and constant access to email /internet, but now everyones emails have suddenly become so important, they cant wait. Go back 10 years and it would have to wait, and people could enjoy their lunch hour chatting to friends rather than glued to phones.

Absoloutely agree, one of my colleagues used to drive me nuts when I worked in a care setting with her. She couldn't even take a client to the loo without having the damn thing out to check it every 10 seconds.

bouncydog1

Use of phones in the company of others is downright rude IMO! Sure people should check their phones if they are expecting something important, but it is totally out of order to have an eye on them all the time!

Netwizard

lyrolee wrote: »

Absoloutely agree, one of my colleagues used to drive me nuts when I worked in a care setting with her. She couldn't even take a client to the loo without having the damn thing out to check it every 10 seconds.

Did you report it? If she works in care, all the more reason to pay attention to what she is doing rather than her phone.

I dont know about everyone else, but phones in our office are not allowed to be used unless its an emergency or your expecting a very important phone call. However, working in an office full of younger girls, this rule is ignored totally, despite numerous emails asking us to stop and despite the work computers having unrestricted internet access.

I dont have any problems people replying to a quick text or making a phone call. The main reason I have my gripe, is like someone mentioned above. Its rude and I feel like I am being ignored. The phone takes preference over my company

cutestkids

Netwizard wrote: »

All my bloody friends are the same. They drive me up the wall, every bloody single one.

I will never forget meeting up with a mate, who I dont see too often (maybe once a month), at the local pool hall for a few games and the odd beer. As soon as we got to our allocated table, his phone comes out, and to my frustration he kept checking the dam thing between every shot!!
I mean, what could you possibly miss in the 30 seconds since you last checked it? Bloody faceache, twitter etc. Then he kept asking if it was his shot, what the score was. He couldnt pay attention to real life proceedings for more than 20 fking seconds.

Then we have the works nights out. I dont bother going on these anymore. All meet up in the works social club, and straight away again, the phones come out, the facebooks are updated from the first second of the night out with pictures / status updates of where they are, who they are with etc.

People are sat next to each other in the pub, checking out each others facebook statuses and pictures!! !!!!!!??!! Your fking sat next to each other!! Why do you need to comment on each others statuses??!!And so it goes on.

Go for lunch with friends in somewhere like whetherspoons? Phones out straight away. I feel like the odd one out, but then again, im quite happy with my £20 nokia! I almost feel nowadays, I would get more response from my friends if I posted on their facebook whilst sat next to them rather than actually talking to them!!

I know smartphones have their place and are usefull when out and about, but I refuse to believe that 99% of things could not wait an hour until lunch has been finished, or the few pints we came out for have been consumed!

I know im in the minority here, but ive never needed the use of a smartphone while out and about. Anything facebook / email related can wait, if I need directions to somewhere, I have a tomtom, and if im going anywhere I might need to take a picture, ill take my canon point and shoot which fits in my pocket and if I breakdown, I have my breakdown membership and my trusty £20 nokia with its week long battery life.

This post isnt aimed as a rant or anything personal at you OP but im constantly frustrated by peoples lack of ability to do anything without messing about on their phone We never used to have smartphones and constant access to email /internet, but now everyones emails have suddenly become so important, they cant wait. Go back 10 years and it would have to wait, and people could enjoy their lunch hour chatting to friends rather than glued to phones.

Although I have a smart phone I do not have it in my hand 24/7 the way some of my friends do, if I am with family or friends then my phone will stay in my pocket or bag, if it rings then I will check and if not important will not answer when I am am with other people.

Someone I know comes to my house every few weeks, from the moment the arrive they are on the phone, checking facebook or whatever, I think it is really rude as they are not actualy wanting to be there with you.

peachyprice

lyrolee wrote: »

Absoloutely agree, one of my colleagues used to drive me nuts when I worked in a care setting with her. She couldn't even take a client to the loo without having the damn thing out to check it every 10 seconds.

I hope it didn't have a camera on it, she could have found herself in serious trouble.