Does this really make me so weird?
By freedomg
@freedomg (1684)
United States
December 7, 2012 7:50am CST
I have had several people look at me like I have a second head lately when they find out that not only do I not have a smart phone I don't carry a cell phone at all.
I rarely get out of the house and have a phone there. I don't drive sue to vision issues and there for am always either with my husband or my oldest daughter when I go out, both of which have cells of their own. So I see no point in paying for a cell for myself. Then there is the quiet. When I carried a phone before i would often find myself trying to run errands and field senseless calls that were like "Whatchya doing?" "What are you shopping for?" or "I just thought I'd call to chat". While I love to talk and if I'm not busy good luck shutting me up but when I'm trying to take care of business these calls become a headache and a distraction that can be dangerous if not at least often costly. I have on many occasions bought stuff I didn't need and forgotten things I did only to have to return to pick it up all because I was on the phone while I tried to get my shopping done.
Now tell me when you think about all of this does the fact that I have chosen to not carry a cell phone make me all that weird?
I rarely get out of the house and have a phone there. I don't drive sue to vision issues and there for am always either with my husband or my oldest daughter when I go out, both of which have cells of their own. So I see no point in paying for a cell for myself. Then there is the quiet. When I carried a phone before i would often find myself trying to run errands and field senseless calls that were like "Whatchya doing?" "What are you shopping for?" or "I just thought I'd call to chat". While I love to talk and if I'm not busy good luck shutting me up but when I'm trying to take care of business these calls become a headache and a distraction that can be dangerous if not at least often costly. I have on many occasions bought stuff I didn't need and forgotten things I did only to have to return to pick it up all because I was on the phone while I tried to get my shopping done.
Now tell me when you think about all of this does the fact that I have chosen to not carry a cell phone make me all that weird?4 people like this
12 responses
@mrsuniega (786)
• Philippines
7 Dec 12
No you are not. Though a lot say that phones today is a necessity of life for me phones are not that really important if you really don't need it. Maybe its just you are not use to carry a phone with you. I think thats it.
2 people like this
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
7 Dec 12
Yes I have heard people say that they are a necessity and with all of those little "scan here" things out there for smart phones and the 9 million apps for every little thing under the sun it does feel like the phone companies are trying to make it that way. We got along just fine before all of this this. The world just moved a little slower and quieter then. I will say I am certainly not used to carrying one and don't know if I want to get used to it. Though I do fear that someday I will be forced to do just that. Thanks for the post.
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
8 Dec 12
i don't have any gadgets either, just a simple cellphone. no camera, laptop, ipod or ipad. (no facebook and twitter either so that makes me really odd, right?) it's just not essential to my life yet. i wouldn't mind hand-me-down gadgets since i'm pretty slow to learn them, but i never ask for them. i just don't like the fact that each item has other stuff that goes with it (memory stick, chargers, etc) and it seems that once you have one, it leads to more and more.
1 person likes this
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
13 Dec 12
No kidding gadgets always come with all this clutter. It's crazy! I personally have a facebook to help me keep up with family across the country but I don't even understand twitter. I am not interesting enough to even think about that, who wants to here "I'm switching the laundry" or "Just started dinner". 
Thnaks for the post.
Thnaks for the post.@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
15 Dec 12
it's like we're all in a reality tv show now. we looove to share anything and everything, but we sure hate it and lash back instantly when we get "criticized"! i mean why is that surprising, right?
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
8 Dec 12
No, you are not alone there. I've never owned a cell or smart phone and probably never will. I have relative who is perfectly aware of this yet he will ask me to do something on his phone and when I can't figure out how to do it, he gets frustrated like I'm suppose to magically know this stuff. I've seen too many people get into accidents over those dumb contraptions.
1 person likes this
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
9 Dec 12
Well, it is your choice. And it is fine. My mom has a high-end phone but she rarely use it herself. My dad would be often mad texting me to check up on mom coz she doesn't pick up his call nor reply to his text messages.
1 person likes this
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
13 Dec 12
The phones have their purpose when you need to keep an eye on a family member that is alone. I personally am never alone. I'm impressed to hear that your mom can figure out the new high end phones. I say that there is nothing in the world that can make you feel dumb as fast as a smart phone.
@Shavkat (140102)
• Philippines
8 Dec 12
For some people may think you are strange person of not carrying your mobile outdoor. In contrary, some people don't care bringing their mobile phones unless they are expecting important calls. For me, I used to carry a basic mobile and people think that I am into trends. I just wanted to live in a simple lifestyle.
@christylynn41 (200)
• United States
8 Dec 12
No I don't think it makes you weird at all but I certainly understand what you mean. Im the same way. Im a stay at home mom and I work full time as an online teacher Im always hearing that I need to get a real job and how can I be happy staying at home all the time. I very content I dont feel the need to get out an run the streets all the time. I get occansionally to do shopping when Im feeling up to it and to church other than that I quit contente being at home. I don't have a cell phone either. I have an old fashioned landline lol. Its so very funny whenever someone says I tried to text they think Im so weird too.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
15 Dec 12
I don't think you are weird but I think people who seem to have the phones glued to their ear are weird.
I have mine because I live in a remote area and it's necessary when I go somewhere in case of emergency. It's an inexpensive, no frills, pre-paid phone that is handy when required. I don't use it without a real reason.
I can understand business people having them to stay in touch with important deals and contact while out of the office but otherwise I think the general public have been sucked in.
Another thing, I don't understand how some people can afford to use them.
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
7 Dec 12
I don't think you're weird at all... I personally don't like cell phones either but I have to have one for work purposes... I have a little flip phone that doesn't really do much except for voice canals & text messages... I work as a translator & my work heavily relies on communications... If it wasn't for my work, I probably won't have a cell phone...
1 person likes this
@lampar (7584)
• United States
11 Dec 12
It is not weird if you chosen not to carry a cell phone, it is strictly your personal decision, it is only weird when you choose to carry a cell phone but refuse to answer your call when it ring and insist on making phone call to your friends and whoever from an office phone or pay phone in the street, you want a cell phone just for taking picture and use for "sexting"
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@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
7 Dec 12
It may be different than what other people do, but personally I think it's the smart thing. I have a 'dumb' phone on a pay-as-you-go plan and I think sometimes what I use it for is a waste. If you feel like a cell phone is a waste, and you're probably right 
, then there's absolutely no reason that you need to have one. I think society these days places way too much emphasis on technology. We get so lost without it, even though if we really stopped to think about it... it's not that hard to go without.
, then there's absolutely no reason that you need to have one. I think society these days places way too much emphasis on technology. We get so lost without it, even though if we really stopped to think about it... it's not that hard to go without.1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Dec 12
I don 't think you are weird at all. There are others that don't have cell phones as they don't need them. If you don't a cellphone, then ou shouldn't have pone. In my case, since I don't have a landline. I do need a cellphone to keep in touch with family, although I know I can do that on the computer as well. For me, it does become necessary to have a cellphone. I realize that they can be a distraction, but I choose not to let it be, when I am out and about, as I do what needs to get done, even when I have my phone on me. My son has told me to be available 24/7 so if he needs to contact me, he can. He worries about me since I live alone, so I need to have that line of communication available. I don't have my cellphone on at night though, like he wants me to, as I fel I don't need to then. And when I have kept it on all night, I never got calls anyway, I just feel more comfortble having a cellphone, as it has become a part of my life, and I would be lost without it. Take care, and have a great day.
1 person likes this
