Is it so difficult to live without cell phones?

coolfyre · 21st July 2010, 11:01

We all know that cell phones have become an indispensable part of our lives.

Everyday we see people talking on the cell phones jay walking in the middle of road, talking and riding their bikes, talking and driving cars, talking and standing in the middle of the pathway in a mall, talking loudly in places of worship/hospitals/theatres etc.

Over these last few days, whatever I am seeing is just getting worse.

In my office toilet, I have seen people come in talking on the cell phone and do the small job and walk out without even washing their hands. yuck!! One hand handling the cell phone and other for ... you all know what.

Yesterday, I go into the toilet and I thought I was the only one and all of a sudden, I hear someone say something. I look around and see nobody and then I realize that someone is behind closed door toilet doing the big job as well as talking on the cell phone.

Is it really so hard to live without cell phones even for couple of minutes?

deadman · 21st July 2010, 11:16

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MutantX · 21st July 2010, 11:24

It isnt impossible but as deadman said, we would need to practice restricting ourselves to desk phones! When I had worked for a UK bank, no mobile phones were allowed even for the development teams. Initially it was difficult, but then I got used to it.

ghodlur · 21st July 2010, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolfyre

We all know that cell phones have become an indispensable part of our lives.

Everyday we see people talking on the cell phones jay walking in the middle of road, talking and riding their bikes, talking and driving cars, talking and standing in the middle of the pathway in a mall, talking loudly in places of worship/hospitals/theatres etc.

Over these last few days, whatever I am seeing is just getting worse.

In my office toilet, I have seen people come in talking on the cell phone and do the small job and walk out without even washing their hands. yuck!! One hand handling the cell phone and other for ... you all know what.

Yesterday, I go into the toilet and I thought I was the only one and all of a sudden, I hear someone say something. I look around and see nobody and then I realize that someone is behind closed door toilet doing the big job as well as talking on the cell phone.

Is it really so hard to live without cell phones even for couple of minutes?

The cell phone has become a boon as well as a bane today. It has brought world nearer but at the same time had introduced so many hazards. Even I have encountered so many office colleague taking a leak with a cell phone balancing act. Can some one not excuse himself for a few minutes to atleast take a pee in peace

. I guess multitasking with cellphone has become the order of the day.
The worst case is drivers talking on cell phones and forgetting the traffic rules, endangeraing themselves as well as others when driving. This has become a dangerous habit. Have we not see bikers with twisted faces and driving while talking on phones

.
I make it a point to switch of mobile phone when driving and after I retired for the day.

KITE RUNNER · 21st July 2010, 11:39

Well, in the present scenario it may be impossible to live without a cell phone for many, but not every one. It is a great blessing if used with discretion & civic virtue.

Butters · 21st July 2010, 11:48

well humans survived without any mode of communication so far and can still survive going forward. Its in our nature to exploit any new thing and use it for all the other purposes other than the one it actually was build in the first place. Cell phone was made for communication, however its no a gadget and we (including me

) use it for all the other purpose most of the time.
At times i hate my phone so much that i wish we never had one. You just cant get any peace of mind. To add to it the unnecessary calls(e.g marketing calls) which we never want but still have to bear it since we own a cell phone. Solution: i have now stopped picking any unidentified numbers

So its not difficult to live without a cellphone, but yes would than make it difficult to communicate. Just like emails, how many of us today still use an inland letter or have visited post office recently ??

aargee · 21st July 2010, 11:48

Very easy for me; Though we have two of them, we hardly use them, instead, we use it for necessity during travel or away from home. The best way to cut the usage of phone is to use it very less & thus less addicted to mobile or even land phone. Having said that, I cannot live without internet!!!

normally_crazy · 21st July 2010, 11:59

It is not that difficult to live without mobile phones. Just need to get used to it.

In fact these days I shut off my phone as soon as I leave office.

zaks · 21st July 2010, 12:04

It's just a bad habit from the cell phone users and as bad habits go they are difficult to shake off.

Indians like distractions, so what better than a mobile

raghu.t.k · 21st July 2010, 12:12

It is not difficult, Im now trying to reduce the usage after a peak usage last year. An extension could be the data usage on mobiles that we have got so used to now, even more than using it as a phone!

In fact I find it very annoying when people get so engrossed in their conversation whilst in a public place and keep walking, at times crossing the roads at intersections or walking in the middle with their back to the oncoming traffic.

tsk1979 · 21st July 2010, 12:17

Its very difficult. Basic tasks like telling the time and waking up on time become impossible without a cell phone

Daewood · 21st July 2010, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghodlur

I make it a point to switch of mobile phone when driving and after I retired for the day.

Me too. I use 2 SIM cards. One is switched off the moment i enter home, unless of course there is some emergency at office.
and no one except close friends and family know my other number.

rnidumolu · 21st July 2010, 12:32

I used to be on mobile most of times previously. I can say I got addicted to my imate. I got some comments from my boss too

. Don't know how but gradually my usage of phones got reduced. I am observing that I am a more happy person without a mobile. Now it is a daily routine that I forget my cell phone in the car and then go for it at lunch time.

amtak · 21st July 2010, 15:25

I have to admit this:

I hate taking calls during the big and the small break. That's one area where I would love to have some time for myself.

I always wanted a phone in my college days and got it only in my final year. I am happy that I didn't get it early. Also, I remember the day when I broke my phone and didn't buy it for the next 10 days. One of the most peaceful days of my life.

PS: Although I do not switch off my phone, it is always on silent mode allowing me to "miss calls" and also avoid getting into any possible embarrassing situation (specially in the loo!)

Jeep · 21st July 2010, 15:32

I got a call from the Business Development Mgr on my mobile (after she asked for my no. over email) this morning and the first thing she asked was why was my mobile number not in the company directory! It's kind of taken for granted! My mobile phone, it's personal and I do not want more than 100,000 colleagues to know it!

21st July 2010, 11:01	#1
coolfyre BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 67 Thanked: 2 Times	Is it so difficult to live without cell phones? We all know that cell phones have become an indispensable part of our lives. Everyday we see people talking on the cell phones jay walking in the middle of road, talking and riding their bikes, talking and driving cars, talking and standing in the middle of the pathway in a mall, talking loudly in places of worship/hospitals/theatres etc. Over these last few days, whatever I am seeing is just getting worse. In my office toilet, I have seen people come in talking on the cell phone and do the small job and walk out without even washing their hands. yuck!! One hand handling the cell phone and other for ... you all know what. Yesterday, I go into the toilet and I thought I was the only one and all of a sudden, I hear someone say something. I look around and see nobody and then I realize that someone is behind closed door toilet doing the big job as well as talking on the cell phone. Is it really so hard to live without cell phones even for couple of minutes?
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 11:16	#2
deadman BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: KA-20 Posts: 205 Thanked: 3 Times View My Garage	Post deleted by the Team-BHP Support : Please do NOT post one-liners that add little or no informational value to the thread. We need your co-operation to maintain the overall quality of this forum. Please read our rules before proceeding any further. Last edited by GTO : 26th July 2010 at 10:08.
	() Thanks $Received Infraction$

21st July 2010, 11:24	#3
MutantX BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Madras Posts: 868 Thanked: 93 Times View My Garage	It isnt impossible but as deadman said, we would need to practice restricting ourselves to desk phones! When I had worked for a UK bank, no mobile phones were allowed even for the development teams. Initially it was difficult, but then I got used to it.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 11:39	#5
KITE RUNNER BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kochi Posts: 101 Thanked: 7 Times	Well, in the present scenario it may be impossible to live without a cell phone for many, but not every one. It is a great blessing if used with discretion & civic virtue.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 11:48	#6
Butters BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mumbai Posts: 63 Thanked: 7 Times	well humans survived without any mode of communication so far and can still survive going forward. Its in our nature to exploit any new thing and use it for all the other purposes other than the one it actually was build in the first place. Cell phone was made for communication, however its no a gadget and we (including me ) use it for all the other purpose most of the time. At times i hate my phone so much that i wish we never had one. You just cant get any peace of mind. To add to it the unnecessary calls(e.g marketing calls) which we never want but still have to bear it since we own a cell phone. Solution: i have now stopped picking any unidentified numbers So its not difficult to live without a cellphone, but yes would than make it difficult to communicate. Just like emails, how many of us today still use an inland letter or have visited post office recently ??
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 11:48	#7
aargee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TSTN Posts: 6,236 Thanked: 9,643 Times	Very easy for me; Though we have two of them, we hardly use them, instead, we use it for necessity during travel or away from home. The best way to cut the usage of phone is to use it very less & thus less addicted to mobile or even land phone. Having said that, I cannot live without internet!!!
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 11:59	#8
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,369 Thanked: 528 Times View My Garage	It is not that difficult to live without mobile phones. Just need to get used to it. In fact these days I shut off my phone as soon as I leave office.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 12:04	#9
zaks BANNED Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 952 Thanked: 181 Times View My Garage	It's just a bad habit from the cell phone users and as bad habits go they are difficult to shake off. Indians like distractions, so what better than a mobile
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 12:12	#10
raghu.t.k BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 468 Thanked: 193 Times	It is not difficult, Im now trying to reduce the usage after a peak usage last year. An extension could be the data usage on mobiles that we have got so used to now, even more than using it as a phone! In fact I find it very annoying when people get so engrossed in their conversation whilst in a public place and keep walking, at times crossing the roads at intersections or walking in the middle with their back to the oncoming traffic.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 12:17	#11
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Its very difficult. Basic tasks like telling the time and waking up on time become impossible without a cell phone
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 12:32	#13
rnidumolu BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 222 Thanked: 90 Times View My Garage	I used to be on mobile most of times previously. I can say I got addicted to my imate. I got some comments from my boss too. Don't know how but gradually my usage of phones got reduced. I am observing that I am a more happy person without a mobile. Now it is a daily routine that I forget my cell phone in the car and then go for it at lunch time.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 15:25	#14
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,915 Thanked: 901 Times View My Garage	I have to admit this: I hate taking calls during the big and the small break. That's one area where I would love to have some time for myself. I always wanted a phone in my college days and got it only in my final year. I am happy that I didn't get it early. Also, I remember the day when I broke my phone and didn't buy it for the next 10 days. One of the most peaceful days of my life. PS: Although I do not switch off my phone, it is always on silent mode allowing me to "miss calls" and also avoid getting into any possible embarrassing situation (specially in the loo!)
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 15:32	#15
Jeep BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 438 Thanked: 67 Times	I got a call from the Business Development Mgr on my mobile (after she asked for my no. over email) this morning and the first thing she asked was why was my mobile number not in the company directory! It's kind of taken for granted! My mobile phone, it's personal and I do not want more than 100,000 colleagues to know it!
	() Thanks