ladysprite | Tiny Metal Shackles

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Tiny Metal Shackles

I find it completely and utterly wrong, in both a moral and a physical sense, that a teeny piece of metal and plastic no bigger than three of my fingers together has more computing power than the desk-sized Atari I played with in elementary school (and runs more complex games), and is quite possibly smarter than I am.

Yes, I have finally bowed down to social pressure and acquired a cell phone. I feel a deep sense of shame for doing this - I'm nowhere near important enough that people need to reach me at all times, and it feels incredibly vain and arrogant to assume that I'm cool enough to need it; and completely aside from that I just have a deep aversion to needless costs and needless gizmos. I've had a cell phone before, true, but that was mandated by school and entirely against my will, so I could feel morally sound while still benefiting from it. But I've run into enough situations recently where it would have been helpful that I decided to give in.

So my sweetie and I did some research, and wandered down to the mall yesterday. It would be easy, I figured. It's a phone, how complex can it be? I have a phone on the floor next to me right now - it's simple, it's plastic, it recieves calls and makes calls. It has buttons with numbers. The really complex ones have an answering machine thingummy.

Cell phones are not like this. Cell phones, in fact, are as far as I can tell no longer recognizable as phones. They check your email, speak multiple languages, play video games, sing the Fraggle Rock theme song, tell your children bedtime stories, and occasionally beam alien messages directly into your pineal gland with their tiny "non-functional" antennae. The user manual for my no-frills, bottom-of-the-line, no-camera, no-text, no-toaster-oven phone is thicker than my anesthesiology textbook. That just strikes me as imbalanced, somehow.

It's tiny. It's silver. It's adorable. And it's far more disturbing than any communication device should be. If I ever make it through the maze of menus and video clips and scavenger hunts to find out what the number is, I promise I'll let people know. I don't make any promises about figuring out how to answer it if you call me, though.....

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If it helps, you can think of it as a safety device. Some years ago, my car broke down in the middle of nowhere (rural New Brunswick). Within minutes, a passing motorist stopped, and placed a call to CAA from his cell phone. I was back on the road, soon, and as soon as I got home I went shopping for a cell phone. I've had one ever since, though these days they're a lot smaller, and crammed with features of, as you've observed, questionable value (*cough* knitting counter *cough*). Since I'm often out at night, alone, I find comfort in the option of being able to call for help. It's not the least bit pretentious, and you needn't feel any guilt about it.

These days, I find my mobile phone is the only one I need, and I haven't had a wired phone in over four years, now.

What you said.

I have a cell phone. It is small. It is unobtrusive. It is turned off most of the time. But, like a first aid kit or Mini-Maglite, it is there when I need it.

Yes, I have finally bowed down to social pressure and acquired a cell phone. I feel a deep sense of shame for doing this - I'm nowhere near important enough that people need to reach me at all times, and it feels incredibly vain and arrogant to assume that I'm cool enough to need it; and completely aside from that I just have a deep aversion to needless costs and needless gizmos. I've had a cell phone before, true, but that was mandated by school and entirely against my will, so I could feel morally sound while still benefiting from it. But I've run into enough situations recently where it would have been helpful that I decided to give in.

Are we back to perception problems again? One doesn't get a cell phone because of "social pressure", or because one is "important" or "cool"; that's all media bullshit. The key is your last sentence -- you've reached the point where having one is useful for you, and that's what matters. There's no moral issue here at all.

If it makes you feel better, you don't need to have the thing surgically attached to your hip. Ours is generally in the kitchen; we use it when we need to, on our own terms. We don't even have the voicemail set up, because we don't want to encourage people to think of that as a way to get hold of us. But when we're traveling, it's invaluable. And that's why we have one.

Seeing how I work for a cell phone service provider, I get a reasonably fancy phone and service with bells and whistles. I've had it for over a year now. I like that it glows an awesome shade of blue when I use it, but I remain largely ignorant of nearly all the elaborate functions. I make calls, get calls, have voicemail, and store numbers, and that's all I really need. The first time someone text-messaged me, I couldn't figure out what that weird noise was. =) So if it's any comfort, you can probably look at the "quick reference" section of your instruction manual and then stick it in a drawer, never to be looked at again.

Personally I think cell phones have moved past the "cool" factor they used to have. Now they're just convenient. Mine was a godsend when my car broke down on a remote back road far from anything, and many's the time I've called home from the grocery store to check on something I only *think* we have. Plus, going on chick weekend outings and trying to meet up with folks in big groups is SO much easier when you can call or page each other while you're separated. And Random never has to worry about me if I'm not home on time-- if he starts to freak, all he has to do is call.

Best part is, if you don't want to feel shackled to it, you can just turn it off. =)

sing the Fraggle Rock theme song

None of my cellphones ever did that! -- although I wouldn't put it past them now. That would have been sooo cool.

I really see it as a convenience. Especially since it's becoming harder to find a pay phone these days. Once you get used to it (you probably only need 10% of the features), it'll just be another useful tool.

I think part of the problem is that the things are misnamed. They are no longer terribly sophisticated phones. They have become really stoooooopid tricorders.

Excellent point!

I read your comment to the household. The response:

R. Except that tricorders don't have games.
B. How do we know that?

Which is quite true. That we never saw anyone playing silly arcade games on a tricorder doesn't prove anything!

They called them diagnostic programs.

There's no reason to feel not entitled or guilty about your cell phone. Back in the day, it was considered extravagant to have a car, but as our city / suburban structures changed a car became a justifiable necessity, not just an arrogant luxury. The way we communicate as a culture has changed over the past 10 year, due largely in part to cell phone technology, and it is pointless to measure that new standard of communication against the one when you were 8 yrs old (save for the purposes of nostalgia), because it’s not changing back. We are building our culture around the idea that it’s easy to talk to one another whenever we want, which does have some advantages, but also means we do not leave open a lot less of the options we used to have. Less people stop for someone on the side of the road, presuming they have a cell phone. There are fewer pay phones around that cost more, due to lack of use. People change around social plans more, presuming they can shift the time at the last minute. Bosses expect phone calls from the car when you’re going to be late for work or a meeting. Not having a cell phone will make things harder and harder for you, so it’s best to start learning them now.

I happen to know that you are a devoted cell phone mommy. You have a cradle for it in a car, and talk to it and check in with it so often. You've taught in a bunch of words and it responds to your voice. In our trip to Pennsic last year, it soon became clear that I would not compter with your cute cellular companion.

(just kidding, sweetie. To be fair, I was just as hooked to mine a few months later)

I am dependant on my cell phone for work, not personal use. Literally 65%- 70% of my calls (I know this due to expense reports) are work related. I am a sales rep, which means my customers expect to have to wait no more than 1hr to hear from me on any given issue. I have to keep my cell with me at Pennsic in case a customer had a shipping emergency (thus the once a day voicemail check). I drive 5 hrs a day during work hours on many days and it is expected by my company that I use those 5 hrs as administrative time on the cell phone (thus the car cradel). I am the extreem example of a cell phone user, which is why I am so aware of all the changes to society that are making us so dependant on them.

I am dependant on my cell phone for work, not personal use.

True, true. No offense meant.
In fact, you are rather cute about it.
Not to mention effective with it.
I just consider you an avid addict & advocate.
Nothing wrong with that at all.

I got my first cell phone January of this year. I had started travelling enough for work that I really did need one for that -- but I've found it quite convenient at times, too. Like standing in the grocery store, and you know there's one more thing you were told to get, and you can't remember what it is...

Also, I travel a lot by motorcycle, as well as car, and it is a safety device for that -- I can get help if I need it.

Mine is pretty minimal in it's capabilities, too, as I just wanted a phone -- not a camera, not a mini-nintendo, etc.

I'm glad I have it, and do keep it on most of the time. Maybe as more people get the number, I'll have to turn it off at times.

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Tiny Metal Shackles

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True, however

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Re: True, however

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