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General discussion

Could you live without your cell phone? Why or why not?

Mar 6, 2007 5:30AM PST

-- Absolutely! I've done so in the past, so I can definitely do without it all over again. (What if there was an emergency?)

-- No way! This is my main point of contact and I feel naked without it. (What if you were in a dead zone?)

-- I don't own no stinkin' cell phone, never have and never will! (Why not?)

-- Maybe. It really depends.(Please explain.)

Discussion is locked

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Buy smart and it is not that expensive.
Mar 7, 2007 3:55AM PST

My cell phone is through STI Mobile purchased at Cumberland Farms. The phone cost $19.99 to buy the minutes are $.12 each days and $.10 nights. the initial set-up fee was $4.65 which was taken off my first $10.00 pepaid voucher. There is no minimum requirement except that you have to use at least 1 minute every 60 days. or pay the $4.65 set up fee again. I have purchased 4 $10.00 cards in 16 months. If you amortize the price of the phone into the time it has cost $3.75 per month. If you don't include the purchase price and set up fee the use has cost $2.20 a month.

I can afford that for a cell phone.

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No landline
Mar 7, 2007 4:14AM PST

My wife and I recently dumped our landline and now only have two mobiles and Skype. It is cheaper than having the landline and two mobiles, because of the plans offered by one carrier.

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I really don't like them at all...
Mar 7, 2007 4:33AM PST

Ive gone months with out my cell phone. It makes the people I work with crazy. THey have them stuck to there heads twenty four seven... I live to work I don't work to live. 40 or 50 hrs a week is enuff turn it off

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Cell phones generally suck
Mar 7, 2007 4:38AM PST

I have a cell phone: a prepaid phone I use only for emergencies or possibly when I'm in a hotel rather than pay the hotel phone connection fees. I also use a prepaid long distance card in other situations. Other than that, my cell phone is never on.

I have never understood, nor will I ever understand, this all-fired need to be available to anyone at all times. And regarding people who are so arrogant and rude as to take/make cell calls during performances, while driving, or in other public situations, I have never been so close to wanting to punch someone than at those times. I especially am totally disgusted with these narcissistic blighters who have to discuss their personal lives right out in the open in front of everyone. Have we really degenerated as a society that badly?

Cell phone use is probably my #1 pet peeve and I'm glad to see from this discussion that a lot of people feel the same as I do.

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Cell Phones and the Companies
Mar 7, 2007 4:52AM PST

Most of the cellular carriers in the US are ripping off the consumers. The cost of the plans are too high, especially in comparison to what is offered in Europe. The cost of overages and early termination fees are ridiculous. And the marketing is absurd - suggesting that teens "must" have a phone to stay in touch. The reason they're after the teen-aged customers is so they can rake in extra dollars.

I bought a TracFone (pay as you go) a few years ago to use in case of emergencies. That's really all I need. I can see how many minutes of airtime I have remaining simply by looking at the display, I have no contract, I paid no activation fee, and I don't pay an outrageous amount for it.

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Getting ripped off?
Mar 7, 2007 5:13AM PST

As a long time cell phone user (10+ years) and having one of the first mainstream phones back with Airtouch (W.Coast, 97), I have been with every other phone company (cept t-mobile and this new "Alltel"). I've always gone back with the same one (now Verizon). I personally swear by them, the ETF is of no consequence for me because I don't ever plan on leaving them. There pricing is on par or maybe slightly better than other providers and is getting significantly less expensive every day. My first plan was $39.99/ month and I got a mere 40 minutes, no more no less. Now I am paying $80, and get 1300mins, free whatever, in-calling etc. If your only gripe with cell phones is the pricing, wake up and do some homework. I know people that swear by Cingular (or ATT, w/e), T-Mobile, Sprint, whoever. Don't expect to blindly walk into cell phone store "X" and buy a phone and have it magically work for you. Talk to all the companies, read up on cNet (most of this site is nothing but reviews), talk to other people you know with cell phones, read about the particular phones you want, do some stinkin research. And if your only gripe is you didn't own one before, you don't own one now, well, thats your choice, don't complain about it.

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I need one for break downs or getting lost
Mar 7, 2007 5:12AM PST

First off, I don't talk on my cell phone while driving, I know better. Before I was driving, I had no problem living without one but, being a disabled single woman on the road, I need to have a phone in case of an emergency. Like a time when my tire went flat while I was driving down the road. Without a phone, I would have had to get out and walk to a gas station which is not safe for a woman alone. Especially at night. The only free phones are for 911 only and, why tie up the 911 center when I can just call a relative when I am stuck? Yes I could still live without a cell phone but, I feel safer having one for when my car breaks down or if I get lost somewhere. Which has happened.

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In emergency, cell phone is NO help
Mar 7, 2007 5:33AM PST

Many cell phone users in California are unaware that calling 911 from a cell phone is not the same as calling from a land line. 911 cell phone calls are routed automatically to CHP in Sacramento, and then painstakingly, slowly, routed to correct area. This causes a 15-20 mintute response to an emergency call versus the 2 minute response time from a land line. Law enforcement agencies in California tell citizens: NEVER USE YOUR CELL PHONE TO CALL 9-1-1.

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I don't own one
Mar 7, 2007 5:40AM PST

Two reasons.

1. There is no cell phone carrier with a good reputation for customer service. They are all awful. There's hardly any regulation, and they all take advantage.

2. It has been my privilege to work with some of the best Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) engineers in Silicon Valley. It was our job to measure and control the radiation from computer equipment to meet requirements like CISPR B. These guys bill hundreds per hour, and can afford any kind of phone they want. None of them was evangelical about it, but none of them had cell phones. That's got to tell you something. I don't care to operate a four watt microwave transmitter one inch from my brain, or my kidney. I suppose I'll eventually get one, when I can figure out how to keep it away from parts of my body I don't want to irradiate.

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No cell phone for me
Mar 7, 2007 5:51AM PST

Yes cell phones have made our lives more convinent but, the downside is that I have to listen to every conversation on the things. Doesn't matter where I am library,class,family events, you name the spot you can't escape it.

Another reason that I refuse to get a cell phone is that I just do not like phones in general. Eventually telemarketing is going to invade here to. Besides it has always been easier for the people that know me to reach me by e-mail because they know that I check just about every one of them.

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Definitely Could Live Without It.
Mar 7, 2007 6:04AM PST

But I don't have to, because there's one minor exception. When I'm on the road in the 5th wheel, I take a TracFone prepaid for emergencies. Otherwise the things are pretty useless.

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cell phones
Mar 7, 2007 8:52AM PST

most people think they are only good for emergencies.

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What Cell Phone?
Mar 7, 2007 8:55AM PST

I do not have cable TV and I do not have a Cell Phone.

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Definately need phone service of some kind
Mar 7, 2007 11:16AM PST

My take on the subject of cell phones is that I definately need phone service of some kind. Just about everybody does these days. I'm just not sure it necessarily has to be a cell phone, as I rarely take it with me when I'm away from home. Most of the calls I make or recieve are easier and more appropriate to deal with at home, and most of my travelling takes me to places where having a cell would be of little use due to weak or no signal strenght, even if carrying one would be a smart move. But since my appartment doesn't have jacks for land lines and VoIP is still slightly out of my price range at present, I'll be sticking with my cell phone.

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For emergencies only
Mar 7, 2007 11:35AM PST

I hate cell phones, they are just an excuse to be rude and thanks to manners no longer being important and therefore not being taught, the use of cell phones have just made this even more evident.

I had someone almost hit me and I put my hand up to my phone and shook my head back and forth, trying to point out to her that if she put the phone down she would not have to slam her brakes. She got out of the car and informed me that it was an emergency call. Supposedly that made it ok for her to cause an accident. She was not happy when I asked her if her car insurance company accepted that as a legitimate excuse for causing accidents.

I probably would not last as a cashier with so many people who are checking out and talking on their cell phones. The cashier is trying to do her job but can't because the phone call is more important than the business at hand.

All that said-I do have one, but it is truly for emergencies. My car broke down twice with my child in the car, at night, in the middle of nowhere. Very scary. Thankfully God was with us and kept us from danger.

God Bless, <Happy)))<><

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I have a house phone and a work phone. I have internet.
Mar 7, 2007 12:42PM PST

I have a house phone, work phone, and internet. Someone can get a hold of me somehow. Not only that, most other people have a cell phone. no big deal.

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Got Burned?
Mar 7, 2007 12:50PM PST

It kind of saddens me that reading so many entries into this thread, especially on cNet.com, a technology site, that so many people have been burned one way or another with cellphones. I personally have owned one for 10+ years and think it's the greatest thing on the planet. Then sms, thought that was the greatest invention since sliced bread. Then pix msg's, cam fon's, smartfon's, internet fon's, etc. I can virtually fit my whole world in one small, easy to use package. Other wise, I'd need a bag of quarters, my laptop, a modem, try to hunt down a landline connection, and more to do the same things. Now I'm not saying everyone needs this, but I can't imagine how so many people are saying it's a bad thing! I think that would be a good thread to start "How much technology is too much technology, and why?"

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Maybe, it depends
Mar 7, 2007 1:41PM PST

If I were surrounded by people WITHOUT cell phones, then yes I could live without them.

But if everyone around me has one, then it is more convenient to have one too.

I go to university now and I remember leaving my phone at home once...and that was a horrible feeling. It was so inconvenient. My friends had no ways of contacting me (I had to call them through payphones which were hard to find)

but when we misuse cell phones--like texting each other during lectures..then i would rather live without them. Honestly, I thought only high school kids did that--nope! university students do that too.

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could live vs want to live
Mar 7, 2007 3:41PM PST

We all could live without one, but why would we want to. They have made our lives so much more efficient, safer and easier. of course, there are all the minor negatives, i.e. rude people using them in inappropriate situations, but our lives are richer with them.

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Maybe, it really depends...
Mar 7, 2007 8:07PM PST

When I decided to get cell phone service, I was stranded away from home with a bad flywheel and no way to phone my wife or anyone else for help. In this area, Bellsouth has removed all the public pay phones except for the ones in the hospital ER waiting rooms and at the local college and university. Pay phones have been removed from the shopping areas altogether, primarily because so many people have cell phones these days. To complicate matters, most merchants have adopted a policy of not allowing customers to use their "company" phones. Hell, even if I'd had access to a pay phone, the only number I had with me was my home phone, and my wife was out of town. While I was stranded, I vowed that I would not be in that situation again. I promptly subscribed to a cell phone service family plan, which provided lines for my wife, my son, my daughter, and my mother-in-law--at a price, of course. The good thing about cell phones in an emergency situation is that it has an address book to store the numbers of your family and friends. Also, it is there wherever you might be, ready to use in an instant--provided, of course, that you are in an area where there is cell phone reception at all.

So, if the phone companies reinstalled the pay phones in public places, so someone in a pinch could have a means of communication, then yes I could do without my cell phone. My daughter, on the other hand, would like totally die if she had to like do without her cell phone--her lifeline, the mechanical object that has embedded itself into her right ear and right hand, essentially welding her right hand to her right ear--for a single day. We had to suspend her service for a day after three months of serious overages and repeated instructions for her to cut down on her talking time. She moped around like the world was coming to an end. She was almost to the point of tears by the time we increased our rate plan and restored her service. Me, I'm from the dayse before cell phones, when it was almost a necessity to have a CB radio in one's vehicle. Before that, there were pay phones on every corner and in every retail store and restaurant in every town that was on the map. I still remember how to send smoke signals, so I'll get by fine without a cell phone--as long as there is someone "out there" who remembers how to interpret smoke signals.

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I've got one, but...
Mar 7, 2007 9:27PM PST

I can live without my cell phone, in fact 90% of the year I do. I basically have it as a "just in case" means of contact, when I'm on the road or on vacation. You ever tried to find a pay-phone these days?

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I could but I'd rather not
Mar 8, 2007 1:50AM PST

I've only had one for 1.5 years. I got it so that when my husband was sick and I needed to be his advocate and always accessible to his doctors I could be. It was major peace of mind. not to mention convenience. Now I just like the convenience of being able to call from practically any place at any time. It is a luxury I can afford.

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I don't own one, so I'm ok
Mar 8, 2007 8:05AM PST

I don't own one. I probably never will within the next 2-4 years. I just see it as a gadget, a flashy status thing that my friends show off - I'm much more happier with my iPod.

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terminating cell phone contracts early
Mar 8, 2007 8:46AM PST

I work as home health care provider, with out the cell some difficult situations would not have been taken care of as quickly. In some situations they probably would have taken taken care too late.Taking clients to doctor visits,chem,and other such necessary appointments with out instant communication would have been deadly.Outside of work, frankly I could care less, however they have been life savers in several situations concerning my clients. Do I think the cell phone companies are rip offs,absolutely. They know what they can do to get their money and hey they could care less about who it hurts or cures. Its all about the buck.They sell phones to people but people are nothing but a money maker for them. To them nothing is a moral or ethical issue, its about what they are going to get and they get.

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Cell Phone or no Cell Phone
Mar 8, 2007 1:55PM PST

I have been wanting to buy one for a few months now but I don't want to be tied up to contracts... I am on desability and my car is real old so in case of brakedown or something goes wrong with my health I feel like I need to have a cell phone... Beside I have trouble with my back and at times I cannot get out of bed... My daughter was still living with me the last time it happened but now I am alone and if I cannot get up I need a phone I can put under my pillow so I can call for help if needed... I get phone calls maybe 5 times in a week on a good day... So I realy want to pay as I use contracts are so expensif and will never make it my worth in $$$... Not many accept and sell under these guideline...
Silver

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live without cell phone
Mar 9, 2007 1:06AM PST

This is my life blood

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Could I live without a cell phone?
Mar 9, 2007 2:55AM PST

Yes I could, no I won't...that's final....
with that being said, oh well, I'll just have to wait and see if the
xmt/rec area's become any better. I want to be able to sit in my own home and have a quality xmt/rec conversion with anyone. I have sprint and I live in Ocala, fl and the dead spots are all over and I feel that other service providers do the same thing. It takes towers to eliminate the problem so I'll just have to wait. Emergencies are handled easier with cell phones but you always had to improvise without them and I could do it again depending on the situ.

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I could live without it, but wouldn't want to.
Mar 9, 2007 6:36AM PST

I have four kids who are out and about and feel much better about always being able to get in touch with them. I'm also never at home and don't have a work phone, so I'd be out of touch with my family if I didn't have a cell phone. I don't talk on the phone in restaurants or is other public places where I'd be disturbing people - I think that's terribly rude. I also don't talk while I driving and I tend to swear under my breath a people who do, especially those who attempt to turn or pull in and out of parking spots while on their cell phones. How stupid!

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No. Not a chance.
Mar 10, 2007 3:35AM PST

I am a salesman for a rather large construction company. In the last 8 months I have put over 24,000 work related miles on my vehicle. I am on the road six days a week and my coverage area ranges from 70 miles south of our office to 70 miles north. Without a cell phone, I'd be crippled. Some days traffic is a calm reasonable thing, one can drive 20 miles in about 30 minutes.... other days, that same route will take an hour and a half. Predicting what time I can get to an appointment is more art and luck than science.

I know my clients appreciate it when I call to say that I am running early or late. I also know that my installers appreciate it when they can reach me with an installation question on one of my jobs. No cell phone would decrease my productivity by at least half.

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Very True...
Mar 10, 2007 8:07AM PST

I agree with you on this, it is very important for some people to have a cell phone for their work....but, sometimes, it is unnecessary the way people are walking around in a store, pushing a buggy, flying around the corner, and all of a sudden, you feel this terrible jolt, crashing sound and you feel like you're going into cardiac arrest!!!!...that's what makes me so upset with those kinds of people....I have a cell phone, but, I do leave it at home alot....I have sick mother in Louisiana, so sometimes, they cannot reach me on my home phone....