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Cats don't have cell phones. If cats and the Pope remain cell-phone free, me too! |
Posted on 01/18/2005 7:37:09 AM PST by the_devils_advocate_666
I give you a story of sheer terror. I never thought it would happen to me. And when it did, it was so much worse than I could imagine it ever would be.
In my traveling frenzy this holiday, while I busied myself with making sure that U.S. Airways didn't lose my luggage for the third time in 12 days, I forgot my cell phone in my hometown of Pittsburgh.
That's right. I was without my little Verizon lifeline for four straight, solid days.
I didn't even make it halfway to Salt Lake Citybefore I felt like I needed a respirator.
Being without my cell phone felt like being without a vital organ. You may as well have removed my lungs. Within hours, I felt like I needed to be hospitalized. And if not hospitalized, seriously sedated until the waves of communication were flowing again.
I was on Walden Pond, for Pete's sake. Devastating.
I embarrassingly replayed a conversation I had with my uncle that weekend, a rookie to the cell phone world. You know, one of those people who only turn their phones on when they need to make a call. One of those people who ignore the two-way avenue that cell phones were meant to be.
"Make it an extension of your body," I told him, smugly. "Never be without it. Never turn it off." I was being punished for my idol worship of the pocket pal that kept me constantly connected.
The powers that be were out to teach me a lesson. My mom thought I'd learn somethi ng about how I didn't really need it as much as I thought I did.
She was sure I'd come out of this experience with the same air as someone coming out of rehab: with a new, fresh outlook on life and completely free of my digital drug of choice. Just the polar opposite actually. I didn't know how completely dependent I was on my phone until it wasn't buzzing in my pocket anymore.
I tell you I even heard my ring tone in my dreams. I was in a state of complete desperation.
When I got it back, it was like being resurrected. I had come back from the dead. I was a living, breathing, communicating person again. I think I even slept with it under my pillow the first night I had it back.
And of course, my ego was fed with 19 voicemail messages and 27 texts.
And so I say to those of you still without cell phones: You are a species I do not understand. We should study you in science class. Like creatures living without blood pumping through their veins. How do you do it? You boggle me.
Good grief, I have no desire, need or intention to own a cell phone for as long as I can possibly avoid it.
I live in a war zone. Many of the cell phone towers were destroyed during that little misunderstanding in 2003. Therefore, I live without a cell phone.
See, cell phone access is the least of our concerns, Victoria. Go have a cappucino and calm down, now.
LOL....OH, how WE can RELATE.....been thinking of getting rid of our house phone.....don't LIKE telephones....we have cell phones (mostly for emergency). I like talking to people face to face, or through letters/email.....in fact, now that I think of it, we're moving....and maybe just will NOT get a PHONE line (have to figure out the fax situation.)
P.J. O'Rourke has already addressed this...(I'm paraphrasing)..."every 20-year-old dot-com bajillionaire with a personal jet has a cell phone. But just try getting the Presdident or the Pope on the blower. If you're REALLY important, nobody can get in touch with you."
yeah, but which one?
i have a contract with at&t wireless that expires in june.
at&t wireless sucks.
at&t wireless was bought out by cingular.
i've read that cingular is not the leader in cell phone service.
I made a point to resist getting a cell phone for years and years, then I finally caved in and bought one for the simple reason that I got so sick of a-hole telemarketers calling me on my landline at all hours of days, nights, and weekends. Now I have a cell phone and no landline, and life without these detestable creeps is truly joyous.
If anything, they are great for emergencies - and just try finding a payphone anymore.
I agree. I've dumped my land line for a cell phone, and it's nice to have with you. However, I wouldn't go to pieces if I lost it for a week (it would suck that I lost all the numbers for friends, however as it doubles as my address book).
Then we both are neck and neck in that race! I flat out refuse to own one of those stupid things.
My husband is like you. His car is his office and so he needs it.
I have one for emergencies.......I hate the danged thing, but it does come in handy for emergencies, especially since we live out in the middle of no where.
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Cats don't have cell phones. If cats and the Pope remain cell-phone free, me too! |
They're customer service is great, and I've even gotten some decent credits back on my bill due to my kid downloading things he didn't realize had a monthly subscrip.charge....when I finally got through to customer service and straightened it out they actually credited us back several months because we didn't even use the garbage games he had downloaded on his phone, not to mention he also had cracked his phonescreen !
The whole cell phone thing and the "contracts" are huge scams though, no matter who you go to...you always feel like its a racket you can't get around....till the legislators do something for us.
thanks.
That's the other thing your Coleman propane camp stove is good for.
This writer sounds like Mark Morford's girlfri...oops, never mind.
Why do you take pride in being the last hold out for a cell phone? OH, there are the teens and some of the people I see in the stores walking all over who absolutely can't put the phone down but...those are the same people who would hang on the phone all day long in their homes as well.
The cell phone to me is my own personal 911. When I go out I know I have help at the end of my arm. I do not pick it up and make calls to jus talk to someone. Personally, my husband and I both HATE even answering the phone at home and HATE talking on the phone unless we have business. So, our phones are turned on and with us at all times. IF we need to make a call we do. If not...it is STILL on for those who may need to reach us for emergencies or perhaps an important manner.
Why in the world wouldn't you want one? It's a security blanket when you are traveling alone. It's a security blanket when you are traveling alone responsible for small children. It can help save the life of SOMEONE ELSE if you see an accident or some other happening. Perhaps you call to 911 could get firemen to a site earlier and therefore help save lives.
Don't look on it as a nuisance or a toy. Look on it as your lifeline for other things. Don't use it as a toy like a lot of people do...look on it as your own bodyguard and security detail.
Now, I hope I have convinced you to go out and purchase a phone. Turn it on and keep it with you at all times so that if you are out and about your family can reach you at any moment. I can't imagine doing without mine. In fact, we still have so many minutes left it's humorous but...we have the phone should we need it. Please...go get a phone. You'll see how good you will feel. :)
I agree, they have their uses. But I wonder about people who must always be in contact with someone else. The last time I was at the airport in the restroom, the woman in the stall next to me was conversing on her cell. Insane.
Reminds me of a story related by Colin Wilson about Aleister Crowley.
Seems Crowley had somewhat of an attachment, or rather a desire, for a young actress type who was amongst his following, named Victoria Fox.
She rebuffed his attempts at an affair, but kept pestering him about finding the true meanings, etc.
Crowley finally gave in. He packed some stuff and told her to follow him.
They followed a tortuous path up a mountainside, where he set up a tent. He took her clothes and left her there with little else.
She, being the actress type, was used to people fawning over her. Daily, Crowley sent a young boy up the mountain who stealthiliy left some rice and water.
Not exactly being the outdoor type, she threw fits. Screamed, cried, cursed, all the things you could expect from a teenager who didn't get their way.
On the 19th day, she broke. Crowley went up the mountain and brought her down. She had finally just given up and decided the mountain, the lake, and the sky were in perfect harmony. She was where she was supposed to be, and content with it.
Phenomenally interesting story. And while Crowley is quite a bit the Ne'er do well, he had a keen understanding of the human psyche.
Alas, AFAIK, he never did get to bed her down.
"I will be the last holdout by God!"
I'll be right there with you. (If the cell phones don't ring, it's us calling each other)
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