23 responses so far ↓

• 1 Clair Schwan of Frugal Living Freedom // Sep 27, 2008 at 11:31 am

  I have switched to a pre-paid plan that puts my cell phone in the neighborhood of $8.50 a month. The idea of paying a monthly fee just didn’t make financial sense since I don’t need to use a cell phone very often.

  The pre-paid program saves me over $300 a year over a very basic cell phone monthly plan. If I lived in an area where cell phones worked well indoors, I’d get rid of the home phone as well and save hundreds more each year.

  It seems to me that the main problem with cell phones is that people don’t understand that the phone is supposed to work for them - they don’t have to be a slave of the phone. It’s okay to turn it off and have it take a message.

  We tend to see the cell phone as a necessary gadget and then mentally we put it on the list of household expenses just like groceries. That means we don’t think about reducing or eliminating it from the budget - it becomes a need.

  And, all the games, cameras, blue tooth ear pieces, voice recording and texting capabilities just make the phone all the more indespensible. How did we ever get along without it?

  In the end, it’s a matter of personal choice. My choice is to increase my convenience while minimizing my costs, and all the while NOT be on call to my family, friends and neighbors 24 hours a day.

• 2 Kristy // Sep 27, 2008 at 12:10 pm

  I agree with you on this one LAL! My DH was constantly getting texts from his coworkers, when he was supposed to be home hanging out with his family. While I understand that its important for him to be available (he manages a store), it annoyed me. I eventually had to tell him to knock it off, that if it wasn’t important then please do not respond. He asked him employees to call him if it was important as well.

  My breaking point was when this had been happening for a few weeks and every night at dinner he was texting. We went out to dinner, just the two of us (which is huge when you have kids) and he was texting. That ticked me off, so I said something and things have been better since, but I could still do without the texting!

• 3 dogatemyfinances // Sep 27, 2008 at 1:22 pm

  Oh, come on! Let the man have his iPhone! It’s a few hundred bucks a year, and he wants it.

  It’s a cool gadget. We’ve used the GPS/Internet/chatting and so on much more than I expected. Of course, we got to write it off because fiance owns his business. But I still think a splurge now and then, especially a kind of useful one, is needed.

• 4 Emily // Sep 27, 2008 at 1:51 pm

  I completely agree with you. I think the iPhone is AWESOME, and I would love to have one. One of the main reasons I don’t want one because of the extra costs (not just up-front, but monthly), but because I am afraid I would get so hooked to always having the internet on my hip. I have a girlfriend who has one and it is constantly buzzing, and she goes insane if she’s without it. She picks it up and texts and looks at Facebook while you’re trying to have an in-person conversation with her. It definitely is rude. I think everyone feels like they have to be “always on” but I want some space! I don’t want to be bothered constantly and I don’t want to get addicted to having the internet at my fingertips 24/7.

• 5 LivingAlmostLarge // Sep 27, 2008 at 2:25 pm

  Dog, you missed the point. It’s not about the $$$$. It’s about the lack of communication and the fact people get hooked on text messaging and doing stuff on the phone they forget the people sitting right there.

  I have used a cell phone exclusively for 5 years. When DH and I had a long distance relationship, I needed one living alone. I did not have a home phone and I worked usually until 8 or 9 pm. My DH and my Mom would worry so they wanted to be able to call me as I caught the bus or walked home. I lived in LA alone.

  It was an absolute necessity. I do not give out my work number because if it’s important my family will leave a message on the cell phone. Work is work.

  But heck no, like Kristy, I don’t want my DH turning into our roomie. He’s single and fine. BUT if my DH started text messaging or emailing people at dinner that would be it. Dinner is a time to eat and have a conversation. It is not a time to be working or ignoring everyone around.

  It’s not about the money. This society has a lack of manner nowadays.

• 6 dogatemyfinances // Sep 27, 2008 at 3:29 pm

  People have some horrible manners with old school cell phones too. It doesn’t make any sense to blame the phone.

  He’s an adult. I’m sure he can figure out not to play Monkey Ball/iChat at the dinner table. Or, I guess you can tell him.

• 7 Jake // Sep 27, 2008 at 9:25 pm

  I was going to recommend the iPod Touch but I guess if it’s not about the money the same problem may occur - if he’s picking up a wi-fi signal.

• 8 fengshui // Sep 27, 2008 at 11:37 pm

  If he wants the phone and is willing to pay for the extra cost, then he should just get it. It isn’t as if he needs “permission”, correct? I realize that the cost is more per month, but if he is willing to pay for it….. Or am I not understanding the situation correctly?

  I am getting a palm smartphone where I can email/ browse/ even work on documents, but also have access to all of my medical “stuff” like PDR and things like that. I’m psyched about it. I won’t use it if DH and I are having quality time together. I admit, that I am probably rude because I’m on my cell in the grocery store and while I drive, etc. I call it multi-tasking. Between my job, research commitments, and my family, I’m pressed for time…..

• 9 Livingalmostlarge // Sep 28, 2008 at 11:31 am

  Fengshui and Dog, it’s not about the money. I said that in the last line. I do not like it already when he gets text messaging from people. I think it’s rude to answer a text message at dinner. He knows about dinner and texting but texting is a lot less disturbing than a call. BUT it still shouldn’t be done. Come on.

  What happened to manners? There is nothing wrong with focusing on the person in front of you instead of a screen!

• 10 Fabulously Broke // Sep 29, 2008 at 11:59 am

  I agree. Fancy cellphones cause people to be ruder and ruder…. That’s why I’m not keen on an iPhone either or a blackberry

• 11 LivingAlmostLarge // Sep 29, 2008 at 12:18 pm

  cell phones allow people to pretend no one else is around.

• 12 fengshui // Sep 29, 2008 at 6:01 pm

  I know that it isn’t about money, but you’re kind of acting like his mother….. I realize what you’re saying, I really do. It is about principle and manners. Perhaps some “ground rules” could be discussed and some compromises can be made. I just know that if someone, even my dh, tries to keep me from doing something that I want, is usually backfires on them and causes resentment and tension…..

• 13 LivingAlmostLarge // Sep 29, 2008 at 6:07 pm

  What about resentment and tension on my side? That I will not want him texting or surfing the internet while driving even if I am not in the car? Will he really abide by that rule? If I catch him one time doing something so stupid and dangerous, do I have a right to cut off the cell phone completely?

  Second, if he does not follow the rules and uses the text messaging during dinner and conversations do I have the right to remove the phone???

  When he does it now he gets the look. I know he doesn’t do it more because we have no texting plan and because I vocally talk about the rudeness.

  But I am not about to go out to dinner or even eat at home talking to myself. Sorry but if you want to talk to your cell phone don’t be in a relationship. I’m here.

  And if you are chatting and texting on the cell phone in the car, BEWARE. I will be honking at you, calling you an idiot. It’s dangerous.

  It should be illegal but how many people are doing it? And how many more are getting into accidents?

  Sure I don’t have to be his mother, but what about my opinion? Where’s my side of the story that if you can’t be responsible then what? I get to stomp on the $200 iphone in pure principal if I catch him one time using it while driving?

  I will do that. I won’t conscience him getting into an accident because he’s distracted. I know that will happen, I can guarantee it. It’s honestly just to tempting to not do it.

• 14 J-Bird // Sep 29, 2008 at 6:29 pm

  I agree completely with the “don’t text at dinner, please” thing, but just wanted to raise the point that you mentioned people texting while waiting in line as being rude? I don’t mind that at all; I guess for me being in line is “wasted time”, when I’d much rather be doing something else. But I guess it depends on how you as an individual respond to it. I receive text messages all the time while driving; I know because my phone beeps. But I don’t read them til I’ve made it to my destination, much like I don’t answer my phone while driving.

• 15 LivingAlmostLarge // Sep 29, 2008 at 7:38 pm

  I am not alone I am sure in saying that I will be waiting in line while someone talks on the cell phone or is distracted by texting instead of focusing on checking out. I guess because I want to GET out asap I don’t do anything else. I don’t care but hang up the phone and stop doing other things when you are being served.

  If this were not common place I would not see all the signs sayings “we will not serve you while you are on the phone.”

• 16 fengshui // Sep 29, 2008 at 10:00 pm

  I’m not trying to bust your chops LAL, really. I’m just speaking from the perspective of “put the shoe on the other foot” and if my dh was acting like a hen-pecking father by telling me that I “can’t do something”, I’ll probably do it anyway…. However, I RESPECT him and I wouldn’t text during dinner, although we both eat in the living room and half the time I have my head buried in a research article or I’m blogging, or working on homework, and so is he, or he’s watching a Brewers game, so I guess that we’re rude to eachother….. We do not “allow” eachother to text or browse while out on a date or out spending time together…..

  Does your hubby know your feelings about this? That you are concerned about him rear-ending someone while browsing on his i-phone while driving? Or usage at home? Perhaps something can be worked out?

• 17 LivingAlmostLarge // Sep 30, 2008 at 8:43 am

  Fengshui, don’t take this wrong way, but I you aren’t busting my chops becauseI am not a ball buster like you! I believe in personal freedom, but I don’t believe in stupidity. This is like allowing my DH to buy a gun without proper training because he thinks it’s a good idea. If he says I will take lessons and learn how to properly use it, and I will practice shooting every so many months, then fine. If not, it’s stupidity waiting to happen. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Well cell phones don’t kill people, but how many cell phone users die because of stupidity.

  My DH is not hen pecked at all. But I put my foot down on stupidity waiting to happen. Recently a train in the area rear ended another train. The driver was Text Messaging and NOT paying attention! A train driver! HELLO!!!!!!!

  Why would it happen? Because people naturally do things that are dangerous because it’s easy. It’s easy to get distracted. He knows I don’t like it and find it rude. BUT he still does it occasionally until I give him the “Look”.

  And if he gets a call and tries to see who it’s from I raise and eyebrow and he knows I prefer he pull over than answer the phone.

  I can bet you $100 that he answers the phone when I’m not in the car. Otherwise there would be no slipup.

  And it’s dangerous period. It’s ridiculous for people to do it. BUT maybe I’m a very conservative driver. I also don’t drive very often so I can be righteous.

  But I wonder how many people who drive everyday will tell me “No it’s safe. No I’m really good at doing multiple things.” Fine. But I don’t buy it.

  Maybe in the future if there is no choice. But for now, heck no he can live without it for as long as possible. Our neighbors have each gotten into an accident in their new cars since getting blackberrys last May. I don’t think it’s coincidence that they got into car accidents.

• 18 fengshui // Sep 30, 2008 at 11:05 am

  I don’t know what to say then. I drive and talk, all the time. I don’t text and drive though. If I pulled over every time my phone rings I’d never make it anywhere. And having to pull over because of the phone ringing, is more likely to cause an accident, then just answering the thing, or not answering it….. The “tone” of the post seems to have a “controlling” tone to it, and that was my point. However, I’m only viewing things from an outsider’s perspective, and that is the tone that I am perceiving, which may be totally out of character for you.

• 19 LivingAlmostLarge // Sep 30, 2008 at 8:04 pm

  http://www.edgarsnyder.com/auto-accident/auto/cell/statistics.html

  Cell phone stats as to why it’s bad to talk and drive. BUT I know many people do it all the time with accidents. Much like drinking a little bit and driving. Most are fine, some are not. I think it’s a bad idea so I never do. But others are fine. It’s a personal choice, and one which I will not compromise.

  My DH knows this. It’s a moral choice. I don’t drive while talking and I expect the same from him. Does he do it when I’m not around? I would guess yes. But will I give him hell if I catch him? Yes. And I do think it causes accidents.

  What will happen if the auto industry decides to start charging if you get caught talking? It will be interesting.

• 20 LivingAlmostLarge // Sep 30, 2008 at 8:10 pm

  http://wbztv.com/local/green.line.train.2.739423.html

  Gotta wonder when cell phones will be banned?

• 21 Jake // Oct 1, 2008 at 6:22 am

  A Train!!??! How do you not see a train in front of you? It must of been one long text. Darwin award?

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