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Tuesday, September 07, 2004
The Disconnected Generation
Like many Americans, I’ve had a cell phone for the last several years. The merits of the cell phone are obvious. It’s small, light, portable, and keeps one in touch with the world wherever one might happen to go.
But the demerits of the cell phone are usually glossed over by its enthusiasts. To wit: it’s small, light, portable, and keeps one in touch with the world wherever one might happen to go.
No, I’m not kidding.
For the four years over which I’ve had a cell phone, I’ve kept it turned off almost all the time. Once the number got into circulation, that was the only way to avoid being disturbed anywhere I might be, doing whatever I might be doing. Since my concentration is rather deep, such that shattering it has a shattering effect on my efficiency and general demeanor, keeping the phone powered off became mandatory.
What about outgoing calls, you ask? Yes, I made a few. According to the records, I made fourteen such calls in four years.
Since the service cost me about $500 per year, I was paying a substantial amount for a marginal convenience that also had the potential to be a major nuisance. So a few days ago, I had the service discontinued and asked Verizon Wireless for a final bill.
I wouldn’t dispute that there are persons for whom continuous availability via cell phone is desirable, even vital. I’m not one of them, nor do I aspire to be. Like Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary of England in the years before and during World War I, I regard happiness as not merely having all that one wants, but in not having all that one does not want. The leash of continuous availability is one of those latter things.
Welcome to the Disconnected Generation, Fran.
Comments
I never had a cell, my only tracking device was a pager. I lovingly referred to it as my electronic birth control device.
I haven’t missed it at all these last ten years.
Posted by Deb on 09/07/2004 at 08:23 AMI has one when I coached high school baseball, and it was indispensible. I let it lapse, then got another when the wife was making a lot of trips. I seldom even carry it, and never understood why anyone felt they needed to be in constant contact with others.
Posted by Mike on 09/07/2004 at 12:41 PMI had a cell phone for a short while after my last move (my mother’s cell phone) since I was on dialup for a while until DSL was available here. I left it at home and treated it exactly like a land line.
I hate phones in general. I don’t think I’ll ever be a cell phone convert.
Posted by Kathy K on 09/07/2004 at 03:54 PMI had one for a while when the kids lived in California, and they needed theirs for the California style of “life.”
Now that they live about 15 miles away, we have all put our phones away and discontinued the service. None of us misses the so-called “convenience.” And, every time we see a driver with a cell phone to his/her ear, we all say, “I’m SO glad I don’t have that cell phone any more! That guy could have been trying to call ME!”
Posted by LizP on 09/07/2004 at 05:43 PMI look at my cell phone like I do my pistol. I’d rather have it and not need it than vice-versa.
Posted by robin on 09/07/2004 at 05:58 PMI’ve never really felt the need for the convenience of a cell phone. If I traveled a lot, or needed to stay in touch with a vast empire of underlings bent on World Domination, maybe… but being an old homebody these days, my landline is sufficient. ;]
Posted by Ironbear on 09/07/2004 at 09:44 PMI acquired my first cellphone just over a year ago. The main purpose was to make me available to my daughter (triggered by finding six strained and tearful phone messages on my home phone after an evening out dancing with my girlfriend).
I got one for her, as well, so I’m paying more than your $500/yr. I also leave mine on most of the time, but, so far, I find it useful mostly as a comfort while traveling. I doubt I’ll ever get rid of it completely, but I may go to something much more limited, such as one of the AAA “road emergency” cellphones.
Posted by wheels on 09/10/2004 at 04:10 PM
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