You could get a cheap one (think flip phone...do they still make them?) just to have for emergencies. When cells became a thing, I was given one "for emergencies" as I had a business where I drove country roads (in the upper midwest), many times at night. I never got in the habit of relying on it for anything else. I don't give the number out as we also have a land-line here. People get the house number, if they warrant it. THEN all calls are screened via "caller I.D." People can start speaking (ie. leaving a message) if it's important---maybe then we'll pick up. Cell phones don't have to make you their slave!!!! Their invention has been a blessing and a curse....the latter meaning the rudeness folks display because of them has ramped up. You do NOT have to answer every-single-call as it comes in!!! You can wait to check your acc't, Facebook, Insta or whatever else you deem a necessity!

I use my phone as a phone. I would not leave the house without it. In today’s world it’s the only way I would feel safe. With no Phone booths or emergency Hwy phones it something happened you’re a sitting duck. My other reason is my kids and grandkids , they like me having a line open to them.

I do enjoy the texts I get from my grandson

FYI just because you have a phone it doesn’t have to sit on your ear all day and you don’t have to looking down at all day.

My dad is 92 and he doesn’t leave home without and I am very grateful for that

Yes there are.

:1rotfl::1rotfl:

i still use one of those flip-fone dinosaurs. i like the idea of having the phone nearby, but only use it for calls & texts.

Absolutely

My wife and I had just cheap flip phones a few years ago, as we relied on our computers for pretty much everything. We were headed from Florida back up to our summer home when really severe weather broke out with thunderstorms and tornadoes everywhere. The sky was just ugly. We listened to our radio and heard one tornado passed by a town we were directly headed for. We felt blind with no way to access radar. We decided we would never allow ourselves to fly blind again.

Today we have one of the best 5G phones made with 7" screens. We each have 3-4 weather apps (in case one has issues) and can monitor weather easily. With such great phones with such great screens, about half of what we used to do on computers we now do on our phones. I would not be without them.

Now that right there is funny!

You know old goat, we have ours mostly to use for directions while we travel in our RV but life is never simpler more peaceful and just plain relaxing when the damn things are off and stored in the glove compartment.

I have an acquaintance who refuses to own a cell phone, yet depends on his spouse to keep him in the loop when golf friends call.:1rotfl:

Just a thought
My brothers mother in law collapsed in a parking lot and her husband didn’t want to learn to use a cell phone ( or stubborn?)
He had to leave her all alone in the parking lot and go inside a building to call 911 . So I’m sure he regrets that decision. Thank God she’s ok but I think it’s a necessity in life and for safety reasons to at least have a basic cell phone in case of emergencies.

🤪🤪🤪🤪

Cell phones
 

I do have a cell phone (78) but only use for phone calls and messages when away from home. Also for a few on line games. No personal information sites, no social media.
It's a useful tool; oh and my google maps.

OK, do this. When HH starts, everyone puts their cell phones in a pile on the table. The first one to use theirs pays the tab. Works like a charm.

I have a cell phone, and it's usually on my dresser or nightstand. I leave it home 99% of the time. I take it with me if I'm on vacation and anytime that I think my wife may need me. I don't like all the apps......am hard of hearing and the cell phone doesn't make it any easier. Besides, I'm a retired Telco employee and have had enough of phones.

Check and see if there is a Luddite Club at TV for like minded individuals.

I love my cell phone. You sound like my father when he retired he refused to change his clocks back in the winter time. Whenever I would go to his house I’d have to ask what is the real time?🤣

Well, there’s a difference between a cell phone and a smart phone. You can get a simple cell phone that only does calls and texts. You don’t have to get one that is a computer in your pocket.

He could check for the meeting times on his cellphone... If he had one...:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

The first thing you are taught in an class is call for help First. While checking for pulse, speaker phone, hit 911, alerting there is a code in progress, they can track your location.

Many of us here don’t just take a course, We have been performing CPR, on real people for decades. Someone who took a class, on Annie, and using it on a real person, keeping compressions, timing, and counting is another story.

That 911 call can get keep the person on track, maybe save a life. With all my experience, even I called 911, while checking pulse, on the person on a beach, with probable MI.

First reason, I know from years of experience I can correctly perform CPR for about 10-15 minutes. After that my life saving technique starts to go down hill. Do you stop, no, you continue until help arrives.

You never forget the first person, you saved, or the one you lost, for me a minute old newborn, that we lost.
Same with the last person you saved, and the last one you lost. But that is an ever changing memory

Ohiobuckeye
 

Michael, times have changed, I suggest get a landline then you can stay home all the time. If it’s just some kind of phone you want learn how to dial a cell phone & answer a phone call but make sure you only give phone # to people you want to talk to. So my suggestion is get a landline. I’m 72 & my wife & I both have cell phones, not real crazy about them but are glad we had them at times. Hope you figure it out “Old Goat”, LOL.

Rude People Being Bred by Cell Phones
 

I hate cell phones and what they have caused people to become. People will stop in the middle of conversations to take a cell phone call; interrupt you to take a cell phone call. I was in a store recently where the sales lady, waiting on me, stopped to take a cell phone call. She motioned to me to put my things on the counter so she could ring them up. I just stood there. When she finally LOOKED at me, I said, "I'll wait". She promptly hung up, without so much as an apology. Yes, I carry a cell phone, but rarely use it. Mainly for emergency purposes and GPS facilities. If I fall, it will come in handy to call for help. And people just don't realize how rude and inconsiderate they've become since cell phone technology came along. In my opinion, someone who answers a cell phone while you're carrying on a conversation (or in a meeting) are saying, "This call is more important than you!"

Scotty beam me up there’s no intelligent life down here…..

[QUOTE=kathyspear;2031835]So you don't want to buy/carry a cell phone but you figure if YOU have an emergency someone else will let you use theirs? Why would I hand my $1400 cell phone to some stranger who doesn't know how to use it, might steal or drop/break it, or leave covid cooties all over it?

kathy[/QUOTE I was thinking Kathy I agree but there might be some exceptions to that rule about letting others use my phone , maybe George Clooney and Daniel Craig for you and Angelica Huston , Cher and Ava Gardner and Audrey Totter if they were alive for me , if you don’t know who Audrey is you must start watching the film noir movie and talk on Saturday nights at midnight or repeat at 10 am sundays on turner classic movies

Darn it. I forgot to recharge my battery. Received a message - DNR - do not recharge. Possibility of spontaneous combustion in your pants.

In this day and age, you have to be a luddite if you don't have a cellphone. I'm surprised you have a computer. Not sure what the point of your post is, but I have spoken.

Yes, they do.
 

Yes, they still make flip phones. Up graded from a basic flip to a smart phone that is also a flip phone.
Why a flip phone? Have family members who regularly "butt dial" others. No chance of that with the flip. Looking cool doesn't matter to me anymore. I just want good communication.

Agreed!!

Cell phone rudeness - you wouldn't do this would you ?

At the cash register (or any other place where face-to-face human interaction is happening)
In a public place where reasonable quiet is expected (restaurant, movie theater, library)
On an airplane (yes, we can all hear you)
In the car (as a driver). Not only is this rude but it’s extremely dangerous (to yourself and others)
In the car (as a passenger). If you check your smartphone because you’re bored, then so is the driver
At the drive-thru (see #1)
When people are talking to you in person
At the dinner table
Playing music, videos, games or anything else that makes noise without using headphones (and even then, at a headphone volume that other people can still hear)
Talking on speakerphone (see #9)
Taking pictures of other people with you and sharing them on the Internet without their permission
Constantly checking your phone to see if you have any new messages
Talking way too loud (you don’t need to talk as loud as you think you do)
Not silencing your phone when interacting with other people. Even if you don’t respond we all have to listen to the alerts.
Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece or headset when you’re interacting with other people (Bluetooth is fine for the car or at your office desk, but please take it off anywhere else. It looks ridiculous.)

You can't stop progress

Think in terms of it being a safety device. You can leave it off. But, having one with you in an emergency is a good idea (IMHO).

?
 

You can't stop. Progress!

First of all, you can be married to your cell phone or not, (it's your choice). IMHO -Being married to a cell phone means you must watch everything that pops up on your cell phone.Some people might walk into an open manhole by constantly watching their screen. I am not one of those people. :smiley:

1. I find it useful as i have been stranded twice on the road and it was a convenient way to get help. I find it comforting to be go out and have a level of protection in being able to call someone for help.I find it discomforting in that if I leave my phone at home, I have no way to get help.

2. I got rid of my land line as it saved me from having to answer the phone for telemarketing calls. My home is now quiet, I just recently got 20 or more calls that my cell phone marked as spam.I blocked all those calls.

3. A cell phone would free you from having to stay home if your expecting a doctors call or anyone else who needs to make an appointment with you.

4. I find the cost to be reasonable to own a cell phone. My plan is $59 per month. I believe the cost to pay for the phone itself was included in the plan I selected.I believe it is worth it to access info like hours of operation for a business, looking for phone numbers, etc.

I understand your reluctance but the benefits outweigh the cost and need. IMHO

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Cell Phone
 

It is possible to get a smart phone, with limited call time, texting and data, for $100 per year.

I have this.

My cell for emergencies, and for tough situations like airport pickups. Otherwise, I used my VOIP line (like a landline but cheaper - it uses my internet and I pick up a regular, old-style telephone in my home linked to it.)

The only slight frustration with the "emergency cell phone", since mine is so rarely used, is keeping it charged and remembering to take it with me when I go out. But since this is 3 seconds every couple of days (plug it in) and 2 seconds every time I go out and return (put it in my purse - take it out when I come home so I will see it and charge it) I do not consider it a big deal - I just have to remember to do it.

I find there are things in life that almost require a cell (example above - airport pickup - there are many others). Its more trouble not to have one than to follow the steps above and have an "emergency cell phone'.

I do not allow texting since people expect me to check - in fact, I give my cell to know one unless we have an arranged time they will call (again, example of the pick up service.)

Some people just "gotta text". I have a google number- these are free. I receive an email if someone sends a text to my google number. Example - I communicate with my lawn service this way. They prefer it and I know they lead a busy life - that is, answering the phone while doing yard work gets to be trouble if there are many calls.

Love old movies
 

[QUOTE=charlieo1126@gmail.com;2032179]Old movies, love them. Old mystery series, like The Thin Man, Torchy Blaine, etc. Mystery with comedy. I like Glenda Farrell as Torchy Blaine.

We have no landlines and hubby and I have iPhones and I have cellular Apple Watch. So I don’t have to carry the phone with me at all - but I can do everything on my watch. I have notifications off and the phone takes voice mail. When I am ready I will check my texts and voicemail. If someone expects me to respond immediately, they are out of luck. Equipment doesn’t run me. It doesn’t have to be a nuisance for anyone.

[QUOTE=fdpaq0580;2032271]OMG I thought I was the only won who liked Torchy Blaine

TCM rules.
 

[QUOTE=charlieo1126@gmail.com;2032277]No way. Love all the old detective, reporter, mystery, horror, adventure, series and serials (cliff hangers). And don't forget the comedies. Marx brothers, Laurel and Hardy and more.
Watching those movies is like a visit with old friends and family. Sometimes you will see stars, before they were stars (John Wayne, Lucille Ball).
In between movies TCM shows newsreels and shorts. I love seeing those too.
But back to Glenda Farrell as Torchy Blaine. The way she worked over Lt McBride was great.

They use someone else’s cell phone !! ;)