Oh but I do love my phone

Undertoad · 03-01-2012, 11:06 PM

It occurred to me today that this is not a phone; it's a portable computer that happens to take calls.

Or rather:

To people born before 1995, a "phone" is a device you use to make calls.

To people born after 1995, a "phone" is a highly portable computer, and one of its least interesting apps is the one that can be used to call people.

Ibby · 03-04-2012, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

To people born after 1995, a "phone" is a highly portable computer, and one of its least interesting apps is the one that can be used to call people.

truth truth truth. I almost don't even hardly ever talk on my phone. my iPhone is a "phone" only because I carry it 24/7 and could in theory make a voice call over GSM instead of 3G and receive texts at a personal identifying code (a "fone num ber" whatever that means) regardless of what service or device the person trying to contact me uses.

my iPhone is not used in a way even remotely recognizable as a phone more than ten or fifteen years ago, except for the infrequent occasions I'm actually forced to resort to talking into it, when old people or businesses resort to demanding to hear my voice by making me talk into it in response to them talking into their computers.

Phones are a strange and confusing phenomenon. I don't understand the fascination some people have with demanding remote verbal conversations when instant options like email and SMS text messaging are available.

Griff · 03-04-2012, 08:29 AM

I prefer text myself, I hate talking on the phone in part because my hearing is so bad but my desire not to be in uncontrolled social situations plays into it. The phone is a very recent phenomena here. The first system in the late thirties was orphaned due to low population and phones did not return until the mid-fifties. I think phones were just a temporary technology that did help the leap into the information age but could well be on their way out. I find the new tech fascinating but don't really want it in my life. I adopt what I have to to stay in touch with my kids.

classicman · 03-04-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

With phrases like that, I can't blame you. One phone call could take all day!

HA!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

I prefer text myself ~snip~ my hearing is so bad ...
I adopt what I have to to stay in touch with my kids.

Right there with ya

03-04-2012, 08:29 AM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I prefer text myself, I hate talking on the phone in part because my hearing is so bad but my desire not to be in uncontrolled social situations plays into it. The phone is a very recent phenomena here. The first system in the late thirties was orphaned due to low population and phones did not return until the mid-fifties. I think phones were just a temporary technology that did help the leap into the information age but could well be on their way out. I find the new tech fascinating but don't really want it in my life. I adopt what I have to to stay in touch with my kids. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

03-01-2012, 11:06 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	It occurred to me today that this is not a phone; it's a portable computer that happens to take calls. Or rather: To people born before 1995, a "phone" is a device you use to make calls. To people born after 1995, a "phone" is a highly portable computer, and one of its least interesting apps is the one that can be used to call people.

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