Cell phones

[AgilityAddict]

Hey, I'm a cell phone only kind of person too!! I also am NOT a phone person. While my family (and DH's family) only lives about 25 miles away they were all long distance on the land line, so we only used the cell phone to talk to them anyway. I had the land line cut off several months ago and it hasn't been a problem. The only difference is we do keep our cell phones on 24/7 now since we both have elderly parents and you never know when there might be an emergency.

Would you believe someone told me it's "rude" not to have a land line??? He said if I were in a restaurant and he called me about something "important" it would be rude for me to talk?!! That is some strange logic - you still don't have to answer the DANG THANG!!!


Beth

[Blueberry]

I've not heard (and don't think) that it's rude not to have a land line. I have lots of friends who are cell only.

I've had some folks get a little PO'd that I won't give out my cell to everyone. However, most people don't respect limits and I'd prefer not to have my cell ringing all the time (I also unlisted my number and have requested that all companies with whom I do business not telemarket to me). One that comes to mind was a credit card company. FWIW we finally gave it to them (since they kept mistakenly detecting fraudulent activity on our account and suspending use for example when we were on vacation, when we had called to tell them we would be travelling). Wouldn't you know - they didn't call the cell because "they weren't allowed to telemarket on it." Common sense and credit card companies do not go together...

[OakLeaf]

My ex cancelled his landline service and is cell only.

We would do the same, except out in the boonies we don't get cable, so we get our internet via DSL which requires a phone number.

We rarely pick up the landline phone. It's hard to imagine that just 10 years ago when we moved in here, we had to have three additional landline numbers installed so that we could both get internet and voice calling

[Tuckervill]

I think it is rude to talk in a restaurant. Most people who do answer their phone in a restaurant raise their voice to be heard, and so other people can not only hear what they are saying, it's sometimes loud enough to drown out other's conversation.

I'm not talking about a 5-star Zagat's rated place. I'm talking about Western Sizzlin' (happened just the other day).

I turn my phone to silent when I don't want to answer it. If I do want to know who is calling me, I will put it on vibrate. I had a lot of practice remembering that from when my son was in Iraq--no way was I going to miss his call, so I was glued to the cell phone all the time.

Karen

[Zen]

Interesting article (and reader replies) in the New York Times about cell phone usage.

[sundial]

I think it is rude to talk in a restaurant. Most people who do answer their phone in a restaurant raise their voice to be heard, and so other people can not only hear what they are saying, it's sometimes loud enough to drown out other's conversation. Karen

You know what irqs me? Cell phones being used in movie theaters. I'm trying to watch a movie and some ninny is talking over the dialogue. Usually it's a *mature adult* who decides to talk about something trivial--like his tires being rotated. I'd like to rotate something else!

[sundial]

[Blueberry]

As much as I talk on my cell phone, I completely agree regarding the appalling lack of cellular phone etiquette. On the few occasions I've had to take a call and been in a store or restaurant, I generally excuse myself and step outside to talk. Yep - I've been rained on and gotten quite cold, but to do otherwise is just *rude* Most of my conversations are in my car *with my headset.*

We still have someone's cell phone go off in court once in a while - talk about embarrassing!

[onimity]

Statistically you are not safer using a cell phone in a car just because you use a headset. It is the distraction more than the phone that is problematic when driving, and I would kindly ask those of you that do this to concentrate on driving and have your conversations when you arrive at your destination. Distracted drivers make the road a lot more dangerous for all of us.

I am cell-only, have been for 8 years now. I like that I can take my 'home phone' with me when I travel, but I don't feel compelled to answer the phone when it is not convenient for me, or to continue a conversation if I am otherwise occupied. Sorry I'm eating. Checking out at the grocery store, not a good time. Cell use gets a little silly to me, sometimes. Technology can offer us so much flexibility and freedom but we can let it control us and limit us too.

Anne