Phones = antisocial?

Narj

Narj

Narj

Soldato
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London
A couple of days ago, I decided that I'd had enough of being tied to my phone, so I started leaving my phone (SGS2) at home when I go out, unless I'm on call.

I was getting quite peed off with other people playing with their phones while I was trying to talk to them whilst out in pubs or around friends houses so I'm now determined to not be "that guy" who sits in the corner browsing the web on his phone and ignoring everyone. I also leave my phone tucked away on the train home and I actually got talking to fellow passengers today!

All I can say is I'm much less stressed now, no compulsion to check work emails while I'm out, no knee-jerk reaction at a text tone and the like. I think we should start a luddite revolution! Actually arrange things properly with friends and don't rely on a phone when you're late. 1990s anyone? :p

Are we slaves to technology? Cool story bro, etc, but maybe other people feel the same...
 
Hmm, you've tempted me to do the same.. I do always keep my phone on me, and always use the excuse just inase of an emergency but relly, I've never had one yet
 
It's good because it means you don't have to talk to people all the time. It's like when people go to the toilet or have a cigarette to have a break from people.
 
Jonnybmac said:
Hmm, you've tempted me to do the same.. I do always keep my phone on me, and always use the excuse just inase of an emergency but relly, I've never had one yet
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I attribute quite a lot of the stress from work I've had lately to checking on emails and worrying about things that are happening (email alerts etc) even if I'm not on call. Obviously not everyone is in the same situation but I think it's quite easy to become quite obsessive about checking on what the latest emails/mesaages are.

Now I am attempting to adopt an attitude of "I will get around to it" rather than checking mails and messages being a reflex action.


yhack said:
It's good because it means you don't have to talk to people all the time. It's like when people go to the toilet or have a cigarette to have a break from people.
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I started thinking like this but actually decided that there's something wrong with deliberately avoiding interaction with other people.
 
What a wonder paradox owning a phone is to make you less social :p

Anyway sounds like in reality you just need to learn to strike a balance between responding to your phone and enjoying the people you are around. Sometimes its a pain, especially if you are on the phone to someone you don't see all that much and spending time with someone you see lots of. It's hard, I mess it up quite regularly but its funny to think about how much communication you can do with a phone without actually having to talk to someone.

Oh and you are one of those people, a train talker :mad: don't like these people. Ruin my reading/music/quiet time on trains, planes and buses for a compulsive need to have a conversation with someone you'll never meet again. (forever alone)
 
Absolutely agree with you. I ****ing hate it when you go out for a meal now and you can see groups of people on other tables checking and surfing their phones constantly. If my friends did that I'd get up and **** off home.

Surely people can go out for one night without checking facebook. I have been in a the car with a driver who pulls over to check his phone if a message or call comes in just in case he misses something important.

Or I work with guys whose Mrs phones them up 20 times per day about any old trivial ****. How did these people manage a full day without telling them timmy has a cold before the mobile phone.

Or people that walk the streets not looking where the hell they are going because they have their face in a smart phone.

Rant over :D
 
pingwing said:
Oh and you are one of those people, a train talker :mad: don't like these people. Ruin my reading/music/quiet time on trains, planes and buses for a compulsive need to have a conversation with someone you'll never meet again. (forever alone)
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No, I say "I'll call you back, I'm on the train", but I am guilty of texting, browsing and various other stuff like gaming whilst on the train. I hate train talkers too!


dannyjo22 said:
Absolutely agree with you. I ****ing hate it when you go out for a meal now and you can see groups of people on other tables checking and surfing their phones constantly. If my friends did that I'd get up and **** off home.
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Blackberries are the worst - constant glancing for a flashing LED. I hated having one!
 
pingwing said:
Oh and you are one of those people, a train talker :mad: don't like these people. Ruin my reading/music/quiet time on trains, planes and buses for a compulsive need to have a conversation with someone you'll never meet again. (forever alone)
Click to expand...

Ah I have those people too that ruin the quiet of a crew room or when you are watching TV and force you to listen to their conversation when they can quite easily get up and leave the crew room to make a call. :mad:

:D
 
i often wonder just how much of a **** night someone is having when i see their check in's and comments appearing on facebook via a mobile phone when they're out. you're with your friends, why not try interacting with them?
 
I read The Times on my SGS2 during my commute, might browse Appbrain during my lunch if I'm by myself. No way will I whore it when I'm with people though unless mobile phones came up in conversation.
 
PianoBasher said:
A couple of days ago, I decided that I'd had enough of being tied to my phone, so I started leaving my phone (SGS2) at home when I go out, unless I'm on call.

I was getting quite peed off with other people playing with their phones while I was trying to talk to them whilst out in pubs or around friends houses so I'm now determined to not be "that guy" who sits in the corner browsing the web on his phone and ignoring everyone. I also leave my phone tucked away on the train home and I actually got talking to fellow passengers today!

All I can say is I'm much less stressed now, no compulsion to check work emails while I'm out, no knee-jerk reaction at a text tone and the like. I think we should start a luddite revolution! Actually arrange things properly with friends and don't rely on a phone when you're late. 1990s anyone? :p

Are we slaves to technology? Cool story bro, etc, but maybe other people feel the same...
Click to expand...

Yup I do this switch the phone off or "leave it behind oops" .... great being out and about without one.

Going to Florida for easter and I'm not taking phone, PC or my touch well not charging it anyway. Will be incommunicado and really looking forward to it.
 
dannyjo22 said:
Absolutely agree with you. I ****ing hate it when you go out for a meal now and you can see groups of people on other tables checking and surfing their phones constantly. If my friends did that I'd get up and **** off home.

Surely people can go out for one night without checking facebook. I have been in a the car with a driver who pulls over to check his phone if a message or call comes in just in case he misses something important.

Or I work with guys whose Mrs phones them up 20 times per day about any old trivial ****. How did these people manage a full day without telling them timmy has a cold before the mobile phone.

Or people that walk the streets not looking where the hell they are going because they have their face in a smart phone.

Rant over :D
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just walk into them... lol
 
You know rather than leaving it at home, there's this fantastic invention called a pocket! If you leave it there, you can go out and do exactly the same thing except with the added positive that you have it in case of an emergency.

Surprising invention pockets. ;)
 
mrbios said:
You know rather than leaving it at home, there's this fantastic invention called a pocket! If you leave it there, you can go out and do exactly the same thing except with the added positive that you have it in case of an emergency.

Surprising invention pockets. ;)
Click to expand...

Idle hands tend to drag it out and check, so I'd rather not have the temptation. Like I say, I think I got to the stage where I was becoming enslaved, so like a bad ex gf, it's time to cut all contact and sever (at least out of work!)! :p
 
PianoBasher said:
Idle hands tend to drag it out and check, so I'd rather not have the temptation. Like I say, I think I got to the stage where I was becoming enslaved, so like a bad ex gf, it's time to cut all contact and sever (at least out of work!)! :p
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I'd find it'd take me more willpower to leave it at home than it would to leave it in my pocket, but then again i can't help but think "just in case"
 
I tend to ignore mine unless I need it.

I do agree that it would drive me insane to be with people who are constantly tapping away on the phone while on a social occasion. Luckily only one of mates has this problem and he knows not to do it round me because I turn into a ranting loony about it :p
 
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