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I keep my phone in my pocket at work, with all notifications turned off except for the phone ringer. If it's an emergency, the people who have my phone number can reach me.
I work retail, so I'm "chained" to my cash register and can't walk around. There's not a lot to do behind the counter, so when I'm done with the few chores I have, and there aren't any customers, I might check my e-mail. I don't use twitter or facebook or snapchat or any of those other things on my cell phone - that stuff I do at home before my DH comes home or after supper.
I use certain shopping apps that I get credits for when I buy things on certain lists, and then trade the credits in for gift cards. So I use the phone when I'm out and about.
I also use it as an e-reader. It weighs less than a book and when I'm dining out by myself (DH doesn't like mexican or indian food, and I do, so if I want it I go alone), I have it set upright on a plastic easel and read my book while I eat. I don't do that when I'm dining with someone else and consider it incredibly rude to do so.
Says who? If they both are ok with it and view it as "enjoying time together" then who is anyone else to judge?
Do you and your spouse ever watch a movie together? Do you focus on the movie or each other? A shared activity doesn't always mean constant interaction with each other.
Watching a movie together means you're both engaged with the same thing and enjoying it together. If you're side by side on your own phones that's different than that.
Watching a movie together means you're both engaged with the same thing and enjoying it together. If you're side by side on your own phones that's different than that.
Different perhaps, but is it wrong or unusual? My husband and I are prolific readers but we don't read the same book at the same time, I'm not sure how/why it would be important for us to do so?
Different perhaps, but is it wrong or unusual? My husband and I are prolific readers but we don't read the same book at the same time, I'm not sure how/why it would be important for us to do so?
I guess it just depends on the chemistry between people in a relationship. Some folks can do their own things and be happy together, but from my experience, most people want to be engaged in the same experiences together...most of the time.
Haven't read all the replies so apologies if I'm repeating what's already been said ............... When I saw the title of your thread, 'Giving up the smartphone for health reasons', I automatically thought you were referring to the rise in cancers, especially brain tumours.
Nexus magazine recently had an article on the negative health effects of smartphones & wi-fi.
It's scary that the authorities aren't even interested in doing research into the health effects of electromagnetic pollution & microwaves on the human body.
Dr John Teo, a leading brain surgeon, was asked several years ago if he thought if mobile phones are the cause of brain tumours. He said it's not his field of expertise so couldn't say conclusively.
What he did say was that brain tumours were becoming more common since mobiles widespread use & that they were now seeing an increase in brain tumours in children that were rarely seen in just the elderly in the past.
Phones ARE the new smoking but not for the reasons that you first considered. It makes me shudder every time I see a toddler in his pram playing with a smartphone to keep them occupied.
Is a smartphone so important to us that it’s now basically an extension of our body? I was very late to the smartphone party getting one about 6 years ago...as a younger person, a lot of people would laugh that I used a flip phone. I would just laugh with them because I didn’t know what I was missing. Am I happier now that I have a smartphone consuming massive amounts of time? Not really, but phones are now the new smoking. You just automatically need it to soothe yourself.
Your response is making it seem like all people have that problem. Your post would be better if you used the word "I". As in: "I just automatically need to soothe myself".
I do feel my smartphone is important to me. If I need information, it is at my fingertips. However--I certainly don't need information 24/7. It doesn't take up massively amounts of time for me. Yes, it sounds like you have an addiction to your smartphone and you need help.
Is a smartphone so important to us that it’s now basically an extension of our body? I was very late to the smartphone party getting one about 6 years ago...as a younger person, a lot of people would laugh that I used a flip phone. I would just laugh with them because I didn’t know what I was missing. Am I happier now that I have a smartphone consuming massive amounts of time? Not really, but phones are now the new smoking. You just automatically need it to soothe yourself.
I think this thread reinforced my decision to avoid smart phones at all costs.
Very happy with the flip phone I have! (It does break from time to time because of the flip-top thingy, but that seems like a mild grievance compared to what I'm reading on here!).
I'm a younger person too and some people thought it strange that I still have a flip phone. Just don't see a need to get anything else. Seems like I'm not missing out on much.
Your response is making it seem like all people have that problem. Your post would be better if you used the word "I". As in: "I just automatically need to soothe myself".
I do feel my smartphone is important to me. If I need information, it is at my fingertips. However--I certainly don't need information 24/7. It doesn't take up massively amounts of time for me. Yes, it sounds like you have an addiction to your smartphone and you need help.
Of course not all people have that problem. Not sure what led you to believe I was speaking for all smartphone users. As I mentioned before, some people can occasionally do cocaine, heroin or meth and not develop any signs of addiction, but that doesn’t mean those substances don’t have an ability create an addiction in a substantial number of people.
I would like to see more studies on the correlation between smartphone usage and general happiness. The explosion in the popularity of being connected at all times via a phone (basically a small computer) is a relatively new phenomenon in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps in 15 or 20 years we’ll have a better understanding of the relationship between technology usage and humans. By that time almost all people will have had a smartphone for a decade plus.
I can’t stand it when I’m visiting with someone and their on their phone non-stop checking FB or whatever their doing. I honestly feel it’s quite rude! If you can’t put your phone down for any length of time, it’s s problem!
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