I don't want a Smart phone
Watch this postI am sure I am not the only person who is fed up with being made to feel like a second ( or lower ) class citizen because I don't have or want a smart phone or similar device?
I get texts from companies and institutions such as the NHS telling me to click on the attached link but as I don't have a smart phone I cannot do it. The phone numbers are frequently hidden so you cannot reply. As these companies do not want to answer time consuming telephone calls their phone numbers are frequently not displayed on their websites or letter headings. If you get through on the phone you are kept waiting for a long time to speak to someone.
We are being encouraged to change to electric cars. The only public charging points I have seen you cannot use if you do not have a smart phone. I admit part of me is being obstinate. When I see the excessive profits made by Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook etc I think 'They are not having my hard-earned pension' I'd better not mention my views on the BBC. I
think they would be in favour of euthanasia for all people over 70.
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Steffie
A little while ago I needed to make a return road trip from Suffolk to Bude in Cornwall in one day. My dear wife made life a misery just insisting I took my mobile with me. She forgot I did more than half a million miles as a truck driver and that without a phone. Mind you, they really were in their infancy then.
Unlike my beloved, I do not wish to be in contact 24/7; we chose to live in a very rural area without much contact with the outside world and that suits me fine. I do not wish to have people calling to sell double glazing, pension plans, male member enlargements or anything else. Yes, I've had a call offering the latter. That's why my phone is permanently off and out of sight.
Probably, before we're much older, a phone will be a necessity but for the moment I'm happy being a Luddite!
Haven't seen you on the site for ages! Last Thursday a BT engineer came to install my new Halo3 router which improves my broadband speeds - they were ok before but my contract was up for renewal so I thought that I would go forward with the modern technology. Ha Ha!!!! My landline now doesn't work and following a polite but irate phone conversation on my mobile with BT I was told that they hoped that my landline would be operational by Tuesday. If anyone rings me they can hear the normal ringing tone and think I'm ignoring them as I don't hear anything and my caller display and answerphone don't work either. If I try to make a call, the line goes dead. Needless to say, I'm not a happy bunny and would have thought that BT could provide a better service especially to an OAP!
I started to carry my mobile phone round with me following a fall in my driveway where no-one could see me and I couldn't get up. Fortunately, an Amazon delivery driver came down the drive with a parcel and helped me to get up. When we looked at the address on the parcel it wasn't for me so he really was my guardian angel that morning!
Hopefully BT will sort out my problem but it would appear that Halo3 and Digital Voice are not as good as they should be because quite a few friends have told me that they have had similar problems.
Scientists around the world and people like Elon Musk are speedily making science fiction the norm with tech implantations into humans.
Won’t be long before we become cyborgs and have everything implanted. Pacemakers and other bits of implanted or wearable tech is already widespread, we are well on the way.
The World Economic Forum is pushing for an upgrade to humans in transhumanism and is cracking the whip to get their people to speed up the process.
What could go wrong?
I do hope that there will be some good things coming from these implantations, for one, do away with the endless entanglement of wires everywhere. Electronic telepathy is on the cards, soon.
For the time being, I am comfortable being a Troglodyte, but if King Canute had to accede to the might of ocean, who am I to withstand the tide of technology?
Are we not already cybernauts?
All you say above is indeed true, but there is one inherent weakness. An electro-magnetic pulse from an air burst nuclear weapon. Such is the force of that pulse it would fry every circuit board in this land. Almost everything would cease to function. Perhaps another weakness exists. Putin claims to have a nuclear device so powerful it would set off a tsunami in the Atlantic and swamp the UK. May I suggest beings controlled by in-built micro circuitry would lose their inherent instinct for survival?
In either instance some Trogs would survive by using Victorian faming methods, things with which I'm practised and still interested. I could almost relish raising animals and crops fully nutritious rather than the expensive rubbish produced these days.
I simply do not like techno and the lifestyle it forces on people; the compulsive attachment so many have to their devices, as if life doesn't exist without them.
I believe with very good reason another World War is looming. It may be closer than even I believe at present. All the neuro devices of which you speak can be manipulated - people changed to suit the whim of the state. !984 on steroids? I think so.
My point was that we have more to worry about with the sun spewing out CME's or Coronal Mass Ejections. We have had some serious ejections of late and expecting some big ones within the next few days.
Texas, Africa and many other sun facing countries have been suffering blackouts for days.
As you say, be prepared to survive. Smart everthing will no doubt be affected.
Not sure how serious these CME's will be, but better to be prepared.
Governments are advising people to stock up for at least 3 days, sound advice.
Staying in my cave and hiding.
From NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
ALERT: X-Ray Flux exceeded M5
Threshold Reached: 2024 Jun 01 1924 UTC
NOAA Scale: R2 - Moderate
NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation
Potential Impacts: Area of impact centered on sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth. Extent of blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication dependent upon current X-ray Flux intensity. For real-time information on affected area and expected duration please see http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap.
Carole, I'm sorry to hear of your accident. No permanent damage I hope. I believe we find guardian angels in all sorts of circumstances but just don't recognise them. Our little five year old Collie bitch qualifies as such. She has always been close to my wife but eighteen months ago the dog began a very long vigil. She refuses to leave my wife's side; when she had a fall a few months ago the dog found me and raised the alarm. She walked ahead of me to where my wife lay. I could go on but it will just get tedious.
Like you we've had trouble with BT. They've re-wired the village and surrounding districts. Now, like you, my internet is on and off; completely unreliable. There's a lot to be said for local companies but what leverage have we with a behemoth like BT?
So sorry to hear about your wife's MS. Please give her my best wishes. I worked for the NHS for nearly 40 years and just despair of the direction it is has taken. Whether things will improve after the general election is anyone's guess. I was bruised black and blue after my fall but fortunately there was no lasting damage and my phone travels with me in my pocket or handbag all the time. It's always on Silent if I'm in a meeting or in church as it really annoys me when I hear other mobile phones playing tunes etc and then their owners looking at the messages and replying when they ought to be concentrating on the meeting.
Have a pleasant weekend and hopefully we can chat again soon.
Carole
In saying there was no NHS help I intended no slur on what was one a world class health institution. It's mainly that we're 73 now and out of the productive loop, so to speak and doctors merely offered painkillers. Because we live in a fairly remote spot care workers won't come out here-their fuel and time travelling is not paid to them, so I do understand.
Having read of your experience I think I'll revise my thinking and carry my phone. The legs aren't so good now having hauled my wife around so it will be a precaution. Thanks for the tip.
We have discussed church matters in the past and respect each other's views. That we differ is of no importance. We worship the same God and bow the knee to the same Saviour. In that vein I offer you the greatest Jewish greeting, Shalom, meaning the deep peace of God be with you. Yes indeed, may that be so.
I'm glad that your wife is in a better place than she was 18 months ago. It must be difficult living in a remote area where care workers won't visit. I had no idea that their fuel costs and travel time were not met.
So pleased to hear that you carry your phone with you now - fortunately I have not needed mine for emergency use but it's nice to know that it is handy and always fully charged.
Take care!
Carole
Once I wrote to Lionel Blue. His reply was signed and a hand written note underneath. A man of a tender heart, compassionate and understanding, straightway he entered into my dilemma being born into the founding Abrahamic religion yet brought up in a daughter faith with some Judaism thrown in. At that time he was as mixed up as I was, but he would admit it. His letter helped me find a pathway through it all.
Please, re-read Hugo Gryn and give Lionel Blue a thought. Blue might seem flippant and light hearted but read each account again and there are profound insights there for all of us. More spiritual, less PC ways to engage with one another.
It's lovely to be in contact again Carole, recent times have been so isolating. Take good care now.
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EMP's are the biggest dangers for humanity.
I have this really OLD dumb phone that is tied into all the main sites I use. Its not enabled for text and Im finding it increasingly difficult because all these texts (eg from the bank etc) are wanting you to reply. Or text y or n. Well you cant do that on my old dumb phone. So I am going to have to migrate all these accounts to the smarty phone.
Who would want to shop on that tiny tiny screen when they have a proper computer?
I do like the laser beam and spirit level apps though, I'm the world's worst inspector gadget
Much as I resent being forced to accept technology, it is unfortunately an evolutionary step which we will all have to adapt to or be consigned to a nomansland where we are unable to access the simplest of things like banking.
My landline phone will be switched off soon and I will be forced to buy a new phone, take a package of some sort and join the rest of the google-eyed race.
Its more the ability to be able to use one that's important if you suddenly found yourself alone.
Many things are online now banks, shopping and paying bills and will soon be completely online. Yes you could use a laptop, smart phones are just a small laptop anyway but far more versatile.
I personally no longer have a landline phone just my smartphone, one less bill to pay.
I bought a small smartphone Alcatel, 5 inch screen, doesnt do much apart from the basics, works fine for the basics and internet.
I completely agree with you I refuse to have a smart phone . People look so very silly carrying around their little rectangles . Couples sit beside each other , each on their own rectangle , tourists stay behind it recording rather than actually experiencing what they have come to see . People walk along ,device gripped tightly but the saddest of all are the mothers , focusing on that little box rather than making eye contact with their baby or in the case with the older children , not watching them at play but sitting on a bench absorbed by the phone .
I don't think you are obstinate , I think you are a clear , independent thinker .