Smartphone phobia

[DonTom]

I've had photophobia

I think I have a very bad case of Smartphone phobia.

I wonder if it is caused by seeing almost everybody and his brother talking on or using a Smartphone these days. Sometimes very rudely, such as ignoring others they are with. Also, the many vehicle accidents caused by people using them while driving. Smartphones seem to be the most important thing in some people's lives.

If it were up to me, I would make the penalty for texting while driving at least double that of drunk driving. A least with the drunks, you can usually spot them before they crash into you.

-Don- Picacho, AZ

 

[Tom]

I think I have a very bad case of Smartphone phobia.

I wonder if it is caused by seeing almost everybody and his brother talking on or using a Smartphone these days.

On our recent trip to the MidWest (Oak to CMH with a transfer and long waits in airports), I commented to Chris that I could count on one hand how many folks didn't have their face buried in their phone almost all the time. I suspect that, in addition to talking &/or texting, folks are either reading or otherwise playing games to keep themselves entertained. Didn't see too many folks readings books or a newspaper.

 

[DonTom]

Didn't see too many folks readings books or a newspaper.

I see a lot of people reading books at RV parks, including the one I was at a few minutes ago. A guy from extreme southern AK, also a Vietnam vet. He is outside there every day reading some book. Obviously, because RV parks are older crowds, especially these with the 55-age minimum. It's mostly younger people who are addicted to their Smartphones.

BTW, I am now in a large empty lot waiting to check in at the State Park, they told me it would be ready for me in an hour. Check out too early at the RV park and check-in too late at the state park.

BTW, snowing like crazy in Reno and pouring rain in Auburn. That was what I saw in my security cameras this morning. I certainly prefer the dry 75F. here.

-Don- Picacho, AZ

 

[Tom]

BTW, snowing like crazy in Reno and pouring rain in Auburn. That was what I saw in my security cameras this morning. I certainly prefer the dry 75F. here.

The Sierras have been getting a lot of snow, and the greater Bay Area has seen lots of continuous heavy rain from an atmospheric river. More to come over the next few days. You're certainly in a better place weather wise.

 

[Rene T]

It is against the law in FL to use a hand Held device like a phone while driving yet I see it all the time and I very rarely see anyone get stopped for anything. It looks like the police look the other way. It is crazy some of the things I’ve seen here as far as safety with a vehicle. They use to have an inspection program for cars but they did away with it back in the 80’s I believe. That was the stupidest thing I have ever heard of.

 

[gwinger]

It is against the law in FL to use a hand Held device like a phone while driving yet I see it all the time and I very rarely see anyone get stopped for anything. It looks like the police look the other way. It is crazy some of the things I’ve seen here as far as safety with a vehicle. They use to have an inspection program for cars but they did away with it back in the 80’s I believe. That was the stupidest thing I have ever heard of.

The cops don't want to be bothered unless there is a problem. One thing i don't understand is with 90% of the cars equipped with bluetooth, what is the reason to hold the phone? Why do people need to stare at the phone in their hand while walking?
As far as the safety inspection, how many cars are running around with bad brakes, pieces falling off and half of the lights not working?
We have a yearly inspection here in PA. It costs an average of $50 depending the the vehicle. I'll gladly spend that to know my vehicle is safe.

 

[Jackiemac]

In the UK you must have a yearly inspection unless your car is under 3 years old. It's called an MOT. You need this to insure and tax it.


I have the Kindle app on my phone so I can use it to read books although I do have a kindle too. Love it for reading. I do like a real book and find them hard to part with so I have a few bookshelves.

A smartphone has become an integral thing in my life for keeping up with friends, doing a few daily challenges for my brain and importantly taking snapshots whilst on our trips. Such a great tool.

 

[No cats]

Smartphone uses for me. I'm sure I forgot some. Notice I didn't mention facebook, x, tik-tok, intagram, etc.

GMaps for driving
financial institution alerts for suspicious activities
2-step verification for financial transactions
text check-in for doctor appointments
hotspot for my laptop
good quality pictures
good quality videos
voice/sound recorder
carry some of my music
carry some movies for when no cell service
Calendar for all of my appointments
calculator

edit: add calendar for all of my appointments and calculator

 

[Tom]

In the UK you must have a yearly inspection unless your car is under 3 years old. It's called an MOT. You need this to insure and tax it.

I remember the dreaded annual MOT (Ministry Of Transport) tests very well. In addition to the obvious things like brakes, lights, horn, and exhaust system, they used to take a hammer and whack on the sills looking for hidden rust. Here in California, we just have the smog test

I have the Kindle app on my phone so I can use it to read books although I do have a kindle too. Love it for reading. I do like a real book and find them hard to part with so I have a few bookshelves.

The small screen on a phone is too small for me to read much. Instead, I carry a 10" Android tablet with the B&N Nook app that allows me to read books. I probably use it for most of the things many folks do on their phone. When I stand at the checkout desk in the doctor's office to set up my next appointment in the calendar, others are standing there with their phones and I'm standing there with my tablet.

I shake my head in amazement when I see folks run their entire business on a phone.

 

[DonTom]

The small screen on a phone is too small for me to read much.

And too small to send much, too much trouble. The norm is to send somebody a message on a real computer, with ten questions, and you can tell if the guy on the other end us using a Smartphone or a real computer when you get a reply.

If one question gets answered it's a Smartphone. If all ten get answered it's a real computer.

-Don- Picacho Peak State Park, AZ

 

[rvlifer]

One thing i don't understand is with 90% of the cars equipped with bluetooth, what is the reason to hold the phone?

Bluetooth connectivity doesnt work very well. Last i knew it wa the number 1 problem people reported with new cars. That was a few years ago. May have changed.

 

[Jackiemac]

If one question gets answered it's a Smartphone. If all ten get answered it's a real computer.

-Don- Picacho Peak State Park, AZ

Or it's someone who reads all.of the questions. Sometimes if I send 2 texts one after the other only the 2nd gets answered. Drives me nuts!

 

[NY_Dutch]

And too small to send much, too much trouble. The norm is to send somebody a message on a real computer, with ten questions, and you can tell if the guy on the other end us using a Smartphone or a real computer when you get a reply.

If one question gets answered it's a Smartphone. If all ten get answered it's a real computer.

-Don- Picacho Peak State Park, AZ

I had to laugh when I read this. I just finished filling out a 14 question survey on my smartphone.

 

[NY_Dutch]

My wife and I learned quickly when we started fulltiming that having 1000+ books available on our phones was a lot more practical than carrying a bunch of print books. Even now that we're mostly off the road, we still read books on our phones.

 

[8Muddypaws]

I haven't read a printed book since I got my first iPad and installed the Kindle, Nook, BookFunnel, and Public Library apps.

I read a lot! My Kindle library contains about 700 books.

I generally don't read books on my phone though. The screen's too small and the battery didn't last long enough until I installed a new battery a few days ago.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Smartphone uses for me. I'm sure I forgot some. Notice I didn't mention facebook, x, tik-tok, intagram, etc.

GMaps for driving
financial institution alerts for suspicious activities
2-step verification for financial transactions
text check-in for doctor appointments
hotspot for my laptop
good quality pictures
good quality videos
voice/sound recorder
carry some of my music
carry some movies for when no cell service
Calendar for all of my appointments
calculator

edit: add calendar for all of my appointments and calculator

Smartphone uses for me:

Sending texts
Receiving texts
Making phone calls
Receiving phone calls
Taking maybe 3 or 4 pictures a month, and then I either delete them within a few hours or I transfer them to my Pictures folder on my PC - by plugging my phone directly into my PC with an actual cord.

I send and receive probably 50 texts a month; I make maybe 1 or 2 phone calls a month; I receive maybe 5 phone calls a month.

If my phone broke down tomorrow I would lose literally nothing, not even my Contact List, because I have an actual home phone with the same list in its Address Book.

Oh, and I check the weather every day, but I can do that on my PC too.

 

[DonTom]

I send and receive probably 50 texts a month; I make maybe 1 or 2 phone calls a month; I receive maybe 5 phone calls a month.

I have never sent anybody a text message from a Smartphone in my life! However, I have sent text messages from my inReach in areas of no cell coverage. And I can send those to a cell phone as well as to an email account.

I use my Smartphone as a cellphone perhaps three times per year at the very most.

-Don- Picacho Peak State Park, AZ

 

[DonTom]

I had to laugh when I read this. I just finished filling out a 14 question survey on my smartphone.

There is always one exception to every rule.

-Don- Picacho Peak State Park, AZ

 

[gwinger]

Bluetooth connectivity doesnt work very well. Last i knew it wa the number 1 problem people reported with new cars. That was a few years ago. May have changed.

My 2015 Silverado and my wife's 2013 portage work fine.

 

[rvlifer]

My 2015 Silverado and my wife's 2013 portage work fine.

For years mine worked fine in the f350. Then for a few years it connected fine and i could play music but the phone wouldnt work. Recently it started workibg again. Nothing changed as far as i know. No idea why it stopped working or why it started working again. Most likely it is updates on the phone