Can we throw away the mobile phone for 2 weeks

I don't know how it is in your country so I'll start off with the following observation here in this country.

1. Other then cycling ( yes, I get to see the drivers on their phones ) I ride the trains while traveling.
2. As soon as I'm at a stop sign I see the drivers pick up their phones and when the light turns green, the driver behind them has to honk their horns. ( its that bad actually )
3. Upon hoping the trains, the first thing that happens is... yep... you guest it. 99% of the people pop open their phones. Here you are NOT allowed to have sound on it. Earphones are mandatory.
4. Years ago it was manga and newspapers that would all one sees. It is rare now to see someone read a book or newspaper.
5. I think a large portion of the population would fall under some kind of mental withdrawl psychosis . ( Psychosis is a brain-based condition that is made better or worse by environmental factors - like drug use and stress. One frequently cited statistic is that 1% of the population is diagnosed with Schizophrenia in their lifetime, but actually 3.5% of the population experiences psychosis.)
6. I wonder if the mental health wards in the hospitals could handle such a mental devastation of a breakdown of society if the mobile phone would all suddenly stop for 2 weeks.

What are your thoughts on this ?

Phone is reality. Phone is life. If it isnt on the phone, it doesnt exist.

In a generation or two it will be welded straight into the skull.

Reminds me of Elon Musk on joe rogans podcast. They were talking about cyborgs in the future. Elon pointed out most people already are. The phone is literally an extension of the body.

I dont see how this trend will "get better" only worse.

Even an old dial telephone disrupted signals in the brain when you held it to your ear. Most people developed a tolerance for it and after hanging up within minutes the function normalized. The frequencies of cell phones do interact with the brain...transmission frequencies...that is why on most phones they tell you to hold the phone a half inch away from the head.

I no longer have a cell phone and do not want one. I had a mobile phone from nineteen eighty eight through two thousand and ten which I used in my business...residential builder. Exposure to signals was low those days because you rarely used the phone because they were expensive. Plus the original phones were bag phones which had the antenna on the roof of the trucks and cars. Now it is different....and I think it is interfering with people's ability to reason at times. Maybe the brain acclimates to it but remember, when acclimated, if you take away the phone signals, then you get withdrawal symptoms...which I have seen in people. Altering brain chemistry with environmental factors, including diet, exposure to chemistry in the air, and frequencies is common and real. But even though there is good evidence, they are not going to admit it is a cause for concern because they made a mistake in allowing it.

People are addicted to cell phones and technology. We were taught to do math in our heads and on paper, that increased our ability to comprehend things, especially with numbers and budgeting. People cannot even figure out change at the store anymore. People put too much faith in error correction with spelling too...I see that quite often. But everyone knows how to google things and fact check yet they cannot comprehend that this information is often flawed, because someone is steering comprehension of society whether it is people who profit from it or benefit from controlling others beliefs.

Technology is far worse than religion as far as being misused by those who want personal gain. In religion businessmen joined to expand their client base and profits because people will support another member of the church. But at least most people who had businesses years back did donate more to the church....which was good for society because the churches helped to keep society united and peaceful unless there was a war which was important because religion can give soldiers the guide to succeed in a war. Now it is mostly switching to everyone for themselves with people only donating to charities to gain prestige.

Addiction to technology gives great power and wealth to those who create the technology. Some cell phones run over two grand, that is rediculous. Technology made things easier years ago, now it complicates everything and multiple mistakes are made and it is used to rip people off too. We live in the time of the deceiver and most people don't think they have been deceived, they believe it is easier than before yet everything is more complicated.

I know I can go days without touching my phone, and I get more accomplished.

Can we throw away the mobile phone for 2 weeks

What's a mobile phone ?

But I need my precious, I must have my precious, bad hobbitses wants to take away my precious!!!

originally posted by: Gothmog

Can we throw away the mobile phone for 2 weeks

What's a mobile phone ?

In this country we call them " mobiles " . Yes, the iphone if you have one, and Android if you have one, but when shopping and ads seem to still call them " mobiles ".

a reply to: musicismagic

My mobile is wrapped in foil sitting on the couch arm where it's been for WEEKS.

I haven't needed an alarm clock or to take a photo in ages.

originally posted by: nerbot
I haven't needed an alarm clock or to take a photo in ages.

What, alarm clocks and taking photos didn't exist before cell-phones became popular?

I have this thing called a "camera...." Of course, I can't call anybody on it, but it wasn't created for that purpose. It was created to take "photographs."

I'm just saying that everything a cell-phone can do is already old, available technology, which we all used.

Case in point:
I took this picture in 2020 with a 104-year-old Kodak box camera:

a reply to: musicismagic
Setting aside the fact that mobile technologies are used by corporations and governments to their full benefit, the mobile phone can be a very useful tool. It's a home phone and a computer combined that fits in your pocket. What used to be sci-fi is now reality.

The technology itself isn't the problem, people are. Humans have a tendency toward excess in its many forms. The mobile phone has become an addiction for many, instead of the useful tool it should be.

I personally have a love / hate relationship with my phone. It's indispensable if I want my business to prosper, but I frequently want to shut the damn thing off and stick it in a drawer.

I have an exercise I do on the weekends. I will leave the phone at home for a few hours while I do my running...GASP...it's very freeing for a little while. I have fantasies of throwing it in a shredder when I retire, but at the very least, it will get a lot less use.

originally posted by: Klassified
the mobile phone can be a very useful tool. It's a home phone and a computer combined that fits in your pocket. What used to be sci-fi is now reality.

The technology itself isn't the problem, people are. Humans have a tendency toward excess in its many forms. The mobile phone has become an addiction for many, instead of the useful tool it should be.

I hear so many people saying that they're a "computer." I always ask, "Where do I plug my negative scanner in at, the one I currently have plugged into my desktop computer? Sure cell-phones are like computers - if you only used your computer to surf the web and send text messages. To say they're computers is really stretching it. What people should be saying is that computers are like cell-phones, only they do much more.

But, you're absolutely right in your assessment that they're only tools. A tool, if used properly, can be immensely helpful. But used incorrectly, like most people seem to be doing, it becomes an addiction.

I have a question for you. Since mobile telephone technology has existed at least since the 1950s, how long have used it?

originally posted by: musicismagic

originally posted by: Gothmog

Can we throw away the mobile phone for 2 weeks

What's a mobile phone ?

In this country we call them " mobiles " . Yes, the iphone if you have one, and Android if you have one, but when shopping and ads seem to still call them " mobiles ".

Never had one , and don't want to .

originally posted by: Gothmog
Never had one , and don't want to.

Me, either. But - only because I've already had a phone my whole adult life. (Approximately 40+ years, and counting.)

Only if you pay me for 2 weeks of work- I wouldn't know what jobsite to go to if my boss can't text me.

a reply to: TrulyColorBlind

I hear so many people saying that they're a "computer." I always ask, "Where do I plug my negative scanner in at, the one I currently have plugged into my desktop computer? Sure cell-phones are like computers - if you only used your computer to surf the web and send text messages. To say they're computers is really stretching it. What people should be saying is that computers are like cell-phones, only they do much more.

It IS a computer, just like the one in your car, but it's built and programmed for what it does, but if you insist on scanning to your phone, there are apps that will allow you to do just that. Just because it isn't a PC or Mac doesn't mean it isn't a computer.

I have a question for you. Since mobile telephone technology has existed at least since the 1950s, how long have used it?

Actually, at least the 40's.

I resisted getting a cell phone until the mid-2000's, but a company I worked for in the 90's had them in their vans. Not very reliable, but they worked.

originally posted by: Klassified
It IS a computer, just like the one in your car, but it's built and programmed for what it does, but if you insist on scanning to your phone, there are apps that will allow you to do just that. Just because it isn't a PC or Mac doesn't mean it isn't a computer.

You're right and I was wrong, thanks for pointing that out. I was thinking in the terms of computer as in "desktop" computer, but there are plenty of other kinds I didn't think about. Thanks!

originally posted by: TrulyColorBlind

originally posted by: Klassified
It IS a computer, just like the one in your car, but it's built and programmed for what it does, but if you insist on scanning to your phone, there are apps that will allow you to do just that. Just because it isn't a PC or Mac doesn't mean it isn't a computer.

You're right and I was wrong, thanks for pointing that out. I was thinking in the terms of computer as in "desktop" computer, but there are plenty of other kinds I didn't think about. Thanks!

Starred. We could all stand to follow your example. Myself especially.

I am the odd ball that never liked TV and hated the phone in all its forms. Yes, I do have a nice cell phone, but it is around 7 years old. It still amazes me that that little phone was the most expensive piece of electronic equipment I own.

When it dies I am going back to a flip phone. My only hesitation is that the grocery story I shop at regularly has tremendous deals if you use their phone app. I am addicted to those .99 per pound chickens. I know, it's sad.

It is often charging somewhere else in my home. I have a best friend who gets very frustrated with me for not answering it when she calls. I often don't look at the thing for hours.

I hate the phone in any form. I was a switchboard operator in my youth. I actually worked those old cord boards. They were kind of fun. But when the damn thing rings I often go into a panic.

We took out our land line years ago. We should have it reinstalled.

a reply to: musicismagic

I was about to say "no"...but then some schools have started "no cell phone days". Turn it in 1st class, get receipt, pick it up after last class. Got the kids talking again. Face to face.

FY: MIM? You n me play guitar.....you know why music $$$ has gotten so hard these days? Because a great song, with a great guitar solo, and a cool bridge? Well...kids only have a min to min attention tech span. Bored in 3 mins and NEXT!

So...most likely no one will ever hear that "great solo" of hear that "hook".

Im calling it a "dismissive society" now. Indifferent. So...lock up the phone? No way. Todays society doesnt know how to not have comm, phones, comptr, maps, news...the World on the Web. ITs how they exist.

Peace brother, God Bless ya, you know!

a reply to: musicismagic

Back in here: One of my lawyers is 46. Small talk about not using a phone while you drive. He is the attorney. And he laughed. "Ive been using a cell phone for 25 years now and in the car. And youre gonna tell me I shouldnt?"

I was dumbfounded. 20 years a lawyer....with his cell phone glued to him everywhere. He just didnt understand the issue. (yes of course hewent hands free)...but didnt see the reason.

Cell phone/internet is all he knew....