I just got an android about 5 months ago. I'm a dinosaur and probably was the last one in my state to own one. I named it "Lucy Schlitz" because it drove me crazy. I thought I was typing Sh__, but she spelled if out for me that way. When I tried to send a text the letters bounced around like they were on steroids, and would finish a word with a word I wasn't trying to write...AI I guess...drove me crazy. I only want it for phone calls and texting, but it constantly fills up with updates and apps I "need" to click on and sign up. NO, emphatically. I finally learned how to delete them and block out phone calls that come in unknown. But, I am still reminded about my payments every month on my computer. I look at the phone and think, how often did I use this thing? I am down to a quality of friends, not a quantity. They still have my land phone number and know I will call them back if I don't answer. I now carry it in my car in case I have a problem on the road when I am alone. It's more of a frustration. Plug it in to recharge....why? I didn't miss it at all this week....or this month, for that matter. Or this year, actually. I read a hardback book or on my Kindle. I don't play any games excepts on my computer...solitaire. My mind is not in a good space to chit chat on the phone or be bothered by it. Not sure how long Lucy will be with me. She is just costing me $35/month and I can't figure out why I still put up with her.
It was almost a decade ago when I decided my "smart" phone needed to stay in the junk drawer unless I was traveling and then it functioned as a portable phone booth and road atlas. My phone is not my computer and since I can't type unless I am on a qwerty keyboard, I find it easier to NOT rely on my phone except in case of emergencies. I still have a landline, though not for much longer as they are being phased out. Here's to your radical act and more of 'em.
See I refuse to use phones for anything but texting. For longer sentences my fingers require a proper sized keyboard (iPads will do.)
And this saves me a lot of time. But I do have a lot of notebooks which have been scribbled into in cafes and waiting rooms.
As my oldest iPad lies dying (in the cold weather it will not boot up unless it has been charging for hours, I am watching to see if it will explode and should just chuck it), I am spending less time on apps and more reading books. Incredibly, this July I am already heading past last year’s total reading, which was the most I have probably ever read.
Lucky you still have real landlines! That’s a blessing.
Don’t bother with FB Maura, it really doesn’t care about us. I never log in now, except to look at my daughter’s funnies on her page about once every four months. I don’t miss much and I don’t miss IT.
I did buy an e-reader about two years ago. These are still books I read and they are often borrowed. But I've also returned to regular library borrowing of hard copy - in fact I have one to return and I might head up there today.
Chewing them up - I think it means I am not watching any telly. It's a bit strange, I wish I had been able to read this much when I was a young student! But I struggle to remember what I have read sometimes too. And that is a pest. I think I will start writing notes on each book as I finish.
At night I like to read “real” books. It gets me off the internet. But about 10 years ago I began to listen to audiobooks and I love it although I find I don’t retain as much of the detail as when I use my eyes to read instead of my ears. Currently I am listening to my own book on audio and it is one of the strangest experiences I have ever had - listening to a voice actor narrate my story as me - !! But I wanted to hear what an ordinary reader who buys my book would hear. It’s gratifying but odd.
Oooh that would be tricky, listening to your own book read by someone else! Good idea checking it out though. I hope you’re happy with the job they’ve done.
I’ve not been able to bring myself to try audiobooks - I’ve always been someone who tunes out music or radio while doing something else so I think I’d be a shocker with a book - I’d be going back over things I’d missed all the time. But they’re incredibly popular.
I own a cell phone. My son insists I do have one. I rarely use it. I try to store it in the same place, should I find I must use it. I refuse to ever becoming attached to it. My major addiction is to reading, an affliction that serves me well.
I get frustrated with both my husband and myself for how much time we spend on our phones. I read the news and update our dog rescue's FB page along with animal videos and dumb stuff too. He looks at YouTube videos on how to fix our cars, appliances and yes, dog videos and dumb stuff too. We do not have cable TV so I guess this is our way to relieve tension and fear of what is going on in our beloved United States.
I just spent some time with one of my daughters and slowly realized that, for as much as I know about how to use my "smartphone," I'm still under-utilizing it. You know what? I don't want to know. Turns out, the device that's saving me so much time is a real time suck. The more I use it, the more it uses me. Brava to you for taking some semblance of control.
PS&OBTW: I only know your mother from your book, but I think it's pretty clear that you are her daughter. I think she'd be pretty proud of both your relationship with your phone AND "flash-frozen rat’s ass". Well done!
When I was on the presidential campaign, there was a day when I was in my Pittsburgh hotel room, staring at my phone. Checking 4 text chains and 4 email chains. All day! Heaven forbid a message to me went unanswered for 5 minutes. That was my day. Your column resonates so strongly to us dinosaurs. Would we have a similar transition going from horse and buggy to automobile? I think your column provides some guidance
I just got an android about 5 months ago. I'm a dinosaur and probably was the last one in my state to own one. I named it "Lucy Schlitz" because it drove me crazy. I thought I was typing Sh__, but she spelled if out for me that way. When I tried to send a text the letters bounced around like they were on steroids, and would finish a word with a word I wasn't trying to write...AI I guess...drove me crazy. I only want it for phone calls and texting, but it constantly fills up with updates and apps I "need" to click on and sign up. NO, emphatically. I finally learned how to delete them and block out phone calls that come in unknown. But, I am still reminded about my payments every month on my computer. I look at the phone and think, how often did I use this thing? I am down to a quality of friends, not a quantity. They still have my land phone number and know I will call them back if I don't answer. I now carry it in my car in case I have a problem on the road when I am alone. It's more of a frustration. Plug it in to recharge....why? I didn't miss it at all this week....or this month, for that matter. Or this year, actually. I read a hardback book or on my Kindle. I don't play any games excepts on my computer...solitaire. My mind is not in a good space to chit chat on the phone or be bothered by it. Not sure how long Lucy will be with me. She is just costing me $35/month and I can't figure out why I still put up with her.
It was almost a decade ago when I decided my "smart" phone needed to stay in the junk drawer unless I was traveling and then it functioned as a portable phone booth and road atlas. My phone is not my computer and since I can't type unless I am on a qwerty keyboard, I find it easier to NOT rely on my phone except in case of emergencies. I still have a landline, though not for much longer as they are being phased out. Here's to your radical act and more of 'em.
I admire that. I have one friend who has never owned a cell phone. She is happy with her land line. So far, so good!
See I refuse to use phones for anything but texting. For longer sentences my fingers require a proper sized keyboard (iPads will do.)
And this saves me a lot of time. But I do have a lot of notebooks which have been scribbled into in cafes and waiting rooms.
As my oldest iPad lies dying (in the cold weather it will not boot up unless it has been charging for hours, I am watching to see if it will explode and should just chuck it), I am spending less time on apps and more reading books. Incredibly, this July I am already heading past last year’s total reading, which was the most I have probably ever read.
Lucky you still have real landlines! That’s a blessing.
Don’t bother with FB Maura, it really doesn’t care about us. I never log in now, except to look at my daughter’s funnies on her page about once every four months. I don’t miss much and I don’t miss IT.
You are a right-thinking woman, Genevieve! Reading a real book is so much more relaxing than on an iPad anyway…
I did buy an e-reader about two years ago. These are still books I read and they are often borrowed. But I've also returned to regular library borrowing of hard copy - in fact I have one to return and I might head up there today.
Chewing them up - I think it means I am not watching any telly. It's a bit strange, I wish I had been able to read this much when I was a young student! But I struggle to remember what I have read sometimes too. And that is a pest. I think I will start writing notes on each book as I finish.
At night I like to read “real” books. It gets me off the internet. But about 10 years ago I began to listen to audiobooks and I love it although I find I don’t retain as much of the detail as when I use my eyes to read instead of my ears. Currently I am listening to my own book on audio and it is one of the strangest experiences I have ever had - listening to a voice actor narrate my story as me - !! But I wanted to hear what an ordinary reader who buys my book would hear. It’s gratifying but odd.
Oooh that would be tricky, listening to your own book read by someone else! Good idea checking it out though. I hope you’re happy with the job they’ve done.
I’ve not been able to bring myself to try audiobooks - I’ve always been someone who tunes out music or radio while doing something else so I think I’d be a shocker with a book - I’d be going back over things I’d missed all the time. But they’re incredibly popular.
Phone va/staycations are the best - quick, easy, and oh so cheap!
Ha! If I said we are going to make this transportation machine that
will cost 50,000 American lives annually......
I own a cell phone. My son insists I do have one. I rarely use it. I try to store it in the same place, should I find I must use it. I refuse to ever becoming attached to it. My major addiction is to reading, an affliction that serves me well.
You are a wise woman. Margaret!
Giggle.....but true.......ah the untanglement process.........
I get frustrated with both my husband and myself for how much time we spend on our phones. I read the news and update our dog rescue's FB page along with animal videos and dumb stuff too. He looks at YouTube videos on how to fix our cars, appliances and yes, dog videos and dumb stuff too. We do not have cable TV so I guess this is our way to relieve tension and fear of what is going on in our beloved United States.
It’s probably pretty harmless, especially if you don’t have cable TV. Still, it sure is an eye-opener to see how much time we spend!
Best quote ever:
"Facebook doesn’t give a flash-frozen rat’s ass about anyone or anything, least of all me."
As I read Substack columns on my phone...😂 But I also just finished Saving Ellen, which I bought in hardcover!
I just spent some time with one of my daughters and slowly realized that, for as much as I know about how to use my "smartphone," I'm still under-utilizing it. You know what? I don't want to know. Turns out, the device that's saving me so much time is a real time suck. The more I use it, the more it uses me. Brava to you for taking some semblance of control.
PS&OBTW: I only know your mother from your book, but I think it's pretty clear that you are her daughter. I think she'd be pretty proud of both your relationship with your phone AND "flash-frozen rat’s ass". Well done!
When I was on the presidential campaign, there was a day when I was in my Pittsburgh hotel room, staring at my phone. Checking 4 text chains and 4 email chains. All day! Heaven forbid a message to me went unanswered for 5 minutes. That was my day. Your column resonates so strongly to us dinosaurs. Would we have a similar transition going from horse and buggy to automobile? I think your column provides some guidance
I'd love to go back to horse, and buggy, if it were needed.
There's an app you might like called Minimalist Phone.
I may have to look into that for my next phone Crissie. Thank you
My daughter suggested the “be present” app to cut down on time online, and so far it is helping me cut down on doom scrolling