General/Random Discussion Topic

[mtmerrick]

I would not have a smartphone if I had to pay for it myself, or if we were harder up on money. But as I am now, going to work, trips places, ect, my parents do not feel I am safe without a way to be contacted. I would still be only my old PoC LG Vortex if i hadn't bought an upgrade off XDA with my own money.

[Magical Girl Mimi]

True. Effectively the same thing here, except that I don't have a job yet, hence not having a reason to get a phone yet. =P

[Mahri828]

 I probably should get a phone soon. I get in trouble for not having one with my gf, then get told how I don't need one from my mother. It's kind of interesting to watch. =P

[Magical Girl Mimi]

Hahaha; I think that would be very interesting. =P

[mtmerrick]

my parents told me they wouldn't let me work or drive without a phone.
True. Effectively the same thing here, except that I don't have a job yet, hence not having a reason to get a phone yet. =P

my parents wouldn't let me work or drive without a phone. I think they expected me to drive before I work, but they won't let me learn how to drive.......

[Magical Girl Mimi]

That's kinda odd. 0_o Me, I'm working on getting my license still. =P

[MsRowdyRedhead]

I only made one to see my GF's page. Never use it, tell people I don't have one. If you're not fairly popular, have pleanty of friends, social networks make you feel like a loser.

@ msrr- I consider cell service and internet acres to be as commonplace as having a TV or a microwave : rare and expensive once, but now a require part of day to day life. Every person I know without a cell phone has been severely hurt by an emergency in some way, that may not have happened if they had a way of reaching the outside world. One of my uncle's didn't even know my grampa was dying until 3 days after he died because he didn't have a cell phone at the time, and worked really long hours. He's since gotten a cell phone, but he still looks incredibly guilty every time my grampa is mentioned. My dad once broke his cell phone. While he was without it, his car broke downon the freeway.  He was unable to call for help, so he had to walk three miles in the middle of the summer to find a phone he could use to get help. The insurance was not kind. My grandmother once fell when she was out getting the mail and hurt her back, she couldn't get up. It was late at night, and she had left her cell phone indoors. No one knew where she was untill about 9AM the next day when someone driving by found her half in a bush.

A basic phone is not expensive. And without one, you are going to be left behind. If you can't be contacted, you're screwed. Its like driving without a seatbelt. It doesn't matter if you have it or not, but when something happens and you don't have it you're going to regret it for a long time. My mom's parents have the most simplistic cell phones they could get. Costs them $49 a month, for both their phones.

And as for internet/computer access.... well good luck doing homework or filing a job application without it
 

O really??

Pretty much every jr high school kid in  suburbia does...

[Mahri828]

 Hey, Blade isn't in Jr. High though. =P

 And I already have my license. My mom prefers me to take her phone whenever I go somewhere, but it's not necessary.

[Magical Girl Mimi]

No, I'm not even in school anymore. =P

[Mahri828]

 Lucky. XD

 I hate Chemistry... But other than that and my Calc proffesor, it's not too bad. =P

[Magical Girl Mimi]

Eh, who knows if it's luck or not. Probably is. =P

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Hey, Blade isn't in Jr. High though. =P

Read back.. wasn't talking about Blade =P

No, I'm not even in school anymore. =P

No college??

[mtmerrick]

I only made one to see my GF's page. Never use it, tell people I don't have one. If you're not fairly popular, have pleanty of friends, social networks make you feel like a loser.

@ msrr- I consider cell service and internet acres to be as commonplace as having a TV or a microwave : rare and expensive once, but now a require part of day to day life. Every person I know without a cell phone has been severely hurt by an emergency in some way, that may not have happened if they had a way of reaching the outside world. One of my uncle's didn't even know my grampa was dying until 3 days after he died because he didn't have a cell phone at the time, and worked really long hours. He's since gotten a cell phone, but he still looks incredibly guilty every time my grampa is mentioned. My dad once broke his cell phone. While he was without it, his car broke downon the freeway.  He was unable to call for help, so he had to walk three miles in the middle of the summer to find a phone he could use to get help. The insurance was not kind. My grandmother once fell when she was out getting the mail and hurt her back, she couldn't get up. It was late at night, and she had left her cell phone indoors. No one knew where she was untill about 9AM the next day when someone driving by found her half in a bush.

A basic phone is not expensive. And without one, you are going to be left behind. If you can't be contacted, you're screwed. Its like driving without a seatbelt. It doesn't matter if you have it or not, but when something happens and you don't have it you're going to regret it for a long time. My mom's parents have the most simplistic cell phones they could get. Costs them $49 a month, for both their phones.

And as for internet/computer access.... well good luck doing homework or filing a job application without it
 

O really??

Pretty much every jr high school kid in  suburbia does...

if i had kids, and we couldn't take them to school and pick them up ourselves, they'd have cell phones. probably only the most basic ones, but they'd need to have some way of contacting us if the bus broke down, there was a bully, ect. i wouldn't consider letting them go out where i had no idea where they were, what they were doing, untill they come home all by themselves. this would eb doubly true if they came home to an empty house. And in jr high? more than ever.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Where did cell phones come in?? I was talking about expecting new computers and such??

And believe it or not, MILLIONS of kids survive just fine without a cell phone.

[mtmerrick]

i know they do, i also know millions of parents are not what any of us would consider good parents.

and lets face it, the world was a lot nicer place when you were a kid.

and as for computers.... well having something that sucks... well.... it sucks. its natural to want something better. look at blade. you gonna say he's ungrateful if he asked for a new one on a fairly frequent basis?

[Mahri828]

 I agree that cell phones aren't neccessary. But they are definitely something that makes communication way easier. I would say that cells are much more than a luxury.

[mtmerrick]

they aren't necessary. but at a certain point in your life (which is different for everyone) it becomes irresponsible to NOT have one.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

LOL.. There is no way a cell phone is necessary for kids... and considering how distracting they are in school, most schools don't allow them.
As for the bus scenario, it's the drivers job to take care of the kids..
And the cell phone examples you used were all adults anyhow.

And as I mentioned in the PM you have already answered, I am not talking about Blade.. but if I were...and he is a perfect example of the OPPOSITE.. he does not EXPEXT or think he is ENTITLED TO a better computer... he just wishes he had one and is willing to wait and WORK for it.. which is admirable.

[Magical Girl Mimi]

What MsRR says is right. I'm willing to get one myself; I just don't have the funds for it right now. But there'll likely be two things I'll be saving up for once I get a job: A computer from this decade, and a phone. Phone so I can keep in touch with people better than email, and a new computer because this one's just getting slow and old, unfortunate as it is. =/(I can still use it... but I do have to wonder how long it'll last)

That said; I don't exactly agree with people who switch computers every two months or every year, just because some new and 'awesome' comes along. There's a reason I still have my GBA SP, or my DS Phat, or, heck, every my PS2 original. I don't just hop onto the new boardwagon and want everything that's new. Sure; would a DSi have been nice? Yes, it had a ton of upgrades compared to the original DS. Was it worth it to wait? *Looks at 3DS* Yep. =) However; that being said, I know a good example of people who expect the newest iteration of something myself; and it's also the classic example. Had a DS Lite; wanted a DSi, got it when the old system was effectively too broken to play by accident. Saw my new 3DS, wanted it instantly. =P That, right there, fits in this conversation better.

[Mahri828]

 I got new running spikes! =D Zoom Nike Victory, the white ones; they're epic!