Likewise, I see it as a courtesy to my husband and security for me to have a cell phone on me at all times (even when I’m outside in our very rural yard with no close neighbors). I can’t think of a good reason why either hubby or kids should have to worry about me ever falling anywhere, getting hurt, etc. and not being able to call for help.

For the same reason, if either hubby or I were left alone after the death of the other, we would definitely have the Lifeline button/pushy thing (bracelet or neck thing) with which to call for help.

Some of the reasons for cell phone use actually are for the convenience and peace of others in our families.

We use our cell phones as our “private phones” also! We do NOT give the number to friends, acquaintances or business relationships. That’s what the landline is for. So that highly reduces the # of calls we get. I realize that’s not feasible for many folks.

I have heard that the rumor is that the new iPhone software coming out this summer will allow one to tether the iPhone to a computer to allow for 3G internet access. Not sure if there will be an extra charge. Wasn’t this your main gripe with the iPhone?

When I was thirteen, only doctors and firefighters needed to be immediately available at all times. They had pagers. No message, just a beep that told them to call the office. I think the President, some senators and governors, and a very few other rich and powerful people had “car phones”. My parents would leave me in charge of five younger siblings for three or four hours, and it was no big deal. I generally knew where they were going, but I don’t remember them leaving a phone number. In case of emergency, I had the numbers of the police and fire departments (this was before 911) and the phone on the wall. For non-emergency problems, I could get help form the neighbors. I tend to feel that people who think they, personally, must be contacted in any situation, and no one else could handle it, even temporarily, have an exaggerated idea of their own importance.

Myrrdin, I take it you (or your children) have no belly buttons? ;-)

2. I have a 14-month-old son. I feel no panic driving 80 miles with him weekly to visit my parents. People know when I leave there and my husband knows when to expect us back, and they know the route we take.

3. My husband has a cell phone for work, as in, the phone is issued by his employer. I’ll tell you what: his boss expects that phone to get answered whenever and wherever. I think cell phones really help drag out the workday into the worknight.

Not a fan, and was raised without one so I’m really very calm about not having one.

We are one such household with two boys (under two) and no landline. However, we make sure that either our babysitter has a cell phone or else we leave one of ours with her. Shouldn’t be her responsibility, IMHO.

My daughter babysits for one such family and when they leave home they take their cell phones with them, leaving my daughter with no way to contact them (or to call 911) and no way for them to contact her.

Unless she has a cell phone.

Is this her responsibility?

~pardon the brevity; sent from my Nokia E71

Personally I think it’s irresponsible to attach your children to an umbilical cord.

When I was a kid, my parents chose not to have a television. This made a lot of people so uncomfortable, they had to come up with a reason we “needed” to have one.

So now they say it’s “irresponsible” not to have a cell phone. They generally give one of two reasons:

1. People need to be able to reach
you in an emergency. No one has ever had an emergency where not being able to reach me until I arrived someplace that had a phone would have resulted in loss of life or limb. Usually, it’s only an inconvenience. For most situations, there is always someone else they could call. Even if one of my children were in an accident, and no one could reach me or my wife, any police officer can act as temporary guardian and approve emergency medical care. Look up the law in your state.

It’s rare that even I am unreachable for more than an hour or two. When I forget my cell phone, turn it off, of just leave it home because I’m tired of telemarketers and other jerks who have to talk to me at their convenience, not mine, there is always someone reachable by phone who knows where I’m going, and when and where I can be reached again. Not because I make a special effort, but because people are such natural busybodies, they have to know where I am at all times, and they can’t believe I’m not always reachable by cell phone. The thought of someone actually having to leave a message frightens them. Do these people take their phones in the shower? I’ve heard them take calls in public restrooms.

2. You need to be able to call for help in an emergency. This has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. As more people are pressured to get cell phones in case of emergency, the phone companies are removing all pay phones, starting in poor urban neighborhoods.

So Instead of carrying 50 cents, (oh, let’s be generous and say 2 bucks) that you only have to use in an emergency, you have to buy cell phone service. Even the prepaid phones require you to add minutes periodically, whether you’ve used your old minutes or not, just to keep your service. The best deal I’ve seen is $20 plus shipping for the phone, then $15 a month to maintain service whether you use it or not. Again, the poor are the hardest hit.

And if you break down on the side of the road, most people will assume you have a cell phone to call for help. I’ve had people stop to make sure help was coming, but that’s becoming less common except in rural areas, where people feel safer and cell phone service is less reliable. So eventually, not carrying a cell will be as foolish as not carrying a spare tire. Are we there yet? Not in my area, but I don’t live in a big city.

A cell phone is a convenience we’re all expected to have, but not a necessity. I mean, what did doctors, on call, do before the cell phone? They managed quite well because they didn’t know it could be any different. We are now part of a society that is all about quickness, convenience, and multi-tasking. That said, I do take my cell phone everywhere and use it often, but don’t feel as though I have to answer it. And, it’s a convenience I’m usually glad I have.

I originally bought one for roadside emergencies but now I also use it for client services.

There are few people who know my direct office line but those who do can get transferred directly to my cell when I’m away from work.

Plus there are a handful of people in my life that I want to be available for anytime, anywhere.

Plus, it makes it a lot easier for my transplant coordinator to find me.

I’m sure some people used to think: “Why have an indoor toilet? The outdoor one works just fine.”

“Why buy a CD player? Music sounds great on tapes.”

“Why buy a DVD player? I see nothing wrong with videocassettes.”

On the social side of things, it’s very annoying for me to see people enslaved to their cell phone, feeling an obligation to take the stinkin’ thing with them everywhere and always answering no matter the company. I often leave mine at home when my wife and I go out because she always has hers :-)

I do think cell phones have bought about some serious respect issues, like talking on the phone when you’re checking out at the store or ordering lunch – rude!

I love having a cell phone, but find zero negligence for those who choose not to own one, especially in your case – you’re always on the computer and you have a land line – why would you need one?

There is a quote from Inherit the Wind that laments the price of progress: “Progress have never been cheap-you have to pay for it…You may have your telephone, but you will lose privacy, the charm of distance. Mister, you may conquer the air but the birds will lose their wonder and the clouds will smell of gasoline.”

I say to hold out.

The conveniences of a cell phone far outweigh any negatives. Personally, I think it’s irresponsible not to have one if you’re married or have children.

before cell phones, i couldn’t have made good use of driving time by calling friends and family to catch up.

before cell phones, i would have had to pay for a landline anyway, and i couldn’t even take it anywhere.

before cell phones, if i broke down on the side of the road, i’d have to unsafely walk to a call box (do those work anymore?) or find a pay phone (i NEVER see those anymore).

before cell phones, in case of emergency, people would just have to wait until i got home to tell me.

none of these things are, in 99% of cases, life-threateningly bad. but throw in the expectation that 99% of people have that they should be able to reach you ASAP, and it’s a pretty good case to get one.

I had a buddy who held out for a long time, “I don’t need to be always available” and all that, but finally had to get one when his friends cut him off and said “Dude, you use a cell phone, you just don’t pay for it.”