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Okay, if we accept that landlines are thing of the past and cellular service is the phone alternative then we pretty much accept the smartphone is involved. There do remain legitimate reasons to have one despite all of the privacy-destroying negatives.

So here is an alternative which would maintain the modern phone system, maintain the useful aspects (2-Factor Authentication apps, mobile banking deposits, etc...), yet stop the abuse of privacy and roadblock future (maybe near term) Orwellian abuses, digital vaccine passport apps coming first in mind.

Leave the smartphone on the desk at home. It becomes the new landline. Text messages and voicemail become the new answering machine.

Could we start a movement to this effect? Yes, there are so many conveniences afforded now such as navigation and whatnot but I clearly remember living just fine before cell phones existed.

What does Poal think?

Okay, if we accept that landlines are thing of the past and cellular service is the phone alternative then we pretty much accept the smartphone is involved. There do remain legitimate reasons to have one despite all of the privacy-destroying negatives. So here is an alternative which would maintain the modern phone system, maintain the useful aspects (2-Factor Authentication apps, mobile banking deposits, etc...), yet stop the abuse of privacy and roadblock future (maybe near term) Orwellian abuses, digital vaccine passport apps coming first in mind. Leave the smartphone on the desk at home. It becomes the new landline. Text messages and voicemail become the new answering machine. Could we start a movement to this effect? Yes, there are so many conveniences afforded now such as navigation and whatnot but I clearly remember living just fine before cell phones existed. What does Poal think?

(post is archived)

[–] • 6 pts

I have considered it and I would definitely do it, except that I am a voracious consumer of information. I love reading articles and I am by nature a very curious person and if I have a question in mind, I am spoiled and now used to being able to immediately research the answer and then maybe learn a couple more things that are related to the initial inquiry. Most people just want their phone on them to access FB and IG.

[–] • 5 pts

You're screen addicted and addicted to dopamine bursts of new things to look at constantly, just admit it.

[–] • 0 pt

Not so much, I'm usually reading news articles and looking up stuff. I watch a fair share of Youtubes, too. It is a mix.

[–] • 4 pts

News = novelty = dopamine Looking up stuff = immediate gratification = dopamine Youtube = want to be entertained = dopamine

It's as if they don't want you doing anything but constantly consuming.

[–] • 2 pts

No, you really need to listen to this guy. I have the same addiction you do. Watch the documentary "the minds of men" by Aaron and Melissa Dykes ASAP to learn about what you are doing to your brain

[–] • 0 pt

All with screens

[–] • 0 pt

He's right, you are addicted. So am I. Even this obsession with truthful info to combat the lies is a trick to keep you involved in the degeneracy and traumatize you. Very few are able to move past and live a real life.

[–] • 2 pts

Pick up an old mp3 player, download some books you've been meaning to read, download some podcasts (use VLC to rip the sound out if needed), put that shit on your new infotainment device, and carry that with a one-ear earphone or similar device.

[–] • 0 pt

Same here, actually. My entire news sources are customized feeds on my phone and I enjoy having access to that from anywhere any time. And the ability to lookup whatever whenever. But I think I could adapt. I'm wondering if, with enough momentum, others could as well. We are at a point where the motivation and rationale is starting to become apparent to the average person. I'm just curious here if others think it's near to bring enough.

[–] • 2 pts

The problem is that everyone one else depends and expects you to have your phone on you at all times. I tried going to basic phone and even that was terrible when work people are sending me group texts, pictures or emails. But I wish we could go back to no cell phones.

[–] • 1 pt

This exactly. Once only mission-critical persons were contactable 24/7. Now we all are. There is no "away." But moreso there is about to be requirement to be digital at all times -- a hash-based version of "show me your papers, comrade" -- that society is voluntarily waltzing into. All because it's an assumed given that we carry these damned things and have no reason not to comply.

[–] • 2 pts

You can just put your smartphone in a pouch of folded aluminum foil. Try it. Just fold all edges after the phone is inside. It really works. Then you have it for emergencies and whatnot.

[–] • 2 pts

Get a non-smartphone.

You only need a phone to call and text, you don't need any of the other rubbish. I've never had a smartphone.

[–] • 1 pt

I actually do use mine for my employers VPN 2FA app and mobile deposit. For that you need a smart phone. But, in general, you're right. A good friend of mine does exactly that - never had a smartphone.

[–] • 1 pt

Get a cheap flip phone, put something like Tello on it for ~$6 a month, then get a pay-as-you-go smartphone to keep at home for ~$30 (but never activate it with service, just use on WiFi).

[–] • 1 pt

I use KeePass for 2FA. As long as it's TOTP you can do it easily.

[–] • 1 pt

They’ll be able to track you by your car in the longterm, many ppl are already trackable by vehicle.

[–] • 0 pt

Had this conversation with a friend a few days ago. My wife's Tahoe has Wi-Fi so there's already data uplink for God knows what kind of instrumentation. It's got a mic in it to make OnStar work, so there is provision right there for audio monitoring. It also has voice command. The average person fails to grasp that the way all of those technologies recognize a command, like Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, etc..., Is that they MUST listen all the time to everything.

So new tracking and reporting to requirements packed into this Biden infrastructure bill probably bring nothing new to the table.

Anyone have a '70 Mach One you'd like to part with real cheap?

[–] • 1 pt

65 mercury....88 toy pickup.

[–] • 0 pt

I wish I could give more than one upvote.

[–] • 1 pt

They're putting cellular radios in a lot of cars now that collect "telemetry" even if you never activate it. The manufacturers claim it's so you can have a WiFi hotspot in your car, but read the fine print.

[–] • 1 pt

If you're involved in a defensive shooting, it's good to have a phone on you so you can immediately call 911 and then your attorney. Otherwise, it's great to leave them at home.

[–] • 0 pt

Sadly, this is probably the biggest driving reason of our time that leaving a phone at home would be impractical.

[–] • 1 pt

I do that already

[–] • 1 pt

I have a DAP and usually leave my phone at home. Its liberating

[–] • 0 pt

What’s a DAP?

[–] • 2 pts

Digital Audio Player. I rip tidal FLAC with Audials and shove it on a 512GB microsd. It makes listening to music on your phone a thing of the past.. The quality is exponentially better

[–] • 0 pt

Any good player recommendations? Audio over bluetooth to my car is about 90% of my phone leaving my house's use case. Does your player use bluetooth or 3.5mm?

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

What, you don't like the high-pitched squeal that comes from your phone's audio output??

[–] • 1 pt

I haven't had one for 5+ years. It's doable.

[–] • 0 pt

Please explain more about how you deal with certain expected obligations of having a phone. I can see limiting use of it, but you have entirely forgone having one entirely? Please explain more.

[–] • 0 pt

Home phone. That's all. I just tell people I don't have a mobile. I can get around text 99% of the time by using an email but that too defeats the purpose so I usually tell people to send something by regular mail or leave a message on the home phone.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

You can get a VoIP line for $1/mo. (Localphone). Don't even need a smartspyphone.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

Leaving it on my desk is what I do anyway, but I'm old

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