Privacy Issues

[O Really]

So, Mr.B, are you going to give us a real answer to why you think smartphones are a "scourge" or are we to think your entire opinion is adequately represented by a "MotivatedPhotos" poster? Sure, the pic appears to depict people in physical proximity isolating themselves by using their phones. Undoubtedly that happens. On the other hand, they could both be watching the same "bear steals dumpster" vid and enjoying it together. But if they really are isolating, is that the fault of the technology or the fault of the (mis)user?

[Ombudsman]

On the other hand, they could both be watching the same "bear steals dumpster" vid and enjoying it together.

Or given the fact that this is a stock photo from Getty Images, that all three are perfectly composed, all three are carrying identically shaped pastel colored shopping bags (even the guys) that match their clothes, it's probably just a staged shot.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo ... e/75162987

[bannination]

"Scourge? No way."

"I call B.S., you left porn off the list."

"Who bothers to look a porn on a phone?"

Who even bothers to look at porn?....just walk around Walmart.

To be fair, most human interaction is overrated anyway.

[Mr.B]

"So, Mr.B, are you going to give us a real answer to why you think smartphones are a "scourge" or are we to think your entire opinion is adequately represented by a "MotivatedPhotos" poster? Sure, the pic appears to depict people in physical proximity isolating themselves by using their phones. Undoubtedly that happens. On the other hand, they could both be watching the same "bear steals dumpster" vid and enjoying it together. But if they really are isolating, is that the fault of the technology or the fault of the (mis)user?"

You use yours for business; that's OK.

Just look around the next time you go shopping , etc. and see how many people are so absorbed in their phones they can't carry on a conversation, watch where they're going, eat, enjoy a movie, drive...the list is endless. I've even seen people texting at funeral home visitations, funerals, and church services. Teens walk around in a stupor with their finger furiously pounding the screens of their cell phones....
The "scourge" is in the idiotic things completely dominating some people's lives.

I used the poster as an example only. I have seen photos of other smartphone dominations, but I couldn't locate the links to them.
I did find some interesting info:

U.S. teenagers are sending or receiving an average of 3,339 text messages a month, more than six every hour they're awake, according to a study released by Nielsen. Teen girls aged 13 to 17 were the most-active users, receiving 4,050 texts per month. Teen boys outpaced other male age groups, receiving an average of 2,539 texts per month. Young adults came in a distant second with 1,630 text messages per month. The company compiled its study using recent data from the monthly cellphone bills of more than 60,000 mobile subscribers, as well as survey data from more than 3,000 teens. Much of this growth has exploded in just the past two years.

A 2008 study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that only 38 percent of teens were texting daily. A 2008 study by Nielsen put safety as the No. 1 reason for getting a cellphone, but texting has now displaced it as the top reason. The growth in texting has coincided with a slide in cellphone voice use by teens. Voice consumption has decreased 14 percent among teens over the past two years. A hearty 94 percent of teen subscribers now identify themselves as advanced data users, turning to their cellphones for messaging, Internet, multimedia, gaming and downloads. Their data use has increased from 14 MB per month to 62 MB per month in just the last year. Much of the data boost is attributable to teen boys, who consume 75 MB of data per month compared with 17 MB per month last year.

Hot date!


Lifeline!

[neoplacebo]

Just look around the next time you go shopping , etc. and see how many people are so absorbed in their phones they can't carry on a conversation, watch where they're going, eat, enjoy a movie, drive...the list is endless. I've even seen people texting at funeral home visitations, funerals, and church services. Teens walk around in a stupor with their finger furiously pounding the screens of their cell phones....
The "scourge" is in the idiotic things completely dominating some people's lives.

Yes, very much so. I have never had a cell phone; I find it to be advantageous for privacy to not have one. I do have a land line telephone, but I would say I glare at it more than I answer it. Probably 70% of the numbers that call my phone are ones I consider to be on my "do not answer" list.

[O Really]

Yes, I use mine for business, but most of those "business" things apply to the rest of my life, too. F'rinstance, I use the compass and GPS when hiking, along with logging trails and recording distance. I use Weatherbug for live radar to see if anything foul is coming my way. I find the nearest grocery or Redbox to wherever we're camping. I find movie schedules, and sometimes get tickets. I buy concert tickets through Ticketmaster. We get recipes, sometimes based on what we already have on hand. We "attend" events in our daughter's life, from across the country. Did I say I definitely get my money's worth from my mobile?

But the statistics in your article are interesting, but not very meaningful. One reason text usage is up is because it's way easier to text than it used to be and costs less than it used to. To compare text usage from 2008 to 2013 is like comparing the increase in home computers in a five-year period from, say, 1988-1993. And teenagers, particularly males? Before they had mobiles, they had gameboys. Before that, they just sulked and mumbled. And sure, much of the texted "communication" is worthless. But much of their "live" talk is, too. I'd guess that when you were a teenager, you probably spent as much time on the phone as I, talking about nothing to the girlfriend of your day.

IMNVHO, technology has changed more than teenagers have.

[Ombudsman]

MrB, you criticize people using smart phones in public but somehow I have a hard time seeing you as the kind of guy who walks into a public place and starts conversing with people. I imagine you more as a "get off my lawn" kinda fellow. So are you trying to tell us that when you go to Wal-Mart you're walking around making small talk with other customers?

[bannination]

Mr B might be jealous he didn't think of this.

[Mr.B]

"MrB, you criticize people using smart phones in public but somehow I have a hard time seeing you as the kind of guy who walks into a public place and starts conversing with people. I imagine you more as a "get off my lawn" kinda fellow. So are you trying to tell us that when you go to Wal-Mart you're walking around making small talk with other customers?"

I'm not criticizing them.....I am making light of the fact that so many teens, and young adults, walk around with their noses engrossed in their phones, and can't speak three words publicly before they begin staring at their phones. As far as my being personable, you're very wrong. I can start a conversation with anyone, anywhere. I have passed strangers in Walmart and other public places, and have spoken to them, many of whom do not respond back. I have been told that I have never met a stranger. The only people I tell to "get off my lawn" is telemarketers.

O Really, the usage you described is why people with active lifestyles purchase the CP contracts.....daily information; and CP's are great for doing that.
My ridicule is the addiction to the silly things. My phone does a great job of making calls and occasional brief text messages, and does have a browser
which I never use.

[Mr.B]

"Mr B might be jealous he didn't think of this."

Been there, done that; wound up on a blind date. Didn't start out that way, but she had a can of pepper spray!

[Ombudsman]

I have passed strangers in Walmart and other public places, and have spoken to them, many of whom do not respond back.

That explains all those tweets about the creepy guy at Wal-Mart.

[Mr.B]

"That explains all those tweets about the creepy guy at Wal-Mart."

Oh.....you were there too?

[O Really]

My ridicule is the addiction to the silly things. My phone does a great job of making calls and occasional brief text messages, and does have a browser
which I never use.

Are you sure it's addiction and not utility? Things start making sense to use when they become easier or better to use than other alternatives. There's nothing wrong with saying "this is a phone and that's all I want it to be." But if you could get a tool that did all the things I've mentioned above (and much more) and did it easier and quicker than most any other alternative, why would anyone find it "silly" - even if they chose not to use it?

Like, for example, when they started putting cameras in phones it was somewhat of a novelty. Why would anybody want to take pics with their phone? But now, the quality of camera in the mobile is better than what you'd get in most mid-range cameras available. A lot of apps used to be novelties, too. Yes, the mobile would show you a map, but it would be slow,fuzzy, and unless you were desparate, not a good choice. Now, you've go the same (or better) Google maps on your mobile as you have on your PC. Use the tech or not, but it's far from "silly."

[bannination]

My ridicule is the addiction to the silly things. My phone does a great job of making calls and occasional brief text messages, and does have a browser
which I never use.

Are you sure it's addiction and not utility? Things start making sense to use when they become easier or better to use than other alternatives. There's nothing wrong with saying "this is a phone and that's all I want it to be." But if you could get a tool that did all the things I've mentioned above (and much more) and did it easier and quicker than most any other alternative, why would anyone find it "silly" - even if they chose not to use it?

Like, for example, when they started putting cameras in phones it was somewhat of a novelty. Why would anybody want to take pics with their phone? But now, the quality of camera in the mobile is better than what you'd get in most mid-range cameras available. A lot of apps used to be novelties, too. Yes, the mobile would show you a map, but it would be slow,fuzzy, and unless you were desparate, not a good choice. Now, you've go the same (or better) Google maps on your mobile as you have on your PC. Use the tech or not, but it's far from "silly."

The prices for data texting are definitely silly when it's valued by the companies at over $1,000 per MB. How they've talked people into believing that's a value is beyond me.

http://techcrunch.com/2008/07/01/atts-t ... -megabyte/

[O Really]

The "value" of most stuff is whatever people are willing to pay. As the article said, those fees are there to "encourage" users to get a package plan. I'll bet with a little effort we could come up with a lot of other things where the "value" is all smoke and mirrors. Cinema popcorn, soft drinks and tea most anywhere, time share units, $40/night parking fee at a hotel, baggage fees, yada and yada.

[bannination]

The "value" of most stuff is whatever people are willing to pay. As the article said, those fees are there to "encourage" users to get a package plan. I'll bet with a little effort we could come up with a lot of other things where the "value" is all smoke and mirrors. Cinema popcorn, soft drinks and tea most anywhere, time share units, $40/night parking fee at a hotel, baggage fees, yada and yada.

Sure, those are also things I avoid like the plague. Except for Nyquil, that stuff is probably very expensive per ounce, but worth it when the occasion arises.

I don't fault anyone for having them, it just so happens that most people that have them complain about not having any money all the time. I guess not when your cell phone bills for the family top off at over $200-$300 a month... to talk....
Then they complain about gas prices. /facepalm.

Sure it's a value in the business world where time could be worth a great amount of money.

[O Really]

Here's one for you, Mr.B. (clean site)
http://stopphubbing.com/

[Cowboy]

Sure, those are also things I avoid like the plague. Except for Nyquil, that stuff is probably very expensive per ounce, but worth it when the occasion arises.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gce0zMhXnjQ

[neoplacebo]

Very seductive; sort of reminds me of George Thorougood's song "One bourbon, one Scotch, one beer." I've never had Nyquil, but I suspect it tastes bad. I'll stick with what I know.

[O Really]

http://news.msn.com/us/google-to-gmail- ... ct-privacy

"Google to Gmail users: Don't expect privacy"