Is your life better connected constantly?

[44267547]

For travelling, always-on connected tech is a wonderful thing. There have been too many near-catastrophes in my past (canceled flights, lay-overs and so forth); being able to use smartphone/smartwatch technology to solve or mitigate a problem is a God send.

Right, story here:

I was on vacation in Fort Myers back in July, and I actually intended on staying an extra day of vacation at my timeshare, but my airline wanted to charge me a $1000 to switch my ticket just for one day (That’s _insane_). Which I obviously wasn’t going to pay that price, but then I received a notification on my iPhone the next morning that I was supposed to depart originally, my flight had been delayed due to ‘inclement weather’, so I contacted the airline, they explained I could make any changes if I wanted to extend my ticket to leave the following day at no cost to me due to the uncertainty of my flight plan, so I quickly changed my flight pattern to stay an extra day at the resort on my iPhone under two minutes.

Needless to say behind this story, (not also did I score an extra day of vacation 😁), but it was due to the technology that sent me a notification to my iPhone letting me know about the delay, and I arranged an extension on my airline ticket for an extra day all under two minutes by having the internet on my iPhone staying connected to the airline through text/E-mail alerts. Years ago, it never would’ve worked like this in my situation. So I’m grateful to have technology that can efficiently and quickly benefit in this scenario.

TLDR:

Airlines suck, technology is king when you need it most to your benefit. 😁

 

[Gutwrench]

Right, story here

Airlines suck, technology is king when you need it most to your benefit. 😁

Meh, enjoy traveling by wagon train. Technology also helps to get you from Minneapolis-St Paul to SFO for < $100 safely in just a few hours...and you don’t even have to eat anyone in your traveling party.

 

[S.B.G]

For me, I wouldn't say better or worse, but different and sometimes annoying.

I fondly recall the days before Al Gore invented the Internet when all we had was the house phone. A house phone tied to the wall and no answering machine either. If someone called and we were home, they might get to talk to us. If we left the house, we left the phone and when someone called, it could ring and ring for hours if they chose to let it go that long. When we'd return home, we'd never know that someone ever called either. I miss those days. We've made ourselves have the social expectation that we should always answer our phone when it rings because we always have them with us and that there is almost no reason not to answer it.

My screen addiction started when I received the Nintendo Entertainment System (around 1988) and that is when technology affirmed its grip on my life.

I enjoy playing with and learning about technology and related things, I really do. But at the same time, the duplicity of my love of tech and the longing desire of disconnecting from tech battle in my mind.

When I walk away from the computer I do try to leave the phone or tablet behind as well and do something analog - not digital. But the most annoying thing to me of tech is all the alerts. The non-stop beeps and boops are annoying. I've turned off all alerts on my phone except for the telephone and text messages - both of which I get rather few of, and thankfully. All the other apps and emails and such are shut off, including unread badge icons. So that means I only know I have an unread email when I choose to go into the app and check for them. Just changing those settings have enhanced my wellbeing greatly. I don't mind being as "connected" in that way and it gives me a bit of control over the tech rather than the tech having total control over me.

I'd love to be able to leave my phone at home when I go out, but job duties and an ill family member preclude me from leaving it behind.

If I weren't into technology I'd be into something else and would no doubt be able to survive and find ways to accomplish things without it, just as a society did before contemporary technology emerged.

So, to me, I don't view technology as making my life better per se, but rather different than what it would have been without it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For me, I wouldn't say better or worse, but different and sometimes annoying.

I fondly recall the days before Al Gore invented the Internet when all we had was the house phone. A house phone tied to the wall and no answering machine either. If someone called and we were home, they might get to talk to us. If we left the house, we left the phone and when someone called, it could ring and ring for hours if they chose to let it go that long. When we'd return home, we'd never know that someone ever called either. I miss those days. We've made ourselves have the social expectation that we should always answer our phone when it rings because we always have them with us and that there is almost no reason not to answer it.

My screen addiction started when I received the Nintendo Entertainment System (around 1988) and that is when technology affirmed its grip on my life.

I enjoy playing with and learning about technology and related things, I really do. But at the same time, the duplicity of my love of tech and the longing desire of disconnecting from tech battle in my mind.

When I walk away from the computer I do try to leave the phone or tablet behind as well and do something analog - not digital. But the most annoying thing to me of tech is all the alerts. The non-stop beeps and boops are annoying. I've turned off all alerts on my phone except for the telephone and text messages - both of which I get rather few of, and thankfully. All the other apps and emails and such are shut off, including unread badge icons. So that means I only know I have an unread email when I choose to go into the app and check for them. Just changing those settings have enhanced my wellbeing greatly. I don't mind being as "connected" in that way and it gives me a bit of control over the tech rather than the tech having total control over me.

I'd love to be able to leave my phone at home when I go out, but job duties and an ill family member preclude me from leaving it behind.

If I weren't into technology I'd be into something else and would no doubt be able to survive and find ways to accomplish things without it, just as a society did before contemporary technology emerged.

So, to me, I don't view technology as making my life better per se, but rather different than what it would have been without it.

Actually, I have trained myself (and that verb, too, is telling) not to have to necessarily answer the phone (my personal phone) when it rings. Instead, I return the call at a time that may be convenient later on.

And, as with your good self, I have turned off alerts. The computer is completely silent, unless I wish to play music on it, likewise the phone, most of the time.

Texts I like - and respond to, as needed, - after all, I am a fan of the written word, and it is one that I have noticed is used quite a bit by my former academic colleagues and friends - and the voicemail on my mobile has not been set up, so good luck trying to reach me that way.

I still use a landline, and find it most convenient.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

What I find funny sometimes, is the aggrieved tone often taken (mostly by males, but occasionally also by female acquaintances) by those whose calls are not returned swiftly.

They find it inexplicable that I either don't hear them, or, don't feel a pressing and overwhelming need to respond instantly in a sort of quasi-Pavlovian manner to their calls or texts.

Whereas, on the other hand, if someone doesn't get back to me quickly, I am not terribly concerned unless it is something of vital importance (such as during my mother's illness if and when she took a bad turn, and we needed medical advice and assistance, or a flight that I must take that may have been cancelled or postponed) and instead, will generally assume that they have more pressing things on their minds and that they will return my call when it is convenient for them to do so.

 

[44267547]

Meh, enjoy traveling by wagon train. Technology also helps to get you from Minneapolis-St Paul to SFO for < $100 safely in just a few hours...and you don’t even have to eat anyone in your traveling party.

I actually had to process the ‘wagon train’ quote for a moment 😁, I guess that’s the trade-off for the convenience of flying versus other transportation. But as you know, I’m always hungry.😁

 

[D.T.]

I fondly recall the days before Al Gore invented the Internet when all we had was the house phone. A house phone tied to the wall and no answering machine either. If someone called and we were home, they might get to talk to us. If we left the house, we left the phone and when someone called, it could ring and ring for hours if they chose to let it go that long. When we'd return home, we'd never know that someone ever called either. I miss those days. We've made ourselves have the social expectation that we should always answer our phone when it rings because we always have them with us and that there is almost no reason not to answer it.

Underlined ==

re: phone calls ...

I don't like talking on the phone, never have. I particularly don't like it in any kind of professional context - I prefer email, and it's not I'm anti social, I like a written history of communication, and in my industry, I find if you can't clearly and concisely articulate a question/issue/request in a written format, you need to better form your thoughts vs. hopping on a call and having some kind of meandering discussion where details get lost.

I guess more on topic: I've been into tech / in the tech sector for a long time, and I'm old enough to have been without it, then an early adopter, using it for fun, and eventually leveraging it in a professional capacity. However, even as much as I'm in/around tech, I tend not to be very absorbed in mobile tech. I carry my iPhone for "on demand" communication (like the wife and I are coordinating our whereabouts), maybe a weather check, occasional photos, but I can also easily go without it. Our travel friend can't keep her nose out of her phone, I mean, she's constantly worried about charging it, checking it, and go offline even though I have more potentially "mission critical" needs to communicate.

 

[Apple fanboy]

We have an answerphone at home and will never pick up before we know who it is.
I’d be fine without a landline, but Mrs AFB uses it as her mobile is a pay and go mobile (dumb phone from years ago).

 

[eyoungren]

For me, I wouldn't say better or worse, but different and sometimes annoying.

I fondly recall the days before Al Gore invented the Internet when all we had was the house phone. A house phone tied to the wall and no answering machine either. If someone called and we were home, they might get to talk to us. If we left the house, we left the phone and when someone called, it could ring and ring for hours if they chose to let it go that long. When we'd return home, we'd never know that someone ever called either. I miss those days. We've made ourselves have the social expectation that we should always answer our phone when it rings because we always have them with us and that there is almost no reason not to answer it.

My screen addiction started when I received the Nintendo Entertainment System (around 1988) and that is when technology affirmed its grip on my life.

I enjoy playing with and learning about technology and related things, I really do. But at the same time, the duplicity of my love of tech and the longing desire of disconnecting from tech battle in my mind.

When I walk away from the computer I do try to leave the phone or tablet behind as well and do something analog - not digital. But the most annoying thing to me of tech is all the alerts. The non-stop beeps and boops are annoying. I've turned off all alerts on my phone except for the telephone and text messages - both of which I get rather few of, and thankfully. All the other apps and emails and such are shut off, including unread badge icons. So that means I only know I have an unread email when I choose to go into the app and check for them. Just changing those settings have enhanced my wellbeing greatly. I don't mind being as "connected" in that way and it gives me a bit of control over the tech rather than the tech having total control over me.

I'd love to be able to leave my phone at home when I go out, but job duties and an ill family member preclude me from leaving it behind.

If I weren't into technology I'd be into something else and would no doubt be able to survive and find ways to accomplish things without it, just as a society did before contemporary technology emerged.

So, to me, I don't view technology as making my life better per se, but rather different than what it would have been without it.

As a young kid at home by himself a lot, being disconnected from things is not how I want to be. I may ignore notifications and sure if some are annoying I will make it so they aren't. But rather than disconnecting, I will just ignore stuff. If I don't want to be bothered I have no problems, no anxiety in ignoring a device.

But everyone is different.

Landlines: When I was dating my wife I did not have a cellphone and neither did she. This was 1995. She called me at home one day to meet her, pick her up and go out. The city she lived in was 30 mins away by car down the interstate. The intersection she gave me did not exist. I did not discover this until I got there. It was two parallel streets. So I drove back home to wait for her call. Which eventually came, she corrected the info and I went back down.

So, 1.5 hours of driving time wasted. My wife waiting on the same corner for an hour and a half to be picked up. 1.5 hours of gas wasted. A cellphone would have been a great thing to have then. But I didn't have one and neither did she.

She spent a lot of money and time on street corners using payphones when we were dating. When I was out by myself and needed to call home I spent a lot of time trying to FIND a payphone and my mom spent money paying for collect calls - assuming someone was still at home to pick up.

At some point my parents got an answering machine and we did too when we got married. It enabled us to screen calls. Not having to talk to anyone you didn't want to talk to was great. Before that, there was always the uncertainty that you'd end up talking to someone you didn't want to.

I look back at the 80s and 90s and sure there's a lot to recall fondly. But I would never trade what I have now to go back to that. When I started getting connected in 1984 things got better as it went along.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My father had worked with the state posts & telegraphs department (and remained with it for a while after it ceased to be the state telecom) and - since we are discussing 80s and 90s - he always made absolutely certain that I, his daughter, was exceptionally well equipped with several phone cards that had ample reserves of credit.

 

[eyoungren]

My father had worked with the state posts & telegraphs department (and remained with it for a while after it ceased to be the state telecom) and - since we are discussing 80s and 90s - he always made absolutely certain that I, his daughter, was exceptionally well equipped with several phone cards that had ample reserves of credit.

I got my first phone card in 1999 I think, roughly around the time we also got our first cellphones (but still had a landline). Long distance on cellphones was not cheap then.

My parents did get a cellphone of their own in 1995, but the plan was restrictive so it was used for emergencies mainly (on trips by car). I did use it one night to call in sick to work when I was out, so that was nice.

Calling collect though was our equivalent of a calling card.

 

[max2]

Does anyone here still use their phone and or tablet on a cruise ?

 

[bruinsrme]

I have no problem saying FTW.
Sometimes I just want to do nothing and/or not be bothered.
growing up without a tethered probably makes that easier.
My wife once said, what happens is something happens to a family member wouldn’t you want to know?
If they died I can’t change that.
If something serious happened? Me picking up the phone isn’t going to change anything. Sure I could be wrong in some circumstances.

 

[44267547]

Does anyone here still use their phone and or tablet on a cruise ?

I’m not sure why wouldn’t anyone bring their phone or tablet on a cruise, unless they want to be completely disconnected from the world. But even so, I’m headed on a cruise in April near the Bahamas/Turks & Caicos, And I most certainly would want some form of communication, my iPhone being the minimum standard I would bring.

 

[throAU]

Seems many people need to remember there is an OFF switch on their devices and communications

Just because you CAN be constantly connected, doesn't mean you can't unplug. Use the devices to enrich your life, don't let them rule it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Seems many people need to remember there is an OFF switch on their devices and communications

Just because you CAN be constantly connected, doesn't mean you can't unplug. Use the devices to enrich your life, don't let them rule it.

Exactly, and very well said, not least because I am in complete agreement with you.

 

[Healer Flame]

You have the choice to disconnect at any time but yeah sometimes i feel violated when some nasty apps and websites continuously ask for your location, contacts, camera , microphone..etc..etc...

 

[Apple fanboy]

I obviously use my iPhone differently to most. Never give the number out unless it’s someone I want to contact me. Never allow notifications from any app and never give out my (well the one connected to anything) email either.

Notifications are generally from who I want to hear from. Maybe 1 junk call once a month. No more.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I obviously use my iPhone differently to most. Never give the number out unless it’s someone I want to contact me. Never allow notifications from any app and never give out my (well the one connected to anything) email either.

Notifications are generally from who I want to hear from. Maybe 1 junk call once a month. No more.

On the rare occasions I give my number out, it is always with the condition that the person in question clear it with me before giving my number to anyone else.

Of course, if people become tedious, there is always the option to block them, and I have done that, as well.