The cell refuseniks, an ever-shrinking club

Some 85 percent of adult Americans have cellphones. The rest have strategies for living without this tool.
(From The New York Times)

The story "The cell refuseniks, an ever-shrinking club" published October 24, 2009 at 6:00 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[getwired]

So... always being reachable is "scary", but dying from exposure because your car broke down in rural Vermont in December isn't?

Today there are really two arguments against having a cell phone, in my opinion.
1) Cost - monthly service can get expensive quick - but Ms. Catsos as an example would do well to at least buy a "disposable" pay as you go phone and keep it in her car.

2) Concern (valid or not) about cellular radiation - only time will tell if this is a valid concern or not.

The common thread amongst all of the "cell-free" people in this article is a borderline narcissistic tendency to live without the technology even though it is inconveniencing those closest to them (friends who have to make special arrangements, friends who have to listen for a neighbor's dogs who are intentionally ticked off, and parents who have to go rescue a daughter).

If you want to live "off the cell grid", fine. But bear in mind you aren't just inconveniencing yourself.

[Random_Walk]

"...but dying from exposure because your car broke down in rural Vermont in December isn't?"

Actually...

* if you're prepared, that won't happen.
* any cell phone, activated or not, can dial 911. Back when I actively did not want/need a cell phone, this is what I did; I kept my old one charged and in the glove box whenever I left town.

I still have no personal cell phone, and I'm saving mountains of cash by not keeping one around. Has nothing to do with radiation - but everything to do with not giving unnecessary money to a carrier, when it's way cheaper to just have a Vonage line (esp. nowadays with the portable wifi skype-like rig-ups - saves tons of cash, esp. on calls made from overseas). I do have a blackberry that my employer gave me, but I don't use the thing except for work purposes.

This has nothing to do with narcissism - and nobody has to go out of their way for me (it's called meeting up at a time and place arranged in advance, like most civilized folks do).

PS: about the dogs... why doesn't the friend have a $#@! doorbell like most houses do?

[Valujet]

Very well put, getwired.

[faceless128]

yeesh... if i don't want to be bothered, i just turn my ringer off...

[luke_marsh]

I don't have a cell phone and don't want one until their stone sized and work best regarding mesh networks alongside standard phone masts. For visual computing stuff I want something with a bigger better screen and am waiting till the software's right. I loathe the current status quo all in one PDA phone concept but I'm no Luddite just an idealist. owee and putting the audio only into one ear thing I find that dismal It looks like 1984 quite literally so 1984.

[luke_marsh]

I don't have a cell phone and don't want one until their stone sized and work best regarding mesh networks alongside standard phone masts. For visual computing stuff I want something with a bigger better screen and am waiting till the software's right. I loathe the current status quo all in one PDA phone concept but I'm no Luddite just an idealist. owee and putting the audio only into one ear thing I find that dismal It looks like 1984 quite literally so 1984.

[teachtopia]

Is there going to be cell service in rural Vermont?


I don't count on my cell when lost in the woods. :-)

[yolanda_bernice]

I love my cell phone. I probably log less than 30mins a week on it most times, though. I usually forget to turn it on. I leave it off to save batteries. It's also my ebook reader. Well, and my pocket address book, calendar, and watch. Sometimes I even play mahjong on it. But the phone part is rarely on and even when it is, I can't hear it ring from inside my purse. You'll just have to leave a message I guess.
My point is that you can find a balance between Luddism and letting other people yank your strings all day.

[DemonDuck000]

I'm ambivalent on the issue. I have an emergency cell phone that I keep with me when I'm on the road. It just doesn't make any sense not to have such an emergency communications device especially here on the East side of the Sierra's and when most of the time you are 30 miles from any town.

I have a $25 for 3 month GoPhone. I think I have about 10,000 hours now because I never use it.

But I never, ever carry that cell phone around with me on a day to day basis and I always use a land line (POTS) for all my calls.

BTW: I also don't have a TV set or a stereo and I'm a computer programmer / digital panographer.

What am I???? :-)

[DemonDuck000]

I'm ambivalent on the issue. I have an emergency cell phone that I keep with me when I'm on the road. It just doesn't make any sense not to have such an emergency communications device especially here on the East side of the Sierra's and when most of the time you are 30 miles from any town.

I have a $25 for 3 month pay as you go phone. I think I have about 10,000 hours now because I never use it.

But I never, ever carry that cell phone around with me on a day to day basis and I always use a land line (POTS) for all my calls.

BTW: I also don't have a TV set or a stereo and I'm a computer programmer / digital panographer.

What am I???? :-)

[Mergatroid Mania]

Big deal.

So some people don't want a cell phone, and some people can't afford one. Did this get your panties in a knot or something? You base an entire article around it?
And to top it all off, you work for the New York Times? This is what passes for an interesting article in New York? All the good stories already taken? Couldn't find anything else to write about other than picking on people for not wanting or being able to afford cell phones?

My god, aren't you a professional writer? And you can't find something better to write about?

[corelogik]

With the low cost and availability of pay as you go cell phones, there is no reason or excuse to not have one. Even if all you use it for is emergencies, it's still there.

Some people will do anything to be "different". Way to show your rebel streak, cut yourself off from society, yay you!

[cvaldes1831]

I think everyone should have a cellphone for emergency reasons. They are really cheap these days. I am spending about $3 per month on a T-Mobile Pay-As-You-Go prepaid phone.

Most of the time it is shut off. Since it's tied to my Google Voice number, it's pointless to leave it on when there's a landline (home, work) nearby. And sometimes, I'd rather not be bothered.

It's very simple to own a cellphone for a nominal amount and not feel enslaved by it. For me, the key was the Google Voice service (known as GrandCentral when I subscribed). I passed around a number to friends and family that everyone thinks is a cellphone number, but 95% of the time, I'm answering on a landline.

[longtermsolutions]

There will always be people too stubborn to realize that something might actually make their life easier.

If you don't want people to reach you on your cell phone, there is an easy solution: TURN IT OFF.

If you can't afford it, try skipping your $4 Charbucks twice a week, or get a prepaid phone and keep yourself to a set maximum every month.

My son is 13 and has a cell phone, so that I can get in touch with him when he's at a friend's, or when he's at his mom's and her cell phone is turned off (she doesn't have a landline anymore).

If I were to have an emergency, or my car broke down, I'd be glad to have my cellphone; if I'm on my way to a meeting and I need directions, it's nice to have a phone to call ahead and get directions.

There are a thousand reasons to get a cell phone, and unless twenty dollars a month is too much, no reason not to have one. It's stupid for a twenty-something, a woman particularly, to not have her own phone. One experience at a smelly pay phone (if you can find one) would be enough for me.

[CyberShepherd]

I live east of the Cascades and agree with those who recommend the pre-paid phone for emergency use. It sure helped when the transmission failed on a Sunday on a rural highway and I had to call AAA to get a tow. It also helps when you drive 100 miles for a monthly shopping trip and the wife asked for A, but you find the store has something else, and need to call her about making a mid-course correction.

Phone cost - $29 with lifetime double minutes. Options - (1) every 3 months buy 60 (i.e. 120) minutes for $19 or 120 (i.e. 240) minutes for $29; (2) buy annual card with about 1000 minutes for $99. I found with either option I still build up minutes.

Sure beats the fleecing by Apple and AT&T. If you're really plush in the pocketbook you can spend $100 to $150 per month for their, or similar, phone and service.

The key disadvantage is that some really rural areas do not have cell coverage. You have to be careful where, and how, you travel.