OT Smart Phones

[Optimistic Nick]

Good or bad?

They have their uses obviously.

When could you so easily accept abuse off the missus while on a night out?
Checking train times, reading this board etc has never been so easy.

I find the phone impacts on parts of my life that I don't want it to and believe, as a whole, that they have had a big negative impact on the social aspect of life. You only have to go to your local restaurant or pub and watch a couple sat either side of their table heads down looking at their phones in silence.

The Gomorrah thread set me off thinking about it as I have had the same problems of picking up a phone almost involuntarily during a game or programme I want to watch and find it very frustrating at times and a habit that I want to stop or at least reduce a lot.

I'm sure this affects a lot on here and society in general with phones being so widespread.

Would we benefit if these phones were recalled en masse and replaced with some reissue Nokia brick from pre 2000?

I've started to notice that in restuarants too. Bizarre. I was always told that it was rude to look at your phone while at the table so god knows how it has becom so normal. I'm in my 30s and so remember a time and a social life before phones so maybe it is easier for me than a younger generation but is it really that much of an ask to put it away for an hour and speak to your friends/family?! I'd actually be in favour of pubs and restaurants that could block the signal. Some do ban their use, but don't physically prevent it: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...-a8846316.html.

As regards being nagged - simple fix. Just don't look at it. My wife wants me to install an app so she knows where I am because once I've had a pint or two, I tend to turn my phone off and she has no idea when I'll be home. Which is obviously a bit bad, but no way am I installing a tracker app. I've nothing to hide, but don't like the idea at all.

The other biggie is that cameras are everywhere now. Great in many ways, but thank god they weren't around when I was a student.

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

I've started to notice that in restuarants too. Bizarre. I was always told that it was rude to look at your phone while at the table so god knows how it has becom so normal. I'm in my 30s and so remember a time and a social life before phones so maybe it is easier for me than a younger generation but is it really that much of an ask to put it away for an hour and speak to your friends/family?! I'd actually be in favour of pubs and restaurants that could block the signal. Some do ban their use, but don't physically prevent it: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...-a8846316.html.

As regards being nagged - simple fix. Just don't look at it. My wife wants me to install an app so she knows where I am because once I've had a pint or two, I tend to turn my phone off and she has no idea when I'll be home. Which is obviously a bit bad, but no way am I installing a tracker app. I've nothing to hide, but don't like the idea at all.

The other biggie is that cameras are everywhere now. Great in many ways, but thank god they weren't around when I was a student.