Ask Lemmy

I was on the metro recently and didnt feel like using my phone. tried to zone out into space but kept feeling like people were looking at me funny, noticing I wasn't looking down at a phone. made me feel so u comfortable I took my phone out and forced myself to use it for the next 20 mins

I'd end up staring at people while I drink my coffee without my phone.

Not really, but I'm old. I grew up in the '80s and '90s. I still prefer not to forget my cell, mostly because there's no payphones anymore.

its basically social expectation to be on your phone when you are by yourself.

Books and newspapers are not forbidden (yet?)

Yeah but only because I have literally no personality and will stare blankly in space (and 9 times out of 10, in the direction of some random person) and I'm only worried about not blending in enough without starting stupid fights. I wasn't listening to your stupid conversation, I was completely zoned out but okay. It was probably a really stupid conversation about stupid marijuana products and brand names and "attractive" men who look like personified dead rats or something stupid I wasn't even interested in.

Not really. The only thing I'd be missing access to is where I am on my finances when shopping and I don't have it.

I don't even know how I survived the 90s. When you were waiting for the bus the most entertaining thing you could do was stare at your shoes or throw a rock at the stop sign

I'm 50, old enough to remember when we didn't have answering machines or call waiting or anything, and yet I can't go to the kitchen to stir my tea without my phone. I'm not saying it's good. To be fair I do read a lot of books on it though.

My take-out burrito wasn't ready on-time and I forgot my phone in my vehicle. I had to look at posters on the wall while I waited! Please pray for me, it was awful and I'm still traumatized.

About a decade ago, I fell and broke my ankle while out running.

It was only by sheer chance that this happened around a bunch of people, and I was able to get help immediately. If I'd been out somewhere else or at a different time, I would have been absolutely fucked.

Since that day, I never leave the house without my phone, ever.

(if I'm hiking somewhere out of range, then I map out my route and ensure that someone else knows where I'll be)

I've recently had to force myself to pay more attention to my phone. I keep putting it down and forgetting it for many hours at a time. I have to get better or one of these days I'm going to have left it outside my home or car, it's only a matter of time.

I wouldn’t know. That hasn’t happened since I got my first phone in the 90s. It’s always with me.

Nah.

I carry a stungun and that's enough for me. My NY resolution is actually to not carry my phone everywhere.

I do not. I don't feel awkward necessarily just sitting there doing nothing but I also tend to avoid situations where I am like that because I do get bored and impatient fairly easily. I also just don't like phones. I don't do much with mine other than the things I find very useful like calls, text messaging and maps. I much prefer my PC whenever possible.

I'm American, and I'm 40. I didn't have a mobile phone until I was like 19 and didn't have a smartphone until I was probably about 28 or something.

I understand why people would feel awkward without their phones for sure. Especially if that's what they are used to. I used to smoke cigarettes and I remember kinda feeling silly just standing there not smoking after I quit.

I feel weird if I go to the kitchen and don't have a phone with me. Then again, I'm weird, so having a phone with me may not be the issue.

No. I'm an 80s kid. It's kind of nice once in a while to forget it.

I imagine people with their phone in their faces while shopping, walking their dogs, etc. must have max anxiety over even the fleeting thought of not having their precious.

I feel weird if I'm taking a shit and I don't have my phone with me, forget about leaving the house without it.

Do you feel weird/anxious if you go outside and don't have a phone with you?

Nope. I sometimes forget my phone at home, no big deal I seldom use it. And even when I don't forget it I have zero social apps or games installed on it, not even email ;)

I only use it to pass phone calls and to manage IDs and finances (and it's only because my banks all require me to use their stupid apps, I would gladly tell them to go funk themselves but I need to be able to access my accounts).

What I never forget and I never hesitate to use whan I have the opportunity is a pocket book, so I always have something to read (without distraction, aka no Internet) and a pocket notebook/pen so I can write stuff (without any distraction, bugs, updates or whatever...) and in both case without any worry about being tracked.

so like its basically social expectation to be on your phone when you are by yourself.

Is it? And then people are surprised they're exhausted, and constantly anxious and/or angry at one another? Doom scrolling is poison for the mind and for the soul. I'd rather look around, or speak with people.

you are missing a lot of information

Do I? Well, so far it has not caused me much issues.

that you might need in case you get lost or something.

When that happens, I ask my way around to people. It sometime is a nice opportunity to start a real conversation ;)

edit: typos and clarification.

I think part of the problem is, because I always carry it, I keep thinking I've forgotten something. Or go to check the time or whatever and remember I don't have it.

I only get as awkward as the distance travelled

I'd be fine going to the mall, bit iffed since I don't have music to accompany me

I'd be damned if I visit hierapolis without my phone on me, fuck knows how I'll get back if I also lose my wallet

Only because I help to take care of my mom so if she calls and I don't answer... That could be bad

A bit, I need it for contactless payments as in my country we use eletronic payments for almost everything

Yes, very anxious. I dread being in any situation where I won't at least have an opportunity to dial for emergency services.

For the second yes, but mostly because I get lost very easily. The first not really, many people outside are not on their phones.

If it's just a local trip, I don't really care, as long as I'm confident I just left it somewhere at home. Sometimes feels awkward on the bus because everyone besides the local homeless person or the group riders talking to each other is on their phone, but it's fine.

If I'm somewhere unfamiliar I can get very paranoid as I worry if I dropped it, it got stolen, or if something else happens I wouldn't know where to go.

Bring a book or newspaper/magazine. Those people are the minority but it's still fairly common to see people read on the train or at the bus stop.

Just walk outside, no.

example: waiting at a bus stop

Yeah, cause it means I left the ticket home.

in case you get lost or something

Yeah, in a weird environment it could help a lot

and just stairing into space, so like its basically social expectation to be on your phone when you are by yourself.

Anyone who thinks it's weird to not be glued to the screen can go fuck themselves.

No. I usually read books anyway, and i tend to forget my phone very often. So nothing unusual.

I haven't had a phone in years.

Yes, it is odd these days.