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"Joe Public just got a bit more stupid..."

Seen the 'You Are Boring' article on SR...? Well apparently I must be boring then. I have a mobile phone, however unlike just about every other teenager (well, it seems like that to me) I don't carry my mobile with me 24/7, or spend money customising it. In all honesty why would I want to? Wow, I can get some stupid beeps that sound vaguely like a song onto my phone, I'd rather save a quid or whatever the price tag on them is thesedays. Why do I need a new phone case, I've got one already... just because mine is plain and doesn't have some 'cool' logo on it, it seems I must be boring.

And apparently nine out of ten people say they are addicted to their phone... What? How the hell can you be addicted to a phone? Can someone please explain this to me...? I thought you used a phone to ring people, and maybe send some text messages... how can you be addicted to phoning someone? And more to the point why would you want to be? Seems the 'coolest' phone owner is the one who wastes half their money on useless crap.

And also some people in this survey said that your phone says as much about you as the clothes you wear or music you like... Riiight... Well, just shows that joe public is so obsessed with superficial things, I'm suprised that anyone bothers to talk to people (isn't that what phones are used for?) and get to know them, maybe we should just find out what phone they have, then obviously we'll know plenty about them. Ironic really. And the clothes you wear, well, I think that's crap anyway. People who judge by clothes must be pretty stupid, they're just stereotyping.

Anyway, I've had my rant. If you have a mobile phone and buy lots of stuff for it then what are your views, and I'm not intentionally having a dig at you, I just think people seem to be becoming more stupid by the day. How the hell can a phone tell you ANYTHING about a person?!? (and don't give me the 'well it could if you read their messages' answer smart @rs*)

Don;t try to be too different - I hate people who try to hard to be different - or even worse, people who conform with others to be different - ie Goths!

Funny, back when mobiles were new and hardly anyone had them, I wanted one. I've had two since then, and now, since EVERYONE has them... I find myself not wanting one anymore. I always try to be different. No, not in a goth sort of way, but I hate following the trend. I like doing the opposite to other people. And if I got rid of my phone, it'd be something to talk about

"What's your mobile number?"
"Don't have one"
"Why?"
*rants about the evils of mobile phones*

Great, eh?

I agree mobiles can be useful, I just think it is stupid how people get so obsessed and 'addicted' as that research said to their mobiles...

Also I don't really care about people having customised phones, but the research saying what phone you have and what 'extras' are on it say a lot about what kind of person you are is a load of BS.

I have to disagree with you on your last point 1/2 pint. Mobiles are definitely useful. Can you remember the phone number of all of your friends? Plus my mobile allows my friends to contact me wherever I am.

I tend to only use my phone to call my friends and family back home when I am at uni, so I don't rack up a huge bill. I do, however, have a nice phone, which I did pay for. I did this cos I like nice things, it is a nice small phone. I don't think that makes me stupid, its just a personal thing.

For example, some people spend a lot of money on their appearance, hair cuts and clothes, etc. This does not make them stupid, but it does not make people who don't do this stupid or boring either. People can spend their money on what they want. Who cares, really?

Tóm wrote:
> My friends look shocked at me when they ask if I have mobile on me,
> and I reply with the fact that it's at home. Mobiles aren't essential,
> but it seems many people don't realise that, as they sit there at home
> sending 20 text messages (which could all be said in one short
> convesation on the phone, costing half as much. Or even use the home
> phone, even cheaper!)
>
> My credit on my phone hasn't even changed for a couple of months. If I
> want to talk to my friends, I either wait to speak to them in person,
> or use MSN which is free.
>
> Like RBS, I only use mine for familly things.


Heh heh. I have a funny story to tell...

My friend (Outlaw) got a phone at the end of last year. He didn't use it much, didn't customise it, didn't spend outrageous amounts of money etc. just like you guys. Then he 'fancied' some really mingin person and started to text her. Now, he may be a bit shy, since he hasn't been out with anybody before (I know, I laughed too), but he sees her EVERYDAY and doesn't speak to her. At lunch we hang in our form, and often she comes in with her other friend, and he ignores her. He acts 'mature' by just putting his head down on the table. My fun loving friend and I mock him by acting 'mature' as well ("Did you read the financial times this morning?" "My god, shares in Microsoft Subsidiary #318 went down by 0.00008p!" "Would you like to come over to my house and we can watch the football and eat nachos")

So my friend is normal most of the time, except under the influence of his fancy woman. But the funny thing is, while he ignores her in person (I think this is due to the presence of all his mates), he spends tonnes of money texting her. I was over his house, playing multiplayer Halo after school one day, and we couldn't get a proper game in because he'd have to stop every 5 minutes to text her back. His memory is full with all of her messages, and he spent over a tenner texting her in ONE day!!! Thats about 40 or 50 text messages.

It shows that phones can be used for 'socialising'. If you ask me though, they're a big con and a totally pointless thing. Heck, if you need to phone somebody when you're in town, use a bloody phone box.

I'm cool, and I don't have a phone.

Hmm, I was expecting to get at least one reply from an outraged phone owner...

Ah well, must be that us forum users aren't so obsessed with silly trends... At least not the ones who have replied so far...

*ominous period of waiting*

Sibs, I hear exactly what you're saying. Mobile phone shops give away FREE phones with certain contracts... so why oh why do people squander hundreds of squids on upgrading to some natty new model? A phone is just a phone... I just can't see what people get excited about, as long as you can talk to people on it, then that's all there is to it.

I think he probably meant people buying useless corporate cloths...

(as in the corporate logo is useless, but people seem to think it is important...)

Anyway, would naturism be so bad...?

*Homer Simpson voice* mmmm... boobies... ;-)

Protoss wrote:
>.....and clothes which are just useless anyway.

Reckon naturism is the way to go then Protoss?

Right on. Everyone get naked!