I do not have any smart devices other than PC's. Our phone is a simple flip phone. I have been resisting portable technology for quite some time-partly because I got burned out on technology with my vocation. Also trying to keep it working correctly takes time which there is only so much of so I guess it comes to priorities. I finally put my finger on it. I don't want to be connected all the time and have the obligation to constantly respond to texts, etc. I also have a distrust of social media. Does that make a hermit? I think most of us here remember life before mobile devices and the internet. Sure they have their usefulness and when we start traveling I will have one. But it's going to be turned off when I'm not using it.
EDIT- I guess it has to be balanced with family, friends etc but all ours know they call or email.

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Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

I am putting more and more people on 'hide alerts' status, just about always becuase of wild, rapid texting. One of my long time clients is/was an elderly Japanese woman with a lovely house near the U Cal in a top neighborhood from which she rented to students. She was like the sweet, soft spoken wise lady. She seemed to get a kick out of her young tenants and the money had to be good. In addition to her master bedroom - two rooms and a bath - is 6 rental spaces including a cottage in the former detatched garage.

I put this in semi - past tense as she is mid 80s now, and not the super hardy mid 80s, her walking was getting very slow and hunched over, she now lives with one of her twin daughters, alternates, and one of the daughters manages the house from SF. Oh dear God, she is nothing like her mother. Worry wart, will not shut up, asks the same questions over and over. And she sends short texts, in rapid fire, often 4 to 8 at a time. The constant be-de-beep was driving me nuts. So much easier now. I check in once or twice a day. Plenty good. Sometimes she hits me with ? , meaning, why are you answering me right away? And me thinking, poor baby.

She's unlikely to fire me. I've been working on that complex for 6 or 7 years, I am the wise man at this point, and she is so naive on the facts of home maintenance and repair. I charge her top dollar. F - it, she's going to inherit that $3 million house soon enough and she is a serious handful.

Others who are too demanding of my time for boo chit also getting the crescent moon 'hide alerts' treatment. They have my email address which shields me from being always on tap. No e-mail alerts on my phone.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I got a smartphone and leave the voicemail full, I know how to read a map and road signs so I don't need someone telling me every turn I need to take, I am married so got that covered two ways. I have a smart TV that works as good as my dumb TV, I turn it on and, set a channel and it plays that channel. No MP1,2,or 3 in the car, no facebook, parler, twitter, or any social media company from China that will track my every move.

I never use a phone period, there's a new mental illness called phonaphobia, and it's widespread. Now I will chat with a PC and telechat with doctors, but I don't like it.
To me phone's make a person act. You know when your in total pain, but you act like your alright?

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

I solved the problem by taking in my son's 18 year old dog Jasmine. I got her a phone and I keep the payments up.


I don't exist any more. The phone is a 3 G.


I may get a Linux phone that warns: You won't be able to do more than call, text, take photos and surf the internet.


WOW Freedom from Bloatware! Freedom from cookies!

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I'm pretty happy with my smartphone. I'm able to get good advice and parts availability status in the field for some technical job that's a bit outside my normal range. I'm able to do minor repairs on furnaces with web help. Maybe I should be more concerned about being tracked everywhere I go but soon the COVID vaccine and Bill Gates will be doing that so no worries.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Being empty-nesters and very rural, social media and texting is how I keep up with my family. The world-spanning games and other social stuff online holds no interest for me.

Priorities change as life changes. I do not miss large crowds of strangers like concerts. Nor to I miss the clubs. I’m following the sun within a couple hours. But I do appreciate the family updates.

My cell 'phone only calls, texts and take pictures .

I don't want it to do more than that .

I'm still using a antique lap top but will prolly soon buy a Lanovo as this thing takes 10 minutes to boot up or shut down .

I don't game nor watch movies online either, that's what the TV is for and SWMBO's 65" (gasp) TV set is high def, that's nice too .

The long boot up time means I don't want to spend too much time with the computer .

I love it because learning and parts but....

I still read a lot, I've not turned the TV in my house on in nearly a decade, I assume it still works in case of emergency .

It's all so very different from even twenty years ago, one should keep up with the times I guess .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

You might be surprised, I would bet it knows everywhere you have taken it, and someone could find that out.

Oh yes ~ of that I'm sure .

I don't care, I'm A: not a criminal and B: BIG BROTHER already knows where I sleep....

I bet my cell could do all manner of things I don't want it to do .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better