Has anybody else not got, and not want a mobile phone?

I can understand people who have been left behind by the IT revolution disliking mobiles, particularly smart phones. However, I find it slightly strange that anyone who uses the internet well enough to regularly use Gransnet (a huge number of members are clearly on it several times a days if not continuously) would dislike mobile phones so much.

That said, I do get annoyed when I am interrupted by the phone ringing, but that applies as much to calls to the landline as to my mobile!

It is all too easy to get really left behind and then needing to depend on others. I much prefer to be independent so am keeping up with technology. It only dominates your life if you let it.

NannyC2 owning a smart phone does not obligate you to use it all the time.

I have a smart phone, I use it as necessary for all kinds of purposes, but not very often. I haven't used it for 5 days, but when I do need it, it is there.

NannyC2
I think mobile phones have progressed beyond being called a gadget

CardiffJaguar
Computers are what I use
You will use a computer at home but won't use a computer that you can carry in your bag. A smart phone is a computer.

I have a mobile but it is only for calls and texts. If I want to take a picture I use my handy camera where I can download them onto my laptop within seconds and do various alterations if necessary.
My grandchildren keep telling me to get one of the up-to-date gadgets, but I don't need one. I get tired of seeing grownups and children constantly glued to I phones etc. They are losing the art to communicate verbally.
A mobile has it's uses but I very much limit the use!

The problem Bohimian is that as a new product becomes common, it becomes necessary because it become intertwined with life.

^at some point in the future everything will be done by apps on mobile phones. They will be used as a security check for online activities more and more, and you won't be able to manage money, shop, or even talk to anyone, as landlines are not being used by the majority of people younger than us.^Exactly B9exchange I absolutely agree with you

Bohimian it's worrying that generally people believe they can't survive without new technologies, which is probably the case as we're having to rely on them more and more. But life has been like that throughout time I expect stone age man felt the same when metal knives replaced stone ones.

20 years ago I worked for Age Concern and had a client who didn't - wouldn't - have a phone. Trying to contact her to arrange visits was a nightmare; ringing neighbours passing on messages etc. This lady thought much as you. I saw her point but times had changed. There was no longer a vicars wife who walked round, walked in and knew that old Mrs Smith had a snooze immediately after lunch and would sort her problems.

It was now necessary to contact a charity 5 miles away, whose home visitor would ring the client to arrange a convenient time for a visit and would keep in touch by phone until the problem, whatever it was resolved. I had neither time nor opportunity to call in constantly to see if she was there. If she did not have a phone she just had to accept the problems this caused.

The lady who currently organises my lunch group doesn’t have a mobile and if any changes occur she has to phone about 18 people to let them know. Much mor complicated remembering whose line was engaged etc.

Could be a nuisance running a business. People would ring OH at all times of the day and night often to book journeys weeks ahead. He often had to keep the phone on so current travellers could contact him.

Noticed on holiday people around the pool were getting what seemed to be business phone calls. No chance of a proper break if you are expected to be available 24/7 all year round.

Handy to photograph posters or flyers or to let OH know I was running later than expected this morning. We quite often use google to look things up that would have required an encyclopaedia once upon a time.

Important to remember that it doesn't have to take over your life, just because some people are on theirs constantly. It's a lifeline and enables you to contact your loved ones in so many different ways. Once you've bought the phone it's only £5 a month for unlimited calls and texts (including WhatsApp) from Smarty. Slightly more if you go out and about and use the internet but you don't have to.

My son, aged 50, refuses to have a mobile phone or the internet !

I resisted getting a mobile but got one eventually. It came in very handy when my car began to spew smoke out of it's 'whatever you call it' when I was between here and there and had to get help.
I also resisted a smart phone until my old mobile (which was laughed at by family!) went through the washing machine and was too saturated to rescue. After a few teething problems I wouldn't be without it. I can send texts, e-mails and photos with it which I couldn't before. I'm not good with technology but feel I'm more part of the human race now I can join in with these things.

My daughter and I both have apps that allow us to see where the other one is, very handy if she is either driving home or travelling by taxi. It's reassuring knowing where she is and how long she will be!

Not got one and refuse to be bullied into getting one. My land lineisused by two banks so far for security and that is all i need. Mobiles take over peoples lives; not mine. Computers are what I use.

If you do not embrace new technology life will become increasingly limited. It is your choice but I think life is going to get harder for you. My phone is an ancient apple and I pay £5 a month. I don't give my mobile number out unless necessary. However it is useful for said banking security texts. I rarely use it to talk and so don't find it intrusive.

Very useful if car breaks down and for keeping in touch texts and Whatsapp, banks, card companies and shops increasingly sending code numbers by text to access accounts etc, so seems to be getting difficult to manage without one?

A couple weeks ago my smartphone became dumb, and it had to be sent of for repairs ... Apparently they had to replace the motherboard????

Anyways, in that week long wilderness, I was stressed as fk not having my phone. Oh they lent me a handset, but it couldn't even do basic internet.

Now while I think I'm not that bad on my.social media, I obvs am! I missed the interaction with certain groups and a couple blogs I'm a member of. Plus I had important emails coming .... I product test in my spare time, and had emails due that related to that.

I went out and purchased a small tablet, that's very basic but does the job.

I have mental health issues already, and being without my phone was raising my anxiety, which then starts off the other parts of my mental conditions.

......
@ OP , as for price, a brand new phone with credit can be purchased for £15 and that includes £10 credit. (Carephonewarehouse) it calls and texts and has a calendar, some networks won't "steal" your money so long as you keep the phone active at least once every 2 months ... That means one phone call for 10 seconds, or a text message....

I'm saying this, cos phones don't have to be really expensive, especially if you want it just for calls or texts.... You'll be surprised how often once you have one, how much you'll use it. Plus it gives the grandkids a chance to teach you how to use it,and complain it's rubbish and slow! lol

You might find the GKs may even text you.

Uses of a mobile phone.

Shopping you see something someone might like, or a bargain.... A quick call to inform someone.

See something and not sure if the right size or if the right make (Spiderman PJ's on sale) or paw patrol toy...

I have had a simple (not smart ) mobile phone for years. I have only ever used it if my car had broken down. If any company insists on a mobile number I go to another one. If you need me quickly I have a
Landline.

I have one and use it,however I am always pleased when I realise I have not got it with me. I like the feeling that I can not be contacted, it is like being on holiday where nobody knows you.

I am not the emergency services so nobody needs me immediately and if my car breaks down there will be somebody around that has a phone.

A friend recently succumbed to getting a smart phone, having managed quite happily for years with an old push-button mobile.

You could get a dead cheap one on pay as you go, and only switch it on when you need it on. Looking back pre mobiles there were many times when I'd have benefitted greatly from one and it would have saved a lot of worry. Its safety too, you can text transport police I'd you are worried about behaviour on a train. I hardly use my land-line now as almost all people I need to ring have mobiles so it was costing me a lot to ring them, it's cheaper now even paying for top ups if you are at home, you can turn it off and only those you give your land-line number to can ring you. You can have it off when out and only switch on to let someone know there has been a delay. Or to call the emergency services. You can just turn on once a day to see if there are any messages
One useful thing is when I make a bank transfer to someone new I get a message a short while later saying if it wasn't you let us know. I've had the docs and the hospital ring to change appointments saving me wasted journeys. And if you are in the garden and fall and you have it you can call for help. An old lady I know fell and broke her leg and fortunately had her phone in her pocket and was able to call for help, she was too far from her land-line.
Uuts your choice but just wanted to show that mobiles can be really useful and you are the mistress of them, you can keep them turned off and block anyone you don't want to hear from. If you have family who would worry about you it could be a kindness to them to get one

boheminan - do you play Scrabble on Facebook? I do too and got the messages about it changing. I think it'll still be on FB but in a new format. I hope so anyway! I've just downloaded the new app to my phone but if I can't play against my regular people then I probably won't bother, which is a pain as I love it too!

I resisted for a while many years ago but got one eventually as I was walking dogs at odd hours - often in the dark mornings & my family were worried about me- dog would never have seen anyone off! A friend of mine spent 3 hours lying with a broken leg on a common in Surrey when she slipped when dog walking. If she had had a phone she would have got help immediately.
Now I would not be without one. It is with me constantly & I can read my emails etc. whenever I want to. There are so many useful apps. etc & I am never worried when out driving as if I had a problem I can ring AA from car.
I really cannot see a single reason for NOT having one.

I have reluctantly had to get one.
My reasons were that BT put up the price of a land line to a ridiculous degree, and it costs an arm and a leg to ring a mobile from a land line (and tradesmen etc are all on mobiles).
I don't even take it out of the house.
I cancelled BT, and the mobile is now my house phone.

All you have to remember, is that if you DO decide to go the mobile route, simply regard it as a tool just like any other piece of equipment. I find them completely charmless, so have never fallen for their come hither demands. So l can take them or leave them. Literally!

Don't feel pressurised, but if you need to call other people's mobiles, it works out a darn sight cheaper. I halved my phone bill overnight from when l took one on.

If money is no object, STICK TO YOUR GUNS!!

My job involves travelling and I feel safer carrying a mobile phone.
I also use trains a lot and getting early updates has saved me a lot of problems!
I also care for my son and brother - both with serious health problems, so for me it's invaluable.

I have had a mobile since the 80s and would hate to be without it now. I don't make a lot of calls but always take it when I go out so that I can let DH know when I'm on the way home. I also have my Kindle on it so that when I'm sitting somewhere having coffee or waiting for a train I can sit and read. I also use the camers a lot even when out shopping if I see a childs toy or shoe etc laying on the pavement I'll put it on a wall, take a photo and post it on the local community site in the hope of reuniting it with the owner