Gripe

[Alcibiades]

In the wake of f0xx's gripe that wasn't strictly relegated to the game, i have a gripe that i simply must rant about.

Today i moved into a new apartment and so i didn't have internet/phone/cable hooked up yet (i should have done this in advance but didn't, my fault, i know ;)). however, this gripe has nothing to do with customer service (at least not theirs) and the annoyance of companies and being on hold (i ****ing hate Musak/elevator music... it steals my soul a bit everytime i hear it.)

Anyhow, so i don't have a phone, or a cell phone (okay i'm a bit old fashioned, deal.) i just can't afford/don't like cellphones. Now in this case it might be handy but bleh, this is still not totally relevant to my rambling gripe.

So i need to make several phone calls of varying importance from purchasing drugs ( :shock: ) to finding out if i had to work to setting up an appointment to get phone/internet/cable (which they do a mandatory week wait before installing your package.. i mean really, what the ****ing **** i don't need it in a week, i need it now you *******s, and i know you're hooking up cable/internet/phone in 17 other apartments in here between now and then so why the hell can't you just hook mine up too? More trips means more pain in the ass for the worker i'd have thought but meh. still not my gripe.)

So i have to make all these calls and i'm just getting more and more angry because i have to go looking for a payphone. (oh joy of a joys, a disease riddled public telephone which is most likely been molested severely in a manner unbecoming of a phone booth.) So i have to walk for ****ing MILES, and i mean literally about 2 miles before i find a phone booth which actually works. I ran into 3 phone booths in total along that route 1 of which was missing a handset, 1 of which simply didn't have a dial tone, and then the third one, a greasy, graffiti ridden exposed phone booth along the side of an extraordinarily busy road. Great ****ing placement you knobs, jesus H christ i have to yell into the phone. in case you've ever had a hankering to wait on hold in a public area on a public phone, i can tell you right now that you should go crush your head in a vice and save yourself the time, effort, and trouble.

So, this phone finally has all the required pieces, and includes a dialtone (hooray!). Now, i go to put my 25 cents into the slot and it happily slides in without any trouble at all and then suddenly, what the ****, the phone doesn't 'like' the quarter. That's the only possible explanation and it's goddamn madness! I try it a few times because i know sometimes it just doesn't work on the first time through (why i don't know but that's just life). Anyhow, no such luck, so i try a second quarter and wtf, why i don't know, but it works, just like that. what's the difference? i don't know, they look the same, smell the same, taste the same (awfully metallic, i don't recommend that either) and feel the same. so whatever, jesus christ, i just.. goddamn long day and whatnot.

So to move on to my gripe it's really about cellphones and how they've destroyed the public phone business. I mean, there was a time when i was younger when i remember you couldn't walk like 100 yards without finding a public phone booth or w/e.

I mean what the ****, what pile of crap are they fostering on me now trying to get me to get a bloody cellphone which i don't bloody want so they remove all the public phones. i mean jesus goddamn christ on a cracker. What madness are they perpetrating on me?! And of course the graffiti in these phone booths is just this side of totally nauseating.

it's been a long stressful day and this felt awfully good to write. Thanks!

[TheNamelessWonder]

Get a cellphone, noob!

[Alcibiades]

Get a cellphone, noob!

THEY CAUSE CANCER! n00b!

[TheNamelessWonder]

Know why the phone booths and stuff are in such disrepair? Nobody uses them. They are outdated. We have cellphones now.

[f0xx]

Get a cellphone, noob!

THEY CAUSE CANCER! n00b!

The stress you expirienced while trying to find a booth that actually works has caused more cancer than all of the cell phones can cause you for a lifetime.

And again, get a cell phone, you were crying for this to happen to you :P

Pfft, even in Bulgaria most people have 2 cells phones nowadays...

[Darryl]

Screw mobile phones, nothing more than an electronic tether. Who wants people to just be able to call you whereever you are? Not me! Having no house phone in addition to that is rather inconvenient though, I'd guess.

[vlad]

You made me laugh, i'm sorry, but yeah. Sounds quite funny/anoyying having to walk all that way to be told you have to wait so long. But did u have to keep pipping in extra money while u were on hold? lol

[Garrett]

Pfft, even in Bulgaria most people have 2 cells phones nowadays...


yes. usually the string comes with 2 cans attached. it's cute you call them cell phones now.

<3

[f0xx]

Rofl you cheap *******, you got me here :P

[Alcibiades]

Screw mobile phones, nothing more than an electronic tether. Who wants people to just be able to call you whereever you are? Not me! Having no house phone in addition to that is rather inconvenient though, I'd guess.


Agreed. I don't want to be accessible every hour of the day or night. It's just plain wrong. Public life and private life should be separated (here i'm talking about jobs and your private life.) and i think a cellphone does not help that separation.

i work in a restaurant and i simply cannot tell you the amount of aggravation that is caused by idiots on their blackberry/cellphone/gadget. It makes me want to kill them, way to ruin a meal/party/celebration with your annoyingly loud talk about something which clearly isn't vital. If it was vital you wouldn't be at dinner >.<

Vlad: i'm glad you found it funny, i wrote it in a semi humorous way ;) and no thank god i didn't have to keep pumping in the coins, then i'd have really lost it.

[TheNamelessWonder]

So turn your cell phone off when you aren't using it! *shock* *awe* *horror*

[Alcibiades]

So turn your cell phone off when you aren't using it! *shock* *awe* *horror*

Then why would i get one in the first place?!

[Garrett]

Let it go Alci, there is seemingly no way to humor/convince/argue with the nameless blunder.

[Alcibiades]

I like Nameless, Garrett.

i just think he's wrong in this case. Maybe he's just being contrary but he does call me a n00b a fair bit. Usually i deserve it ;)

[Souls]

I enjoy the fact that I can contact someone at any time without having to ask other people to use their phone. It's also a hassle to me when someone walks up and asks to use mine. :P

I wouldn't worry about being contactable 24/7 because, people just don't call me. :P Quit being such a tunnelvisioner, Alci ;)

[atsanjose]

the situation of cellphone yes or no doesnt comply....

you just showed us crappy preporation
meh on the spelling

[Crumpet]

I agree!!! I HATE cell phones. HATE HATE HATE!!! I hate text messaging, ringtones, ring backs, the damn bill for it. I'd rather pay a quarter for a 5 minute phone call than $2.50 for 3.5 minutes. Plus, I like the fact that if I want to hide from people I can. I have no obligation to answer my house phone as I may not be there but if I were to have a cell phone people would realize I'm just ignoring them when I don't answer :P

Also, the fact they are waiting a week to supply you with rather large necessities for communication is bullshit. Most places are there the next day to get things hooked up and running correctly.

I say go steal a payphone, place it in your room and have people use it for ***** and giggles so you can empty it out later on and use the money on public phones xD They'll get a kick out of playing with it and you'll get free phone calls, which is WAY more than they're getting by having cell phones :)

Also! Cell phones can make gasoline fumes explode! One ring and the static...KABOOOOOOOM!!!!! I'm quite content with living, thank you.

[Bunion]

This is all going to show that the US (and obviously that Canadia place) have a very very poor Cellular Service Network.

The UK has a very good system, even to blow our own trumpet, whereby there are so many companies competing in such a small (insular) market, that the competition is so great, there are so many great deals. One such is pay £10 a month, then get £10 free credit as well as the £10 you just put on the phone. O2 also do "bolt ons", which allow you to pay a small fee to your contract or top-up but give a set number of (for example) free texts or free call minutes.

That is just one such example of a deal I used to have, and there are many many more. That all said though, I myself am anti the mobile phone culture that is sweeping (or rather, has swept) the country. It is irritating, and has turned from being a useful notion, into a very intrusive annoyance. i couldn't careless about all the mobile internet I could have, or the number of gadgets and games on my phone, I just want it so I can be contacted, and can contact in emergencies, as there are cheaper ways of organisation (OMG I'M ON THE INTERNET ALL DAY EVERYDAY!! WOTS MSN LOL?!?!) and SnakeII is still the best mobile phone game ever :p

meh I've rambled and probably lost my point... :P

[Don]

Blow your own trumpet? heh... I really hope you're joking, Bunion... heh... UK cellphone usage is outrageously expensive. Let's compare o2 pricing vs. US pricing.

o2 Price plan:
Online 35
600mins 1000texts
Plus Unlimited O2 to O2 Calls
£35 a month

T-Mobile USA Price Plan:
600mins
Unlimited Nighttime, Unlimited Weekend
$39.99 a month
(Unlimited sms/mms = $14.99, Unlimited Mobile to Mobile = $9.99)

- So for even LESS money per month, you can have unlimited text vs. 1k, unlimited nighttime and weekend minutes... and I really don't think you wanna go into data usage... Even your unlimited data plans include charges for 'excessive usage' which apparently includes ANY tethered modem usage? heh...

[Bunion]

And yet I don't have to pay a charge to receive a text or call unlike what I've heard about US cellphone users.

[Don]

Ok, how about $99 for unlimited voice minute + unlimited text/mms ... vs. $150 (£75) for 3000 mins and 1000 texts? I'd say that's a bit more expensive... ;) Sorry to take this thread off topic... heh

[Souls]

And yet I don't have to pay a charge to receive a text or call unlike what I've heard about US cellphone users.

Neither do I. ;)

My Sprint plan:
* 1400 Anytime Minutes
* Sprint Fair & Flexible for FAMILIES
* Unlimited Night & Weekend Mins. Included
* Line 1: $59.99 Minimum Monthly Charge
* Nights: M-Th 7PM-7AM Wknd: F 7PM-M 7AM
* Line 2: Free
* Unlimited Sprint Mobile to Mobile
* Lines 3-5: $9.99 Each
* Caller ID, Call Waiting

But the charge is cut in half due to a work discount. :P

[Alcibiades]

the situation of cellphone yes or no doesnt comply....

you just showed us crappy preporation
meh on the spelling

Preparation has very little to do with it. I wouldn't have gone to buy a cellphone in advance...

The only thing i should have done was set up the appointment earlier to get my own phone/net/cable hooked up.

you miss part of the point tho atsanjose: the phonebooths are decrepit, old and crappy for no good reason.... that's the source of my real frustration.

[atsanjose]

the situation of cellphone yes or no doesnt comply....

you just showed us crappy preporation
meh on the spelling

Preparation has very little to do with it. I wouldn't have gone to buy a cellphone in advance...

The only thing i should have done was set up the appointment earlier to get my own phone/net/cable hooked up.

you miss part of the point tho atsanjose: the phonebooths are decrepit, old and crappy for no good reason.... that's the source of my real frustration.

but you gave the reason for it yourself :/
nobody uses those things anymore, they are only there because of goverment funding, and i for one, think that the money can be better spend.
and why not get a mobile phone? i have one too but i really dont take it allong always.
ps why dont ask a neighboor if you can make a call? and did you move your stuff all by yourselfs? surely there must be people who helped you with it who you could have asked.

[Alcibiades]

the situation of cellphone yes or no doesnt comply....

you just showed us crappy preporation
meh on the spelling

Preparation has very little to do with it. I wouldn't have gone to buy a cellphone in advance...

The only thing i should have done was set up the appointment earlier to get my own phone/net/cable hooked up.

you miss part of the point tho atsanjose: the phonebooths are decrepit, old and crappy for no good reason.... that's the source of my real frustration.

ps why dont ask a neighboor if you can make a call? and did you move your stuff all by yourselfs? surely there must be people who helped you with it who you could have asked.

You would think so wouldn't you... welcome to the wonderfully friendly city of Halifax ;)

And i wouldn't get a cell phone because 95% of the time i don't need it and a publicly funded system is available, and therefore should work and be functional.
I don't want a cellphone, and i dislike intensely the idea of being contactable all the time in real life... and yeah sure i can not bring it along with me, or just turn it off/not answer it but then.. why did i just shell out money to get the damn thing if it sits on my shelf and only gets used 5% of the time... :S

[vlad]

Price plan to Price plan? LOL ....

Don't know where you get these ideas from.
i know a great one.

£30 a month, no minimum contract but no phone supplied, all bills are online, saving paper and charges.
And you get...
Unlimited Texts+Calls to Any network, any time, under the fair usage policy (which is 3000 of each).

If you can use 500 hours ringing people, you need to pay for it :D THEN .. its only 20p/m IF you go over.

Picture messages take up 4 of your message count, so they don't even cost, and if you want, pay £4 on top, and get a browsing bundle :o

O the problem with UK networks, we are such rip-offs :S

[harriergirl]

Screw mobile phones, nothing more than an electronic tether. Who wants people to just be able to call you whereever you are? Not me! Having no house phone in addition to that is rather inconvenient though, I'd guess.

Amen,

I have a cell, but only because I have children. If it weren't for my kids I wouldn't even own a phone.

[Twigley]

You are noobs compared to Nameless. You can only see things in one way, tunnelvisioners. It take you 1year to learn things that Nameless learns in 1hour. It takes you 2years to accomplish something that Nameless can do in one week. Not Nameless' problem how you deal with stuff or comments, its your own. Maybe its time for you to open ur eyes.

[Cyrus]

Screw mobile phones, nothing more than an electronic tether. Who wants people to just be able to call you whereever you are? Not me! Having no house phone in addition to that is rather inconvenient though, I'd guess.

Amen,

I have a cell, but only because I have children. If it weren't for my kids I wouldn't even own a phone.

surely you dont need to be in contact with garret at all times? xD

(joke garret ;P)

[tobapopalos]

What annoys me most is that everytime I tell anyone that I a) don't have a mobile and b) despise the whole idea of mobile phones, they treat me like I have some sort of mental illness, before ignoring me entirely so they can send a "txt". The world is mad.

[harriergirl]

Screw mobile phones, nothing more than an electronic tether. Who wants people to just be able to call you whereever you are? Not me! Having no house phone in addition to that is rather inconvenient though, I'd guess.

Amen,

I have a cell, but only because I have children. If it weren't for my kids I wouldn't even own a phone.

surely you dont need to be in contact with garret at all times? xD

(joke garret ;P)

only when I'm awake :)

[Augustus]

So to move on to my gripe it's really about cellphones and how they've destroyed the public phone business. I mean, there was a time when i was younger when i remember you couldn't walk like 100 yards without finding a public phone booth or w/e.

I agree totally! When I was young you couldnt walk anywhere without seeing a horse & cart, now there are cars everywhere! And what about cutlery?! What was ever wrong with using a stick to eat your food?? And the thing that really gets me is computer games, bring back pin the tail on the donkey! I dont know why we have all this technology stuff, its like the human race is trying to advance or sumfin.....all at the cost of businesses that focus on out of date, unpractical, unpopular products.

[f0xx]

Lol, nice comment :P

[Alcibiades]

...

Meh, you kind of miss the point, but wittily written nonetheless.

on a side note, i complained to the phone company and they've installed a phone booth right outside my building so nerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ;)

[Souls]

...

Meh, you kind of miss the point, but wittily written nonetheless.

on a side note, i complained to the phone company and they've installed a phone booth right outside my building so nerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ;)

It'll be destroyed in a week :P

[Alcibiades]

...

Meh, you kind of miss the point, but wittily written nonetheless.

on a side note, i complained to the phone company and they've installed a phone booth right outside my building so nerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ;)

It'll be destroyed in a week :P

100 bucks says it's got 5 days ;)

[KrezyDo]

I think you guys miss a vital point here.. Although it sometimes annoys the crap out of me too when people are basically yelling in their cellphones while they're in public places or public transport, it does have it's benefits. Imagine you being in a dangerous situation, wouldn't you be happy to be able to call for emergency services anywhere it's needed? Or keep track of your children when they're out playing while you're not at home? How about calling for the automobile services when your car has broke down in the middle of nowhere? Or maybe to find someone you've lost in a crowded place? When you have to quickly search for an address or telephonenumber when you're on the road?

Just to name a couple of examples.. I do understand the downsides of cellphones, but trust me, in some situations, you'd wish you were able to communicate that easily.

Here in Holland you can get prepaid simcards including a simple phone for less than 50 euro's. So you can charge your phone with credits whenever is needed and it doesn't have any restricted period of use. So even if you don't use the credits, they'll be available for whenever you do need them.

And if you really like to be mobile a lot, you can try smartphones, which not only can be used for telecom, but also text messaging, emailing, internet, photo and videocamera, mp3 player etc... All-in-one.

Allright, so maybe I'm telling useless info that everyone already knows, but it's inevitable to avoid mobile telecommunications. It's too advanced and too widely accepted to stop it and it only works on your disadvantages to not go along with it.... i think.

*my 2 cents.*

[Alcibiades]

Allright, so maybe I'm telling useless info that everyone already knows, but it's inevitable to avoid mobile telecommunications. It's too advanced and too widely accepted to stop it and it only works on your disadvantages to not go along with it.... i think.

*my 2 cents.*

I don't think you mean it's inevitable to avoid mobile telecommunication ;). (i don't want to be nitpicky here ...)

Also, i agree 100% with the uses of cellphones, for everything you listed above they are extremely valuable. But i don't find that value for me is offset by it's downsides. I have neither a car, children, people to lose in crowded places etc. however, should i fall ill, the other 99.9% of the world has cellphones, so i'll use theirs. I won't have to use one. I know that's a flawed argument, but i will hold off on getting a cellphone as long as i s humanly possible.

Cellphones are by *no means* useless, that would be a wildly stupid thing to say, i just don't like them.

As far as car safety goes.. my dad maintains a cellphone for the car, it never ever leaves the car except to be charged upon occasion (but there is a charger in the car so it's really a moot point to ever have it leave.) which i think makes sense. Only family members have the phone number and it's basically for emergencies only. That kind of cellphone makes sense... but being contactable 24/7 irritates me.

Since we're using hypothetical situations here.. i find that the biggest thing cellphones are ruining (I wish to state that i find not just cellphones irritating blackberries etc... all the portable electronic devices which mean you are contactable..) is family time. How many parents come home from the office, sit down at the dinner table (providing they even *do* have a family dinner anymore) and place their cellphone/crackberry beside them on the table? Chances are they will answer at least one call/text/email throughout the course of the meal. I find this absolutely inexcusable. Work is from 9-5 (usually) and should be left at the office. Family is always more important than work and seeing cellphones help the destruction of the family unit pains me.

Also, i cannot tell you the number of times i have been serving tables and i have been upset by the rudeness of people yelling/talking on cellphones, or writing texts/emails. it's insulting, it's rude and everyone should better. If you're out of the office, don't work. Spend some time with your family and children, instead of giving them money and letting them do god knows what. "you'd like some quality time? sorry i'm doing work for the office, but here's 200 bucks, go do some coke and turn into a slut plzkthxbai!"

My 25 cents ;)

[vlad]

But "Cellphones" or Mobilephones have other uses. The way life has come forward with socializing. Its alot easier to send 15 texxts (do a send to many option) than to spend more money, and time ringing people and finding out. I mean, £1.50, or most of the time free with contract to send these texts, yet there is a minimum connection charge, then a per minute rate to ring people, probaly doubling the cost of something.
Phones in their current state of technology hold so many uses. They turn into Diaries, Planners, Computers for emails, calculaters, small hand held consoles, not forgetting its use as a phone.

There are way to many pros compared to cons when it comes phones. And alci, keeping a phone in a car isn't wise, if the "thief" gets any hint of their being a phone in there, the car gets brolen into for that, which could of been avoided if no phone.

[tobapopalos]

Vlad, I think Alci has already said that he doesn't think mobile phones are useless. In fact, he has said on many occasions so far that they ARE useful. So posting all the many wonderful ways in which mobile phones have improved our quality of life is kinda pointless :P He just really doesn't like them, and I have to agree with him.

[Fortune]

Get a cellphone, noob!

THEY CAUSE CANCER! n00b!

um well they really dont.....mobile phones work via radio waves which are the longest wavelength and lowest frequency and so they do not do anything, ever, at all. If they emitted x-rays then maybe be...perphaps u were joking but if not then um....N00B!

Also! Cell phones can make gasoline fumes explode! One ring and the static...KABOOOOOOOM!!!!! I'm quite content with living, thank you.

Yeah....i dont think so...if you have ever watched 'Brainiac' then you would no they did not cause explosions. Please google it if u dont believe me....maybe u were joking but if not N00B!

But nice rant anyway.

[Alcibiades]

The 'cause cancer' quote was in reply to Nameless' statement. I don't know if it causes cancer or not (probably not) but it might help. I can't say either way.

Also, i have heard/read that cell phones while they may not cause cancer, might result in an increase in electronic sensitivity. So.. is that a good thing? Probably not. Does it demonstrate cell phones have side effects we previously didn't know? yes. Does that mean there could be something else we don't know about? yes.

Is this a reason to not use cellphones if you need them? no, certainly not.

however i don't find them necessary for many reasons and find their use detrimental to society in general, and to the family unit in specific. As toby pointed out (and so far one of the only people to actually read what i've written) i don't find them useless but i dislike them and their intrusion into life.

[Crumpet]

Also! Cell phones can make gasoline fumes explode! One ring and the static...KABOOOOOOOM!!!!! I'm quite content with living, thank you.

Yeah....i dont think so...if you have ever watched 'Brainiac' then you would no they did not cause explosions. Please google it if u dont believe me....maybe u were joking but if not N00B!

But nice rant anyway.[/quote]

Yeah xD I was dicking around. Tried to add a stupid funny there. Glad you kinda got it though :P

[Garrett]

snicker i wouldn't bother replying to fortune, he obviously is concerned about post count and not about reading for comprehension.

[Augustus]

however, should i fall ill, the other 99.9% of the world has cellphones, so i'll use theirs. I won't have to use one. I know that's a flawed argument, but i will hold off on getting a cellphone as long as i s humanly possible.

If by chance you are ever in the UK and happen to fall Ill right in front of me, I will be sure to remember your disgust of mobile phones and network providers. Rest assured I will do the right thing.....and direct you to the nearest phone box, lets just hope that you are able to crawl to it and call yourself an Ambulance. Your stubbornness will be the death of you ;)

But seriously, I know what you are saying. They are annoying at times and can cost a bit (depending on what country your in and who you call or what sort of contract you can get). But unfortunately it wont be long before you have little choice other than to get one. Phone Boxes are becoming rarer by the day and thats not going to change. And when you do get one at least you wont have to worry about it stinking of urine/vomit(as long as your civilised anyway), or the possibility of being contaminated by afore mentioned substances. And when you end your call there is less chance of a homeless person asking you for spare change, or being caught in a hail of bricks that phone boxes appear to be regular victims of. Also seeing how most people now have mobile phones, it is actually cheaper to call a mobile from another mobile rather than using a phone box. Plus I can play Bush on my mobile, if thats not a good enough reason to get one I dont know what is :lol:

[Alcibiades]

however, should i fall ill, the other 99.9% of the world has cellphones, so i'll use theirs. I won't have to use one. I know that's a flawed argument, but i will hold off on getting a cellphone as long as i s humanly possible.

Plus I can play Bush on my mobile, if thats not a good enough reason to get one I dont know what is :lol:

Contactability 24/7 = the bane of my existence. The reason you find it best to have a cellphone is the reason i find it vile to have one. And no it's not inevitable for me to need one. Until landlines go out of use and that won't happen in my lifetime. ;)

[Enrico]

however, should i fall ill, the other 99.9% of the world has cellphones, so i'll use theirs. I won't have to use one. I know that's a flawed argument, but i will hold off on getting a cellphone as long as i s humanly possible.

Plus I can play Bush on my mobile, if thats not a good enough reason to get one I dont know what is :lol:

Contactability 24/7 = the bane of my existence. The reason you find it best to have a cellphone is the reason i find it vile to have one. And no it's not inevitable for me to need one. Until landlines go out of use and that won't happen in my lifetime. ;)

Oh Alci, I suspect you one day will be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21. century you too... ;)