Is a cell phone a popularity meter?

[Randi]

I am amazed at the number of people using cell phones. I notice them more & more. Not only while driving, but in the supermarkets, and other stores. I don't know if people make a lot of calls to different people or long calls to a few, but either way I guess it proves how unpopular I am. I just don't know a lot of people to call, and when I do make a call it usually is a short one, like to give a time to expect me or to ask for directions. Guess I'm not in the IN crowd. Oh, woe is me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Nope, we are talking to our kids...

 

[grinningghost]

Yeah, woe as me too. I hate my cell phone. My DD usually has it anyway. I didn't even know how to turn the stupid thing on until a couple weeks ago.

 

[HollyJoy]

I have a cell phone, and don't call many people on it. There's really only two of my friends who really call me on it, and then there's DH. Once in a while my Brother will call, or my FIL. That's it! Some people use their cell phones as their main phone. I have one friend who does that. She said it was just cheaper!

 

[flaps]

Well if they are, I've probably pegged the least-popular meter. Don't own one, and have never used one. Only in the last month have upgraded from my now-dead corded phone to a cordless.

I've wondered as you have, though, who everyone is talking to all the time.

 

[KristaTX]

A cell phone is definitely NOT a popularity meter. But it could sometimes be called an inconsiderate meter .

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

My cell phone is paid for by my job. I'm on that stupid thing ALL the time since I am primarily in the field.

I sure don't feel popular. I feel like I can't get away from it.

 

[Aimeedyan]

When they first came out, I think they were a status thing... you know? But now, they're a dime a dozen. I'm not sure who everyone is talking to, to be honest. I use mine to make long distance calls to family and friends, really.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i have all my friends numbers in mine,,but dont talk to them all the time...at least on the phone..were usually doing alot of tlaking on internet

 

[janette]

Most of the calls I get are work or my kids. Don't think that counts as being popular but it does ring sometimes.

 

[N.Bailey]

I had a cell for ONE year. In that time, I never made a single call (I tried once, but I never bothered with it to really figure out how to call) and I didn't give the number to anyone. Heck, I never kept it charged either. The day my contract was up, I cancelled the stupid thing. I just don't enjoy talking on the phone.

 

[poohandwendy]

With 3 kids in multiple activities (and me almost always on the road getting one of them from a to b), I really don't know how I could live without mine. It isnt apopularity thing in our household, it is an essential item (and so is email).

 

[MinnieM21]

i don't think of them as a popularity meter. No one barely ever calls me and I barely ever call anyone...It's usually just in cases of emergencies.

 

[mamajoan]

For teen age girls a cell phone is a must... or so the 14dd tells me almost daily....

I let her use mine on the wkds.. but have told her to tell her little friends NOT to text msg me.... but I do find out the funniest things that way!

 

[nativetxn]

I have a cell phone and never use my minutes. I think I'm sort of a dope

 

[Danauk]

Speaking as an English person I did notice a few things about cell phones when I was in America. Firstly over here nearly everyone has a cell phone and our phones seem to be a lot more advanced. I guess this is due to the fact that in our contracts you can get a new phone for free every year and so more people have newer phones. I have a colour screen Nokia with a camera attachment that plays polyphonic tones that I download from the internet. I got the phone for free with my contract and know lots of people who have the same or similar phones. Secondly over here now cell phones seem to be used a lot more and so people do not really take notice of someone on their phone in a public place. I don't think cell phones are used as a measure of popularity, they are just used as a practical tool to contact people with. In England a lot of people tend to send text messages to people as a way of quick communication (here I am talking about people in my age bracket 20's - 30's). Is texting popular in the USA?

 

[heathrow42]

Never ever giving it up! I love my cell -- it's like a safety blanket. My closest girlfriend feels the same way. I honestly have no idea what I would do if my car broke down or I had any kind of problem and I didn't have cell access (I never go anywhere without my cell phone)

I am fairly young (25) and kinda grew up with it. Also, having a cell phone is also a huge part of my job, I am on call for work fairly often and am required to carry my phone at all times. I think also it might be a regional thing or at the least city/suburb. Here in the DC metro area everybody has them and uses them even for the most mundane things. Back home, a more quiet suburban area it is a less common.

I talk to my fiance - friends, coworkers.. everything from quick 'Where are you?' calls to 'Hey, are you near a computer, can you look something up?' .. 'I need directions' ... I have an hour drive to/from work.. so I sometimes talk to friends and family (headset of course) especially when sitting in standstill traffic on the beltway. It's funny to look around at all of the other cars and see how many people are on their phones.. We also have a new system at work that forwards calls to your cell phone when you don't answer your desk.

The other day I saw a kid walking down the street bouncing a basketball with one hand and on a cell with the other!! He couldn't have been much older than 10 or 12. That really surprised me.. because I always thought of cell phones as being an 18+ thing seeing as how you have to sign a contract.. but I guess with all the family plans and the events of Columbine, parents are giving their kids phones??

Danauk - You didn't mention when you were here.. but we have similar cell phones -- the ericsson phone with camera and poly ringtones is quite popular. They charge for everything though.. each new ring you download, and it costs to send the picture to others (of course you can download it to your own computer for free) They have been popular for atleast a year. I agree with them being a tool -- but I think it depends on the person Text messaging is popular, and widely available.. it is often used to vote for contests on television.

I guess I find it amazing that there are people who pay for cell service and don't use it every month!! What did folks do before cell phones? How would anyone know where they were, or if they needed help? How did ya call AAA for a tow truck??? How did you know how much milk you had left or if you needed tp? lol

Oh, I just remembered another of my favorite uses for my cell phone -- ordering take out on the way home!

--heather

 

[Danauk]

I was in the USA last year and the year before. I just noticed the difference in the phones when I was looking in the shops.

Over here it is illegal now to be holding your phone whilst driving. You can talk on the phone with a hands free kit but not actually hold the phone. Is that the case in any US states too?

 

[Robinrs]

I think the popularity thing applies to younger people, we "old folks" use them for what they were made for, COMMUNICATION.

Mine is to call someone to tell them I'll be late because of traffic, ask someone where they are so I can meet them or to find a person I couldn't reach at home.

I HATE HATE HATE seeing people on thiese long dragged out personal calls on line in a store so we can be subjected to half of an inane conversation! Then they don't even hang up when they're being served! Lots of stores are putting up signs asking for people to turn off their cellphones at windows now. Sorry, without an emergency I find that sooooo rude! [/b]

 

[ScarlettO]

We have four cells.........I really think I have a closer relationship with my teens , than my parents had with me, due to the cell. I can call them anytime, ask what they are doing, what's happening.....I can't imagine life without them.