Are You A Student With A Dumb Phone

I often receive quizzical looks when I pull out my flip phone for any incoming call. …REWIND—yeah, I have a flip phone, a Motorola RAZR, in fact. Approximately half-dozen months ago I upgraded to a "impaired telephone". When I approached the representative at the Verizon store asking for the upgrade from my BlackBerry, he remarked, "Isn't that a downgrade from a downgrade, bro?"

I'm a Millennial, yet I'thousand not glued to technology every bit near are. At a recent party with cousins who were in-town for Christmas, their glares seemed to be of resentment or jealousy that I could pull off such a feat; how could anyone shun the obvious and glorious benefits of smart applied science? To showtime, I will share that I don't similar touch screens—never take, never volition. I was also growing tired of the early on morning texts from my one-time boss about ideas that frankly did not warrant a five-alarm emergency.

Merely allow'south accept a step dorsum for a moment. I was initially an early on adopter of the Motorola RAZR when it starting time launched in the fall of 2004. Information technology may be no surprise to learn that many people who, today, see my dumb phone, note that the RAZR was their favorite telephone (this is apparently a common sentiment). I purchased my current telephone on Amazon this past summertime, where they're available for about $xl a pop. The phone is and so cheap, in fact, that my account was temporarily suspended when I activated it, since criminals typically use the phones as burners I learned. Quite a distance from the days of trendy, at present ironic, ads right?

Since I don't utilise tablets, social media (aside from LinkedIn or the occasional Tweet, of form), text letters, or other smart-related mediums, at that place'south an obvious question—how exercise I communicate? Well, my beginning preference is to speak with people in-person. This allows me to perceive body language, tone, and context related to the conversation. Additionally, in-person interactions let for "right-speed decision-making", whether efficient and decisive, or thorough and deliberative. My secondary ways of communication is the phone, which allows for adaptive and meaningful exchanges in existent-time.

Electronic mail is non my favorite form of advice, just is my most frequent selection nonetheless. Email does permit for a written tape, which is valuable, too every bit sharing files or big static amounts of information. As a rule of pollex, I will opt for the phone if an exchange takes more than four emails to reach a conclusion. Lastly, texting. I loathe texting. I avoid it whenever possible. Texting is a very poor form of advice, and I reserve information technology for very bones logistics such every bit, "leaving in 5", "on my way", or my favorite, "m". Public rubber note, never text and bulldoze; accept the pledge: #ItCanWait.

In this modernistic and fascinating age, I manage to get past without email on my phone, confront-timing, pinning, instagramming, periscoping, or snapchatting. I too get to avoid telephone habit and social media addiction, both which are very existent issues. As a benefit of having a dumb phone, I notice that my planning skills are vastly improved—I don't take the option of operating on a last-minute mentality. As such, my memory has improved since I have to know routes, schedules, names, numbers, directions, and contingency plans all ahead of time.

The two biggest benefits, however, are increased focus and empathy. With a impaired phone, life is simpler and the need to look up every picayune question that pops into my head has faded away—do our lives ever have to feel like trivia night? When we are constantly on the run with the internet at our fingertips, we think we're getting a lot done, but multi-tasking is actually an illusion. Most importantly, when I'm with people, I'm not just there. Since I'one thousand not distracted by my pocket buzzing or ringing with my next meeting or phone call, I tin can actually pay attention to people when I'm with them.

I concede that at that place are times a smart telephone would be useful, similar if I get lost on a road-trip, or want to send files after a coming together and before I become dorsum to the office. Fortuitously, these minor inconveniences have the benefit of *gasp* engaging with strangers and practicing patience. I am besides fortunate to work for an employer that does not pretend it's a news agency on a 24/7 agenda (thank you, Student Veterans of America). My office leadership recognizes the positive impact of family time and re-charging while away from the office on our power to aggressively pursue our mission.

I accept actually considered sticking solely with a land-line; unfortunately, as cell phone technology has taken off, pay phones have gone by the wayside, and old phone booths have been relegated to the vestiges of a foretime era. And then, near a dozen years after the RAZR launched—an item now featured in the Smithsonian Museum—I've returned to that dumb phone with no regrets.

#PoundSign

Are You A Student With A Dumb Phone,

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-love-my-dumb-phone-william-hubbard

Posted by: hinkleofue1956.blogspot.com

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