capmike Loc: New Bern, NC

Karl Marx was the author of the saying” Religion is the opiate of the masses”. Today, that is no longer the case. Today, it is the cell phone that is the opiate of the masses. It boggles my old mind how these people cannot put down their devices to walk, drive, or eat. It’s is just amazing to me, and I hesitate to see how much worse it can get.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

I’m not sure it can get any worse. Look at me: I’m answering your post on my iPhone 🤨

bc6977 Loc: WV.

No, it is not just you. I put my cell phone on silent and put it out of reach when I am driving or eating. Even before cell phones I would never answer the phone when eating or studying.

capmike Loc: New Bern, NC

I forgot to mention, I’m 75, and I have never had a cell phone. Have never seen the need. And I’m probably the last with a land line. My phone is to make and receive calls.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

I am also 75, I have two of them, one is because I have a pace maker. What the second one is used for I have no idea, it stays plugged in and I have not moved it in almost two years. The other one I used to make calls but mostly it is useless to me. I have trouble understand most people on that phone, pretty much a useless toy.

BebuLamar

I always answer the phone even back in the 70's, even if I know it's spam. I don't want to miss an important call.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I'm 84. When I was working the farm, the smartphone was an essential tool. Not only did it show me the weather radar when I needed a forecast, I used it for keeping track of irrigation zones and orders. The camera was useful for documentation. I was not tempted by social media or browsing the web. It was a utility item.

The problem isn't the phone. It's the user habits.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Only two people in the country should have a cell phone. The President of the United States and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Put pay phones back on street corners and carry a pocket full of quarters. To answer your question, yes I have one. Always on silent often in Airplane mode

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

My wife insists on a landline. I have a smartphone so the kids can text me and I can get directions when out in the vehicle that has no navigation. Mostly it sits on my desk and I often forget to take it with me.

I took it last night when we went out for dinner so I could watch the hockey game.

I'm older than you are...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Murphy read your post, he is working on WORSE right now just for you.

One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID

Believe me it is going to get much worse than you can imagine. A couple of generations that can not function without a screen or a computer and can not even communicate with each other face to face. Much worse.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Oh, 78, got a "flip phone" while I was still teaching = to keep in contact at all times. After I retired in 2007 I got one of the early smart phones via inheriting it from my wife. It was a tool for her, she was a surgical and OR Charge Nurse and the hospital had apps for the staff etc. and they were upgrading (my flip had developed a cracked hinge.) So being frugal, instead of buying a new flip I took her old smart phone. Then later I upgraded when they upgraded again. Several weeks ago I bought a new smart phone, the old one was dying and didn't always work correctly. People looked at me funny when I was hitting it to get it to work. I got a Samsung S24. And of course now my wife is starting to think her old one needs an upgrade even though she is now retired and doesn't need any new apps from the hospital. Just "my phone is getting old".

Our Daughter graduated from Med School last May and is now a Pediatrician at a hospital 50 miles from home - I don't think I even want to see what she is carrying now. Games, Nursery Rhymes and music to distract her patients from what she is doing?

JoeBiker Loc: homebase: Houston, TX

I think: Political Promises are the opiate of the masses

Fogman Loc: Fields Landing, California

I'm 78, have never had a cell phone; I have a land line with caller ID and if I don't recognize the name or number I simply don't answer. As it turns out it's a good strategy as only good friends leave a message. My wife has a cell phone and it is useful sometimes but it gets more use as a gaming devise or camera than as a phone. My thought is one in the family is enough.

GEngel-usmc Loc: Spencerport NY - I miss Lakeland, FL

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My iPhone, when away from the house, is used for notifying me with 5 security Cams of video and audio, indoor and out, and sensor alerts for garage door open/close; freezer open/close; quick photos, translation duties, FaceTime chats, emergency weather alerts, 'Life360' App for where my Kids are at the moment, remotely open the garage if necessary, a QR Scanner, play games when waiting for Wife shopping/hair/ Dr appointments, and lots of Utilities. Oooops, also make phone calls with it. - P.S.- VA provides an App for using iPhone calls direct to my VA Hearing Aids as well as a Mic for my wife direct to my Hearing Aids. *mostly near deaf, military stuff, don’tcha know 😱