Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

On the Hatred of Phones

This article lists several reasons for hating phones. 

I agree with these.  I will add that telephone technology has evolved in ways that make me hate them more, not less.  They are more pervasive and intrusive now.  They demand attention in being charged.  The sound quality has become so horrendous that I can barely make out what anyone is saying, and in the case of any speakerphone function actually hurts my ears.  And they're ruining the restaurant experience, which creates fallout that I have to deal with even though I know better than to play with my fucking phone at the table.

So if you like me and wish to communicate with me, I am happy to do that via email or facetime.  I am never happy on the phone and use it only as an absolute last resort.  The chance of accurate communication is only so-so and the chance of pleasurable communication approaches zero and costs me spoons to fake it.
Tags: personal, science
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  • 28 comments
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ysabetwordsmith

Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

August 19 2015, 08:27:25 UTC 5 years ago

>>If there's one thing I cannot stand, it's getting an annoying automated advertizing call and reporting them to the phone company only to be told "I'm sorry but we can't block them from calling you!"<<

Oh, they could. They choose not to. They prioritize corporations over customers. This makes for unhappy customers.

When I am unhappy, I cease being a customer if possible, and if not, reduce participation to the bare minimum with extreme surliness. It's one reason I'm always grouchy over the phone; I resent having to use it and support a parasitic industry. And if I ever get the chance to destroy that industry in favor of something better I will gleefully pounce on the opportunity.
fayanora

Re: Thoughts

fayanora

August 19 2015, 09:42:42 UTC 5 years ago

Legally, they are required to do something about people calling cell phones, though they don't do anything about it usually anyway.
ysabetwordsmith

Re: Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

August 19 2015, 09:51:36 UTC 5 years ago

It's not about the laws that are written, but about the laws that are enforced. That one is enforced rarely, which means it is to the company's advantage to violate it routinely and just pay the fine when penalized. They make far more than enough money to cover it.
mejeep

Re: Thoughts

mejeep

August 19 2015, 11:39:05 UTC 5 years ago

That's a true and concise summary.
AT&T was recently revealed to be "most cooperative" with NSA warrantless spying.
Verizon, AT&T and most phone companies have recently paid massive fines & penalties to the FCC for violations. To the phone companies, that's "business as usual", similar to the way credit card companies prefer to "write down" or "write off" losses instead of doing anything useful to deter fraud (although the latest "smart chip" cards ought to make a dent in that, if properly deployed).

Lilly Tomlin's character said it best
"we don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company".
ysabetwordsmith

Re: Thoughts

ysabetwordsmith

August 20 2015, 07:35:36 UTC 5 years ago

Painfully true. Corporations are no longer servants, but parasites.

  • Birdfeeding

    Today is sunny and mild. I fed the birds. I've seen house finches and sparrows. I raked the firepit and laid a chimney of sticks in it. We broke up…

  • Photographs

    I took some pictures of my yard today. Read about what makes a good wildlife yard and Fieldhaven as habitat. The larger brush pile is still…

  • Birdfeeding

    Today is partly sunny and delightfully mild. I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of house finches and a few sparrows. I walked around the yard…