Slog - Comments on Cell Phone Diaries http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries While I was in Los Angeles last week my cell phone died--the color screen went all white, and then the display came back but everything was backwards, and then it went all white again. It was a brand-new phone, one of these new beautiful slide phones, a Samsung. I hadn't dropped it in water. I had dropped my previous phone in water, which was why I had a brand-new phone. The phone I dropped in water I'd only had for about three months. I got that when my previous phone--well, you remember. Long story short, I had to get a... Copyright 2008 Wed, 30 May 2007 13:42:55 -0800 Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:06:51 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Levislade Sometimes I think it's ridiculous that I don't have a cell phone. Then I read something like this (and sentences like "I’d bought my latest phone from a T-Mobile dealer, not from a T-Mobile corporate retail location"), and I realize I am very happy with not having a cell phone.

Also, as to why your phone broke: maybe you puked on it?

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731059 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731059 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 13:54:05 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Wow.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731061 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731061 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 13:54:35 -0800 Comment by Jordyn If only there had been picture messages too!

]]> Jordyn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731062 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731062 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 13:57:44 -0800 Comment by JudithBjini i've never understood why people text. good lord -- just fucking call each other and get that utterly stupid conversation over with in 2 minutes instead of over the course of hours.

]]> JudithBjini http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731069 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731069 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:06:31 -0800 Comment by monkey And then Lindsay gets in a DUI... hmmmm.

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731070 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731070 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:06:35 -0800 Comment by Gloria "Uh. Buh."

That was the breaking point, when my laughing became so hard I fell off my chair.

Seriously, why the fuck do people text when you have a FUCKING PHONE IN YOUR HAND?

]]> Gloria http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731072 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731072 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:08:50 -0800 Comment by jackie treehorn You guys just don't understand texting.

And, voyeurism rules.

]]> jackie treehorn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731077 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731077 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:14:18 -0800 Comment by Carollani Texting is god's gift to people who don't appreciate the whole song and dance of talking on the phone. If I could get away with never talking on the phone I would—and I'm not a hermit or anything, I just don't like talking on the phone. Texting is short, sweet, and to the point without having to commit to a conversation.

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731089 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731089 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:24:34 -0800 Comment by Explorer Texting is anything but short and sweet - this conversation took nearly two days!

Christopher, you should send that in to FOUND Magazine.

]]> Explorer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731093 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731093 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:30:56 -0800 Comment by Levislade Carollani, I think this post shows pretty clearly that conversations via text are neither short, sweet, nor to the point.

(And kudos to Firefox's dictionary for not recognizing "texting" as a word.)

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731095 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731095 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:30:57 -0800 Comment by Nay awe-some!

I propose a justify your text outbox sometime soon. That'd be fun.

]]> Nay http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731097 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731097 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:34:19 -0800 Comment by no one in particular Holy fuck, you can get LOANER PHONES?

In January my phone got robbed by some hoodlums on MAX while I was on my way to the airport and I had to spend six days in SF without a phone.

Then three weeks ago I was out of town and went swimming with my phone in my swimming trunks (stupid, I know) and had to spend four days without a phone.

I didn't know about loaner phones!!

]]> no one in particular http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731099 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731099 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:36:33 -0800 Comment by Carollani Levislade: Is anything short, sweet, and to the point when in the hands of affluent teenagers?

If you were to look in my inbox you'd get a whole different impression of texting (texters?).

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731107 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731107 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:49:48 -0800 Comment by infrequent how old is the average slog reader? don't understand texting? hello? did you understand Email or IM?

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731108 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731108 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:50:21 -0800 Comment by infrequent hello?

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731109 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731109 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:51:15 -0800 Comment by infrequent talk to me!

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731110 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731110 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:52:22 -0800 Comment by infrequent k.

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731112 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731112 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:53:50 -0800 Comment by Levislade LOLZ! OMGWTFBBQ! CU L8R.

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731114 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731114 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:56:26 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I don't understand phones, period. My cell has maybe 20 minutes on it in three years. I don't understand what it is you folks are constantly talking or texting about, but if this transcript is an example, I'm glad.

And yes, I've been sending email for twenty years.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731117 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731117 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:57:20 -0800 Comment by rubyred oh my god what the fuck bar-b-que?

ROTFLMAO!

]]> rubyred http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731119 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731119 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 14:58:43 -0800 Comment by old dog I'm still a bit ambivalent about what it means for culture, but I'd be lying if I said that I'd rather waste 2-3 minutes talking on the phone to get one sentence worth of info sandwiched between a bunch of social graces versus receiving that sentence via a text.

If nothing else, texting has demonstrated to me how much time is wasted with pleasantries while you're on the phone and how little of the time is spent communicating.

]]> old dog http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731124 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731124 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:00:14 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle See, this is why we Fremonsters go low-tech. No cell phone leash, no watch, no RFID in our passports.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731125 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731125 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:00:57 -0800 Comment by SDA in SEA I'm admittedly probably older than the average SLOG reader. Maybe it is a generational thing. I loath text messaging. On the rare occasion that someone sends me a text message, I call them back. I have never sent a text message in my life.

Holy fuck, I feel old.

Oh, and "Stephanie"'s drama was hysterical.

]]> SDA in SEA http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731126 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731126 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:01:14 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle And IM is just chat for people too lazy to post streaming video anyway ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731127 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731127 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:02:34 -0800 Comment by Gloria I'm 21. But at night, I shed my skin and live my secret, textless existence as an ornery 93-year-old man.

]]> Gloria http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731143 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731143 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:15:37 -0800 Comment by infrequent i hope that means you are planning a OMGWTFBBQ... i'll bring the corn dogs. text me with the date...

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731145 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731145 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:16:33 -0800 Comment by investigatory journalist idk, my bff jill?

]]> investigatory journalist http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731164 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731164 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:35:40 -0800 Comment by hunh? WTF is the OMGWTFBBQ taking place?

WTF-when/why/where/what the fuck

]]> hunh? http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731168 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731168 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:38:46 -0800 Comment by infrequent tsnf.

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731173 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731173 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 15:42:10 -0800 Comment by Colin Ever try to call 10 people and find out what they're doing on Saturday night? It's so much easier to just write a text and send it to 10 people.

As for the abbreviations, I can't fucking stand 'em. Every time I see someone use "LOL" in an email, I imagine they've suddenly taken on the voice of a 14 year old valley girl.

]]> Colin http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731190 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731190 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 16:04:42 -0800 Comment by Dougsf Despite the above painful and pointless (but entertaining) conversation, texting is GREAT. It's passive, non-intrusive, here's-the-deal, be-there- or-don't, we'll-talk-when-I-see-you, look-at-your-phone-again-if-you-forget-the-plan. Perfect.

]]> Dougsf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731203 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731203 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 16:12:18 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool Texting is awesome. I do it 600 times a month. I text my neighbor who lives two doors down from me when we are watching TV shows at the same time, to talk about them. I also use texting at my desk, because my officemates hate hearing my phone conversations (this I know). It's also great for in meetings, restaurants, or in shows when the music is too loud to talk on the phone but you are trying to find your friend who is somewhere in the club. Put that shit on vibrate, hold it in your hand, and your answer is near.

]]> Ari Spool http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731256 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731256 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 17:27:51 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle TMI

Seriously.

Seriously.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731265 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731265 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 17:32:13 -0800 Comment by Gloria Will: Srsly.

]]> Gloria http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731361 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731361 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 18:29:58 -0800 Comment by rhynn Texting actually does occupy a unique and useful niche ... not all of us who are old fogies (over 50) are hostile to the medium. I use it to communicate with one of my kids when the information or situation is just a tad awkward or untimely. TExting works much better than phone calls when you feel a bit awkward with a stepkid, or when you need to tell them that they owe money on the latest phone bill, or if they're out with friends and you know they don't want to stop and chat with a parent but you need to tell them you'll be in a movie and so call the other parent if they need something. And on New Year's Eve, with REALLY loud music, we all wished each other Happy New Year by texting. It's actually not bad, as inventions go.

]]> rhynn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731373 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731373 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 18:31:43 -0800 Comment by rhynn Texting actually does occupy a unique and useful niche ... not all of us who are old fogies (over 50) are hostile to the medium. I use it to communicate with one of my kids when the information or situation is just a tad awkward or untimely. TExting works much better than phone calls when you feel a bit awkward with a stepkid, or when you need to tell them that they owe money on the latest phone bill, or if they're out with friends and you know they don't want to stop and chat with a parent but you need to tell them you'll be in a movie and so call the other parent if they need something. And on New Year's Eve, with REALLY loud music, we all wished each other Happy New Year by texting. It's actually not bad, as inventions go.

]]> rhynn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731409 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731409 Hetero Wed, 30 May 2007 18:33:16 -0800 Comment by Dianna I'm 25, have never texted. I occasionally get them, and was angry when I was charged 20 cents on my bill! Am I supposed to refuse them?

]]> Dianna http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731643 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c731643 Hetero Thu, 31 May 2007 00:47:02 -0800 Comment by vxhsoqn xdbhane xzrmu qvowdhyb zklem iqhc puvwbyaks kbzaso snihwzd

]]> vxhsoqn xdbhane http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c733218 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c733218 Hetero Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:05:07 -0800 Comment by vxhsoqn xdbhane xzrmu qvowdhyb zklem iqhc puvwbyaks kbzaso snihwzd

]]> vxhsoqn xdbhane http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c733219 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c733219 Hetero Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:05:58 -0800 Comment by clsprfkgh jbav bcldyrohs zyusdgoql mldscebqg orfpcd krqovzuw ueqwvytrf iakvgq http://www.zbpnyod.ytbxjzq.com

]]> clsprfkgh jbav http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c733220 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/cell_phone_diaries#c733220 Hetero Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:06:51 -0800