I keep hearing people say that they are obsessed with their mobiles and that they are so dependent on it they think their life would not be same without it. Well im not one those people who is dependent and i could live out without my mobile phone for a whole month

It'd be awesome, to be honest.

Yes. It broke and I did.

I needed a tablet to access the internet after a few days as not being able to use maps, find out train times etc was difficult but a phone for phone functions I can easily live without.

Yes, I think the big challenge would be no online access with me too. I'm not that much of a big phone user anyway but I'm always on my PC when at home, and most of the time it's doing online stuff.

Could maybe download some games at the start of the month, play those and mix that up with tv watching for my at-home entertainment for a month. Either way, it's my PC I'd miss more than my phone and being online in general is what I'd miss more than the device(s) themselves.

My own smartphone, yes easily. The one supplied by work, no not a chance.

I would proper miss getting texts from my mam saying "setting off now".

Yes, no problem, i can go weeks without turning my phone on.

No problem. I hardly ever use it as anything other than a phone. For any internet stuff I just wait until I get home.

i`ve lived without mine since it went down the back of the sofa a couple of years ago.

i don`t miss it.

Me too. I would like to see more public kiosks though

I was involved in quite a serious car crash on the outside lane of the M4 in 1991, which had my car written off. Stay with me here please. I didn't get back on the horse, as in not getting another car. For the first few months it was difficult without a car, as I'd become dependent on it somewhat, but now all these years later, I don't miss not having a car.

The same would apply to any modern electronic gadget, but in spite of that, I'm not a slave to these devices.

What would you do if you're out, need to get to a new place and you don't know what bus to get or how to walk somewhere?

The same as people did for donkey's years before the recent adoption of smartphones!

Engage brain. Use initiative.

Preferably you'd plan your journey in advance. What do you think people did before all these devices were invented?

But in your scenario, you'd phone up directory inquiries from a red telephone box (it was free back in those days), then phone the place you were going to and get directions.

Something like that. It's been a long time. Anyway, we managed somehow.

I realise that (I am from the era that lived without mobiles ). But it's time consuming and much less straightforward than having the internet. Given the option of TfL + googlemaps or trying to guess a journey the night before and writing it down I'd go for the former any time. Your option also relies on other people, which is the answer I was expecting though I thought someone would say 'ask someone' rather than phone directory enquiries.

I was also specifically responding to the person who said they wait until they get home to ues the internet. I trust they don't live in the Southern rail area or they might not yet be home (in my case I used my tablet to find another route).


My brain is quite limited in terms of the information it holds. It definitely can't get me around without external information.

How did you manage for all those years?

With regard to the scenarion; I'd have to say that the number of times I've been out and suddenly decided to go somewhere I've never heard of is somewhat limited!

I doubt that anyone's claiming it's easier without a smartphone, but just because something takes a little thought, initiative or effort doesn't mean it's impossible. It doesn't mean you can't find your way around without a smartphone.

I'm sure if someone finally invents the hoverboard, it won't be long before some people start to question how anyone ever got anywhere without one. Well, guess what. We all seem to be managing!

It's the same with all technologies.

Well I used to be able to read the A to Z but have you seen the size of it recently - now where are my reading glasses.

I have to travel around a lot for work and also live on a train route that has chosen not to run for the best part of a year so use TfL before I leave home, at the train station, when I get off the tube, getting onto the bus and then invariably googlemaps to do the last bit on foot. I only realised how inconvenient it is not to have any means of finding out live informatoin when my phone and tablet broke at the same time and I had nothing for a few days.

Yes it's doable, of course it is. But it's a bit like another thread I have just read on this board about the tracing paper loo roll we had in the 70s. It does the job, just about but not efficiently or pleasantly.

I won't lie. No. Though it's been almost two years since i deleted Facebook and i've survived, so who knows?

I only use mine to make phone calls (it's all it does).

I used to cope without for many years, though that was when we had widespread public telephone booths.

With the greatest of ease.

I use my laptop for online forums etc and my phone is so ancient it belongs in the Hull and East Riding museum.

Yes, it's only an HTC Wildfire android PAYG phone. I'm going to have to update it next year as I'm one of those that's going to lose Whatsapp on 31st December, which I use to talk to my sons.
My phone just sits in the bottom of my bag in case anyone messages or phones me, and that's it. Wouldn't have the chance to use it at work, but I don't anyway. I do all my internet stuff in the evenings on my laptop.
I hate seeing everyone carrying phones and glued to them whilst walking about - what a life being at a phone's beck and call

My mobile cost 20 quid from ASDA and although I carry it with me everywhere its usually switched off as its just a safety net.

But then Im severely partially sighted so the screens are too small for me to deal with, I can use a lap top using magnification software which I do and I know smart phones do have apps that can make me be able to use them but I haven't made that jump yet.

At this point I can live without any mobile, but I think maybe a whole new world will open to me when I do get one set up that is configured for the visually impaired.

OP thats a good question you raised, Im coming out of 13 years not going outside and it fascinates me how locked in everyone is to these devices.

I managed to live without my mobile for over 50 years until I got one a few years ago. How amazing is that!

I won't lie, obviously I would be able to live without it as I wouldn't die but I'd struggle and it'd make my life worse as I use my phone for so many things and it enhances my life and makes many things in my life easier. I've not got a land line phone either so would miss calls/texts. I use it for work as well as personal stuff too.



I often see comments like this and they're totally ridiculous, I'd argue that the phone does exactly what I ask of it and provides an incredible service to me, the phone is very much at my beck and call so the phone is therefore my slave.

Yes, very easily. I hardly ever use it.