The Chaos Of Constant Connection
August 15th, 2010 by ComputerBob
For many years, I didn’t need, have or use a cell phone.
But I found it very handy to carry and use a pay-as-you-go cell phone while I was one of three caretakers taking care of my favorite uncle 24/7, for several months before he died of cancer.
That same cell phone service was also indispensible during the year that I worked more than full-time, both in and out of courts, as a volunteer legal advocate for a domestic violence center.
But after that, Verizon bought my pay-as-you-go cell phone provider and immediately raised the price of its “connect time” from 15 cents per minute to 25 cents per minute.
A shocking 67 percent increase.
So I called Verizon to express my anger and disappointment.
And then, in protest, I used up all of the remaining minutes on that cell phone and stopped using it.
That was almost a year ago.
I haven’t really needed a cell phone since then.
Until the past week or so, when I found myself in a few different situations in which I could really have used a cell phone.
Should I carry a cell phone all of the time, just in case I might occasionally need it?
Is it worth the expense?
Do I really even want to be “connected” all of the time?
If I choose one way, I face the inconvenience — and possibly even the danger — of not being “connected” at times when I really need to be.
If I choose the other way, I face the chaos of constantly being connected.
As with most decisions in life, each choice comes with its own perks — and costs.
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Consumer Info, Psychology, Technology