Poll of the Day > does anyone here still use a house phone?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I don't know anyone who does and i haven't seen a payphone in years yet someone on discord had to say "yeah don't own a smartphone and see no reason for anything outside my lanline home phone"

it boggles the mind that there could exist people who don't think phones that aren't tied to your house are useful
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I do, one of them is a rotary phone.
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Yeah, we have one. I have absolutely no idea why though. It only gets used something like twice a month. It rings a lot too, but nobody ever picks it up because it always says "British Columbia" or something else fishy.
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Why do you need a phone, NMB? You have no friends, no job, and never leave the house. Who exactly do you need to call?

Have one. It's almost never used.
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NightMareBunny posted...

I don't know anyone who does and i haven't seen a payphone in years yet someone on discord had to say "yeah don't own a smartphone and see no reason for anything outside my lanline home phone"

it boggles the mind that there could exist people who don't think phones that aren't tied to your house are useful

I don't own a smartphone, but that doesn't mean I need to own a landline. I rarely use my phone so I have a pre-paid flip phone that costs me $100/year. That's cheaper than the cheapest landline service you can get nowadays.

I'll probably convert to an actual smartphone at some point, just haven't yet.
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I think it's funny that Americans will criticize poor people for having cell phones when they're cheaper than land lines now
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Mario_VS_DK posted...

Yeah, we have one. I have absolutely no idea why though. It only gets used something like twice a month. It rings a lot too, but nobody ever picks it up because it always says "British Columbia" or something else fishy.

We get a lot of fishy calls from D.C. We have the house phone since its cheaper to have it bundled with internet and cable. My kids do use the phone though for when they talk to their friends.
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I have a landline because I live in the middle of nowhere and my cell phone doesn't get service here.

NightMareBunny posted...

it boggles the mind that there could exist people who don't think phones that aren't tied to your house are useful

You don't leave your parents basement though so how would you know?
Still yes I have a landline phone simply because my internet requires a phone line so why not have a phone plugged in. I can't say I used it all that much as I do have a mobile but eh the option is there if I run out of credit or whatever.
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I do. It's $10/month for unlimited long distance which I use to call my grandma who doesn't know how to go online.
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I have one. I don't use it much. I do use it when something happens to my cell phone, though. Or to find my cell phone, sometimes...

Wii3Kings posted...

We get a lot of fishy calls from D.C. We have the house phone since its cheaper to have it bundled with internet and cable. My kids do use the phone though for when they talk to their friends.

That's why I have one, too...

ShadowRisae posted...

I rarely use my phone so I have a pre-paid flip phone that costs me $100/year. That's cheaper than the cheapest landline service you can get nowadays.

Are you sure? I honestly don't know, because when I got my landline added, my cable/internet bill actually went down...
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Having a landline is basically free here nowadys, with most providers just including them in all-in-1 packages and getting a package without a landline usually isn't worth the hassle.

Also, it is easier calling the provider on the landline for free service, than calling them by mobile and having to arrange restitution...
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For as much as they cost cell phones AREN'T useful. I have never owned one and refuse to pay $200 a month when I have a perfectly good phone (land line) at work and at home. I also have a laptop, digital camera, and GPS, none of which require a subscription... Nevermind the whole privacy, tracking, or advertising issues these days.

*Oh, I know of one payphone that still works. It's at a campground.

DPsx7 posted...

For as much as they cost cell phones AREN'T useful. I have never owned one and refuse to pay $200 a month when I have a perfectly good phone (land line) at work and at home. I also have a laptop, digital camera, and GPS, none of which require a subscription... Nevermind the whole privacy, tracking, or advertising issues these days.

I wouldn't say they aren't useful. I think it depends on your lifestyle. It was definitely useful when I worked on base. And sure, I could carry around all that stuff, but why would I when I could just carry a phone that has all that and more. And I wouldn't want to have to go home just to contact someone. Or have someone have to call multiple numbers to reach me. It can be pointless for some people to have cell phones. But for others, it's very useful as a tool and more...
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LinkPizza posted...

I wouldn't say they aren't useful. I think it depends on your lifestyle. It was definitely useful when I worked on base. And sure, I could carry around all that stuff, but why would I when I could just carry a phone that has all that and more. And I wouldn't want to have to go home just to contact someone. Or have someone have to call multiple numbers to reach me. It can be pointless for some people to have cell phones. But for others, it's very useful as a tool and more...

Maybe if you're not near a phone then ok. I rarely need a camera or GPS and will take them when necessary. My point being how can anyone tolerate the freaking costs. Or worse try to rationalize them. No wonder younger generations have little savings.

NightMareBunny posted...

it boggles the mind that there could exist people who don't think phones that aren't tied to your house are useful

....what?

rogerskg1979 posted...

Why do you need a phone, NMB? You have no friends, no job, and never leave the house. Who exactly do you need to call?

Lokarin posted...

I think it's funny that Americans will criticize poor people for having cell phones when they're cheaper than land lines now

I'm not sure how much landlines even cost any more, but it's possible that they could be cheaper depending on your usage needs (although, since Skype and other services are a thing, landlines are mostly redundant anyway). However, when people criticize the poor for cell phones, it's more the fact that they're buying expensive cell phones rather than cheap ones.
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Got rid of it because I never used it, was long distance to call most surrounding cities while my cell had unlimited long distance anywhere in the country and overall cheaper.

yes I do only because I dont want or need a cell/mobile phone.
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Locke90 posted...

yes I do only because I dont want or need a cell/mobile phone.

not even for emergency calls when you are out?
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Do the phones at my work count? My mom has one still, but all calls are forwarded to her cell now. Not sure if that counts.

Krazy_Kirby posted...

Locke90 posted...

yes I do only because I dont want or need a cell/mobile phone.

not even for emergency calls when you are out?

this is what i don't get about people who refuse to get a cellphone....they think there's only a need to call when their at home
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Krazy_Kirby posted...

Locke90 posted...

yes I do only because I dont want or need a cell/mobile phone.

not even for emergency calls when you are out?

nope I just dont like being at the beck and call of anyone besides when I was working for mcdonalds and I did have one I was always called to cover shifts despite me telling my co workers that I actually wanted to spend time with my family.
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helpful tip: a cellphone doesn't need a plan to call 911. take an old phone, charge it, turn it off and keep it in your car
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NightMareBunny posted...

Krazy_Kirby posted...

Locke90 posted...

yes I do only because I dont want or need a cell/mobile phone.

not even for emergency calls when you are out?

this is what i don't get about people who refuse to get a cellphone....they think there's only a need to call when their at home

not really I never used mine when i had one to call my friends as I was always out with my mates anyway so when I got rid of it really didnt make that great a difference anyway.
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Krazy_Kirby posted...

helpful tip: a cellphone doesn't need a plan to call 911. take an old phone, charge it, turn it off and keep it in your car

yeah except where I am which is australia its triple 000 or 13 1444.
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DPsx7 posted...

LinkPizza posted...

I wouldn't say they aren't useful. I think it depends on your lifestyle. It was definitely useful when I worked on base. And sure, I could carry around all that stuff, but why would I when I could just carry a phone that has all that and more. And I wouldn't want to have to go home just to contact someone. Or have someone have to call multiple numbers to reach me. It can be pointless for some people to have cell phones. But for others, it's very useful as a tool and more...

Maybe if you're not near a phone then ok. I rarely need a camera or GPS and will take them when necessary. My point being how can anyone tolerate the freaking costs. Or worse try to rationalize them. No wonder younger generations have little savings.

newsflash most of the time when people need to make a call they aren't at home
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Nope no need for a extra bill.

NightMareBunny posted...

Krazy_Kirby posted...

Locke90 posted...

yes I do only because I dont want or need a cell/mobile phone.

not even for emergency calls when you are out?

this is what i don't get about people who refuse to get a cellphone....they think there's only a need to call when their at home

You don't get a lot of things, though. Like magnets.

NightMareBunny posted...

newsflash most of the time when people need to make a call they aren't at home

How would you know?
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In case of emergency having a landline makes a huge difference.
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My only phone is a home phone.
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Good lord, I cannot fathom why someone would have one as their only phone still; that is outright bonkers. It's not like it's any cheaper than even a lot of unlimited talk plans WITH DATA, and of course you're screwed into having to ask strangers for help if you wanna make a call anywhere. And then been probably the only person that any of your acquaintances know that can't be easily reached when not at home has to be a huge burden.

I just don't understand. We had to have a line for a while when my mom had this heart monitor which had to use a phone line to send the data it recorded to the doctor, but we never plugged in the phone because who in their right mind would get up and go to the living room just to make a call when you can reach into your pocket. and who would call the general house phone instead of the specific person you are trying to reach?

The only reasons I could ever see is you have to have it for some odd reason. But having one as opposed to a half decent cell phone plan is crazy. And for emergencies, it can still call 911 if it's plugged in and not be payed for, any other emergencies could be handled many other ways.
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DPsx7 posted...

LinkPizza posted...

I wouldn't say they aren't useful. I think it depends on your lifestyle. It was definitely useful when I worked on base. And sure, I could carry around all that stuff, but why would I when I could just carry a phone that has all that and more. And I wouldn't want to have to go home just to contact someone. Or have someone have to call multiple numbers to reach me. It can be pointless for some people to have cell phones. But for others, it's very useful as a tool and more...

Maybe if you're not near a phone then ok. I rarely need a camera or GPS and will take them when necessary. My point being how can anyone tolerate the freaking costs. Or worse try to rationalize them. No wonder younger generations have little savings.

Maybe you don't, but that doesn't mean other people are exactly the same. For someone who is in the military (Like myself), having a GPS at the ready whenever is great. You can easily get moved to a new base in a city or state you've never been in. And it really helps to get around. Or when you go on TDY or a deployment. And most people don't always carry a GPS around on those occasions. Especially if they already have a cellphone with that on it. And a camera can be useful, too. Especially when we're trying to explain to someone what was wrong with the jet. A video or picture helps. And most of the time, camera's themselves weren't allowed. And most of the time, you won't be near a phone when working. But you will need to text/call people to get the right tools or parts. So, that's why I say it depends on the person and what they need it for. Also, most of the time, I realize that people seem to be out most of the time when they make or receive calls. At least, the people I call and receive calls from. And my family. And most of my co-workers and such. Obviously, I can only base this off of the people I know. But they usually seem to be out of the house when I call them... The cost sucks, but when it comes to smartphones, they can actually do a lot. And carrying a phone is much better than carrying a laptop, GPS, camera, etc. all at the same time when a phone can do all that on it's own. And it's either a similar size, if smaller than the rest. That's why it's actually not hard to rationalize. And they are some cheap plans. And you can even get certain smartphones cheap. Not the newest ones, but they're still smartphones...
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how the hell do you avoid serious and minor problems without a cellphone?

if someone goes to the store and you just forgot to tell them "oh crap we need eggs" tough cookies you can't just call them now
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Never had a cell phone. Don't need one now. The only reason I'd consider buying one would be so I could play Digimon Links. But who needs mobile games when you've got a handheld?
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DPsx7 posted...

My point being how can anyone tolerate the freaking costs. Or worse try to rationalize them. No wonder younger generations have little savings.

Not every smartphone is expensive. Samsung and Apple are expensive, but there are cheap phones too. There are plenty of good phones for $100 or less. You can also get unlocked phones that aren't tied into a monthly contract. I have never had a contract. I have the cheapest Cricket plan that gives me 2 GB per month for a grand total of $30 per month.

Phones are only expensive if you're buying the latest Samsung or iPhone every year on contract. Not everyone does this though. My phone is a $150 phone that is 3-4 years old. I don't do annual upgrades, and I don't do contracts.

NightMareBunny posted...

this is what i don't get about people who refuse to get a cellphone....they think there's only a need to call when their at home

You don't get a lot of things. Least of all the intricacies of human behavior.
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AllstarSniper32 posted...

NightMareBunny posted...

this is what i don't get about people who refuse to get a cellphone....they think there's only a need to call when their at home

You don't get a lot of things. Least of all the intricacies of human behavior.

I still can't believe that NMB actually thinks you can go to prison for bad handwriting. That may have been the stupidest thing NMB has ever said, and he has said a lot of stupid stuff.

NightMareBunny posted...

Krazy_Kirby posted...

Locke90 posted...

yes I do only because I dont want or need a cell/mobile phone.

not even for emergency calls when you are out?

this is what i don't get about people who refuse to get a cellphone....they think there's only a need to call when their at home

How often are you that far from a phone? I'm quite certain in an emergency a nearby home or business will assist you. And from my understanding you can keep a phone in your car, totally unsubscribed and therefore free, solely for 911 calls.

NightMareBunny posted...

newsflash most of the time when people need to make a call they aren't at home

You are though. Always. I find it really strange you're ridiculing someone for just having a house phone when it reality that's all you need anyway as you don't leave the house.

NightMareBunny posted...

how the hell do you avoid serious and minor problems without a cellphone?

With or without a mobile phone you can't avoid these.

NightMareBunny posted...

if someone goes to the store and you just forgot to tell them "oh crap we need eggs" tough cookies you can't just call them now

Again this doesn't apply to you. Still folk who go food shopping often take a list. If they forget to add anything to the list then they go without until the next trip to the store. It's like you don't understand that people have lived life long before mobiles became a thing. Does mobile phones make life more easy? Sure it does as does most tech but making it out it's a must is simply wrong.
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SirPikachu posted...

Good lord, I cannot fathom why someone would have one as their only phone still; that is outright bonkers. It's not like it's any cheaper than even a lot of unlimited talk plans WITH DATA, and of course you're screwed into having to ask strangers for help if you wanna make a call anywhere. And then been probably the only person that any of your acquaintances know that can't be easily reached when not at home has to be a huge burden.

I just don't understand. We had to have a line for a while when my mom had this heart monitor which had to use a phone line to send the data it recorded to the doctor, but we never plugged in the phone because who in their right mind would get up and go to the living room just to make a call when you can reach into your pocket. and who would call the general house phone instead of the specific person you are trying to reach?

The only reasons I could ever see is you have to have it for some odd reason. But having one as opposed to a half decent cell phone plan is crazy. And for emergencies, it can still call 911 if it's plugged in and not be payed for, any other emergencies could be handled many other ways.

It's a lot cheaper. Landlines are usually included with cable/internet packages. A small additional fee. A cell on the other hand costs hundreds up front and hundreds each month. We're talking $1000-$2000 a year. No amount of convenience is worth that much. Besides, the caller ID shows up on the TV (if it's on) so it's not like I need to rush to the phone all the time. I think anyone who assumes cells are a necessity are relatively insane.

They aren't even good for games if you own a 3DS and Vita. Although phones can perform a lot of tasks they don't perform any specific task that well.

DPsx7 posted...

A cell on the other hand costs hundreds up front and hundreds each month. We're talking $1000-$2000 a year

Are you high?
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LinkPizza posted...

Maybe you don't, but that doesn't mean other people are exactly the same. For someone who is in the military (Like myself), having a GPS at the ready whenever is great. You can easily get moved to a new base in a city or state you've never been in. And it really helps to get around. Or when you go on TDY or a deployment. And most people don't always carry a GPS around on those occasions. Especially if they already have a cellphone with that on it. And a camera can be useful, too. Especially when we're trying to explain to someone what was wrong with the jet. A video or picture helps. And most of the time, camera's themselves weren't allowed. And most of the time, you won't be near a phone when working. But you will need to text/call people to get the right tools or parts. So, that's why I say it depends on the person and what they need it for. Also, most of the time, I realize that people seem to be out most of the time when they make or receive calls. At least, the people I call and receive calls from. And my family. And most of my co-workers and such. Obviously, I can only base this off of the people I know. But they usually seem to be out of the house when I call them... The cost sucks, but when it comes to smartphones, they can actually do a lot. And carrying a phone is much better than carrying a laptop, GPS, camera, etc. all at the same time when a phone can do all that on it's own. And it's either a similar size, if smaller than the rest. That's why it's actually not hard to rationalize. And they are some cheap plans. And you can even get certain smartphones cheap. Not the newest ones, but they're still smartphones...

I'm generalizing for the majority of people with one. They are ignorant or lazy. Obviously there are a few cases, military or first responders, where it can be handy. Does every dang kid need a phone? Absolutely not.

No such thing as a 'cheap' plan. Even if the monthly rate is lower than another company you can be sure a stream of fees and hidden charges will follow.

Kyuubi4269 posted...

DPsx7 posted...

A cell on the other hand costs hundreds up front and hundreds each month. We're talking $1000-$2000 a year

Are you high?

If you're paying $100-$200 a month for these silly little things then my estimates are in the ballpark. The money wasted on a toy could be used for car insurance, saved for later, invested, or a hell of a lot of games.

No, it's been 10 years since I dropped the landline.
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Haven't had a landline since I moved out on my own in 2000. I've been through 4 non smart phones since then.
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DPsx7 posted...

If you're paying $100-$200 a month for these silly little things then my estimates are in the ballpark. The money wasted on a toy could be used for car insurance, saved for later, invested, or a hell of a lot of games.

They aren't, the one I have now and got over a year ago, cost around 100 and my package costs me 5 a month.
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DPsx7 posted...

No such thing as a 'cheap' plan. Even if the monthly rate is lower than another company you can be sure a stream of fees and hidden charges will follow.

Yes there are. For a while, I had a $60 unlimited plan. The only reason that changed was because I added people tot he plan. And someone even mentioned have a $30 monthly plan. And a 5 one, too...

DPsx7 posted...

Although phones can perform a lot of tasks they don't perform any specific task that well.

Which tasks are they doing bad at, though?

DPsx7 posted...

I'm generalizing for the majority of people with one. They are ignorant or lazy. Obviously there are a few cases, military or first responders, where it can be handy.

Yeah. But there are other jobs that can benefit from it, though. I can say all jobs can, but a lot could. I just stated some for the military since that's something I know. Sure, some people are lazy and maybe they don't need a phone. But again, that's based on what they do in their life. If they are always out running errands, or just have a very busy life, then phones can help, too.
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wwinterj25 posted...

NightMareBunny posted...

newsflash most of the time when people need to make a call they aren't at home

You are though. Always. I find it really strange you're ridiculing someone for just having a house phone when it reality that's all you need anyway as you don't leave the house.

Owned.
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