Why You Should Get Rid of Your Cell Phone

I got a cell phone in 1999 or 2000. It was simple. It was about the size of a cordless phone handset, it had an address book, and it called people. I could operated it easily without looking at it. It may have done a few more things, but it was nothing special. Most importantly, the phone worked well.

I now have a Cingular 8125 Windows Mobile smartphone. It plays music and videos, it surfs the internet, it can connect over WiFi, I can even remote control our Windows servers. Oh, yeah, I can also call people on it.

Back in 1999, my phone was for "emergencies", short "where are you?" conversations, and the occasional call to order take out while traveling home from school. If I left my cell phone at home, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Now, my cell phone is apart from me. If I forget it at home, I worry about what I'm missing. (To be fair to myself, I have gotten a little better recently.) I've sometimes wondered, "What would my life look like if I didn't have a cell phone?" Then my mind starts racing with all of the reasons I can't give up my cell phone. "What if someone needs to get in touch with me?" "A cell phone is so convenient when I need to make calls." "It has games on it for while you're waiting for something."

Wired has up a post entitled "Ten Reasons To Throw Away Your Cellphone". I know I have to agree with "It makes you perpetually available" and "It must constantly be recharged".