before cell phones

@bgerig (1258)
United States
February 14, 2009 10:57am CST
what in the world did we do before we had cell phones? How did we communicate between each other? What was it like going to a child's music concert or basketball game and not be interrupted and told to bring some from the grocery story on the way home or follow up with one more thing at the office tomorrow. And what is your funniest story about being interrupted by the cell phone at the most in appropriate time?
9 people like this
34 responses
@ddfreedie (690)
• India
15 Feb 09
cant imagine a world before the invention of cell phones...
1 person likes this
@bgerig (1258)
• United States
15 Feb 09
you are too young to have lived without a cell phone! we used to actually write by hand on paper and send the letters through the mail. we also talked to people one on one....in person with them....face to face....it was quite the concept.
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
18 Feb 09
hi bgerig! I think before I ever had a cellphone, I have an appointment book and a list to do pad which I write down everything needed to be done each day. I usually call the people I have appointment with my home phone or store's phone just to make sure that we will both be there at the appointed time and day. And when the cellphones were invented and I was able to have one, life of course became more convenient and at the same time, I have no escape nor reason to just forget things. lol..Everyone is always reminding me through the cellphone. I don't remember any funny story at the moment but I am sure that there are a lot of funny stories with the use of this modern gadget. Take care and have a great day! lovelots..faith
• Singapore
3 Mar 09
We just have to resort to caveman tools lol.
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
4 Mar 09
Hi lordwarwizard! haha..It will be very difficult to write on stones! LOL! Nice to see you here lordwar! Take care and have a great day! lovelots..faith
• United States
8 Mar 09
I act the same way I did before cell phones. I have one but I rarely use it. I keep it turned off so every call goes to voice mail. I need to get another one because mine loses minutes too quickly.
• Malaysia
14 Feb 09
Frankly speaking and not prank talking, I didn't used cell phone since Jan. 15, 2008 after I encountered my heart attack(angina & infarction). Currently, my communication tools are email and instant messenger system; YIM, Gtalk, AIM and Skype. It is applicable to my personal life and my business word. So, no monthly utility bills for my cell phone expenses. Unbelievable! but that is the reality. The telecommunication world much slower before cell phone roams into the open market, especially on data transfer and human related activity to the world of networking. Where, they have to rely on domestic or land line type of telephone which are not for mobility usage and very much dependable to one's availability to come to the phone. Meaning that, it dampen the quality communication value in networking. My previous funniest story bout being interrupted by cell phone (Dec. 2007) when I was sleeping and dreaming about I am talking on the cell phone to an unknown caller asking for my business type and progress. At the same time, my real cell phone rang up, I unconsciously answered the call and I didn't know what am talking about on the phone. Once woke up, I received text message from the caller and I retrieved the message, found "I've done 100% like what you said"...LOL! what it was all about?...hahaha...my secret!
• Malaysia
15 Feb 09
hahaha!...I am honored you "chimed-in" with your Quality Comment. Thank you so much, as I love to elaborate more on your "could that be?" question. Fully utilizing instant messenging system compare to cell phone, when we do talking about communication and the networking, justly like using contact lenses to replace spectacles. OR if we make comparison in our daily life driving one car, switching from the manual gear transmission type of car to an automatic gear transmission. It is a normal or common phenomenon, humankind are hardly to change their habitual attitude to new design thoughts as in majority, they like to be followers and not the pioneer in any new invention. Not a mistake, actually; as it is a natural desire.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
14 Feb 09
Before cells it was pagers. And if I don't want interruptions I turn mine off. Anyone calling with important stuff can leave a message. Then when I turn it on I will get back to them. Voice mail is wonderful.
• Canada
15 Feb 09
I remember those!! I remember my dad use to have one of those. It was pretty cool a little thing you would wear around and people would call it and you could check who wanted to talk to you or whatever.
@dvrtmcc (176)
• Eritrea
8 Mar 09
Before mobile phones there were only ordinary phones and every phone call was so important and expencive.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
16 Feb 09
Actually before cell phones we really never missed them..Its like air conditioning, we use to use fans and attic fans and window fans & also left our windows open...I remember as a child TV was black & white & i loved it..I supposs we learn to live with what we have, and we use to be happy the way things were, but now that we have been introduced to cell phones we cannot do without them...The worst time for me to get to my cell phone is when i first get home & i got to potty really bad & running to the bathroom, my stupid cell phone rings...Thats bad timing..haha
• Singapore
3 Mar 09
Hi bgerig, I can't even remember the era before mobile phones. Then even pagers were object of status... Thinking back, it didn't feel that bad when we didn't have mobile phones. But now that we have tasted this invention, I would think it would be difficult to go back to that time comfortably.
• United States
3 Mar 09
Before cell phones we did not call from stores to ask what else we needed. We did not know if the kids needed us if we where not home. I took that chance of leaving home and not being able for someone to get a hold of us. I have two friends with cell phones for emergencies only and they keep them turned off. One friend can only make dialed phone calls she does not know how to use any of the functions. I am sure she will learn one of these days.
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
15 Feb 09
1. We called from our home phones and business land line phones. 2. We wrote letters for family members at a far distance. 3. We talked to our neighbors more frequently than we do now. 4. We spoke to each other before, during and after work. 5. We constantly asked about one another when we haven't see someone in a while. 6. We sent interoffice mail between departments. Those were the days, but nowadays we: 1. Send text messages. 2. Send Emails. 3. Use the cell phone. 4. Use Instant Messenger Services. 5. Use the Internet and social sites.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
19 Feb 09
Before cell phone, I used pager and wire phone for communication. I normally turn off my cell phone if i decided not to get interrupted at certain moment, so far i am cool with my mobile phone.
• South Africa
16 Feb 09
We have this funny advert on TV. I think it is for an 80s CD. Two guys are walking down the street and the one is talking on his cell phone. They are listening to this 80s music and thinking back to that time and wishing they were back there again. Suddenly, they end up wearing 80s clothes and have 80s hair-dos and the guy on his cell has an old phone handset in his hand attached to an old-style callbox across the road. Along comes a girl who trips over the phone line and it just makes me laugh. What would we do?
• China
16 Feb 09
although I'm 18 years old,but i seldom use cell phone.probably just me,because i don't have many friend,i think computer is more important in comparison.
• India
4 Mar 09
pepole use a telegraphs,telemetry phones to communicate from one place to other.there is onnly one way transmition is possible if one is talking other caller has to wait to call to his destination.in othese case the communication is slower,but now with out cellphone there is paln to do the work.
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
15 Feb 09
For me there were times when we did not have cell phones that my life was a little scary. I had to drive 120 miles round trip to work each day and when the car broke down it was scary. I keep my phone for just that reason. I really have not been interrupted other than once when we were in a resturant. I do think it is rude for people not to turn off the phones during church, movies, etc. No call is that important or wont wait a little while.
@derek_a (10874)
15 Feb 09
There were some good points and some bad points in the world before cell phones. We could ride on a bus/train without lots of loud one-sided conversations going on around us and we could get away from everything without any disturbances at all. ON the downside was that if we were out and about, we would have to find a pay-phone, have the correct change if wee needed to contact people, and if we were in business, we could lose out on a lot of good deals because we were away from our office. All in all, cell-phones get the thumbs up from me every time.. :-) Derek
15 Feb 09
I can't really say I rely on my mobile as I have one but, never seem to remember to take it out with me! So I am one of those odd ones who can live without my mobile!! lol
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I think our lives were much better before cell phones, to be honest. It seems that, these days, everyone needs INSTANT everything. The world is just moving too fast to be enjoyable any more. Personally, I like the slower pace of yesteryear. People had fewer health problems because they were more physically active. When the telephone rang, we'd actually have to get up off our butts and answer it! Same with televisions... no remote controls 50 years ago! No prozac, either! Health clubs? That was called "work". Sending a message to a co-worker meant walking over to them and actually SPEAKING or handing them the message. Yeah, I liked it much better before all this electronic stuff came out. Well, that is, except for the internet and myLot!
• United States
15 Feb 09
I think people worried more. When someone was overdue to arrive, and people were unsure of the cause, worry would start to set in as the time passed. With cellphones, if a call was not received explaining the delay, one could be made to find out the ETA.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
15 Feb 09
Just today I responded to a discussion one of my friends started about doing without a cell phone. My friend went without his phone for 40 days. I thought about the days when I did not even own a phone and as I said to my phoneless friend, I don't use mine all that much really but I would miss the security of having it with me if I had to give it up. I think life was probably a little simpler without a cell phone. It was nice not having constant phone calls asking, "Where are you?"