Do you keep the numbers of dead friends?
@lordwarwizard (35747)
Singapore
January 12, 2010 10:02am CST
I think death is one topic that transcends age. Most of us have probably been intimated with people dying from a tender age, be they mere acquaintances or close family members. I remember myself crying for one such departure of a classmate when I was about 10 years old.
If this topic is too morbid for you, I apologize. Otherwise, do you keep the phone numbers of dead friends?
I am not talking about those lying around in a forgotten phone book that has fallen into disuse. I am referring to those numbers already stored in your phone, in your SIM card. When someone you know passes on, would you delete the numbers or just leave them... lying around?
For me, I just leave them there. Honestly, I am not even sure why I do that. Sometimes, I even imagine getting a call from that number... and maybe it's a friend's spirit calling to say hi. Yea, you would probably think I have a screw loose but... have a thought - do you keep the numbers of dead friends? Or do you delete them as soon as you remember they are gone? Or...?
23 people like this
36 responses
@mdvarghese (1789)
• Bangalore, India
12 Jan 10
Hi..lord
Till today it is not happened with me. But a valid point to discuss. Honestly I dont know what I am going to do when such situation arises. Also, I am praying not to face such situatiion. It is really painful
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jan 10
I guess I'm lucky. I've never had a friend die. But if that happened, I'd probably keep their number in my phone book until I got a new one. I might delete them from my cell phone though, maybe not right away, but eventually.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Jan 10
Would be good if we can all live forever in peace, love and harmony. 
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Jan 10
One problem with online friends is that when they "disappear", you can't tell for sure what happened.
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@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
13 Jan 10
You don't have a screw loose, I wouldn't delete them neither. They might be gone but not forgotten. you have been gone awhile, but you haven't been forgotten. Friends don't forget friends. Talking about friends, do you still talk to Joey? If you do tell him I said hi, I always likd him. I hope he is happy and well.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Jan 10
Yea, deleting their numbers seems to be writing them off just because they are not here anymore.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
12 Jan 10
When my dad passed away my other sibling took his sim card without anyone of us knowing. I have forgotten to erase his number from my cell phone and to my horror I receive a call from that number in the middle of the night. I didn't answer the call as I was shocked and speechless when I saw the word 'Dad' as the caller. The next day I kept telling everyone that my dad spirit called me and even showed the proof of the unanswered call in my cell phone. Only after a few days I was informed that the simcard was being used by my brother. From then on I erase numbers of friends who have gone to their rest.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
Gee, that's just so...
I don't think I want to use the number of someone who has passed on. 
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
I think I will take some time before having the courage to face the number. It would definitely trigger those memories of me spending time with say, that friend or family member. Would be very emotional definitely even though it's just a number. Perhaps with time, I might be able to delete the number off.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Jan 10
Yea, we all have different ways to cope with such... situations in life. 
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
19 Jan 10
Hiya lordwarwizard,
Don´t usually keep those numbers but I do remember them as I was trained as a Telephonist at The British Telecomm in England so I had a ball remembering numbers and voices too. Also number plates is another thing I can remember up to a point as they are like phone numbers well just a bit.
Have developed the ability to read names backwards a little hobby of mine and putting rhymes to some of those nutty adverts out there. But I am not one of those geniuses that remember all those mathematical numbers and sums wow that is really something.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 Jan 10
I think great memory is a great "trick" to have.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
20 Jan 10
Hiya lordwarwiz,
I try anyway to maintain the same memory as before with little things I do bit too complicated to explain. I also watch sometimes those Games where everyone telephones in and participates with those spot the mistake things. You know the ones where you can only phone in with your mobile.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
13 Jan 10
I don't need to write numbers down. I'll delete numbers if I feel the necessity to put them in my cellphone, if only because of the limited storage I have in there, but once I have memorized a number, I won't be able to forget it. My husband thinks it's funny that he can ask me what his ex-wife's number is, and I'll give it to him. LOL
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Jan 10
You've got awesome memory! I used to rely on remembering numbers too... then I realize I could just store them in my SIM card...
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
19 Jan 10
I just checked and I have to say "Yes, I do". My uncle passed away last spring and I still have his phone number in my phone. I also have his e-mail in my address book on my computer. Not sure why I haven't gotten rid of it...
2 people like this
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
17 Jan 10
I'm reminded of the movie "White Noise," where a husband started receiving phone calls on his cell from his recently deceased wife.
I just got a cell phone several days ago, and I don't have very many numbers on it yet. Those I know who have passed, I don't remember their numbers anymore.
But I do have dreams where they visit me regularly. We just greet each other and go about our dream business as if nothing ever happened.
2 people like this
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
12 Jan 10
I did have a friend that passed away a few years ago that I used to chat with on instant messenger. Funny, just last night I signed on (something I hadn't done in a few months) and saw her name/icon there. I thought should I delete her? Nah, I will just leave it, in that way when I sign on I can think of her, even if it is not often. I will just leave her right where she is.
2 people like this
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
12 Jan 10
Okay, sorry for the spam..lol that first one said that it didn't go through and I had to rewrite it from scratch, gotta love it. I do wish that we had a delete button, if for nothing else than for things like this.
2 people like this
@ksherrie (891)
• Singapore
20 Jan 10
So far I do not have this kind of experience.
I probably would just delete them from my sim card or phonebook. I can't imagine them(the spirit) callig me... that would be extremely scary for me.
Furthermore, removing the numbers from your phone would allow you to save the numbers of your new friends. This sounds wrong, but when someone passes on, i guess it is better for us to move on then dwelling on it..
As usually, it is easier said than done... I took awhile to get over my granny.
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
13 Jan 10
I've yet to have any of my friends that I've saved in my phone die. I'm pretty lucky for that. If a friend that is in my contact list does die I don't think I will delete their number because that's kind of like a part of forgetting them. I would still like to have something around to help remind me of a beautiful being that was a part of my life such as any of my friends.
2 people like this
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
13 Jan 10
I guess I would say I do both because there have been times when I have deleted numbers from my lists and then there have been times when I have left them. i don't have real rhyme or reason to it but like you I guess there maybe a part of me deep down that feels if I delete their numbers from my books or phone lists that it may some how mean that I am discriminating their spirit(if that makes any sense)
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Jan 10
I guess an important factor is how *close* you are to the persons in question in the first place.
@patgalca (18180)
• Orangeville, Ontario
12 Jan 10
This really hasn't been an issue for me. I have had two friends from my writing group pass away but I never had their phone numbers saved anywhere except the membership list. I did have their emails in my list of addresses and it took me awhile to delete them. Actually, one member passed away last spring and I still have an email from him in my inbox. But this is mainly because it contains photos and I don't know whether I want to save them or not (I hate filling space on my computer).
If it was a cell phone number I would probably delete it right away knowing the phone would be disconnected. If the individual had family that is still at that number, I would be less inclined to delete it.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
12 Jan 10
If there are no other surviving family members of the deceased I get rid of the numbers. Otherwise I keep them and keep in touch as long as they are open to this.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
Hi Grandpa Bob, that sounds too... logical! 
2 people like this
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
12 Jan 10
I do have a friend that passed away a few years ago that I used to chat with on instant messenger. Funny, just last night I signed on (something I hadn't done in a few months) and saw her name/icon there and thought, should I delete her? Nah, I will leave it as a remembrance to her, in that way, when I do sign on and see her name I can
think back a little and reflect.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
I almost misread and thought you saw her online... that would be interesting.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
I would just leave them in the phone book, simply because I am too lazy to delete. I do delete them when I change phones. There is less to copy over. If the name happen to be in the list of my frequent contacts, I would just delete them because I do not want to accidentally call/sms the number. Perhaps really, one really get a response...Besides, I am sure the number will be recycled after a year and I do not want to be hounded by a loan shark.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
Deleting it not *that* difficult so I don't think it is entirely due to laziness.
You mean you use the frequent contact list? I always choose from the contacts main.
You mean you use the frequent contact list? I always choose from the contacts main.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
12 Jan 10
I don't store numbers electronically so technically I shouldn't be responding, but I do keep the numbers in my address book. When I get a new book, every few years or so, I transfer those numbers, too. It's a little piece of my friend or family that I've lost that I'm loath to let go. When I see the numbers and addresses, they bring back memories that I may not have thought of for months or years. So yes, I keep them and treasure them. Just not electronically.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
Yup, I think I would probably do the same if I were you. When transferring the numbers, I will write out for those who have passed on too... maybe I will add a RIP sign or something. 
@icesmile (7160)
• Romania
12 Jan 10
Is a hard discussion, really, maybe for me in special, because 2 months ago my mother die..and i was so , i don t find right word, when i find shes phone, i really don t know what i can make with shes number; Was a hard decision, because she had same number many years, and of course i used to call her every day when she was alive,..
After few minutes i take decision to put shes phone, with card of course in shes coffin,when we bury her; i really don t know what was in my mind, when i make this.i want just no body use this number again, and i delete this number from my phone too; i can t see in my agenda this number under mother name.
Few days ago, when i want call somebody, i use this number by mistake, i really don t know what was in my mind again, i just use this number...i was so scared, really..no, can t be true, i can t think that i use this number again, even sometimes i want , subconscious. i am alive, i must stop this..even i want to try sometimes
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Jan 10
Hello martian friend,
What you did does sound fitting to me.
Many times, it is hard but I am sure your mother would want you to move forward in life. Cherish her good memories and lead a fulfilling life. 
1 person likes this
