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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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 Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:30 am Post subject: |
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I joined in because you were wrong and I'm bored waiting for my soup to boil.
You don't skype your family back home? My family is important, and without this wonderful program, I wouldn't be able to keep in contact with my little brother. He was a mess when I left, but our video calls are a pleasure, and my mom says he's always in a rush to get home after soccer on Saturday mornings to have "halfway around the world tea" with me (don't worry�it's decaf for him!)
My parents are also happy that they can reach me by email virtually at all times. My husband travels a lot, so having smart phones is important for us to stay connected when we're not together.
Being able to take photos and email them to him and other family members without having to carry a camera, hook it up to my computer, and upload saves oodles of time. This is time I can be out riding my bike, hiking, socializing, making soup, etc. Taking photos is a bad thing? Perhaps your days are cookie-cutter boring, but that's not the case for many of us. My little brother and I send each other photos at least twice a week. He's getting pretty good.
Just because some people prefer to streamline what they carry around (I no longer carry an ipod, camera, dictionary, and notebook with verb conjugations to study) doesn't mean that they've become sheep.
Perhaps you'd prefer we all just go back to using smoke signals, abaci, and oil paintings.
Or maybe you prefer this:
http://tinyurl.com/edork-languistic |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I think smart phones can be a great tool. Too bad they're often used by tools. There's nothing more interminable than a conversation with someone who has the bottomless pit of knowledge that is Google at their fingertips. |
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languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal 2.0 wrote: |
I joined in because you were wrong and I'm bored waiting for my soup to boil.
You don't skype your family back home? My family is important, and without this wonderful program, I wouldn't be able to keep in contact with my little brother. He was a mess when I left, but our video calls are a pleasure, and my mom says he's always in a rush to get home after soccer on Saturday mornings to have "halfway around the world tea" with me (don't worry�it's decaf for him!)
My parents are also happy that they can reach me by email virtually at all times. My husband travels a lot, so having smart phones is important for us to stay connected when we're not together.
Being able to take photos and email them to him and other family members without having to carry a camera, hook it up to my computer, and upload saves oodles of time. This is time I can be out riding my bike, hiking, socializing, making soup, etc. Taking photos is a bad thing? Perhaps your days are cookie-cutter boring, but that's not the case for many of us. My little brother and I send each other photos at least twice a week. He's getting pretty good.
Just because some people prefer to streamline what they carry around (I no longer carry an ipod, camera, dictionary, and notebook with verb conjugations to study) doesn't mean that they've become sheep.
Perhaps you'd prefer we all just go back to using smoke signals, abaci, and oil paintings.
Or maybe you prefer this:
http://tinyurl.com/edork-languistic |
Yes, I skype my family, but from my PC, not on a 3" screen and I do it in private. Do you skype from the subway? Your office? Why would you need portability from that? Its not the fact that the you have replaced all that gear with a single device, its the fact that all of that gear has become installed in you as 'necessary' that makes you sheepish.
Meh....on and on. I'm glad that you make good use of the little book of reasons that must accompany every purchase of a 'smart' phone and I thank you for quoting from it for me, as I haven't either.
Grabbing the low hanging fruit to say that I am old-fashioned, but as I said, that just isn't the case (and yes, I do have a much deeper appreciation of someone who can use an abacus than one who can push digital 'buttons' on a touchscreen calculator, or a painter than one who uses an art 'app' on an iphone). What I am is anti-gimmick and that is what is being sold. The whole "stay connected" thing is another issue, but it certainly does have its roots in the same sales pitch. Stay connected....like a network of umbilical cords again, defining who we are. I'm sure your little brother is changing daily, so its good that you send photos so often (you say he is "getting good"....at what? Sending you pictures? Taking a picture with an iphone? Ho hum....not things to be "good" at , IMO) . It's good that we can network at any moment, lest we find ourselves alone to discover we haven't any thoughts at all. Only impulses that always involve other people and the odd need to interact with them on a trivial, even banal level. Try missing your husband for a spell; it will make his return even sweeter.
The "smart" phone, Facebook....all symptoms of these deeper issues that again, will be reflected upon in years to come as being a freakish, misconstrued by-product of technology, a broken definition of what friends are and - not to be too heavy here - but a distorted view of what life is all about. Clinging tenuously to relationships denies us the growth that comes from severance, dulls our desire for and thus our appreciation of new relationships and ultimately encircles us in a blanket of self-delusion; we build an audience of 'friends' and there is nobody left - including ourselves - to tell us the truths we need to know. Being alone does not equate to loneliness and I for one cherish the fact that I move on and away from people, as they do from me. Life is a progression or change and healthy people have no interest in servicing shallow relationships with people from 25 years ago, or even 5 years ago. My best friend will be moving on soon from Korea, returning home with his family. Will I miss him? Most certainly. Will I keep in touch with him? Yes, when warranted; holidays to wish him well and when something happens in our lives that is worth discussing. Real, healthy friendships don't require tweets or wall-writes about what we had for dinner to maintain themselves. Trivial crap that we shouldn't waste our time discussing even when face-to-face. We are bigger and better than this.
Anyhow, I will save further discourse on the deeper significance of all this for the right audience. Tough to explain to the fish about the water; they are too stupid and just don't care. If you find yourself being spoken to in my posts, then that is you classifying yourself as one of the spoken to. I'm just standing on a virtual street corner, blathering away on my soapbox; you are the one who stopped to listen. As I said, if this doesn't apply to you, then why make it so? Sure, we can ruminate, but you made it about yourself, and in doing so, have removed yourself from being anything but a subjective, defensive, opinion-filled voice in this discussion and that sets the stage for arguing, not talking.
Yes, I am a jerk regarding this topic, as I am keenly interested in it and am not willing to concede even an inch to the other side. Sorry to offend you if I have....that was not my intention. I wanted to rouse everyone, not just you.  |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| languistic wrote: |
| NYC_Gal 2.0 wrote: |
I joined in because you were wrong and I'm bored waiting for my soup to boil.
You don't skype your family back home? My family is important, and without this wonderful program, I wouldn't be able to keep in contact with my little brother. He was a mess when I left, but our video calls are a pleasure, and my mom says he's always in a rush to get home after soccer on Saturday mornings to have "halfway around the world tea" with me (don't worry�it's decaf for him!)
My parents are also happy that they can reach me by email virtually at all times. My husband travels a lot, so having smart phones is important for us to stay connected when we're not together.
Being able to take photos and email them to him and other family members without having to carry a camera, hook it up to my computer, and upload saves oodles of time. This is time I can be out riding my bike, hiking, socializing, making soup, etc. Taking photos is a bad thing? Perhaps your days are cookie-cutter boring, but that's not the case for many of us. My little brother and I send each other photos at least twice a week. He's getting pretty good.
Just because some people prefer to streamline what they carry around (I no longer carry an ipod, camera, dictionary, and notebook with verb conjugations to study) doesn't mean that they've become sheep.
Perhaps you'd prefer we all just go back to using smoke signals, abaci, and oil paintings.
Or maybe you prefer this:
http://tinyurl.com/edork-languistic |
Yes, I skype my family, but from my PC, not on a 3" screen and I do it in private. Do you skype from the subway? Your office? Why would you need portability from that? Its not the fact that the you have replaced all that gear with a single device, its the fact that all of that gear has become installed in you as 'necessary' that makes you sheepish.
Meh....on and on. I'm glad that you make good use of the little book of reasons that must accompany every purchase of a 'smart' phone and I thank you for quoting from it for me, as I haven't either.
Grabbing the low hanging fruit to say that I am old-fashioned, but as I said, that just isn't the case (and yes, I do have a much deeper appreciation of someone who can use an abacus than one who can push digital 'buttons' on a touchscreen calculator, or a painter than one who uses an art 'app' on an iphone). What I am is anti-gimmick and that is what is being sold. The whole "stay connected" thing is another issue, but it certainly does have its roots in the same sales pitch. Stay connected....like a network of umbilical cords again, defining who we are. I'm sure your little brother is changing daily, so its good that you send photos so often. It's good that we can network at any moment, lest we find ourselves alone to discover we haven't any thoughts at all. Only impulses that always involve other people and the odd need to interact with them on a trivial, even banal level.
The "smart" phone, Facebook....all symptoms of these deeper issues that again, will be reflected upon in years to come as being a freakish, misconstrued by-product of technology, a broken definition of what friends are and - not to be too heavy here - but a distorted view of what life is all about. Clinging tenuously to relationships denies us the growth that comes from severance, dulls our desire for and thus our appreciation of new relationships and ultimately encircles us in a blanket of self-delusion; we build an audience of 'friends' and there is nobody left - including ourselves - to tell us the truths we need to know. Being alone does not equate to loneliness and I for one cherish the fact that I move on and away from people, as they do from me. Life is a progression or change and healthy people have no interest in servicing shallow relationships with people from 25 years ago, or even 5 years ago. My best friend will be moving on soon from Korea, returning home with his family. Will I miss him? Most certainly. Will I keep in touch with him? Yes, when warranted; holidays to wish him well and when something happens in our lives that is worth discussing. Real, healthy friendships don't require tweets or wall-writes about what we had for dinner to maintain themselves. Trivial crap that we shouldn't waste our time discussing even when face-to-face. We are bigger and better than this.
Anyhow, I will save further discourse on the deeper significance of all this for the right audience. Tough to explain to the fish about the water; they are too stupid and just don't care. If you find yourself being spoken to in my posts, then that is you classifying yourself as one of the spoken to. I'm just standing on a virtual street corner, blathering away on my soapbox; you are the one who stopped to listen. As I said, if this doesn't apply to you, then why make it so? Sure, we can ruminate, but you made it about yourself, and in doing so, have removed yourself from being anything but a subjective, defensive, opinion-filled voice in this discussion and that sets the stage for arguing, not talking.
Yes, I am a jerk regarding this topic, as I am keenly interested in it and am not willing to concede even an inch to the other side. Sorry to offend you if I have....that was not my intention. I wanted to rouse everyone, not just you. |
Whoa.......by far the deepest post ever in the Tech forum!!
Good stuff, and I agree to an extent about how recent tech is warping the traditional view of 'friends'.........but I'm enjoying my smartphone because, well, mainly, I can watch youtube videos in the living room when my Korean in-laws are around with appearing rude by disappearing off to my computer room!! 
That's just an example of course. Mainly I like how the electronic device industry is starting to come around to something they seemed to put off for years.....convergence. I don't need a very high quality camera, camcorder, MP3 player, GPS, portable HDD, PMP, PDA, and internet service.....so one smartphone covers all. |
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languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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Sure eamo....I have no problems with the device itself and I too applaud convergence in theory. It is in practice.... the marketing and by extension most users that I take exception to. I don't doubt that these things are cool, useful and make some aspects of modern life more efficient; they are not without benefit, but we haven't explored or exploited that yet. We have been explored and exploited...the market is using technology against us and we are completely willing to be led by the nose.
I also don't doubt that many users are intelligent with the devices and make good use of it, but for me that also means putting it in its' place. The lack of this notion is what triggered my rants so far; happy, willing victims drive me to distraction. People are absolutely obsessed with these things, fanatically defending their little gadget like it was their child. They just want to use it; a toy with no objective or goal and thus texting, 'networking' or 'staying connected' has appeal; it is an opportunity just to use the stupid thing they paid through the nose for. What better way to market these things than by installing the idea that we all need to "keep in touch" with everyone we have ever met in our lives? Posting about our every breath and reading about our 200 'friends' doing so is an unending endeavor and thus, a great strategy to get us hooked and feeling like we need engage in such activity. This is the tie-in with the 'smart' phone and why the two are inseparable. Marketing genius but an individual failure of epic proportions.
These may be the same folks who think wearing brand-name logo-ed t-shirts is cool too.
We are bigger and better than this.....or maybe not. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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I'd agree that 'staying in touch' has become commercialized now and a lot of us just trundle into these social networking scenes and become pre-occupied with silliness........all true.
But a lot of these people are enjoying it too. So the value is in the entertainment factor. Like WOW players will put in 150 hours per week to achieve some mad virtual objective that has absolutely no meaning in life as a whole, but just gives that person an entertaining preoccupation with a buzz of achievement at the end.
People have more and more free-time it seems. And it's not really feasible to do great and noble things with all that time.......hence Farmville!! |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Underwaterbob wrote: |
| I think smart phones can be a great tool. Too bad they're often used by tools. There's nothing more interminable than a conversation with someone who has the bottomless pit of knowledge that is Google at their fingertips. |
Haha. Too true. I think I've been guilty of that during a boozy debate.  On the flipside though, it is useful to shut up those annoying know-it-alls who think they are always right. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| languistic wrote: |
Yes, I skype my family, but from my PC, not on a 3" screen and I do it in private. Do you skype from the subway? Your office? Why would you need portability from that? Its not the fact that the you have replaced all that gear with a single device, its the fact that all of that gear has become installed in you as 'necessary' that makes you sheepish. |
No, but being able to call my family or send them texts in an emergency, or if I need a question answered (they handle my correspondence while I'm abroad) is useful.
Having an ipod isn't necessary, but I get nauseous on busses, and I find that listening to music alleviates the motion sickness. As for a camera, it's a hobby. A phone IS necessary, in case of emergency. That's not sheepish. That's having a hobby and my safety in mind. Would it be better if I vomited on the nearest passenger on the subway? Better if I got stuck in an elevator and couldn't call someone who spoke my language? When you panic, your first language is usually all you can muster up, if you can talk at all. That happened to my mom in Paris, and this was before cell phones.
| languistic wrote: |
| Meh....on and on. I'm glad that you make good use of the little book of reasons that must accompany every purchase of a 'smart' phone and I thank you for quoting from it for me, as I haven't either. |
I wanted these things consolidated into one device before they were even available. I hate having to carry around multiple devices. It isn't following a trend. It's a trend following people's desires.
| languistic wrote: |
| Grabbing the low hanging fruit to say that I am old-fashioned, but as I said, that just isn't the case (and yes, I do have a much deeper appreciation of someone who can use an abacus than one who can push digital 'buttons' on a touchscreen calculator, or a painter than one who uses an art 'app' on an iphone). What I am is anti-gimmick and that is what is being sold. The whole "stay connected" thing is another issue, but it certainly does have its roots in the same sales pitch. Stay connected....like a network of umbilical cords again, defining who we are. I'm sure your little brother is changing daily, so its good that you send photos so often. It's good that we can network at any moment, lest we find ourselves alone to discover we haven't any thoughts at all. Only impulses that always involve other people and the odd need to interact with them on a trivial, even banal level. |
Wanting the ability to stay connected to my family isn't some sales gimmick. My husband travels a lot. If we didn't have smart phones we wouldn't be able to send our love texts, coordinate when to meet at the airport, etc. I'm not constantly wired, but having the option is important.
As for what my brother is getting good at, he wants to be a photographer (and a doctor, but I can help with the first as a hobby, at least). I have experience in this (I learned a fair bit of design in order to get my first promotion to the editorial department at my publishing job) so I'm keeping him engaged, he's proud of his pictures, and he gets to see my life here. Is promoting an interest a bad thing? He has a digital camera, but uses mom's iphone too.
| languistic wrote: |
| The "smart" phone, Facebook....all symptoms of these deeper issues that again, will be reflected upon in years to come as being a freakish, misconstrued by-product of technology, a broken definition of what friends are and - not to be too heavy here - but a distorted view of what life is all about. Clinging tenuously to relationships denies us the growth that comes from severance, dulls our desire for and thus our appreciation of new relationships and ultimately encircles us in a blanket of self-delusion; we build an audience of 'friends' and there is nobody left - including ourselves - to tell us the truths we need to know. Being alone does not equate to loneliness and I for one cherish the fact that I move on and away from people, as they do from me. Life is a progression or change and healthy people have no interest in servicing shallow relationships with people from 25 years ago, or even 5 years ago. My best friend will be moving on soon from Korea, returning home with his family. Will I miss him? Most certainly. Will I keep in touch with him? Yes, when warranted; holidays to wish him well and when something happens in our lives that is worth discussing. Real, healthy friendships don't require tweets or wall-writes about what we had for dinner to maintain themselves. Trivial crap that we shouldn't waste our time discussing even when face-to-face. We are bigger and better than this. |
I deleted 3/4 of my facebook friends last year. I got annoyed at random postings. I use it mainly to make plans and for the chat feature, mostly. Not everyone is an ADD-addled zombie.
| languistic wrote: |
| Anyhow, I will save further discourse on the deeper significance of all this for the right audience. Tough to explain to the fish about the water; they are too stupid and just don't care. If you find yourself being spoken to in my posts, then that is you classifying yourself as one of the spoken to. I'm just standing on a virtual street corner, blathering away on my soapbox; you are the one who stopped to listen. As I said, if this doesn't apply to you, then why make it so? Sure, we can ruminate, but you made it about yourself, and in doing so, have removed yourself from being anything but a subjective, defensive, opinion-filled voice in this discussion and that sets the stage for arguing, not talking. |
I stopped to illustrate where you were wrong. Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees!
| languistic wrote: |
| Yes, I am a jerk regarding this topic, as I am keenly interested in it and am not willing to concede even an inch to the other side. Sorry to offend you if I have....that was not my intention. I wanted to rouse everyone, not just you. |
[/quote]
You're not a jerk. You're just narrow minded when it comes to things that can be used to an advantage. Sure, there are several problems that have come about with the new generation of kids addicted to their phones, but there are far more advantages when it comes to communication. |
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languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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You spoke of your brother as if he were 7 or something, having finally achieved whatever level of motor skill necessary to take and send a photo with an iphone (which I am sure is no feat) and is now sending you photos. I guess I misinterpreted what or at least how you wrote of him. Sorry about that.
Now, I would rather be a jerk than narrow-minded, which I honestly believe the depth of my consideration of this notion discounts me from. I have no illusions nor delusions about what this technology means; eamo and I had some subsequent discussion that you should read, as I think it is indicative of my acknowledging the many aspects of this issue.
I do find most of your reasoning similar to previously outlined, and although more detail is provided in your last post, I don't see anything new being brought to the table. Too many "I"s to really have another side. As I said before, while you may accuse me of being too far on the 'con' side, you remain too invested to detach; you are sold on it.
You do have some glimmers of being the rational owner though, and I am sure that you are not one of the obsessed. I assumed that because your first post was a personal defense that you were not so; that position is traditionally held by those who find a bit too much of themselves in a post for comfort, though, as they are strangers to the poster, simply cannot be the target.
As for you being a hobbyist shutterbug, well, that is a tough one still. Even a poor, lowly hobbyist would be dissatisfied with the actually sad little thing trapped in a smartphone. The iphone may have lots of bright, shiny pixels (HD), but even the most basic options and flexibility are absent, things which a hobbyist would demand. It is silly of you to suggest that I advocate vomiting on people; you bring forward major points far too late and attempt to cast me in a poor light for not knowing these things before you tell me. I don't actually care who you barf on or why, as long as it isn't me.
Did I once say that cell phones are useless? No, so again, stop speaking form that position. Did I once say that the technology is bad? No, so there is no need to articulate the advantages of devices to me. Did I say that the 'need' for all of those things is bad? Yes. Yes to that and yes to most users being suckers.
You didn't stop to illustrate where I was wrong, you stopped to tell me how I was wrong about you.
I agree, there can be advantages to this tech, but as I have said at least twice in this discussion, we aren't there yet. We are still being led around, shown what we need this stuff for and, as though in a crappy pc game, we are being herded around from set piece to set piece in what we are told is a sandbox, but in actuality is a very narrow, linear experience. It is that people are happy with this and even more sadly seem to need this that troubles me. It is true that I am not a big fan of the unwashed masses; I do not count myself above them, but certainly beside them, on the periphery. My problem then is not that I don't see the forest for the trees, but I sometimes miss the individual trees for the forest. |
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JSC
Joined: 07 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:48 am Post subject: |
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| languistic wrote: |
| The real mystery is that if the shoe so clearly didn't fit, why you felt the need to put your foot in it. |
The shoe doesn't really fit me, but I'll try it on anyway... mostly because this is an internet forum where people come to share.
| languistic wrote: |
| I am not giving opinions here; if all of you could get over your iselves, you would see that I am making observations. If you 'think' I am wrong, then may I suggest not doing that and alternatively taking a ride anywhere on any line of the subway, whereupon you will encounter the league of morons, head down, facing the little machine that defines them and their sad, insular lives. |
Actually, you are giving your opinion. Although you may observe people in the subway "head down, facing the little machine", it is impossible for you to know whether they are in fact "morons" or if their little machine truly "defines them and their sad, insular lives".
Personally, I think a lot of people in Korea (and around the world) lead sad, insular lives. However, I do not believe the smartphone is a contributing factor to that condition.
| languistic wrote: |
| You skype people you know, I meet new ones. You take pictures of the mundane blips of interest in an otherwise rinse-and-repeat day, I have a selective memory which allows me to naturally separate the forgettable from the un. |
Good for you. However, the use of Skype is not mutually exclusive with meeting new people. Taking pictures is not mutually exclusive with having one's own internal memories.
| languistic in a later post wrote: |
Anyhow, I will save further discourse on the deeper significance of all this for the right audience. Tough to explain to the fish about the water; they are too stupid and just don't care. If you find yourself being spoken to in my posts, then that is you classifying yourself as one of the spoken to. I'm just standing on a virtual street corner, blathering away on my soapbox; you are the one who stopped to listen. As I said, if this doesn't apply to you, then why make it so? Sure, we can ruminate, but you made it about yourself, and in doing so, have removed yourself from being anything but a subjective, defensive, opinion-filled voice in this discussion and that sets the stage for arguing, not talking.
Yes, I am a jerk regarding this topic, as I am keenly interested in it and am not willing to concede even an inch to the other side. Sorry to offend you if I have....that was not my intention. I wanted to rouse everyone, not just you. |
Again, incorrect and somewhat condescending. You are not on a virtual street corner and we did not stop to listen. You are in a deep dark corner of the internet called Dave's ESL Cafe, and more specifically in a forum thread titled "Explain Smartphones". We were forced to listen. Unless someone accidentally clicked on the link, we all arrived here because the topic was of interest. We had to read your lengthy posts if we wanted to hear another person's explanation of smartphones. We could not just "move along" as if on a street corner unless we were willing to forgo everyone else's explanations and insights as well.
And again, I do not find myself necessarily being "spoken to" or "made it about [my]self". But, this happens to be an internet forum where people come to share thoughts, ideas, experiences, and questions. One does not have to have a horse in the race or dog in the fight to add their 2 cents.
BTW... for the record, I respect your opinion and admire the passion and effort you put into your lengthy posts. I even agree with some of it on a certain level. However, I don't necessarily agree with the way you call other people morons or sheep and are so quickly dismissive with people who don't share your opinion/viewpoint/way of thinking.
And while I'm at it... NYC_Gal 2.0:
| NYC_Gal 2.0 wrote: |
No, but being able to call my family or send them texts in an emergency, or if I need a question answered (they handle my correspondence while I'm abroad) is useful.
Having an ipod isn't necessary, but I get nauseous on busses, and I find that listening to music alleviates the motion sickness. As for a camera, it's a hobby. A phone IS necessary, in case of emergency. That's not sheepish. That's having a hobby and my safety in mind. Would it be better if I vomited on the nearest passenger on the subway? Better if I got stuck in an elevator and couldn't call someone who spoke my language? When you panic, your first language is usually all you can muster up, if you can talk at all. That happened to my mom in Paris, and this was before cell phones.
[snip]
Wanting the ability to stay connected to my family isn't some sales gimmick. My husband travels a lot. If we didn't have smart phones we wouldn't be able to send our love texts, coordinate when to meet at the airport, etc. I'm not constantly wired, but having the option is important. |
Besides Skype, all of what you mention can be done on a traditional "dumbphone". The ability to: call, text, listen to music, take pictures... that's been consolidated for a long time now. I would agree with languistic to the extent that we as a society have been convinced we need a smartphone and cannot admit to ourselves (for better or worse) that it is more a matter of want. And also, I would also agree that a smartphone is a jack of all trades, but master of none. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 4:09 am Post subject: |
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@JSC:
Ah, but on a "dumbphone" I can't text Hong Kong, London, or New York without incurring outrageous charges. With Kakao Talk, it's free!
@Languistic:
As for a 5 megapixel phone, it's fine for photography. I've got photoshop to clean anything up. If I'm going on a set trip, of course I carry my camera with me, but it's bulky. For everyday things, when I see something interesting or uniquely beautiful, my phone works, then I clean it up later.
I didn't see a lot of me in your post. I just wanted to argue the merits of these phones. They can be very useful. It depends on the individual. Saying that everyone is dumbing down because of constant communication is a blanket statement, and an incorrect one at that.
Sure, I cringe at what is happening with many of the younger generation, with the myfacetweeting and such, but discounting these pieces of technology because they have potential for bad, and ignoring all of the useful things that they can do, is narrow minded.
I'd rather you be a jerk than narrow minded. Jerks are open to new ideas. |
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spanky1off
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 4:14 am Post subject: |
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there always some eco warrior hippy spoiling the party.
i think i can speak for everyone when i say smartphones were mainly intended for using the 'pull my finger' fart app!. sometimes i could listen to the 4 different trump samples for hours. hilarious. |
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jhicks99
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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languistic, have you not better things to do with your time?
It's quite sad that you're even here making these points.
For the poster, what I love about my Galaxy (previous blackberry and iphone user in Canada as well):
- kaKao talk (free messaging to any other KaKao user)
- Gmote (I can control my home theater PC which is hooked up through a projector, pull up which movies I want, use it as a mouse and keyboard for the computer or as a standard remote, greatest application ever made imo)
- Tango (free calling and video calling to any other Tango user)
- Skype (being able to have my family call me for free from their computer at their convenience for free is priceless for me)
- Instant Gmail (ok so I ignore 90% of my emails until I'm at a PC, but sometimes something urgent comes through and it's real handy to have)
- GPS (helped me locate a screen golf in a part of Seoul I didn't know very well, extremely useful)
What I don't do is watch a lot of movies or play games on the subway. While I'm extremely glad I can do either of these, I simply opt to use it for music in lieu of a dedicated MP3 player.
I also enjoy the fact that I can check the arrival and last bus times, see movie times and ticket availability over dinner (saving a trip to the theatre) and countless other things. I'm not the guy always looking at my phone, but I am one to utilize it as best as I can. This makes me an unbearable idiot apparently.
I will also note that I walk into many idiots on a daily basis with their face glued to their screen not watching where they're going, only to see them look up at me like I did something wrong for bumping into them. This is not exclusive to smartphones as dumbphones have had DMB for years now... |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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I keep my skype app running so that my family can call me at any time from any phone (I signed up for a US phone number to make it easier for them), as well as their computers. It's not about the video. It's about them being able to contact me at any time if need be.
Kakao messaging is fantastic as well, though sometimes one needs to have a conversation. Yes, I have received skype calls from my mom whilst on the subway. It wasn't video, but she was able to reach me with a question that she needed answered quickly, and talking was easier than text messaging. It is a phone, after all.
I also love the interactive subway and bus apps. It makes getting around far easier. I've yet to find a paper bus map in Korea.
I also recently started using a very helpful app called DongSa, which conjugates Korean verbs into all forms and honorific levels. It's nifty, if you haven't tried it.
Edit: the bold was a typo
Last edited by NYC_Gal 2.0 on Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:20 am Post subject: |
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| jhicks99 wrote: |
languistic, have you not better things to do with your time?
It's quite sad that you're even here making these points.
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Quite sad? Ouch, another nobody pseudonym attacks.
Think about the irony of your own post; have you nothing better to do than be a johnny-come-lately and say nothing of worth when you revive dying posts?
Maybe you can find an intelligence app?
@JSC: Of course, you are quite correct in saying that I am too judgmental / dismissive of all people who use smartphones. I will maintain that a certain state or level of involvement with / devotion to the device is indicative of my described condition, but that is just my opinion.
Thanks for taking to time to post.
Last edited by languistic on Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:37 am; edited 2 times in total |
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