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I do have a smartphone (only because I use the GPS/maps function a lot) but effectively I do the some thing, I only ever answer if it's a number that I know and I feel like it. I hate phones, I hate being interrupted out of the blue, I even hate listening to voice messages (I don't even do that anymore). If it's important they'll send an email or a text that I'll be able to read when I want and that'll be easy to reference later if need be.

> Most people find this utterly unthinkable and seem to project their anxiety of not having a phone on to me. What about emergencies? How do you do this? How do you do that? What if this happens?

I think the problem is if people have come to expect to be able to join you by phone and you suddenly stop answering they will get worried and/or frustrated, you changed the rules. I know a guy whose wife freaks out if he doesn't answer the phone and doesn't call her back within the hour even if she knows he's in front of his desk at work and is very unlikely to spontaneously combust. It's because he's built the expectation that he would always answer the phone.

Have you lived this way for long?

Has it become your trademark? Maybe you kind of want to get a phone now but since you've gone this long without one, it's like a streak or a reputation you don't want to ruin?

I'm not famous or important enough to have a streak or reputation worth preserving. I have considered some situations in which I may reconsider owning a mobile phone. Besides not wanting to have a source of distraction always on and always on me, I also do not want a device that I cannot control and cannot ever fully trust.

A phone without internet connexion that I can completely trust (i.e. free all the way down to the baseband) is something that I would consider owning.

What do you do if you need to make a doctor's appointment? Or if your internet goes out and you need to contact the ISP to come service it?

Do you have any family? My parents live in a different country, a phone is a particularly good way of keeping in touch. Ever been ill? How do you get in touch with your GP? Ever had an accident, or witnessed an accident? Ever been a victim of bank fraud, or had to contact the police? I can understand dodging a smartphone, but a phone (cell or landline) of some sort is pretty much a requirement these days.

I email my family and schedule videochat.

I don't have a GP. If I'm ill, I just go to a walk-in clinic. I can also schedule appointments online. When I was too sick to go out at all and due to a particular situation I didn't have web access either, I asked a neighbour to make a phone call for me. I live in a city where I can rely on the help of others.

For some official business, I use the landline at work to talk to banks or government. Most of the time I can use the web, though.

It is not a requirement for me to have a personal phone.

As youve mentioned in your post, you rely on other people having a personal phone so that you don't need to carry one.

Regarding the GP, this is presumably dependent on the country you live in. In the UK you have a specific clinic you sign up with. None of the 4 clinics I've used have taken walk in appointments, all have required phoning that morning to get a scheduled appointment that day.

Reminds me of all my friends who proudly didn't own cars in college.

But whenever we went somewhere they suddenly needed a ride.

There's no shame in relying on the help of others and there's no hypocrisy either. I'm prepared to being unable to get a neighbour to let me use a phone. I can accept that. If I'm able to get help, that's great, and if not that's also something I can accept. I have only done this once ever, anyway. Such a rare occasion does not outweigh the happiness and peace of mind that I get by being without a phone.

I don't really have to rely on others to carry a phone. And when I do ask for help; I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Relying on each other is why we have society at all. There are also public phones that I have used on occasion. Also, it's usually just a convenience. If I am truly and completely alone, I am willing to bear the risk of being unable to use a phone to contact someone.

Strange, mine actually prioritises walk-ins over phone calls for same-day appointments.

All this seems needlessly complicated just to avoid having even a simple phone.

It seems complicated to explain, but it's not something that really impacts me much. It really is an okay way to live and the benefits of not having a phone really outweigh the drawbacks for me. It's super-valuable for me to be truly and completely jacked out.

I have a phone for practical reasons (I rarely need to use a phone). But I can clearly see that most of these are solvable by the internet or by old-fashioned solutions.

Getting in touch with a GP? I can use the internet. Bank fraud? Same, or just go to a branch.

As far as accidents and emergencies are concerned, these are no different than the solutions pre-smart phone or when your phone has broken, out of power, or if you forgot it elsewhere. You go to the nearest house. Landlines wouldn't call 911 for you if you dind't have phone service. Besides, folks can keep a cheap non-smartphone with no service in their house which allows you to call 911 in an emergency. Everything else can be worked around.

All it would really take is a knock on the neighbor's door and ask them to call the cops for you. The vast majority of folks won't turn you down. If all else fails, go to the nearest gas station or fast food establishment. Chances are they'll happily call for you.

> Getting in touch with a GP? I can use the internet. Bank fraud? Same, or just go to a branch.

Lucky you. My GPs website has phone number and an address on it. My bank are equally as unhelpful. They have internet banking, but there is no way to suspend a card or re order a new one without phoning them. Last time I had an issue with my card I was out of the country so visiting the branch was out of the question (not to mention the branch is almost 2 miles from my home, has no parking and is only open 9:30 to 5 Monday to Friday, when I'm working). There's no technical reason they can't do this online, they just don't currently.

As much as I'd like to not have an active phone, it's not really feasible to live todays world without one. You're relying on other people to have phones so that you don't have to carry one. Your suggestion to keep a cheap non smartphone defeats the purpose of not having a phone.

You are mistaken. I have an active phone. A smartphone even. I don't have any hangups on using it myself. I just realise the possibilities and enjoy that I can carry less stuff, play games while waiting, and have a map on me most of the time. mine is prepaid because my use is too low to bother with a monthly contract. As a bonus, the time doesn't expire nearly as quickly as prepaid phones in the states did and I can buy a modern phone.

But I was alive before the smartphones were available and didn't always have money for phone service and rent. So were a lot of folks I knew. And i simply understand the ways folks can get around having phone service... even if I think it is personally weird to do so out of choice instead of necessity.

I have also been in situations where I don't have the phone for a variety of reasons: Not working, for got it, spotty service, and so on. Of course you have to rely on others in these situations, the same as before everyone had such things. Actually being in an emergency has been a pretty rare thing, with or without cell phones. I've called 911 a few times, but only twice when not at work. Once for a car accident outside the house (a pretty bad one, lifeline helicopter and all), and one for someone's suicide attempt.

As a side note, it is a shame that the doctors offices do not have it. Most of them have it around here that I have seen. I avoid calling unless absolutely have to. As a bonus, the phones here are such that if I've run out of money on my prepaid phone, folks can still call me.