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Comment by jordigh | Hacker News Reader

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.

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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.

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