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Comment by lrvick | Hacker News Reader

In my household no one has cell phones, so we set expectations of checking in once a day via chat over wifi from laptops, radio, meshtastic, or picking up a public phone... and otherwise learn to be resourceful, self confident, and independent.

I am convinced these skills will benefit a kid more than being good at doom scrolling.

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I was intrigued enough by this comment to create an account.

I noticed you mentioned ‘radio’. Do you mean HAM? Like you key up on local 2m repeaters with your HTs? (Our twins got their tech licenses in middle school and we had appointed check-in times during the day).

I applaud you for being in the heart of the tech Beast but not subject to it.

We have some friends (husband and wife) that we met because our kids play together and they are the first people I’ve met that are licensed ham operators! They each have their operator number on their license plates for their respective cars since our state has radio operator plates you can upgrade to!

    > In my household no one has cell phones

Do you live in the Bora Bora caves!? Seriously, in many highly developed countries, you need a mobile phone for essential government services.

Hardly. I run a b2b tech company in silicon valley, frequently travel the world, and have a fairly active social life.

No essential services ever -require- a phone. Just say it is against your unspecified religion and watch them fall over backwards to create alternatives for you.

It is always hilarious to watch someone at a theme park or restaurant produce a paper map or menu just after saying they no longer exist moments earlier.

If I travel overnight my only tech is a tiny laptop to work on the go, but when it is closed it is off, and not able to notify me.

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