Originally Posted By nevadarebel I am having this same debate at my house with my 10 year old (I also have a 7 and 5). At this time, we are pretty close to getting another line added to our account. My husband has changed schedules and my kids now walk home from school as we live very close to the school and by the time they get home, my husband gets home. (I just can't see paying for a full day of aftercare for only about 20 minutes is which they would be in it.) This way I can call to make sure they are ok walking home. I also have 3 playing different sports and sometimes it is crazy trying to coordinate them and us. I dropped my son off for his basketball practice at 5:00 which was suppose to last until 7:30 but the coach had an emergency and had to leave practice early but I was across town at soccer for my daughter. Luckily one of the kids had a cell phone because the office was locked and the pay phone was out of service. I have always made sure my kids have change for the phone but like everyone said, trying to find a pay phone is tough and getting one that works is impossible. (I locked my keys in my car along with my phone a couple of weeks ago and walked 7 blocks before I could find a pay phone that worked.) There will be strict guidelines on the phone and it is a privilege not a reward and will be treated as such.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe 55--Like I said Thank God I live in America and I don't have to be on call 24/7. You can 55 because you live in America too. I'm trying to figure out how the hey my post could have offended anyone. I love NOT to have a cell phone, like right now when I'm going out to play five with my son. My daughter just left a message on the vm here at the house to pick her up at 7. She had 50 people there who know about her peanut allergy, and she has her epipen. NO need for a cell.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 And I have no problem with you or Trippy not having one -- that is your call...but not all of us get that call with our jobs...that is what was being replied to. If you do not want to be reached and not having a cell phone accomplished that -- that is your call. I have to be available for work and like to be available for my family --I can screen out any other calls I want - called ID is great that way...if it is important they will leave me a message. One incident made it all clear to me...I was golfing ( what a shock I know) - and I got a call on the 3rd tee ( I remember it like yesterday) - at Cog Hill...my then 18 year old daughter had been involved in a serious auto accident..she was a passenger and the driver was hurt very badly as they got broadsided by a drunk driver. They were on their way to volleyball practice and the drunk was on his way home from the casino at 7:15 AM. She called me and I went to the scene and with her to the hospital...luckily minor bumps and scrapes, the driver was not as fortunate and never played ball again. My wife was driving to visit her Mom in the city and at the time did not carry a cell phone... That one reason is enough for me....I am available to my family 24 x 7 -- p.s. less than 6 months later the same drunk driver hit another car at 5 AM and killed the 3 occupants -- he got 7 years and is due out soon.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe 55--I'm so sorry and I see your point. We are ALWAYS within minutes of our kids and at the Ridge even closer as the crew here knows where WE are at all times with the gate people checking us when we come in and out but I can see your point.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Thanks -- tome the cellphone is one of the most important inventions of the past 100 years...let's face it- 40 years ago this was 'Star Trek' technology... Anything can be abused...but I like being able to be in contact any time...now I admit to also screening my calls at home at night-- because after work when I need to relax - my home land based phone is heaviliy screened - as is my cell..so I understand the need to get away also.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ When I don't want to have a cell phone or be reached I do this amazing thing. I turn it off.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>But would you admit that technology has added some challenges?<< Absolutely. Just as cars brought auto accidents and speeding tickets, they also opened up a whole new way of life and allowed the average family to freely explore the country as never before.
Originally Posted By PlainoLJoe <<When I don't want to have a cell phone or be reached I do this amazing thing. I turn it off.>> You could make money at Venice beach showing people that neat trick.
Originally Posted By PlainoLJoe and it is not that hard to put it on silent. Most of the time its 1 button.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 maybe there is a case to be made for not giving cell phones to the technically challenged though ?
Originally Posted By Ursula Every time this topic comes up I think of one or two things, mainly the Columbine attack and September 11, 2001. I know I am being overly paranoid, but I would give my child a cell phone as soon as he or she understands how to use one and be able to carry it on their person without losing it. Also, yesterday my niece returned from an out-of-town school function and wires were crossed between her mother and grandmother which resulted in me needing a cell phone to make sure everyone was on the same page as to who was getting her at the airport. All along, we all knew she had her cell on her and could be reached regardless of the adults' screw-ups. I would hate for her to think she'd have to borrow a phone or try to use a busted airport phone.
Originally Posted By trailsend I'm late to this discussion. My children are young adults, now, one into her profession after college and one just graduating from college and getting into his profession. But I will tell you this; whatever was the "thing" for communication, such as pagers then cell phones, both my children had them. I consider it a great privilege to be able to have instant contact with my children. It is worth every single penny and believe me, there is no harm in it at all. This is a different age, different time; you've got to move with it. Years from now, you won't even remember having this so called "dilema".
Originally Posted By alexbook To the parents who've let their kids have phones: How often do you have to replace lost or damaged phones? Does that factor into your decision?
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^^SeanYoda got me a celphone about 2yrs ago when we moved down to Anaheim. I was trying to find work and had been going to Costa Mesa for some interviews and whatnot and would meet him at a particular time and location. One of these times, I was "stuck" at the bookstore waiting for him and he was well over 2hrs late. I called his cel and I kept getting his voicemail. I called at home and of course it was forwarded to his voicemail I think.. By the 3rd or 4th call I was starting to panic. Turns out that there had been some serious traffic on the road and he was unable to contact me. I think I was almost hysterical when I was making my last call and he walks up while I'm leaving a message.. "i'm sorry" he just kept saying and I just hugged him. This is why B&N shouldn't mind people loitering in their stores waiting for people (as long as I don't sleep or block an aisle..) SeanYoda ordered me a cel phone almost the next day. Do I *need* one?? Yes it's handy to have as we use it to reach each other all the time. I don't go crazy text messaging, but I'm glad I had it because it was the absolute ONLY way to reach my New Orleans freinds after Katrina.. My best friend couldn't get cel service but text messages came through ok. When you don't have phone lines a cel phone can be your only way through. It's up to the parent what their kid does and doesn't have. I think that voicing your reasons for not having one is important. Still there have been times when I was stuck at school for drama practice and needed to call my mom or someone to get me at the highschool.. I ended up calling collect and I recall my mom being more upset about that than anything. I think the firefly thing is a good idea if you don't trust your child to not be one of those text-y messaging kids. Also they are pretty reasonable I think. Also you can do the prepaid thing so if you lose it you can cancel the service. I was considering that for my phone since my phone died back in Deember at WDW and my contract didn't expire til May. Luckily we found a nice guy who actually helped us instead of blew us off after spending so much money on trying to fix it ourselves. After we move I'll be looking to get work of some kind.. temping as I can't stand or sit for long hours (still need to get some kind of PT I'm thinking) and I would like potential employers and leasing agents to reach me or my husband wherever we are.. I've taken temp agent calls at DLR because if I hadn't some one else would have gotten the gig and I would have missed out. Now if it's someone I don't want to talk to right then you can always put it on silent or vibrate. When I'm in the theatre I have my phone turned off.. so does Sean. He gets calls all the time. He's one of those folks who have to be available 24/7 and in a data filled world, system administrators are right up there with Drs and Nurses IMHO. Just my 5cents. or is it 10cents?? =P ps: oh and yeah I hate people having their cel phones on in the theatre.. I understand if you need to take a call just decide which is more important.. seeing a movie or taking your call.
Originally Posted By avromark Like everything it's change, when I was in lower elementary teachers would refuse to take in typed reports, later they would take typed but only with written rough copy, now they want typed only. When I was in HS (90's) you were not allowed to take a cell phone to school. Now the 13 yr old expects to "borrow" a cell once a week to school. He wants his own. It depends perhaps in less urban area's they aren't deemed as important. Maybe in others they are. Again like anything it is an individual merit thing. Each situation is different. I know i'll think of my childrens safety when I have kids. As for availablity, I have a cell, only work and family knows the number. When i'm at church it's simply in the car. If i'm driving I'll let it ring and not answer until a red light etc. I will not talk while driving. Everyone has different idea's os "safety" and "privlege". As for payphones I live in a region where they still have them. My payphone is still 25c. Where I live if I had a kid now, i'd do what my parents do. Loan a phone when required. However if I was somewhere else I might think different.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <Its the same as buying the kid an x-box or a tv for their room or a bike or a skateboard or a paintball gun or a dirtbike.> Well I guess an argument could be you don't have to pay a bill for those, lol. ;-) <Turns out that there had been some serious traffic on the road and he was unable to contact me.> I'm confused...did he have his cell phone, or was there some kind of frequency thing where he couldn't call? (sorry for my naivete, I don't have a cell, lol)
