New Phone, Old Phone, Smart Phone, Dumb Phone

Today is my dream day. I’m finally able to get a new cell phone with a new cell phone carrier. The last two years have mostly been a cell phone nightmare (ask any of my family members and close friends), and I’m relieved it’s about to be over. For the last couple of months I’ve been using what I call my “bridge phone”: it’s an unlocked phone I bought on eBay just to get me through to today, when I go and pick up an iPhone 5s. Whee!

The boys are pretty excited about today, too. (Jim’s phone is company-provided so the only thing he’s excited about regarding today is that the temperatures are going to be in the mid- to upper-40s so he can take a bike ride outside.)

D will be getting a Moto X (I have to say that I considered that for a minute, too!), and J…well, J is not getting a smart phone.

Huh? I know.

I have an eighteen-year-old who is over-the-moon excited to get a dumb phone. Jim and I have tried to talk him out of it because we think he’ll regret that decision, but he isn’t having any of it. We ended up—because I don’t want him to be stuck for two years—buying him a new-in-box dumb phone that was produced a few years ago, the Samsung Juke. He picked it out himself, on eBay.

The phone arrived a few days ago and it was like Christmas. Well, it WAS Christmas, but we don’t celebrate Christmas so…anyway, you know what I mean. He is super-psyched, and I feel good about the fact that if he regrets his dumb phone preference, he’ll be able to get a smart phone anytime because the upgrade he’s due as a new customer will be saved for him.

I thought it would be fun to interview him so we can all get a peek into his thought process behind this decision.

Me: So, a dumb phone. WHY?
J: Do you want me to be funny or serious?

Me: You can be however you want. Seriously funny is fine.
J: Well, I’m always seriously funny.

Me: I know. Okay, answer the question. Why a dumb phone?
J: Because who wouldn’t want a cell phone that can do this? *flips phone*

Me: That’s it?????
J: *sigh* Because this is the first time in two years that I’ll have a phone that is competent at completing calls and texts in a user-friendly and satisfying way.

Me: But don’t you think you’ll miss being able to play games and use your social media apps?
J: I haven’t played games on my smart phone in months, and I can always get Facebook and Twitter notifications sent directly to my phone. I’ll be able to check those on my computer anyway.

Me: Let’s say you DO end up regretting your decision and change your mind about wanting a smart phone. Will you attempt to stuff those feelings so I don’t tease you about it, or will you just come out and tell me?
J: If I end up regretting not going with a smart phone then, well…we don’t really need to worry about that because that’s not going to happen anyway.

So, there you have it.
The funny thing is, the more I think about it I think it’s sort of awesome that this kid, who is a college freshman, is doing away with the distractions a smart phone can provide. Living in the moment? Yes, please.

In fact, maybe I should reconsider and get a dumb phone.

Nahhhhh.

By the way, we’re pretty serious about cell phones around here. My kids even had to sign a contract before they could get their first phone, way back in the day. Click here to see our parent-kid cell phone contract; feel free to customize it for your own use!