Haves and Have Nots

[shanmonster]

I do not have a cell phone. I do not have a car. And for over a decade, I did not have a television.

And I'm always astonished by how many people assume I do have these things.

I admit, there are times when I think it would be awfully convenient for me to have these things, but then I look at the down sides.

Cars are both expensive and over-utilized. My feet, my bike, or the bus are almost always sufficient to get me where I want to go, and at a low expenditure of money.

Cell phones are just another thing to weigh down my already heavy purse (often filled with such necessities as zills, mouthguards, kneepads, dance sandals, keys, wallet, etc.). And besides, people who use cell phones are often rude (if unintentionally so) to the people they are with. They talk on them at restaurants when waiters are trying to take their order. They talk on them loudly on long bus rides late at night when people around them are trying to rest. They break off conversations with the people they're with to talk about inconsequential things on their phones. I'm anti-social as it is. I don't want to add these nasty behaviours to my collection of bad habits.

I do have a tv, now. It was gifted to me. But I don't get any channels on it, and have intentionally avoided hooking it up to the free cable which was supplied at my apartment. I'm already addicted to the internet. I don't need to re-addict myself to television programming. I grew up a tv addict. I'd like to remain in remission.

Other assumptions surprise me, too.

Years ago, when I was still in university, I used to hang out with other geeks and nerds in the Blue Lounge at the Student Union Building. One time, a guy started ranting about how everyone thought they knew it all because of tv rather than personal experience. He ranted and raved and then gestured specifically at me, saying, "You tv types wouldn't know what to do in the forest, couldn't saddle a horse, and couldn't fire a gun."

I didn't say a thing, but the one or two people who knew my background looked over at me with raised eyebrows and knowing smiles. To this day, I'll bet he hasn't a clue I spent much of my growing up years doing just those things.

I've forgotten more than I now know. Maybe someday I'll get back to the wilderness, but for now I grow soft in my city home.

Comments

[allthingsnoisy.livejournal.com]

I was once told that I was unAmerican because I don't want children. I wasn't sure if I wanted to punch or laugh at this guy.

[allthingsnoisy.livejournal.com]

My cell phone is my only phone. I got it simply because I moved a lot, and didn't want to change phone numbers ever year. Really, I'd prefer not to own a phone at all, but it's required for a lot of things, and my parents don't use email.

If my parents didn't live in the mountains far away from where I live in the City, I'd be happier not owning a car. There's no other way for me to reach them. Plus, I take a lot of road trips! :)

My TV? Only for movies. No cable. I do watch the public programming sometimes.

The assumptions are silly, but not as bad as my teammate who thinks that everyone owns a PDA and "couldn't believe his eyes" when he saw that I had a little datebook for my appointments.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't get me wrong. Plenty of people need their vehicles and cell phones, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm just not one of those people.

Growing up on a farm, we certainly did need our truck, though. We bought our hay from people the next village over, and a truck was absolutely necessary for that. The truck was also necessary for carrying our home, when we lived out of a camper or fifth-wheeler.

I don't have a PDA, either. I carry pen and paper everywhere I go. It does the trick nicely.

Haves and Have Nots

[desperada57.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't own a car if our public transporation system didn't suck as bad as it does. My husband is legally blind and has to use it when I'm not available to drive him places and believe me, it's most inconvenient for him. The car's paid for, but it'd still save us so much money if we didn't have to own one.

We have basic dish because we enjoy the Discovery Channel and the History Channel; and we got that when we moved into our house a year and a half ago. Before that we watched a lot of PBS. They're installing fiber optics in our neighborhood even as I write, and that will take care of internet access, land line, and tv channels in one swoop.

I finally broke down a couple of years ago and got a cell phone because if I'm stuck in a traffic jam I can call to say I'll be late. To this day we use it only for emergencies. But, would you believe I get SPAM on the thing?! I get spam text messages; I just delete them, but they're still a pain. And I thought I resisted getting the phone for so long just because I'm old ;-)

Some technology makes our lives simpler, others way more complicated.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

everyone thought they knew it all because of tv

It's been my experience that people who think they know it all are going to be like that anyway, regardless of TV ownership.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

True enough.

[twopiearr.livejournal.com]

I held out against getting a cell phone as long as possible. In the end, however, it became apparent to me that my boss was prejudiced against people without cell phones, and it was easier to get a prepaid T-Mobile than it was to get a new job.

[silver-insanity.livejournal.com]

I hated the day I bought my cell phone. But work requires I have one. If it weren't for my job, I'd be without one to this day.

I've recently inherited a car, and it's true. It's a mixed blessing. I have gotten much lazier, and tend to drive places that would only be a 20 minute walk. And it defeintely sucks too much of my money away.

And I have the same type of thing with the TV. It works for the DVDs and VHS'.