And it went the way of the Dinosaur ...

1. 90

   Jacqueline4390posted 3 years ago

   Telephone Booths ... you could almost find one at every street corner. You could find them outside supermarkets and inside your "local drugstore." Now, you would be hard-press to find one on the highway, less known in your neighborhood. It looks like it has been replaced with people ... even children walking down the street "chatting away with no one there."
   
   In the beginning, it was very subtle. Now, it is prevalent everywhere. What's your opinion? Do you think its good that the Telephone Booths are becoming extinct (if not already gone.)

   replyreport
   1. 89

      jansharesposted 3 years ago in reply to this

      No, I think we still need a few here and there for emergencies. Even though most people have cells, they do go out or get lost. But, of course, it's not financially fiscal for the phone company if it's not being used. Aren't they still in airports?

      replyreport
      1. 90

         Jacqueline4390posted 3 years ago in reply to this

         It has been a while since I've been to the airport. I also believe that there should be a few telephone booths around. I think that the telephone company makes a great amount of money on cell phones (they are also diversified into Internet Service and TV Service) so they aren't "hard up" for money. It would be a great public service to have at least a handful available.
         
         I have not seen any in my area. There are times when I get in a hurry and forget my cell phone. I have a land line so its not my cell phone that gets the most use. It would be nice to be able to have emergency options. I can only wonder if there is a correlation between the availability of emergency phones and crime. Maybe not ... but I do miss the phone booths.
         
         Where would Superman change?

         replyreport
2. 85

   JRScarbroughposted 3 years ago

   I recently forgot my phone at home and was out and suddenly remembered I needed to tell someone something and I looked and looked for a phone. There was one. I went to it and it was broken.
   
   Phone booths just up and disappeared.

   replyreport
   1. 90

      Jacqueline4390posted 3 years ago in reply to this

      That's my point! We still need the phone booth!
      
      There are times when having that phone booth is vital! Especially, when you are on the road and (heaven forbid) you forgot to bring the charger with you!

      replyreport
3. 89

   Mark Leesposted 3 years ago

   They are privately owned and if they are not used enough it becomes uneconomic to keep them. capitalism only recognises need when there is also profit.

   replyreport
   1. 90

      Jacqueline4390posted 3 years ago in reply to this

      I am definitely not opposed to capitalism; but I still think it's a shame that the telephone booth is disappearing. If it is due to nonprofitability ... then that's a shame also. Whatever happened to "public service." Has "helping each other" also gone with the dinosaur?

      replyreport
4. 80

   cfinposted 3 years ago

   In some countries/states they just have emergencies phones in an orange box, especially by the high way.

   replyreport
   1. 90

      Jacqueline4390posted 3 years ago in reply to this

      Hmmm ... I will have to look for that when I am traveling this summer. I must admit that it would be hard to miss something orange.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Motown2Chitownposted 3 years ago in reply to this

         Here in the states, we do have highways with emergency call boxes here and there.  I've never seen an orange one though.

         replyreport
5. 91

   FatFreddysCatposted 3 years ago

   A couple of years ago my family stayed at a campground that had an honest-to-God old fashioned phone booth outside the front office. My kids stared at it as if it were a relic from another world. Haha.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Motown2Chitownposted 3 years ago in reply to this

      You know, I'm not even 40, and not only do I remember telephone booths and pay phones, but I remember when it was only a dime to make a local call.
      
      I never thought I would get old.  Then I started saying stuff like that.  Egads!

      replyreport
      1. 90

         Jacqueline4390posted 3 years ago in reply to this

         May I say jeepers!? I was upset when phone booths went up to $0.25 a call. Now they are completely out of sight! Is this a slick way of getting people to buy cell phones?

         replyreport
         1. 0

            Motown2Chitownposted 3 years ago in reply to this

            Most likely.  At the end of the day, it's cheaper (usually) than a landline and terribly convenient.  Sadly, all technology makes way for newer, brighter, shinier, and easier. 

            replyreport
   2. 90

      Jacqueline4390posted 3 years ago in reply to this

      I don't blame them! It should be in the Smithsonian!

      replyreport
6. 91

   FatFreddysCatposted 3 years ago

   I can't help but wonder... where does Clark Kent go to change into his Superman costume now, if there are no phone booths left?

   replyreport
   1. 90

      Jacqueline4390posted 3 years ago in reply to this

      Now that is a good question. Picture this, damsel in distress screaming for help. Clark Kent runs into an alley ... No phone booth. Then he runs down the next street ... Still no phone booth. Heads back up the alley and sees a large trash receptacle ... Thinks better of it when the local rats give him the "no way" sign. In the meantime John Q citizen steps up to the plate and saves the day. By the time the Man of Steel finally locates that abandon phone booth everybody is gone on their merry way and he is left standing there with egg on his face. Nice work, Clark.

      replyreport