Do you think it's good to always be available to people by cell phone?

1. 78

   Catherine Kaneposted 12 years ago

   Do you think it's good to always be available to people by cell phone?
   
   What are the positive points of non-stop availability? The negative points?

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   alung12posted 12 years ago

   Most of the time yes, but to much of anything is bad, a balance is required. I do use my phone way a lot though.

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      detroitmareposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Way a lot eh?

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3. 65

   Distant Mindposted 12 years ago

   Well, it really depends if you are looking at it from a personal or a business point of view.
   
   If its about your personal life, you cannot be always available and reachable. If there is an emergency, it's unlikely that you would be able to solve it over the phone. My personal policy is that I pick up my phone when I'm available to talk and I hang up if it's not a good time. If the person calls me again, it means it's urgent and I pick up right away, despite the fact that talking on the phone might be the last thing I want to do.
   
   On the other hand, if we are talking about a serious business, the company phones or cell phones should be constantly reachable. That's why companies invest so much in call centers, 24/7 hotlines and so on.

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      Catherine Kaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks- see I was not clear. I'm thinking more of from a personal standpoint.

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   detroitmareposted 12 years ago

   Cell phones are great for emergencies, but otherwise they are annoying.  I can't stand to see people in my way at the grocery store talking on their phone - it's not a problem if they can still realize that they are in a store and people are trying to get by.  It's also annoying to see someone at an event (such as a baseball game) on their phone.  Why would you pay good money to go watch a game or concert and then spend your time there on the phone?  I liked it better when if you were not home, you were busy.  Much more to say about all of this, but have rambled long enough in response to your question.

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   1. 78

      Catherine Kaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks .I also wonder about people having the time to just think or look around them if they're constantly "hooked up".People who need to be in constant contact seem to miss so much of life..

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      detroitmareposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Catherine: some people cannot stand the sound of their own thoughts.

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      Catherine Kaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That is true- but I think that drowning out your own thoughts is a risky way to live ones life...

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      detroitmareposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I concur.  I hear the voices in my head with absolute clarity...even when they scare me.

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   BlytheThompsonposted 12 years ago

   I say yes, because thanks to the technology of the cell phone, you can see who's calling (most of the time) and choose not to answer and pretend not to be there. Mean but true!!

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   carman58posted 12 years ago

   Yes, because you can always reject a call if you want to, but always available if something important happens, everyone should have a mobile phone connected to the web 24/7 IMHO :-)

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   bernard.sinaiposted 12 years ago

   No. Sometimes cell phones can actually be an annoyance. I think there are times when you just need to turn off the cell.

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   Peter Geekieposted 12 years ago

   Dear Catherine
   
   The cell phone is the bane of my life. Because you have one others seem to feel its quite ok to phone you in the early hours with some inane question.
   Everyone, except me, should be banned from having one !!!

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      Catherine Kaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I also think that it's a good thing for people not to assume that they automatically have 24 hour access to you. The ones who kick up a fuss if you don't answer when they first call  are also the ones you least want to speak with

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   writerjjposted 12 years ago

   Tough question. Personally, I always answer the phone as long as the number is saved on my phone book - you'll never know if it is an emergency or an urgent matter.
   - If it is an emergency I stay on the line and asks whats the matter.
   - If it is just a simple where are you, how are you, and the likes, it depends on where I'm at or what am I doing during the time of the call.
   
   As for the positive and negative points, Cell phones do have a lot of advantages. Unfortunately, for any advantage there is a seemingly equal downside. This is the reason why phone owners should be responsible enough and considerate of the people around them - especially those who speak too loud at a public place

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    pinappuposted 12 years ago

    It depends on your personality and age. If you are a teenager girl with a lot of friends you shall like to be available 24x7 by cell phone. But if you are a poet or a meditative type of person ( or a person with speech disabilities) then you may not like to be all time available.
    For me, it varies from time to time.

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    Quddusposted 12 years ago

    I have very mixed feelings about this and in fact have written a hub about it. My short answer would be that while there are good reasons to be available at all times such as the need to be reached during an emergency, at the same time we all need time when we are certain we will not be disturbed.

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    brakel2posted 12 years ago

    Some people become angry if you don't answer. Sometimes it is hard to reach my grown children at important times. However. it is their decision. I respect their choice. We don't take our cell phones with us all the time either.

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       Catherine Kaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       If they expect you to be available wheneverthey call, there's acertain amount of disrespet going on there

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       Alexander Markposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       People get angry when you don't answer? That's abuse!

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    rex michaelsposted 12 years ago

    Turn them off once in awhile and reconnect with yourself. It scares me to some extent the reliance, or is dependency on cell phones, Internet, and yet it is where we are as a society today. But some days it's nice to unconnect with the world

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    1. 78

       Catherine Kaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Like this. Sometimes it seems to me that people get out of touch with themselves if they're always "on call"..

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    Alexander Markposted 12 years ago

    No! I love being able to call or be called wherever I am, but not anytime. On Sunday night (my Friday), the phone goes off until I get up. I hate to miss an emergency call, but whatever happens happens, sometimes my phone will ring in the middle of my sleep and it's never important (I work late and sleep late).
    
    The thing to remember is when you drive out of cell range, you're not going to turn around just to be available are you? So why do we think we are not justified in turning the phone off once in a while? Theaters and bookstores I usually turn it off (always in the movies of course) and if I choose to take a call at the bookstore I will go outside.
    
    The thing to remember is that the cell phone is for us to use, not for others to abuse us with. I'm starting to find it to be a burden because I pay a lot for my service and I have an expensive phone so I take it with me wherever I go instead of leaving it in the car. I am considering replacing it with a cheap emergency cell and Skype or Google Talk.

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