When Daniel Golding worked at the ODT a few years back, he
was a two-cellphone boy, always texting, typical of many
Generation Y kids. Now 25 and working as an editor in
Wellington, he has spent the past few months living without a
mobile. By choice. Intrigued by this experiment, Chinn-wag
got Dan to write about it in this guest post.
Throwing away your cell phone can be a liberating
experience. Supplied photo.
Cell phones. That's what I used to do. Sell phones too.
Back then, I was making both Telecom and Vodafone rich. I rid
myself of the 027 a couple of years ago now, and it was with
great pleasure that I recently walked into a Vodafone store and
asked to end my 021 affair also.
After walking into a river that was deceptively deep and
shorting all the technology in my pockets, I emerged
realising that I no longer wanted to be contactable at all
hours. No longer did I want to be constantly reaching for the
"what are you up to?" answer.
The initial feeling of novelty was very similar to becoming a
vegetarian. With vegetarianism I was suddenly forced to think
about my food. Without a phone I was forced to come up with
more creative ways to reach people and from there, things
have progressed well.
I immediately got hold of chalk (for leaving notes where I
thought my friends would find them), started sending real
mail, and I began to feel like I had more time to stretch out
in.
Not having the late-night-text ability has probably been a
good thing. If I absolutely must get hold of someone, I've
found using payphones an extremely joyful experience. Kitsch,
romantic, and well worth the overcharging. And my no-phone
satisfaction has only increased with the reciprocation of
street art and New Zealand Post stamps from others.
Yeah. I'm stoked on myself and my one little decision.
But most of my friends aren't. While they all seemed
initially supportive, it seems rare that a day goes by
without my being told "get a phone, bro" and I have to accept
many of the messages I leave for people will not be received
in a time that's relevant, or even received at all.
So, my love of freedom does somewhat handicap my equal love
of spontaneous coffee/beer drinking, but it seems that the
friends I most want to enjoy a drink with are more easily
found than contacted anyway.
Really, it's had very little effect on how I hang out with
the people I hung out with. I simply have a better idea of
the distinction between friends and associates.
And will it last? I hope so. My future probably consists of
deleting my Google account, working cash-only jobs, and
individually handwriting novels.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.