No Smart Phone

[Grumpy Old Man]

Has anyone had the experience of NOT having a "Smart Phone" for scanning this, that and the other, downloading Apps for tracking purposes Etc. and dealing with flights and other craziness.

 

My dear old Father "Aged 84" has never had or intends to own or use a "Smart Phone" he struggles with the TV remote control.

 

I've never been able to get an answer from any airline or tracking service when asked this simple question . . . . I don't own or use a "Smart Phone" how do we continue ?

 

 

[ezzra]

Unfortunately a smart phone is not a luxury item to own anymore,i't's become like your data bank/I.D card and payment's gate, so young or old and whether we like it or not, we're stuck with it...

[FritsSikkink]

Buy one and learn, my mother of 89 had no problems at all.

[Ralf001]

10 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Unfortunately a smart phone is not a luxury item to own anymore,i't's become like your data bank/I.D card and payment's gate, so young or old and whether we like it or not, we're stuck with it...

I have a smart phone and it most definitely is not used to do anything of those.

[jak2002003]

4 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

I have a smart phone and it most definitely is not used to do anything of those.

I only use my smart phone to do video calls on Signal, watch You Tube if I am bored, look up things on the web and take photos. 

 

Never used it to scan things or pay for stuff.

 

But I would not miss it if I did not have it.  I would only miss not being able to take photos as I can use my computer to go on the web and do calls. 

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, jak2002003 said:

I only use my smart phone to do video calls on Signal, watch You Tube if I am bored, look up things on the web and take photos. 

 

Never used it to scan things or pay for stuff.

 

But I would not miss it if I did not have it.  I would only miss not being able to take photos as I can use my computer to go on the web and do calls. 

Mainly use mine for google maps and the like, will use it as a camera if I really need to take a pic and my camera is not handy.

[OneMoreFarang]

Your father has basically three options:

a) get a smart phone and learn to use it

b) explain to people why he doesn't have one, ask what he can do without, etc. - and try that in a foreign language.

c) stay at home

 

I guess all in all a) is still the best option

 

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Your father has basically three options:

a) get a smart phone and learn to use it

b) explain to people why he doesn't have one, ask what he can do without, etc. - and try that in a foreign language.

c) stay at home

 

I guess all in all a) is still the best option

 

At 84 I'd suggest c) stay at home is his best option.

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

At 84 I'd suggest c) stay at home is his best option.

Age has nothing to do with it, know enough old people who have a good functioning brain.

[SamSanuk]

Apple Music on mine. Wonderful for tuning out grumpy farangs at local coffee shop.

[Pond Life]

I suggest he buys a cheap "smart phone", when he encounters someone that requires him to use it (immigration maybe) he just hands them the phone & tells them to sort it out.

[MrBrad]

Well, I, too, am among the few who don't use a smartphone.  I actually do have one that I bought second-hand, but I prefer my little pocket phone which does not even have a camera. 

 

But, as was earlier stated, it looks like if I ever even want to travel on an airline I will be forced to use a smartphone.  The one I have is old and rickety, so a shiny new one it'll have to be.  So far, I'm still managing very well with my little cell phone on which I get probably fewer than half a dozen calls a week.  Any online business--serious or nonsense--is done at my computer, and, having done so for decades now, I'm quite comfortable operating one.  I know that I will have to take the plunge one day, though.

[elektrified]

I discovered today that you can't get an International vaccine certificate without a smart phone. If you can't scan the code they give you then you can't get one. Lesson learned. I had to drive about 50 km. round-trip to go back and get mine and even then it seemed my mobile didn't have the scan feature. Fortunately I was able to download an app. that enabled the feature and mission accomplished.

[roger buttmore]

I bought a Samsung J7 about 7 years ago. It is the only smartphone I've ever owned/used. I don't have 'data' because I never use it beyond being a regular phone away from home. At home it connects to my Wi-Fi so I get email notifications. I then check my emails using my computer. I just top-up when it needs it, which isn't often. I found it a nuisance with all the chirps and beeps. All long since permanently silenced or offending app removed completely.

 

I've never liked smartphones. I guess I'll have to activate some data package for a day or two when I eventually travel internationally again. I'll be an unwilling participant when no other option exists.

 

Big Brother loves that we all provide our own monitoring devices from which they can data-harvest. Only while the data package lasts.

[seedy]

Do what we did when we were children - get two tin cans, wax a length of string, connect the cans together.

Viola !

Or - get with the program.

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, seedy said:

Do what we did when we were children - get two tin cans, wax a length of string, connect the cans together.

Viola !

Or - get with the program.

You had wax ?

 

 

[seedy]

Well - you need a smart fone soon ...

 

[poppysdad]

What a world we live in when it’s almost a necessity to have a smartphone, an email address, a credit card and a Farcebook account. 

[seedy]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

You had wax ?

Stole a candle from the mantelpiece, went to the outhouse

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, seedy said:

Stole a candle from the mantelpiece, went to the outhouse

Very posh.

[hioctane]

For the first time, I just scanned a QR code at a food stall with my  bank app and paid for a couple of drinks. No change nor touching filthy money. Very fast and convenient!

[Ralf001]

44 minutes ago, hioctane said:

For the first time, I just scanned a QR code at a food stall with my  bank app and paid for a couple of drinks. No change nor touching filthy money. Very fast and convenient!

I love filthy money, if you want to dispose of yours let me know.

[malt25]

Like so many other things these days. You don't have to like them... you just have to accept them.

[robblok]

On 10/28/2021 at 2:04 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Your father has basically three options:

a) get a smart phone and learn to use it

b) explain to people why he doesn't have one, ask what he can do without, etc. - and try that in a foreign language.

c) stay at home

 

I guess all in all a) is still the best option

 

Great post, not sure why people always things the rules should not apply to them.  Its like I don't have a driving license but i want to drive a car. Either don't drive the car or get one as its a requirement.

 

Smart phones can be had really cheap these days.

[topt]

5 minutes ago, robblok said:

Great post, not sure why people always things the rules should not apply to them.  Its like I don't have a driving license but i want to drive a car. Either don't drive the car or get one as its a requirement.

I have a smartphone however where is it enshrined in law that you have to use? The analogy with a driving licence seems flawed to me.

I am flying tonight and don't plan to use my smartphone for any of the processes I will be going through.

Paper still seems to be accepted - which means of course you need a printer instead......

[Mac Mickmanus]

8 minutes ago, robblok said:

Great post, not sure why people always things the rules should not apply to them.  Its like I don't have a driving license but i want to drive a car. Either don't drive the car or get one as its a requirement.

 

Smart phones can be had really cheap these days.

What does getting a car driving licence have to do with either owning a mobile phone or

not ?

   I cannot see the connection 

[robblok]

1 minute ago, topt said:

I have a smartphone however where is it enshrined in law that you have to use? The analogy with a driving licence seems flawed to me.

I am flying tonight and don't plan to use my smartphone for any of the processes I will be going through.

Paper still seems to be accepted - which means of course you need a printer instead......

Not in case of Thailand they seem to require you to download an app if you want to enter the country. So that is a law / regulation. So the argument is not flawed. 

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

What does getting a car driving licence have to do with either owning a mobile phone or

not ?

   I cannot see the connection 

It has something to do with this topic but not smart phone ownership in general. This was in relation to the app one has to install on phone to get in Thailand. That is a regulation a rule just like its a regulation / rule to have a license to drive a car.

 

Just read the OP again about the airline part. That means about having a smart phone as needed to enter Thailand with the app.

 

[topt]

5 minutes ago, robblok said:

Not in case of Thailand they seem to require you to download an app if you want to enter the country. So that is a law / regulation. So the argument is not flawed. 

Ok I may accept that for Thailand but it is not general yet thank goodness. 

[johng]

2 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

What does getting a car driving licence have to do with either owning a mobile phone or

not ?

   I cannot see the connection 

@robblok  will no doubt scoff again at my "conspiracy" theories...but it's all to do with the big push towards a total surveillance state...cashless society and "vaccine passports" made "simple"    just by using your personal tracking device..AKA smartphone. ????   

(notice smily emoticon meaning that it is said in jest  but remember what they  about many things said in jest)