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Conversation Piece -- SharPhone

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It's my solemn belief that ignorance will be the downfall of my nation...

I'm really not one to brag outside of joking, or really talk about my possessions, but I was sitting back earlier and recalling the history behind my latest phone purchase and I really felt that I needed to share it. You see, my phone is a blue LG d-Lite (or Lollipop, for those outside of the US); a flip phone whose contrasting white interior just so happens to match that of my dear bibliophile alien. So, aiming to make it my own, I took this dear relic from 2010, commissioned some works from the wonderful

fiaKaiera

to set as my background and the masterful

eluti for a unique ringtone and theme, and now i receive nothing but compliments on how cool this phone really looks. But those statements of recognition typically only coercise a chuckle from me.

You see, I was openly ridiculed when I was buying this phone.

Yeah, I mean, publically; The manager of the branch I visited to explore my alternative phone options literally laughed in my face and scoffed at me for even considering buying a flip phone over a smart phone. Their deals were too good, and I was a fool to pass up spending only $70 for a new smartphone; hell, they even had $0 plans on smartphones that did far more than my choice of phone. When I walked out of that store I felt embarrassed; even my mother was outwardly angered by my choice to stick to my guns. But I did it. I already had a smart phone, and my goal was to buy a phone that was solely a phone. Nothing more, no other bullshit.

Now, 3 months after the purchase, my smartphone still takes 3-5 hours to charge to 100% and will last me an entire day so long as I don't touch it. Shar'Llae, however, lasts me 3 full days on a 1 hour charge with a unique ringtone and appearance, plays MP3s and picks up radio (not that I really play them that often) and puts my smartphone to shame for its utility as the thing i bought it for.

So why was I laughed out of a store for my choice of purchase?

Well, besides the manager coming to the conclusion that he wasn't going to make a sale anyway and I was wasting his time (which, to be frank, I was; I wasn't there on my own accord after all), it was because of the value of today's zeitgeist. Smartphones are in, and are expected to be the only things that should exist on the market. Despite this, phone commercials attempt to market their smartphones like cameras, or computers, or fashion--things that all are certainly fine, but are not necessarily what I expect out of a phone. I feel that our culture, base American culture specifically, wants it all without giving any thought to what having it all really means. We've sacrificed functionality for additional utility, sacrificed focused quality in seek of all multiple qualities, and still expect the best of all worlds without allowing those things to really flourish in their own independent spaces.

Is it really convenient that my phone can browse the internet and share images across social media when it cannot hold a charge for longer than a few hours, fills my entire pocket, has its screen easily scratched because it no longer has a cover (forcing me to buy screen protectors and covers in addition to my phone) and frequently butt-dials because its screen is a flat freaking surface? No, I don't personally think so... And yet, my generation and the generation coming can't seem to put their darn phones down to save their lives on the road. And knowing this is only one of the many devices and programs that exist out there to dominate people's lives and lure them into false convenience only makes me cringe further.

Have we lost our way, or are we just losing our focus? Anyone have similar experiences when trying to buy a specific version of device that even salespeople mock you for wanting?

Viewed:	115 times
Added:	7 years, 10 months ago 10 Jun 2016 23:46 CEST

21 Comments on this Journal

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InsomniacOvrlrd

7 years, 10 months ago

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Generally if you give them a matter of fact, "yeah i know exactly what it is, and i came here to buy it. And nothing else." they shut down with their smarmy shit and just do it to get you out of the store. Frankly i can't stand salespeople that like their jobs. I worked at bestbuy in the PC department for a year, and was expected to push the latest and greatest on people. Most customers that came in would be totally happy with the cheaper laptops, because they're just using it to talk shit on facebook and watch netflix. But if you DIDN'T try to push the 899 computers with a bunch of software, you weren't doing your job right.

Considering this guy gave you shit after you explained yourself, he was a douchebag.

I'm not sure what it says about the nation as a whole, though? Smartphones are pretty cool omnidevices, but the battery life is shit, and their functionality 'as phones' has definitely gone way down to make room for twitter notifications, emulators, music, youtube, and everything else.

Eh. I dunno man.

AvaBun

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ InsomniacOvrlrd

Yeah, it's more a priority thing. The general response was "Why bother just getting a phone when you could get an OMNIDEVICE," which drives me up a wall. I get this vibe in a lot of things lately, including laws and massive plans, and other things... they tend to fall flat because not all of the grounds are being covered completely

InsomniacOvrlrd

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ AvaBun

Cameras in phones are inferior to cameras in cameras. Listening to music on the go i guess is just as good as an mp3 player. Browsing the internet on the go is a tedious chore, but useful when you need to find some place and don't know where it is or when it closes.

Now that i live down in florida, i appreciate having a smartphone basically for that one reason. If i need to get somewhere, i can. But when i lived in the never-ending woods of NH, it was all worthless to me.

I suppose, if i were you, I'd just be happy they're still manufacturing phones like the one you wanted. That means that there is still a market for that kind of dedicated device.

AvaBun

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ InsomniacOvrlrd

Oh yeah, definitely.

... Had to get it imported from Japan ^^;

VoidShark

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ AvaBun

Omnidevice ftw XDXD Simply because it sounds awesome hahahaha.

But yeah, people are pretty dumb. I mean look at what I just typed 0w0 that was pretty dumb. XPXP
Flipphones certainly did have a longer battery life. For me the smatphones work better but that's because of a few obvious reasons.

1: I never get any phone calls nor do I call people. XD (phones don't work at home, only in town.)
2: I mostly use mine to chat at friends in between doctor appointments.

AvaBun

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ VoidShark

Hehe, yeah... Interestingly, back in the early 90s when businesses were looking for something more productive/informative than Pagers they launched these things called "Personal Digital Assistants." These PDAs were basically dumbed down versions of iPod Touches, and were the first steps toward smart devices. They connected to the internet via pager wireless, had game and working apps, let you send messages via email and listen to music.... heck, the only thing you couldn't do with them was actually view something in color. :V

I still have my mother's old one, so really, it's like these things have been around for ages. I wonder why they only caught on now and they're being considered the only thing that should exist. |3c

VoidShark

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ AvaBun

Oh yeah I remember those XD My brother used to always be trying to get cheap ones XDXD

TwoTails

7 years, 10 months ago

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Thank you.
Put simply it's marketing peer pressure, just a variation on "everybody is doing it", too many people just go along with it. =/
Ultimately it's probably bad in general since companies can just sell crap without worrying about quality or the point.

AvaBun

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ TwoTails

Precisely. It's what worries me the most, honestly. Who puts pride in the products anymore when average battery life is complete bullshit. iPhones are decent, but at their cost you could practically buy my SharPhone 10 times over xD

eeveefan

7 years, 10 months ago

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your using your character as a phone?! you monster!!!
lol im joking. and the guy laughed at you for wanting to buy a phone? I would've laughed at him and walked out saying "well I know one store I wont shop at anymore" people shouldn't be picky, its just a phone. I myself don't use cell phones as I find them a waste, what would I need one for? I aint got no reason to have one.

though people need to chill out, especially your mother getting mad at you. theres no reason she should get mad at you. if you change your mind its your choice.

but anyways buddy I hope all goes well for you.

AvaBun

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ eeveefan

hehe, yeah.. Fortunately we talked it out as we sat in the car and I got to legitimately ask her why she was upset. She started to calm down when she realized that there was no loss, it was entirely money from my own paycheck that I'd be spending (for the bill too!), and the world hadn't ended. She just felt very riled up with how hard they were pushing that I would be the fool for not accepting a FREE iPHONE

Tydaze

7 years, 10 months ago

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I remember when I went to a local game store, and the guys working there made fun of me for buying Mario & Sonic at the 2014 Winter Olympics. I was like... what the fuck kind of customer service is that? I definitely never went back THERE again.

AvaBun

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ Tydaze

I know... >_<

Honestly, I don't get why anyone would do that if they wanted to keep customers coming. It's a customer service job... you'd think "Don't insult the customer!" would be rule #1. e_e
I'd love it if those same folk would have turned that into an inquiry that was less directed at you, ala: "Wow, that game sucks. Are you getting it to enjoy ripping it apart with some friends?"

Tweaker

7 years, 10 months ago

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One thing I will say is that even flip phones used to suffer worse battery life as their functionality improved and their model was revised over time. The technology that batteries, screens, cell radios, et al use will continue to evolve as the model of the smartphone becomes more and more optimized. For example, quick charge compatible phones can reach full charge in about as much time as your flip phone (though the battery life still leaves much to be desired).

You're right though--if all you want is a phone that makes calls without a whole lot of extra fuss to it, flip phones are still very viable (and cheap!). Hopefully we'll reach that point of efficiency with smartphones sooner rather than later.

AvaBun

7 years, 10 months ago

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Edited 7 years, 10 months ago by Owner

@ Tweaker

Yeah... I just hope that the point of optimized singularity actually DOES improve rather than dropping off due to the next thing. Like double smartphones or something.. Haha...

Though, i honestly wouldn't mind wandering around with a dual-screened flip-smartphone.

... actually, yeah, that'd be cool as hell.. i need to draw that.

digisushi

7 years, 10 months ago

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Nintendo should just sell a modded 3DS with phone capabilities X3

oh wait... that might actually be the NX... ;3

AvaBun

7 years, 10 months ago

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@ digisushi

Shhhhh... the Nintendo Party Van might be listening in for ideas ;o;

Talbotlynx

7 years, 10 months ago

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Edited 7 years, 10 months ago by Owner

I understand. I only got a smartphone under duress as a Christmas gift... At least they knew to get me a trackphone compatible one and to not make it too amped up, since I also got a cheap tablet that does a lot of the same things, plus a bit more. It has been nice enough being able to load music and books on it, occasionally watch netflix or hulu when I have a net connection away from home and am stuck waiting somewhere or play an old jrpg.

On the whole, I didn't and don't really need it. I was going to replace it with a keyboard style phone since most people text me to save me money. Cost of a text is .30/minute. I run out of service time before I run out of minutes. Haven't needed to refill my minutes in over three years because I buy year of airtime and get more minutes than I need as a bonus.

I do applaud your sense of style and admittance of the lack of trendy needs.

As for being mocked, a salesperson that worked with a friend in a certain computer related chain store copped a bit of an attitude with me and I'm told he was slapped for badmouthing me after I walked out on him. I had told him, "I know what I need, I have a budget, and if you won't stop trying to sell me what I don't need, I'm leaving." He kept it up, I left. He lost a sale for thinking the customer was an idiot, and got slapped by my friend for saying what brand of idiot. That was many, many years ago... The chain doesn't even exist anymore. lol

soggymaster

7 years, 10 months ago

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Honestly I'd be happy with a flip phone - I'll have to investigate if I can get one with the kind of data plan my current "smart" phone has, along with the ability to share that data via wifi or bluetooth.

MyArtSucks

7 years, 10 months ago

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Glad to see there are other people out there that don't listen to sales pitch bullshit and can make their own decisions in life without being influenced by the opinions of others.

Kemokiu

7 years, 10 months ago

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Oh goodness, that is a reaaaaally cute phone.
I've only had a smartphone for a few years (3-4 maybe?)
I remember being completely okay with my simple phones, (also being an asshole about smartphones in general, but look at me now lol.)
I would consider going back because they work better than any smart"phone" for the phone part of them.
I still got a very cheap one, but in comparison it's still much more expensive than a decent flip phone and what I like about flip phones isn't there (the dialpad, no touch screen, longer battery life, ability to close, a hole for charms, easy to put down... lol)
Sucks how they treated you, I don't understand why people would have to be that way. >:

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