Are cellphones addictive?

[elte]

I have low budget cell phone service on a low-cost phone. I mostly wanted it to use free wifi to check weather radar when I am out. Unfortunately, free wifi isn't very practical anymore because of login requirements.

[Zinjanthropos]

I have low budget cell phone service on a low-cost phone.  I mostly wanted it to use free wifi to check weather radar when I am out.  Unfortunately, free wifi isn't very practical anymore because of login requirements.

My plan gives me 5 gigs of data,  unlimited texting/long distance in Canada. I never use free wifi, it is such a hassle, and to this date I've never used more than 2 gigs in a month. Probably helps that I don't do a lot with the cell phone other than look up info and make/receive calls.

Most gigs in a month was when I used phone as a hotspot a couple times for a laptop I had at the cabin. 

Some of these addicts must have outrageous phone bills, I can't think of one addiction that doesn't come with a cost.

[Secular Sanity]

Some of these addicts must have outrageous phone bills, I can't think of one addiction that doesn't come with a cost.

I thought of one, but then I remembered that it, too, requires batteries.

[Zinjanthropos]

Some of these addicts must have outrageous phone bills, I can't think of one addiction that doesn't come with a cost.

I thought of one, but then I remembered that it, too, requires batteries.  

Tempting, oh so tempting. 

[Syne]

I've often wondered, if you're out on a date and the other person can't put their phone down, what do you do?

While I've never had this happen to me, I would simply end the date.

[Zinjanthropos]

I've often wondered, if you're out on a date and the other person can't put their phone down, what do you do?

While I've never had this happen to me, I would simply end the date.

But if you were the one on the phone then would that be the signal to your date that this isn't going well and for all intents, it's ended? Just wondering if there's a double standard on this behavior, like it's gender specific or something like that. Would you wait to officially end it once the bill has been paid?

[Syne]

I've often wondered, if you're out on a date and the other person can't put their phone down, what do you do?

While I've never had this happen to me, I would simply end the date.

But if you were the one on the phone then would that be the signal to your date that this isn't going well and for all intents, it's ended? Just wondering if there's a double standard on this behavior, like it's gender specific or something like that. Would you wait to officially end it once the bill has been paid?

Yep. If I were on my phone that much, it would signal a lack of interest. Now I might be polite at first, and maybe tell her she doesn't need to be so nervous that she needs to bury herself in her phone, but if that prompting doesn't help...

Since I would be the one to ask her out, I'd just immediately ask for the check, pay it, and take her home if I drove her. Unless of course she gets indignant about it...then she might get her ass left there (since she has the smart phone, she can Uber herself home).

[Zinjanthropos]

I've often wondered, if you're out on a date and the other person can't put their phone down, what do you do?

While I've never had this happen to me, I would simply end the date.

But if you were the one on the phone then would that be the signal to your date that this isn't going well and for all intents, it's ended? Just wondering if there's a double standard on this behavior, like it's gender specific or something like that. Would you wait to officially end it once the bill has been paid?

Yep. If I were on my phone that much, it would signal a lack of interest. Now I might be polite at first, and maybe tell her she doesn't need to be so nervous that she needs to bury herself in her phone, but if that prompting doesn't help...

Since I would be the one to ask her out, I'd just immediately ask for the check, pay it, and take her home if I drove her. Unless of course she gets indignant about it...then she might get her ass left there (since she has the smart phone, she can Uber herself home).

I'd text her while she's preoccupied with the phone. I'd say date's over, I understand, need a lift somewhere? No sense wasting any more time. Leave on a happy note.

[C C]

Yes! I believe they are. I personally do not own one and never have.

What I've pathologically avoided all my life is video / computer games. Especially after the scary sight of seeing even [once neo-luddite] seniors wasting hours and hours playing / being engrossed in them. Of course, the latter can become addicted to mobile devices, too. But I find the latter a more practical vice / drug (which competition consequences have made indispensable in business).

[Syne]

Yes! I believe they are. I personally do not own one and never have.

What I've pathologically avoided all my life is video / computer games. Especially after the scary sight of seeing even [once neo-luddite] seniors wasting hours and hours playing / being engrossed in them. Of course, the latter can become addicted to mobile devices, too. But I find the latter a more practical vice / drug (which competition consequences have made indispensable in business).

When I was younger I tended to get more addicted to video games, but now days I own many PC games I haven't even gotten around to playing yet, and I often go months without playing at all. I do occasionally go on binges, but always something I can drop at any time and not return to for weeks or more.