Cell Phone is a necessity today

[tzsgti]

Agree or disagree with this article

http://inplainsight.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/12/20307069-its-not-a-blackberry-but-its-helping-me-for-now-cellphones-are-now-essentials-for-the-poor?lite

IMO i sort of agree and disagree. Most people who rent have a cell phone rather then a land line because its cheaper. You do need some way to contact someone in a emergency. However i don't think a blackberry is necessary. They have plenty of prepaid plans that are under $30 a month for emergencies and necessary calls.

And the fact that there are government programs handing out phones makes me sick. Whats next car payments? Gas? if you live in a rural area it may be considered as a necessity.

Discuss

[hamchan]

I agree. I finally broke down and got one because of work. Texting was their preferred method of communication, and not having one was holding me back in many ways.

I think they are absolutely necessary for people who are homeless (not just sleeping in doorways, but not having a permanent place to live) if they ever hope to break that cycle. The government programs that pay for cell phone access are pretty rudimentary (no data plans), and the phones they give out are mostly donated if IIRC.

[annibe11e]

Yes, I think mobile phones are becoming a necessity. Obviously not to the extent that food, water and shelter are. I have no problem with the government subsidy. It's paid out of the universal usage fee charged to phone companies and passed on to the consumers, so technically, you can opt out of paying for this subsidy by not using a phone yourself.

I used the Lifeline program on my landline when I qualified. Not having a phone was not an option with a child in school. My mother uses Lifeline for her mobile phone. Her mobile phone is her only phone and I'm glad she has that access. She lives on $600 a month, so even paying for a basic landline would be prohibitive.

Back to the original question: I believe mobile communication is a necessity in our society, but my iphone is not.

[ua_guy]

I think remote communication methods are necessary in the US, but I don't think a mobile phone is a necessity. They are very useful and wonderful to have, but people can function without them even in the poorest levels of existence. Regarding the woman in the article, she could share her acquaintence's phone, or have an additional landline brought into the residence for presumably cheaper than owning a mobile phone.

[hamchan]

I think remote communication methods are necessary in the US, but I don't think a mobile phone is a necessity. They are very useful and wonderful to have, but people can function without them even in the poorest levels of existence. Regarding the woman in the article, she could share her acquaintence's phone, or have an additional landline brought into the residence for presumably cheaper than owning a mobile phone.

I disagree. If her acquaintance is like many people these days she may not even have a land line in her home. And not being able to answer or return an employer's call quickly these days can be a huge disadvantage. I've been lucky to work in a field where there are a lot more jobs than applicants, but that is not the case for many people.

I haven't had a land line in some time now, but I doubt if she could have one put in for much less than 35 a month, even if that were something her friend was ok with. When you are depending on someone you don't know that well to keep a roof over your head you do your best to be unobtrusive as possible. I speak from experience on this. You certainly would not want to do anything to make them think you are planning to stay there long term. Like asking to put in a land line.

[ua_guy]

I disagree. If her acquaintance is like many people these days she may not even have a land line in her home. And not being able to answer or return an employer's call quickly these days can be a huge disadvantage. I've been lucky to work in a field where there are a lot more jobs than applicants, but that is not the case for many people.

I haven't had a land line in some time now, but I doubt if she could have one put in for much less than 35 a month, even if that were something her friend was ok with. When you are depending on someone you don't know that well to keep a roof over your head you do your best to be unobtrusive as possible. I speak from experience on this. You certainly would not want to do anything to make them think you are planning to stay there long term. Like asking to put in a land line.

By that logic, then having a vehicle is a necessity too. I see what you're saying, though. I think we disagree based on the definition of "necessity." Are there other ways of being contacted by an employer? Probably. And then that begs the question, is the woman in the article holding out for a better paying job, or is she to the point where she'll do any job regardless of what it pays?

[hamchan]

By that logic, then having a vehicle is a necessity too. I see what you're saying, though. I think we disagree based on the definition of "necessity." Are there other ways of being contacted by an employer? Probably. And then that begs the question, is the woman in the article holding out for a better paying job, or is she to the point where she'll do any job regardless of what it pays?

I think if we are serious about helping people get out of poverty, and not just putting a band-aid on it, then access to reliable transportation is critical. A cell phone may not be a necessity in the strictest sense, but I don't think we should be throwing up barriers to people finding gainful employment on principle. That is cutting off your nose to spite your face, IMO.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/wealth-poverty/car-can-transport-people-out-poverty

[bjl584]

I could probably get by without one. I may miss out on some things and it would make some activities harder to do. But, I'd survive.

[JoeP]

Convenience? Yes.
Necessity? No.

I have seen some people "make" them necessities by loading email programs, mapping, and a host of other apps...and then rewriting their lives in such a way that there is a dependency on the device. So in this case, they've engineered it to become a necessity to them.

[tzsgti]

Convenience? Yes.
Necessity? No.

I have seen some people "make" them necessities by loading email programs, mapping, and a host of other apps...and then rewriting their lives in such a way that there is a dependency on the device. So in this case, they've engineered it to become a necessity to them.

There is definitely some truth to that. A friend of my almost lost thier whole business on a smart phone. Think about it, you have all your contacts and client info on there. If you lose that you have to almost start from scratch. You would think though that they would be smart enough to back it up though

I can also say that i am guilty of this too. If i used to go somewhere i would download the driving directions and phone number of the place. Now i rely on my phone.

[riverwed070707]

I'm not sure if I agree or disagree but definitely think there is a difference between car and phone -- there is public transportation, but there are not public phones (very few left anyway!) and even in that case they can't be used for someone to get in touch with you, only the other way around.

That said, were taking an international vaca in Nov and have decided to leave our phones at home. Different scenario than the article obviously but I know a lot of people who couldn't fathom spending 10 days without their phone but we've decided it just isnt' worth the hassle or risk of loss.

[hamchan]

I'm not sure if I agree or disagree but definitely think there is a difference between car and phone -- there is public transportation

Generally if you live in less urban areas the public transportation is limited to non-existent. What happens if you are required to take any job that is offered (often the case with welfare rules) and you cannot get there because of the hours? We live right in the heart of the downtown Seattle area, and my DH still had to take a taxi to work in the morning when his foot was injured and he couldn't walk, because the buses weren't running yet when he had to be there.

[riverwed070707]

Generally if you live in less urban areas the public transportation is limited to non-existent. What happens if you are required to take any job that is offered (often the case with welfare rules) and you cannot get there because of the hours? We live right in the heart of the downtown Seattle area, and my DH still had to take a taxi to work in the morning when his foot was injured and he couldn't walk, because the buses weren't running yet when he had to be there.

I'm not saying its ideal or convenient but unless you are in a really small rural town public transportation is Almost always an option. I lived in a small town in Iowa with a population of 35000 people and I could get to work on the bus. The schedule sucked, it took significntly longer (an hour compared to 15 min) bu it was cheap and available and I've traveled enough to know our small town isn't the exception, it's the norm. Additionally you can have friends and family drive you or carpool w coworkers. Further, cars are not the only form of transportation -- people could walk or bike.

You can't get by without a phone number. Most jobs wouldn't even allow u to apply if you didn't put down a number. HOW you get to work is none of their concern, it only matters that you can do it.

[Caoineag]

Some form of mobile phone I can see as a necessity. A fancy plan or phone, no.

As to landlines, in 2003 we converted to cell phone only because it was much cheaper than setting up a landline at our new apartment (previous apartment we had done the landline which is how we knew that). So the idea that anyone would think a landline is cheap to set up boggles my mind. But then we have never subscribed to an expensive cell phone plan so maybe that is what comes to mind to people when they say a landline is cheaper.

I wouldn't say we are big proponents of being always accessible either. My friends and family regularly complain about us not keeping our phones charged or on us.

[hamchan]

I have not had a car for 10 years, and it definitely limits where I am able to live. The less expensive towns around here just plain don't have bus access, or else it would be a 3 hr commute each way, and the last bus stops at 8pm. Different regions have different levels of access. Another town I lived in had no access at all outside of city limits where housing was actually affordable.