I agree w/caroline also, "this out-of-control, rude, self-centered, vulgar world".

I do have a cell phone, a smartphone actually (since getting it as a surprise gift from DH for Christmas). I'm not attached by the hip to it, but I do carry it with me. They are truly amazing what you can do with them. You just need to have some common sense and "social manners" (a nod to another thread) when using it.

Glenda, you are so blessed with such a smart grandson!

Thanks for posting Caroline.

I don't have a land line. Thus, my phone is on almost all the time. It has a dedicated spot here at home.

I do turn it off during meetings and often leave it in the car when I meet others for lunch etc.

Now, if I could ever figure out how to take a picture off my phone.... since I do have a flip phone now, with the option to take pictures.

Moni

Glenda, I love your attitude! When I grow up, I wanna be like you!

I'm just like Glenda. I'm 73 so close in age. Just minutes that we buy on our phones, so no contracts. Most of the time I have no clue where my phone is. I have no idea how to text either, I'm lucky if I can even remember how to answer the phone. Usually stops ringing by the time I have found the phone or answered it. I usually only take it when we go out of town, I do try to keep it charged. We use it just in case our grand daughter needs us.
Mary

I guess I'm pretty young, then. I have a smartphone, keep it with me always, and use it many many times during the day. I guess I wouldn't think it would be rude to charge my phone in a friend's car, as long as I ask. What's the harm? I like to look at the positive in this world, so I don't look at it (and the people I interact with) as out of control, self centered or vulgar. I guess I am a glass half full kind of person.

Just like Caroline said, "I'm just too old (fashioned) for this out-of-control, rude, self-centered, vulgar world."

Like Glenda, I will be 75 come September. I don't have the patience any more for uncontrolled screaming kids. I have a plain cell phone, but never use it. Keep it strictly for an emergency when we are without power and thus no landline.

I never feared being out on the road or in a crowd, but I do now, not knowing who may be spaced out on something and who has no regard for human life. I feel safe just staying at home.

I was surprised to see cell phone charging mentioned too. To my recollection, no one has ever asked to do it in my car, but if they did I certainly wouldn't mind. It's not as though it would drain the battery!

Way back when, before cell phones, I was the the first person I knew to have a "bag phone" in the car. My husband got it for me for safety reasons. (We were also the first to have smoke alarms--which cost over $100 apiece at the time--and he had seat belts installed in our sedans before they were popular.)

Oh, and we were ahead of our time with computers too. They cost a fortune then, but we were fascinated.

I still like having a cell phone with me, even though I use it rarely. If it rings when I'm with friends, I take the call because it's almost always a family member.

So I guess maybe I'm young too--although not as young as Sleeperblues. ;-)

I also have a flip phone that I pay $15 a month for. However, I was on a long road trip with a friend and asked to charge my phone. I wanted to stay in touch because my elderly mom or son could be trying to reach me. I would not have a problem with anyone charging their phone in my car either although it is polite to ask first.

In Philadelphia some idiot walked right off the train platform and fell on the tracks because he was staring at his phone instead of watching where he was going. Lucky for him, he scrambled back up before a train came and he managed to not touch the third rail. Idiot.

Yesterday I attended an alumni day with my DH at his university. There were over 400 'old people' in the auditorium for two of the sessions. Only ONCE did someone's cell phone ring.

Strangers made conversation with one another. Attention was totally focused during each of the two one-hour presentations. It didn't take 30 seconds for the audience to quiet when the speaker was being introduced. Questions were short and to the point.

Students (18 - 22) were assigned to assist at this event. Most of them repeatedly checked their cell phones and texted -- during presentations and at breaks. (These were general interest presentations -- not 'senior oriented' -- and the presenters were all accomplished speakers.)

Rudeness expects the car owner to not be charging their own phone in their own car. Apparently, Rudeness expects the world to revolve around them. I wonder how that's working for them.

Well, I am 79 and have had a cell phone for many, many years. I do not have a smart phone and my phone goes with me everywhere I go. I charge it every night right by my bed. My kids and I keep in touch during the day. If we are shopping together, I call them when I am finished and tell them where I am waiting. I do not text or take texts and I don't take pictures. I could though with my phone. My phone is security to me, because I am by myself during the day out in the country.

Sue

We don't have a land line so our cell phones are very important to us. We still have the original GA phone numbers, but we are going to be changing it over to AL phone numbers soon. We are getting Sam a new I phone for graduation and he will be the first to get an AL number.

Rudeness expects the car owner to not be charging their own phone in their own car.

I don't get that. It's not a good idea to leave a cell phone plugged in to a charger all the time, so I wouldn't assume the car owner was charging theirs. And I don't think I'm rude. :-)

We usually have the gps plugged in when we are in our car. Our phones are always charged. He has one and I have one. I would let anyone use the charger if they needed to charge their phone. Our grand children all have smart phones and they always have them in their hands. Drives me insane. I don't want to be on call so to speak 24/7. I just want to have a source to make a call if I need to in an emergency.
Mary

I would assume someone who asks to charge their phone must have one that is nearly dead, which can be dangerous if there was ever an emergency. I know I've forgotten to charge mine, or the charge malfunctioned and it's been almost dead with me being several hours from getting home. In that case I would certainly ask to charge it without giving it a second thought as being rude because I wouldn't be offended at all if someone asked me. I would be glad to help them not have a dead phone.

Cell phones are a sore subject and no matter what you do with them, it will be offensive and rude to someone.

I also think it's interesting that people find others on their phone to be rude, but it's okay if they answer their own as it might be important. :)

It's just changing times. Not all that long ago people would have been appalled at women wearing pants, voicing their opinions and working outside of the home but these are all normal things now. Being connected 24/7 is just how it is for many people (myself included), but still entirely optional for those who dislike it.

Can you say...Rotary Dial?

I am so old that I forget to take my cell phone with me, and I know how to use a slide rule. (The batteries have never run down in my slide rule.)

It is rude to presume that there is no need to ask permission to use another's property. A cigarette addict would ask if it's OK to light up in your car. The cell phone addict thinks this is 'different'. If cell connection was truly *vital* in this case, I doubt the car owner would have posted.

true granny! make the grands say please and thank you to me and their parents...oh if I'd only had more time with 2 of my dgds....

I carry a little flip in my purse for any emergency...I actually said I would never have one because of all the things mentioned above, especially the rudeness. My husband and grands have all learned that Granny doesn't appreciate cell phones so they are ticked out of sight at my house. My husband switched to one of those that does everything including the internet and decided to bring it to the table the first night... My reaction, "NOT AT MY TABLE" pretty much put the skids to that. I can't figure out why people think that they are also important they need to be connected to the telephone 24/7...disgusting...

I've finally learned the ANSWER button on my antique phone.

Son and granson know that all too well, as I hang up on them when they are calling. They know to give me time to figure out the right button before calling me back.

I NOW have red fingernail polish on that answer button, lol

chisue -- You nailed it, exactly what I'm talking about, a cell phone addict.

Most folks that I know own and carry a cell phone. They must charge them overnight or when they're otherwise at home like I do. The addict has theirs charging all the time! Seems like they would have observed that no one else does that, that other cell phones are good to go for a long while, many, many hours, usually at least all day. They have been told verbally also, but apparently it has fallen on deaf ears. It has to be an attention getting maneuver.

My late MIL bought one of those pre-paid cell phones. She carried it with her whenever she left the house. Only she NEVER charged it. She was so surprised the one day she did try to use it to phone her daughter...

"I NOW have red fingernail polish on that answer button, lol"

And here I thought I was smart doing that for my mom on her dvd remote. Guess great minds think alike? I still hang up on people, but it's because I had to get used to a touch screen phone. I now have it set to use the button to answer it so that I don't accidentally touch the screen.

I think a lot of people who find it strange to be connected 24/7 no longer work, and haven't in a while. In corporate culture these days it's often expected to be connected far later than typical office hours. I know I get work related calls and emails up until 11 pm. I don't always answer but I'm supposed to be watching for any emergencies.

Not all jobs are like that, but a lot are, especially the ones in client-oriented companies that pride themselves in always being connected and ready to help. Every company I've worked for in the last 10 years (4 different ones) has had a similar mentality, and usually provides iphones for this reason. And that's just a marketing firm. There are tons of other industries where it's even more important to be available at all times, like healthcare or legal services.

I do agree there is definitely bad behavior with cell phones (bringing them to the table, etc.) but I don't think being "connected" is inherently rude or disgusting or projecting self-importance.

Wow ~ My battery only lasts 2, maybe 3, hours on my cell. As chi mentioned, I need to be available for work. Also for hubby. Neither of us is in the best of health, so it's a sense of security that if anything happens, someone can grab the phone and immediately see, and call, our ICE numbers.

2-3 hours? Maybe time for a new battery. I can't envision that. Mine lasts all day and could go all evening if I need.

Here is a link that might be useful: Batteries+

I just bought this battery in November. My phone is several years old. I just ordered my new "free" upgrade. Hopefully it's got a longer battery life.

Gotcha beat Glenda,i turned 76 last month.I have a trac phone and add 20.00 to it every 3 mos.I carry it with me for emergencies,and almost never talk on it unless I see something I think the great gk's might need,then i'll call her from the store and ask about sizes.

it stays in my purse in the OFF mode,and I check it every so often to see if it needs to be charged.

Never use it in a restaurant or at any table.I also have a rule in my house during the holidays,xmas,t-giving.All phones get turned off when they come in the house,and we will have people to people conversations,especially during the meal.
Kathi

Honestly, I can't believe there are some that have to tell their progeny to turn off their phones. No one has ever had to say that in my family. We just knew. We all have phones, no one ever uses it when we're together. None of my friends and kids do that either. It's very perplexing that there are those who are surrounded with those who use their phones incessantly? I am sad for those who have to say it.

There's been a huge change in society since public acceptance of cell devices in every hand.

We used to chuckle about teenagers being either in the shower or on the telephone every waking moment. Families used to have rules about, "No phone calls during dinner!" Now everyone is 'on' something 24/7. Now that frantic, adolescent need to be *in touch* with their 'gang' is never outgrown.

Ironically, people of all ages are now completely *out of touch* with the real, live people right in front of them. Is it surprising that real, live people are offended to be ignored as though they are invisible? It Is Rude.

I'd never say that about my adolescent. He feels no need to be in touch with his group of friends incessantly. I wasn't that way either. I hung out and had fun, and didn't spend hours on the phone. Ever. It would be rude to ignore real people, but does it really happen? I don't see it. I don't know anyone who was like that growing up, nor do I know anyone like that now. Maybe I am just lucky to be in those circles, but I seriously doubt it is really all that widespread. Maybe those noticing are overly focused on anyone that happens to have phone in their hands. Who knows. It's a generalization I totally don't agree with or understand where any who espouses it is coming from.

I have had people bump into me (from the rear) because they were 'on the phone'. I've had cashiers in stores yak to someone *while they rang up my purchase*. My DH has to dodge drivers when he walks our dog...because they are talking on cell phones. I've startled when another person in a store suddenly exclaimed -- to the person on the other end of her cell call.

These are not *rare* events, Rob, and I'm not looking for them.

I'm so old that i learned to drive in a Model A Ford. I can start one with a crank if I have to. (No one ever plugged in a cell phone in that vehicle.)

Hi jem,

Where was the heater?

Sometimes when I'm talking to kids, I ask them when they visit one of the classic car exhibitions to ask a Model "A" Ford owner to show them the heater, and wait for him to laugh.

They can't believe that the early cars had no heaters (which wouldn't be so much of a problem for folks in Missouri, on down).

Our '34 Ford V-8, one of the early ones, had a funnel back of the fan that carried air back around the manifold, then directed to a butterfly valve in the wall of the passenger area, which valve we controlled by one of those old pull-out controls on the dash.

Need I say, that the heating was "rudimentary" (not to say, "rude").

We had a key in our '34, but Dad's old uncle had a '26 Hudson, with just a toggle on the dashboard that one pulled to one side to turn on the ignition ...

... then pushed a pedal in the middle of the floorboard to make the starter work. There was a companion switch beside the ignition that one pushed the other way to turn on the lights. (No parking lights).

It had a square back, which Dad cut out and welded behind the front seats, then built a wooden platform where the back seat used to be, and called it a home-made truck, which enabled him to get 4 tires when they were rationed, in World War II, and he was afraid that he couldn't get one for our car, that he used to tow a trailer to get things done on the farm. The old ones were shot: the car had been parked for some time.

The trailer had sides, but the rack on the "truck" was flat ... so we had to be careful when hauling our milk cans to the cheese factory, not to turn a corner too fast and have a milk can or two fall off: we'd have heard about that, for sure!

ole joyful

Honestly if it's a good friend, I don't know what the issue would be about charging your cell phone...my good friends wouldn't even have to ask and I wouldn't have to ask them wither"with really good friends, so much is just understood.

joyfulguy:

There was a heater for Model A Fords, but I never saw one when I was a kid. Not many bought the accessory and there was a concern about gassing the occupants from a exhaust leak. mainly via a blown gasket.

The device was a hood that fit over the exhaust manifold. Draft from the radiator fan blew air through it and into the passenger compartment. Crude? Yes, but the manifold was quick to warm.

The link below displays one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-MODEL-A-MANIFOLD-HEATER-/331191503919

On cold winter days, I was desperate for some heat. The floor boards were made of plywood and were removeble. There were a few times I removed the foot board so that the engine heat could enter. Had to be aware of puddles though because splash could enter too.

When I think back about my driving episodes with that old car, I do not know why I am alive. The brake pedal hinted of brakes; The parking brake was more relaible and everyone called it an emergency brake for a good reason,

The heater to which you refer as an "add-on" in the Model A sounds much like the one in our '34 V-8 ... don't know whether it came so equipped, or whether it was an "add-on", also.

Dad bought ours from his cousin, who was a nurse. Don't remember the year - probably around '39, when the war started.

ole joyful

I want to be in this "I am so old" club!! I LOVE your views and agree with all of them!! I need friends like you all!! We would get along "just" fine!

I want to be in this "I am so old" club!! I LOVE your views and agree with all of them!! I need friends like you all!! We would get along "just" fine!

Creek

I'm so old I remember wall telephones with a battery box and hand cranked magneto.

Our neighbor had a Fordson steel wheeled tractor. A little gasoline was used to start it and in a few minutes, it was switched to kerosene. Kerosene was cheaper than gasoline. It was about 15 cents a gallon and the only tax was sales tax. Oh, and kerosene was readily available in bulk quantities.

I am so old that I recall folks calling kerosene coal oil.

I remember telephone operators saying NUMBER PLEASE, we also had party lines which meant people from the same line could sneak and listen to the latest gossip.

I'm old and I love my smartphone. I use it for a lot of things - but seldom make a call on it. My kids text me and I text my kids and grandson, my grocery list is on it, it can tell me how to get somewhere, lets me look up things that I'm unsure of, listen to music, take a picture and if I wanted, I could watch a movie or a video or read a book. It fully charges in about about an hour. I am not attached to it but definitely find it a useful device.

My husband and I have tracfones and only call each other if we need to, rarely giving out the numbers...I see people on their phones, what are they talking about ALL THE TIME? I can understand telling someone something, but they are constantly on the phone...and everyone can hear the conversation if they are in a store, restaurant, etc...I don't care to hear who's kids got taken away again or who is getting out of jail again (real things I've heard)....just an old (67) lady rant....

It would not bother me at all if someone asked to charge their phone in my car. I wouldn't consider it rude to ask someone to do so, though I would not unless I really thought the battery might not last until I could get home or to my own car to charge.

DH and I have smart phones, as does almost everyone we know. I do use mine a lot, since I use it like a personal planner to keep track of my life.

I don't make or take a lot of calls, though. DH and I usually text each other. My best friend and I do the same and save our talking for when we're actually together..

My sister has a flip phone without texting and insists on using that. There are many times that she calls that I could have answered her question easily via text or email. Her insistence at not doing so caused me to stop answering a lot of her calls because she would call me at work and instead of quickly asking something and then getting off, would try to get get into extended conversations. Not something I'm willing to do at work.

I don't take calls when I'm with family/friends unless I recognize the number and it's important. I am the emergency contact for my dad, who is in a dementia facility. I will answer that no matter who I'm with or where. I'm also the secondary emergency contact for the nursing home for my 95 yr old grandmother. Same situation. The only other person I will take calls from while I'm with other people is DH, because he almost never calls.

I do have an issue with what seems to be an overuse of cell phones at work. I was always very sensitive back in the days before cell phones to very strictly limit any personal calls I made or took at work. I notice people at work constantly on their cell phones. These are not people who are taking work-related calls, because each of us who is expected to do this has a company-issued phone. Same with constantly browsing the internet on your phone while at work.

I also don't like when employees bring their personal cells to meetings as if they can't be away from them for an hour. Sure, there is a very small chance that there could be an emergency, but that's why there is usually more than one emergency contact. In my dad's case, for instance, they have my number, DH's, and DS's. If all else fails they also have the main number for my office and have been told to call that and have them locate me. I meet with my supervisor weekly. I receive company emails on my cell (rarely calls). I never take my cell into her office, because to me it shows that I don't intend to give her my full attention. I also don't want to live tied to my cell phone just in case there may be an emergency.

I have an old flip phone. I can text, but I hate it. It doesn't have a keyboard and it takes me forever. My daughter texts me, but I'd rather she just call me. I wouldn't mind charging someone's phone in my truck. I don't like to talk on the phone and I assign everyone in my contact list a ring tone (at least the ones who are most likely to call me). Depending on who they are...depends on the ring tone. If it is someone I'd rather not talk to....because they call me so often and just to chit chat, which I don't like to do....I assign them a ring tone that is irritating. Then I know it is someone I don't want to talk to. One of the reasons I don't like to talk on the phone, I get very poor reception where I live, so I have to walk out in the pasture or all the way down a very long driveway to talk on the phone. Half the time I can't hear what they are saying....so it isn't something I enjoy. I just use the phone when I need to call my husband or when I have a very specific reason to use it. Half the time I can't find it and the other half of the time, I have let the battery run down. People have just about quit calling me. Surprise, surprise, surprise. I am old and grouchy and I like being by myself. I am alone so much I don't even realize I am alone.

"I am old and grouchy and I like being by myself. I am alone so much I don't even realize I am alone."

Love that, Marilyn C. We might be twins.

I lurk here but don't often post. I've really enjoyed this thread. Thanks to the OP.

Rumour has it that Marilyn runs around with jackasses, also.

o j

You're right and I married one also, Joyful.