Your Right to a Mobile Phone!!

[Jenn! 918]

I don't know about a right to a cell phone, but I do think that we should all have a right to our rollover minutes.

[slim 1,519]

I wish the phones here worked like the phones in Korea. Incoming calls were free. "Hey, call me back."

[Ban Hammer 13,248]

I don't know about a right to a cell phone, but I do think that we should all have a right to our rollover minutes.

don't you know them minutes spoil over time? after a while, they reek and everyone knows you're using them!

[twowls 217]

i was answering your question of why some of us have a problem with it. for the average person, the right to a cell phone costs us money.

apparently it didn't dawn on you why i quoted you.

But I didn't ask whether a cell phone costs the average person money. I'm not developmentally disabled so I already know the answer to that. My question went to the attitudes on these boards regarding distinctly non-average people, specifically, those with the very least.

Therefore I gave you sh*t, because you didn't attempt to answer.

These repeating posts, ostensibly on disparate topics, run the same theme over and over, and that theme is what I was trying to get at. The routine back and forth over the specific issue is useless at best. My question was articulated because I find the inexhaustible drumbeat of intolerance for the most desperate and struggling among us to be pretty indefensible. And so I thought to inquire about the thinking behind that intolerance. I won't ever agree with it, but I do genuinely want to know the terrain of the conservative mind. And yes, you're all unique snowflakes, just to preempt that one. But still. I want to get it and, even if I never agree with it, find a way to consider it more deeply than I can now. For now it just seems hateful.

[Ban Hammer 13,248]

But I didn't ask whether a cell phone costs the average person money. I'm not developmentally disabled so I already know the answer to that. My question went to the attitudes on these boards regarding distinctly non-average people, specifically, those with the very least.

Therefore I gave you sh*t, because you didn't attempt to answer.

These repeating posts, ostensibly on disparate topics, run the same theme over and over, and that theme is what I was trying to get at. The routine back and forth over the specific issue is useless at best. My question was articulated because I find the inexhaustible drumbeat of intolerance for the most desperate and struggling among us to be pretty indefensible. And so I thought to inquire about the thinking behind that intolerance. I won't ever agree with it, but I do genuinely want to know the terrain of the conservative mind. And yes, you're all unique snowflakes, just to preempt that one. But still. I want to get it and, even if I never agree with it, find a way to consider it more deeply than I can now. For now it just seems hateful.

i still disagree with a phone being a right. the thought that they need it for job callbacks is imo seriously grasping at straws, as any job i've applied for (and been successful at) was confirmed via writing in snail mail.

so far in vj this year, i've seen cell phones become a right, and high speed internet become a right. it baffles me how anyone survived 20 years ago.

[twowls 217]

Yes, I actually have pondered this. There are a couple reasons.

1. Charity should be voluntary. The government extorts money from it's citizens and then government officials decide to be generous with other people's money. I myself actually donate significant amounts of money to charity but have a huge issue with other people forcing me to do it. The idea of being generous with someone else's money is a very hypocritical and troublesome notion.

2. I work 40+ hours a week to support my family. Time is money. As it turns out, I work about 3.5 days a week to take home money and 1.5 days a week for taxes, etc. I would love to have another day and a half a week to spend with my wife and kid. But as it is, instead of that, I'm working another day and a half so some bum can have a cell-phone. That is frustrating, considering this bum probably isn't working and has 7 days a week to spend with his family.

Thanks for your thoughts. What I'm hearing is an aversion to taxes and to being told where your money's going without your say. I share that frustration. But it still doesn't explain why the target of the frustration is the poorest of the poor, rather than the things our government uses our money on that suck up so, so much more of it. It seems like if all things were equal, the greater proportion of ire would go to the greater proportion of dedicated funds. So, are all things not equal? Does it piss you off more when money goes to a homeless person than when it goes to a bridge you don't see a need for? Or a war? If so, why?

[slim 1,519]

I thought to inquire about the thinking behind that intolerance. I won't ever agree with it, but I do genuinely want to know the terrain of the conservative mind. And yes, you're all unique snowflakes, just to preempt that one. But still. I want to get it and, even if I never agree with it, find a way to consider it more deeply than I can now. For now it just seems hateful.

Why don't you go live amongst those who have "the least" for a little while. See first-hand what it's all about.

After that... we'll talk.

[twowls 217]

i still disagree with a phone being a right. the thought that they need it for job callbacks is imo seriously grasping at straws, as any job i've applied for (and been successful at) was confirmed via writing in snail mail.

so far in vj this year, i've seen cell phones become a right, and high speed internet become a right. it baffles me how anyone survived 20 years ago.

Um, how old are you? Are you really suggesting that people do most of their job-seeking and negotiation via mail carrier? I'm not sure how to respond to that, except to ask you if you have an extra wick for my oil lamp. Are these high-level white collar jobs? Do the job offers come on horseback? Because that is absolutely, one hundred percent unfeasible for a homeless person--the whole "address" part being only part of the problem. If these are contracts being delivered on paper, I won't offend any homeless by mentioning that those aren't the jobs they'll be striving for.

I guess if this is really where you're coming from, I apologize for assuming you knew how things work today. Yes indeed: a way for people to contact you voice to voice is very important in securing housing and employment. Internet is also almost indispensable. To give you the parameters of what we're dealing with here in ye olde future tyme, I have been turned down for employment in the last six months because I don't own a car. It matters. I'm not making this up. Really.

[twowls 217]

Why don't you go live amongst those who have "the least" for a little while. See first-hand what it's all about.

After that... we'll talk.

Done and done. Let's talk.

[slim 1,519]

Internet is also almost indispensable.

Did you hear that big brother? When you're done passing out the free phones, go ahead and get started on the free computers (because I know you didn't pass out internet-ready phones, did you?) and free internet.

Done and done. Let's talk.

So you're really going to sit there, having lived amongst those who have "the least" and try to argue free cell phones = jobs for these people? (And yes, I said "these people.")

[Ban Hammer 13,248]

Um, how old are you? Are you really suggesting that people do most of their job-seeking and negotiation via mail carrier? I'm not sure how to respond to that, except to ask you if you have an extra wick for my oil lamp. Are these high-level white collar jobs? Do the job offers come on horseback? Because that is absolutely, one hundred percent unfeasible for a homeless person--the whole "address" part being only part of the problem. If these are contracts being delivered on paper, I won't offend any homeless by mentioning that those aren't the jobs they'll be striving for.

I guess if this is really where you're coming from, I apologize for assuming you knew how things work today. Yes indeed: a way for people to contact you voice to voice is very important in securing housing and employment. Internet is also almost indispensable. To give you the parameters of what we're dealing with here in ye olde future tyme, I have been turned down for employment in the last six months because I don't own a car. It matters. I'm not making this up. Really.

age jokes apparently never go outta style. how about old enough to remember when there wasn't an internet or cell phones?

i suppose a cell phone might be useful for lower end jobs, like mcd's or something - and maybe even a "you're hired" email might work in those type of jobs.

but then again, i've been working technical jobs, not the lower wage end, so i can't say i'm highly familiar with how a cell or internet might be useful in that regard.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Pike always seems to have all the correct info. and perfect in everything.

I bet he is actually The Most Interesting Man in the World, and just not telling us.

[evli1966 88]

age jokes apparently never go outta style. how about old enough to remember when there wasn't an internet or cell phones?

i suppose a cell phone might be useful for lower end jobs, like mcd's or something - and maybe even a "you're hired" email might work in those type of jobs.

but then again, i've been working technical jobs, not the lower wage end, so i can't say i'm highly familiar with how a cell or internet might be useful in that regard.

Charles I agree that phones or the internet is not needed to gain employment. Although I have never recieevd a job offer via snail mail or internet.

People with out phones or cell phones can do what we did in the 80's and 90's and some still do and that is give out a contact number of someone that can reach you.

Anyone that employs people knows this is common for people with out funds to afford a phone.

If internet is needed most if not all public libraries offer internet as do the unemployment office.

It is so ridiculous of anyone to suggest it is a necessity; obvioulsly they never went without or were poor enough to live without the luxury of a phone or TV. Also they probably are not old enough to have worked in the 80's or 90's

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The shame is that this is even being argued!

[Fandango 1,439]

Unbelievable.