This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to hang out with some fabulous bloggers (I would link to all of you but I'm lazy) at BlogHer. Not that I was part of the conference (on my unemployed budget? heavens no), but I managed to snag some people's free time when they weren't meeting Padma or eating cheeseburgers or whatever else they were doing over at the Hilton.
There were a number of moments over the weekend where I just had to laugh to myself because, as is sort of understandable for people in social media, everyone was on their iPhones and BlackBerries all the time. I mean, ALL. THE. TIME. The reason I thought this was funny is because I think I'm the lone person remaining in the 20-something age bracket who does not possess a smartphone.
I KNOW. I will give you all a moment to go grab some Benadryl for the hives you just broke out in at the thought of having a phone on which you cannot check email.
I've been meaning to upgrade to a BlackBerry ever since I became eligible for a new phone almost a year and a half ago. The thing is, my little LG flip phone is the most reliable thing I have ever encountered in life, and for awhile I was loathe to fix something that technically ain't broke. Now that it's come to the point where I really WANT to upgrade (phone still works like a charm, though), I refuse to do so until I have a job. It will be both a congratulatory present to myself as well as a lovely confirmation that I can now officially afford the inevitable increase in cell phone bill that will come with having to pay for data.
My lack of a smartphone has never really bothered me all that much, mostly because I've been able to work around it and it doesn't inconvenience anyone other than myself. However, I was reading BusinessWeek yesterday and came across something truly disturbing.
33 percent of iPhone users find out-of-date gadgets a turnoff.
As if I wasn't already doomed to fail at the NYC dating scene. I'm now doubly doomed.
Epic fail. Going to hang my head in out-of-date phone shame.
UPDATE: I wrote this post this morning and planned on posting it when I got home from my temp job (you know, one of the few temp jobs that didn't reject me because I don't have enough admin experience). I have since been offered this job on a full-time basis and turned it down (I am not a receptionist, thank you), but negotiated a way to stay here until I find a permanent job that I actually want and maybe needed an MBA for. Does this mean I am now allowed to get myself a Blackberry? Or is that cheating? Does having a fake job to go to until I get a real job count for something? I can't decide.
6 comments:
Yeah sorry about the phone thing. I just get wicked excited and want to tweet all the cool sh*t we were doing. It was seriously so much fun to hang out with you again and get our drink on. Just wait until you come to Chicago!!! With a Blackberry or not :)
I had an old LG until like a month ago, so yeah, I was really late to the smartgame too. And yeah, it is kinda amusing how everyone is on their phones all the time.
It was great to meet you this weekend!
I am much happier since I downgraded to a cheap and clunky phone a year ago. I can call and text and its all I need. I do not feel the need to be on gmail or facebook all the time. In addition to saving a lot of dough. Thats just me I guess. And really, do you want to date someone who needs their significant other to own a fancy phone? If that is one of their requirements I'd hate to see the rest of their demands.
When I had my blackberry, I actually took off the data plan and used it like a regular phone- calls and text features only. It was sorta due to lowering my monthly bill, but I'm glad I did it, because I became less addicted to the internet and didn't even miss the smartphone features!
ahem- but now I have the new iphone and I don't think I'll go back to a regular phone. However, I still dont feel the need to obsessively check my email/twitter etc
I wasn't even at BlogHer, but because I was tweeting and Fouresquaring and stuff when I was in NY for my event, I came across a bunch of opportunities to meet up with people (even though I couldn't), like you! That's kind of why I love my smartphone, it leaves room for serendipity.
I think a new phone is a fabulous present for yourself!
Can we go together?
Because not only am I with you in being the only 20-something without a phone, I am actually employed IN social media. It's the most embarrassing thing ever. After years of hoping my boss would buy me a phone, I am giving up and caving in.
Post a Comment
What's on your mind?