I Don’t Want to Lose My Landline

Last updated on: September 26, 2013 at 8:30 am by Brad Williams

I Don’t Want to Lose My Landline 2013-09-26T07:44:45-06:00 Brad Williams

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I grew up before the invention of the cell phone. Indeed, I still vividly remember the day my father brought home a “cordless” phone. It was like magic! A walkie-talkie with no boundaries! We walked around the house with it talking to friends going, “Can you hear me now? There’s no cord, I swear! Can you still hear me?! I’m at least twenty feet from the wall!” This really did happen, and it wasn’t that long ago.

But now, because of cell phones and competition and telemarketers, it seems that the old landline telephone is going extinct. I mourn this loss, and I’m loath to let it happen in my own house. Not because I’m clinging to a piece of outdated technology, but because I think there is overlooked value in having a shared phone in your home.

Cell phones are things for individuals. I have mine and my wife has hers. When my children get a little older, they’ll have their own. So if you want to talk to me, you just call my cell phone. There’s almost no chance that my wife or my children will answer. You’re just going to talk to me. I feel that this is a loss.

I love my mother-in-law, and she and my wife talk just about every day. But she never calls to talk to me, and I rarely call just to talk to her. So without that landline in the house, I would almost never speak with her. It may be small, but it is nice to say, “Hello Nanna! How are you? How’s work? How are your mom and dad? Yeah, we’re coming for Christmas for sure… well, here’s Amy, hold on a second.” This little interaction has value, and I’m going to miss it if we lose the landline.

Consider the effect this will have when my children get older. Am I really comfortable with never talking to my children’s friends on the phone? Don’t I have a vested interest in knowing who is calling my daughter and son? If we give them cell phones and get rid of the house phone, how will I know who they are talking to without taking their cell phone and sifting through the history?

I won’t be surprised if we do give up the house phone in the near future. It’s hard to justify spending the $40 or so dollars a month on it, and telemarketers are driving us crazy because we may be the only people in town with a house phone they can call. Even so, I believe that we’ll lose a little touch of community when it’s gone, and that makes me more than a little sad.

Photo via Holger.Ellgaard.

Of the Moment

Technology

phones

Previous Post

September 26, 2013

This Is the End: A Crass but Surprisingly Sober-minded Film about the Final Judgment

Next Post

September 26, 2013 ELSEWHERE: Are Online Comments Still Worthwhile?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz