Apple iPhone vs. Helio Ocean

[esteban]

I honestly do not understand the folks who wear their phone headsets as if it were a fashion accessory. I mean, sure if you are working and need to use the phone, I can understand. It still looks stupid, but at least there is a reason to justify it.

Also, it doesn't help that the manufacturers insist on making these things in goofy slick metallic blue and similarly ugly colors / finishes.

I have a cell phone, but as nat said, it is an "electronic leash". Sure, I love that my family / friends can reach me. But, unfortunately, so can colleagues. No, you can't keep your # a secret forever. Believe me, I tried. But sometimes you make mistakes, often at desperate times, and then... All Is Lost.

I had a flat tire and called in to work one day. OOOPS! My brother gave my cell phone # to someone without my permission. OOOPS!

I actually did some reasearch (on internet start-ups in southern california) and the notion of Blackberries, phones, email, etc. as "electronic leashes" was a recurrent theme with everyone I interviewed. And I wasn't really interested in this aspect of their work (at least, not initially), so I didn't instigate things.

[Kitsunexus]

That's how I've heard them referred to before... maybe there's truth to this.

[Necromancer]

Screw cell phones.  I'm usually either at work or at home, so call me there.  If I can't be reached at home or work, I'm busy and don't want to talk to you anyway.  Just leave a f*cking message and move on with your so called life.  Only pretentious, self-important pricks need to be available by phone at all times - excepting those whose jobs require being on call.

[FM-77]

Hmm, "leave a message"... according to most american TV shows and movies, this seems to be a very commonly used feature in USA, is this true?

[Joe Redifer]

Leaving a message?  Yes.  Only a poor third world country where all of the citizens have gonorrhea wouldn't leave a recorded message for someone to call them back.

[FM-77]

I (and everyone I know) always hang up when the phone asks you to leave a message. The few times I've actually received messages, I never listen to them.

[Kitsunexus]

I (and everyone I know) always hang up when the phone asks you to leave a message. The few times I've actually received messages, I never listen to them.

If it's just a call to say "hello", I could understand that, but what if the message is urgent?

[Joe Redifer]

I think they're just afraid to speak to machines or to record their voices.  In their primitive society, they think it steals their soul.

[MrFulci]

I rarely use message machines. Partly because nearly everyone has caller ID now, and checks it frequently.

Most of the time, when I leave a message, it has to be something important. Such as if I am waiting to be picked up somewhere, I will leaeve the person a message as a reminder in case they forgot. Not everyone checks their caller ID, and even if they do just seeing a telephone number doesn't let you know if it's anything important.

Generally, the only phonecalls I return are from people who leave me a message. Occasionally I return phonecalls due to caller ID, though that is hit-or-miss, unlike an answering machine message. The way I look at it is, if it wasn't important enough for them to leave a message, then chances are it's not worth calling them.

Also, with messages, I can call and check my messages from whereever I am. I can't check my caller ID in such a manner.


I know of very few who never listen to their messages. I think that's pretty shitty, as you never know if it is something important. My feeling is, if you're goign to ignore messages, turn off your answering service, or remove your answering machine. All it takes is turning off the machine, or making a phonecall to your answering service.

I also tend to treat phonecalls and messages as a game of catch. I don't often make 2 phonecalls in a row after dialing one other time and not receiving a return call. I take that as someone dropping the ball, it's up to them to pick it up and throw it again.

[Joe Redifer]

I pretty sure the cell phone provider Cricket doesn't let you know when you have a message.  You just have to call in and see.  All other providers have a visual indication of a voicemail.

[nat]

Leaving a message?  Yes.  Only a poor third world country where all of the citizens have gonorrhea wouldn't leave a recorded message for someone to call them back.

Yeah, I've noticed gonorrhea tends to do that to people.

[Kitsunexus]

Leaving a message?  Yes.  Only a poor third world country where all of the citizens have gonorrhea wouldn't leave a recorded message for someone to call them back.

Yeah, I've noticed gonorrhea tends to do that to people.

OMFGROTFLMAOWTFBBQ!!!!!!!!!!