Honey, They Pimped My Cell Phone

My dinosaur-era cell phone has gone to the great wireless world beyond. A mere three years old (a certifiable antique in gadgetry years), it just up and expired, forcing me to spring for a new one.

I don’t do change well, especially with electronic gizmos. It took me most of the past three years to master the features on my current model, and by “features” I mean make a call, retrieve a voice mail, and, on a good day, put numbers into the phone book. So I screwed up my courage and dragged the hubby to the phone store yesterday to help me pick out a new one.

How is it that as cell phones get tinier and tinier (“Can you see me now? Now?”) they do more and more? According to our trusty sales associate, my new wireless communications device can not only make and receive calls, it can take pictures and video, transmit e-mail and text messages, act as a navigational system, function as MP3 player, and a whole bunch of other stuff I can’t recall and/or understand.

All these new features (the majority of which I will never use) sound good. But give me a cell phone that does what I really need – like tell me where I left my keys, take out the recyclables, sort the laundry, and balance my checkbook - and now you're talking.

Comments

How is it that the word "pimp" is being used as an innocuous verb when teenaged prostitution is increasing?

Kate, Point well taken. I did debate with myself over whether to use the verb that way but wanted to play off the show "Pimp My Ride." Still, it is a bit disconcerting to know the word has seeped into our everyday culture...Thanks for reading and writing, Laurie

I think the iPhone does all of that.

You have a point though. Give a cell phone that does things we actually want it to do.

I'm just hoping your new phone is not the RAZR. It almost seems like you described the RAZR (if you cant tell by my tone, i really dont like the phone). But good luck on the phone, i like your take on things.

As the cell phones get smaller, so do the keypads. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing because, as I get older, my bodily parts are shrivelling (spelling?) and shrinking. So my fingertips are probably getting smaller - which works well with smaller keypads, right?

Don't we adults have to ask ourselves if we are part of the problem or part of the solution when we see girls being degraded? Are we willing to sell out and allow ourselves to be held hostage by whatever standards are deemed acceptable by popular culture?

As psychologists are saying, popular culture has always pushed the limits, but adults have always been there to set boundaries. The difference now is that adults are so invested in appearing to be cool that they have created a climate of acceptance for all language and behavior deemed hot.

What is it with people being offended? It is a blog with personal opinions and flare. It's not like Laurie said "Honey, they pimped our daughter".

Chill Out!

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