I’d be shit out of luck using a payphone in today’s world.
I don’t remember anyone’s phonenumbers except my teenage girlfriend’s family, because while she has changed her phone number, the mother and brother were just 1 number off so I remember them, especially because the first 7 numbers are same as mine.
But aside from that, idk, maybe my own mother and brother.
But I haven’t learned a phone number in fucking decades.
Pretty cool though as you know they’re there, so either you can use the WiFi with your own device or just remember a few numbers in case you run out of charge.
I have the most important numbers stored in a note on my smartwatch (and my bike’s head unit) so I can still call people in an emergency even if my phone is dead. I should probably put them on a note in my wallet too.
I used to have a note in my wallet, but maintaining it was unwieldy and I eventually gave it up.
Probably a bad idea but nowadays I rely on my phones emergency calling. I have my contacts set up and my phone and watch are supposed to call if I get hit by a car. I think there’s a way for calling my emergency contacts even when my phone is locked but I don’t know if anyone knows how to do that.
I’m not sure emergency contacts are actually helpful anymore though. I still have family but they’re scattered. You can call my Mom but it’s a 14 hour drive that she’s too old to make do what’s the point. My ex is local but she’s my ex. My kids should know if I die but I don’t see how they’d help
yeah - i mostly see them as a public good for low income or homeless people… it allows them a lot of different places they can place free phone calls… perhaps not ideally as private as you’d like to deal with medical or social security things, but services exist for that too - just pay phones are everywhere
Ironically, for homeless people a smartphone is a great investment, since the web allows finding support services and such stuff. But free wifi from the booths is probably great. Idk where they’re charging the phones, though — perhaps at sympathetic businesses.
absolutely correct! i used to work for a not for profit that built a big service search engine (largely used for crisis helplines, medical referrals etc) and released a phone app specifically for help finding homeless support services
there are power points in maccas, food courts, libraries, and even randomly dotted around cities outside for maintenance
I’d be shit out of luck using a payphone in today’s world.
I don’t remember anyone’s phonenumbers except my teenage girlfriend’s family, because while she has changed her phone number, the mother and brother were just 1 number off so I remember them, especially because the first 7 numbers are same as mine.
But aside from that, idk, maybe my own mother and brother.
But I haven’t learned a phone number in fucking decades.
Pretty cool though as you know they’re there, so either you can use the WiFi with your own device or just remember a few numbers in case you run out of charge.
You haven’t learned new numbers in decades but you have a teenage girlfriend?
The girlfriend I had when I was a teenager — decades ago.
I’m sure that was clear from the context but I’m not gonna leave that hanging no matter how much of a joke, lol.
I think the joke involved Epstein, or maybe “Bubba”
I have the most important numbers stored in a note on my smartwatch (and my bike’s head unit) so I can still call people in an emergency even if my phone is dead. I should probably put them on a note in my wallet too.
I used to have a note in my wallet, but maintaining it was unwieldy and I eventually gave it up.
Probably a bad idea but nowadays I rely on my phones emergency calling. I have my contacts set up and my phone and watch are supposed to call if I get hit by a car. I think there’s a way for calling my emergency contacts even when my phone is locked but I don’t know if anyone knows how to do that.
I’m not sure emergency contacts are actually helpful anymore though. I still have family but they’re scattered. You can call my Mom but it’s a 14 hour drive that she’s too old to make do what’s the point. My ex is local but she’s my ex. My kids should know if I die but I don’t see how they’d help
I have no important people or anyone who would care about me, so needless for me, but a fair idea for those who do.
I don’t even have an emergency contact anymore.
yeah - i mostly see them as a public good for low income or homeless people… it allows them a lot of different places they can place free phone calls… perhaps not ideally as private as you’d like to deal with medical or social security things, but services exist for that too - just pay phones are everywhere
also i guess for calling 000 (our 911)
Ironically, for homeless people a smartphone is a great investment, since the web allows finding support services and such stuff. But free wifi from the booths is probably great. Idk where they’re charging the phones, though — perhaps at sympathetic businesses.
absolutely correct! i used to work for a not for profit that built a big service search engine (largely used for crisis helplines, medical referrals etc) and released a phone app specifically for help finding homeless support services
there are power points in maccas, food courts, libraries, and even randomly dotted around cities outside for maintenance
The only number I can remember of hand is my own childhood house line. Like I literally just had to look up my own mobile number!