10 Reasons To Keep A Cell Phone

So I saw this article today:
Ten Reasons To Throw Away Your Cellphone

The article bothered me a little because the reasons they gave were... well, let's face it, pretty bad. Let me go one by one and respond to each item on this list.

1. It makes your life more complicated
Cell phones can be as connected or as disconnected to your life as you want them. The article states that a cell phone, "...checks email, holds information and schedules events...," but my cell phone does only 1 of those things. I can choose to get a cell phone that would allow e-mail access - I can even get this kind of phone and choose not to attach it to my e-mail. Just because the cell phone can be as complicated as you want it to be is not a reason to get rid of it.

2. It's horribly expensive
The article mentions Total Cost of Ownership, which indeed can get pretty high over the course of the lifetime of the phone. However, a cell phone can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it. I used to work for a T-Mobile authorized dealer, and a prepaid phone (no contract), could be had for as little as $90 to start (cell phone and 3 months of service), and only $25 for 3 months after that. This, of course, was only to be used for emergency purposes and short phone calls, but it goes to show that a cell phone doesn't have to cost a huge amount per month.

3. It enslaves you to a one-sided contract
True, cell phone contacts are horribly in favor of the cell phone companies. That's part of the reason that you have a choice of entering a contract or using a prepaid phone, which doesn't subject you to all the fees and restrictions that a contract would.

4. It makes you perpetually available
From the article: "If it's on, they can get you. If it's off, they wonder why they can't get you. It's a lose-lose situation for your Zen." While this can be true, a better option would be to talk to your friends and let them know that if your cell phone is off, it means that you aren't able to talk. An important thing to remember about a cell phone (or any phone, for that matter) is that it is for YOUR convenience, not the person that's calling you.

5. It is boring
A cell phone being boring is not a reason to toss it out. A cell phone can and should be used in emergencies, which can save lives. Hardly boring.

6. It must constantly be recharged
Every electronic device that is not constantly connected to a power supply needs to be recharged. This should not come as a surprise to you. If batteries constantly run out on you, there are options available such as an extra battery and travel chargers.

7. It knows where you are
The benefits far outweigh the worries in this situation. GPS means emergency workers would know where you are if you are in an accident and that even when you call for pizza delivery, they know exactly where you are.

8. It encourages stupid people to become a public menace
Cell phones in and of themselves are not the cause of this. People have been doing this with make up, and shavers in cars. If they weren't using their cell phone, they might be drinking or eating something instead. The problem isn't the cell phone, the problem is people's attitudes. Even if you take away the cell phone, people would find another distraction.

9. Ubiquitous pleather accessory shops
Again, cell phones aren't the problem here. If cell phones didn't exist, it would be iPod accessories taking over everything. Or something else. It's peoples' need to accessorize what they own that is the "problem," not cell phones.

10. It turns you into a public annoyance
If you're that annoyed by ring tones, perhaps you shouldn't go out at all. It would be nice if people had their cell phones on vibrate while they were out, but it's not a perfect world. I really don't think that the cell phone's "annoying" sounds outweigh the benefit of saving lives in emergencies.