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Topic starter
04/09/2023 12:41 pm
A cartoon of a "Phone Booth, Then and Now" on another thread in the Lounge got me to thinking. Below is where my thoughts took me, while downing 3 cups of coffee typing it.
HELLO OPERATOR!
I love watching the old Gunsmoke TV episodes where their only means of communication is the Telegraph. Waiting for messages or sending them took long periods of time to get and receive. And what about the "smoke signals" sent over the mountain tops? It wasn't oral conversation, but have blanket and fire, and messages were sent and replied to.
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
In its earliest beginnings the telephone was a crude large box hanging on a wall with a crank to turn to get "Sara" (the operator) on the line, to put your call through. Watch "The Andy Griffith Show" for an example of this. And if you didn't shout in to the microphone, you couldn't be heard clearly.
And if you're old like me, you remember the big black clumsy dial phones that sat on end-tables and night stands, that weren't really private at all, as there were party-lines. You'd pick up the receiver and be able to hone in to someone else's conversation, and worse yet, had to wait your turn to make a call. Oh, and that "black" I mention, it was the only color they came in, and no one ever even thought of having fancy pink or some other color.
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
Dial a number, hear the ringing...one ringy dingy, two ringy dingy's, and so on. If there was no answer, it was easy to conclude "they weren't home" or "they just weren't answering". And for the record, "home" was the only place a phone was available. If the person you were trying to call was already on their phone, you got a "busy signal". Of course offices and businesses had phones too, and believe it or not, they had a person or persons to answer them, so that one could inquire about their services, make appointments, and know whether they were open or not.
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
Eventually the dial was replaced with "push-buttons" and the phones even came in colors other than black. They were smaller, more compact, and even in different cutesy styles...remember the "Princess phones" in the 60's?
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
People could have multiple phones in their homes. A technician would install them and even come out to repair them if they didn't work. A home could have more than one phone number in their homes as well. If you had a lot of numbers to remember, a Roll-o-Dex alphabetized your contacts for you and it was easy to find the name of whoever you wanted to call.
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
And who can forget the annual delivery of a phone book to your front door-step? Depending on the city or community you lived in, that phone book could range from minimal in size, to humongous! It was divided in to, two convenient parts, "the white pages" (which were all residential numbers) and "the yellow pages" (a chronological listing of all the businesses in the city). If you wanted to find a number, that phone book was your bible.
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
If you were traveling our beautiful country and needed to use a phone, all you had to do was pull in to any gas station and there were phone stands. And also things called "phone booths" on most corners. You put in a dime, dial your number, and you could talk away. If it was a long-distance number you needed to call, you'd dial, "0" for the operator, and she'd (yes they were usually women) connect you...after you inserted some additional coins to cover the charges. Oh, and you could make long-distance calls from your "home" phone too, at a monetary amount charged by the minute and included on your monthly phone bill.
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
In the later 70's decade, another clever innovation made life easier with regard to the phone (or so it was touted). The "voice recorder". People actually had little tape recorders that were connected to their phones, and after a few rings, the caller could leave a "message" on tape, for you to retrieve later. These little tape recorders also served the purpose of allowing someone to NOT answer their phone, even if they were home, and listen to the message afterwards to see who called. And if you knew someone might be calling you, and you didn't want to talk to them (at that time), you just didn't answer.
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
Unfortunately, these recording systems were greeted with great acceptance by businesses, who now could have a recording to answer their callers inquiries, and not always have an employee on staff to answer calls. Innovative? Perhaps. But they were not able to provide quality service to a customer. As these answering systems became more popular (putting people out of work), the businesses thought they could be even more creative and give their customers choices, by having them "push 1 for this", "push 2 for that", and so on. What was considered a business giving their customer quality service, has become a debacle, because we are now annoyed by not only the recorded message, but also the wait time, and it can be long, to get a real person on the line. And sometimes that real person, isn't a possibility anymore.
Fast forward to the Cell Phone. WOW! Great invention! In their earliest presence they were mobile phones, and were as big as car batteries with an antennae that seemed able to make contact with the man on the moon. Houston, we have a problem! They were clumsy too, as some needed a holder to carry them in, with a strap one could wear on their belts or on their shoulders. Simply said, not always easy to tag along with you.
Hey, they worked and were state of the art for the times.
In the last two decades technology has moved faster than than a coyote chasing a rabbit. Cell phones took over the landscape in epidemic proportions and became a "must have accessory" for every man, woman, and child to carry with them. I'll be fair and admit, the cell phone was a great invention. They allow people to never worry about missing a call, never worry about being stranded somewhere without a phone in an emergency, and they are now compact and can be carried in a pocket or purse.
However, also being fair, to every positive, there is a negative. The cell phone is a positive without any argument. But, yea you know, there always have to be a but, so here is the negative. The geniuses that created the cell phone continue to find new things that it can be used for, instead of "just talking" on them. Texting (I think that was a new word) was created. Now people don't have to even talk to anyone anymore. Just "Text" a message! Another sounds good innovation in its simplest form, but being honest (at least in my opinion), it is the most annoying phone related feature ever invented.
All day long, your cell phone is "buzzing", "ticking", "clicking" or whatever obtrusive sound that can emit from it. Those sounds are intrusive, causing disruption or annoyance through being unwelcome or uninvited. And here is more of the negative to cell phones, they absorb peoples attention to the point of them tuning out everything and everyone around them. People are Zombies! They no longer carry their cell phones in their pocket or purse, they have them in their hands as they walk along the streets. And they are so addicted that laws have been made to (hopefully) prevent people from "texting and driving". Sadly, most cell phone people don't pay attention to that law and their attention is on their cell phone and not on their driving.
And as if more negative needs to be discussed, the cell phone has the internet on them and games too. People have become captives of an existence where they no longer actually communicate orally with their fellow humans. They are distracted in their totality from the world existing around them.
The cell phone, the GREATEST invention! The cell phone, the WORST invention! I lean towards the latter. I liked the telephone when it really was just a telephone.
Hey, it worked and was state of the art for the times.
Hello, Sara? Could you connect me with my family and friends? I'll gladly pay the long distance charges. 
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Steve Jacobs and David Green reacted
04/09/2023 1:28 pm
Great memories George; thanks! Btw...just for the record....I never owned a princess phone.
Steve Jacobs and David Green reacted
Topic starter
04/09/2023 2:03 pm
Great memories George; thanks! Btw...just for the record....I never owned a princess phone.
LOL, good to hear Jack.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Steve Jacobs reacted
04/09/2023 3:07 pm
Great history of the telephone George. I lived through all the early steps that you discuss and have to say, the telephone is a fantastic invention.
Back in 1995, I made a decision to never have a cell phone or smart phone. That was based on what I was already seeing at that time, total distraction and inability, especially for the young, to be without one immediately at hand. Have I missed something, probably. Have I enjoyed life without a cell phone, definitely. I believe that all you have said about society currently and dependence on modern phones is correct. Since 1995, I have visited almost 100 countries and only found the need for a cell phone twice, both times at airports and I found a friendly volunteer to help.
Forgot to mention,George. I do have a iPad which travels with me in luggage but not attached to my person. This whole message was done on it. Internet only, no 5G.
Note to Jack:
If you had ever owned a princess phone or admitted to it, you would likely get a new name, “Princess”, on the Diecast Zone. I do prefer calling you Jack.
Steve Jacobs reacted
04/09/2023 3:46 pm
@georgeschire I find reading a text message much faster and more convenient than listening to a missed-call voice mail.
P.S. This reply was sent from my cell phone thanks to the wi-fi connection at one of the beautiful ocean beaches here on Long Island, NY ⛱️
Barry Levittan
Long Island, NY
John Kuvakas and Steve Jacobs reacted
Topic starter
04/09/2023 6:42 pm
@georgeschire I find reading a text message much faster and more convenient than listening to a missed-call voice mail.
P.S. This reply was sent from my cell phone thanks to the wi-fi connection at one of the beautiful ocean beaches here on Long Island, NY ⛱️
It wasn't my intent to suggest that Texting was all bad. Just that it consumes most cell phone users to the point of their disengaging from the human race entirely for sometimes entire days. What's even worse about that is that 95% of the texts sent and received are just non-sense and unimportant. Most importantly, they distract these people while driving etc.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
05/09/2023 6:28 am
Good post George and yes I remember all. I have a cell phone for two reasons; phone booths are no longer plentiful when/where needed and if I fall and can't get up [living alone]. It is in my pocket 24-7 but, I never turn it on so no one can call me on it and it is a simple and cheap flip phone. I hate the darn things, they are so impolite & discourteous & disruptive & impersonal when in the middle of a meal or discussion everything must stop so one person can answer text or talk. And looking around the room in the evening looking at all the faces lit up by the phone screen light and ignoring everybody in the room, no verbal conversations at all. Hate cell phones for what they have done/changed in our\their society. All people today have to know, is how to use their smart phone, no other brain use required! Schools today are unnecessary, a FEW YEARS TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO USE A SMART PHONE is all that is necessary.
Steve Jacobs and George Schire reacted
05/09/2023 6:43 am
Like most things, cell phones have pros and cons, but what else can give us access to just about anything at any time or place?
John Bono
North Jersey
Topic starter
05/09/2023 9:52 am
Like most things, cell phones have pros and cons, but what else can give us access to just about anything at any time or place?
John you are right about about the pros and cons. And one of those cons is the last part of your comment.
Brush said it best above in his comment, "they are so impolite & discourteous & disruptive & impersonal when in the middle of a meal or discussion everything must stop so one person can answer text or talk. And looking around the room in the evening looking at all the faces lit up by the phone screen light and ignoring everybody in the room, no verbal conversations at all".
The pros for a cell phone is we have it in an emergency or when traveling. But folks have taken that pro and turned it in to a con, with their constant talking, texting, googling, taking phots, and checking for all the same just mentioned. If the cell phone were just carried by people and kept in their pockets or purses, it would serve its purpose well.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
05/09/2023 4:53 pm
Like most things, cell phones have pros and cons, but what else can give us access to just about anything at any time or place?
John you are right about about the pros and cons. And one of those cons is the last part of your comment.
Brush said it best above in his comment, "they are so impolite & discourteous & disruptive & impersonal when in the middle of a meal or discussion everything must stop so one person can answer text or talk. And looking around the room in the evening looking at all the faces lit up by the phone screen light and ignoring everybody in the room, no verbal conversations at all".
The pros for a cell phone is we have it in an emergency or when traveling. But folks have taken that pro and turned it in to a con, with their constant talking, texting, googling, taking phots, and checking for all the same just mentioned. If the cell phone were just carried by people and kept in their pockets or purses, it would serve its purpose well.
George, the problem is not the cell phone, the problem lies with the people who use cell phones and simply don't know how to behave.
John Bono
North Jersey
David Green reacted
Topic starter
05/09/2023 6:35 pm
Like most things, cell phones have pros and cons, but what else can give us access to just about anything at any time or place?
John you are right about about the pros and cons. And one of those cons is the last part of your comment.
Brush said it best above in his comment, "they are so impolite & discourteous & disruptive & impersonal when in the middle of a meal or discussion everything must stop so one person can answer text or talk. And looking around the room in the evening looking at all the faces lit up by the phone screen light and ignoring everybody in the room, no verbal conversations at all".
The pros for a cell phone is we have it in an emergency or when traveling. But folks have taken that pro and turned it in to a con, with their constant talking, texting, googling, taking phots, and checking for all the same just mentioned. If the cell phone were just carried by people and kept in their pockets or purses, it would serve its purpose well.
George, the problem is not the cell phone, the problem lies with the people who use cell phones and simply don't know how to behave.
John, you're right, it's "not the cell phone", it's everything else the cell phone is. And problem with that "everything else" points the finger at probably 95+% of society. Everywhere you go today, people have a cell phone in their hand. NOT in their pocket, but IN THEIR HAND! It's the only thing they care about.
They can't walk out to the mailbox without their cell phone, and many can't even go to the bathroom without it.
They have it at meetings, they have it in church, they have it at restaurants, they have it at the grocery story, they have it school, they have it EVERWHERE! It has become more important than any other thing to them!
As just a small phone to carry in a pocket, it was a great idea and invention. But when it became EVERYTHING else, it's the worst invention EVER!
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
05/09/2023 7:11 pm
My bride of almost 55 years and I were discussing this topic and we could come up with only one person in our very vast and diverse circle, who appears to always be on his cell phone at inappropriate times. From time to time, we've seen others outside of our circle on their cell when they shouldn't, but overall, I have to say this abuse does not appear all that relevant, at least not to us.
Blaming the cell phone for people behaving badly is like blaming guns for killing people. This is not the time or the place to discuss the topic of guns.
John Bono
North Jersey
John Kuvakas reacted
05/09/2023 8:13 pm
It's the people not the cell phone/gun that is the problem.