Hey everyone, I was entertaining the thought of going away from owning a smart phone.

I already have a modded ipod classic that I use as my main music player.

I also know how to use a paper map.

I also have the Microsoft authentication app for work (I could just use my phone on wifi mode for this)

The last issue I have is WhatsApp where I communicate with friends and family around the world.

Is there a way to use WhatsApp on a non-smart phone? Or should I just buy a pixel and install a secure rom?

  • JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world
    32·
    19 hours ago

    Almost all of these things can be done from a computer, siting in comfort at home. And some of them, i.e. communication, are even more pleasant that way. The supposed convenience of the mobile form factor is mainly a function of habit. I speak from experience, having mostly kicked that habit.

    The “emergency” argument is particularly tiring BS IMO. Somehow we managed for all of history until basically yesterday without this functionality and got by just fine.

    The fact that technology exists is not in itself a reason to adopt it. If only we would learn this lesson at last. Rant over.

    • Dasus@lemmy.world
      1·
      1 hour ago

      I don’t know man, I’m often out and about when I need to communicate to people.

      I find it rather convenient to not have to find a library or an Internet-cafe, especially seeing my city doesn’t have any anymore probably.

      And I remember living without a mobile before they came along. There’s a certain romantic novelty in agreeing to meet under x sign in y place at x hour. But it wears off fast, and if you’re running a bit late or want to reschedule something on the fly? Good luck without a mobile of any sort, smart or not.

      • JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world
        1·
        4 minutes ago

        want to reschedule something on the fly

        Yeah it certainly got easier to be late and generally not keep commitments, that’s for sure.

        I do agree that communication when out and about is a genuine killer feature. It’s was the original use case after all. But doomscrolling social media, or banking, or shopping, or playing dumb games, or most of the other things I watch people doing in public - personally I am never going to buy the argument that this is about “convenience”. To me it’s pretty obvious that it’s just addiction and irrational social contagion.