Page 8 | To think a smart phone is an essential?

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble · 27/10/2020 12:23

@TeamLucille

Oh dear. The job interview will be on Teams, Zoom, etc. If you are the only person having an audio only interview you will be disadvantaged compared to the others.

oh dear we are back where we started, an internet connection and a computer are fine, if not better for those. Really no need for a smartphone 🤦

Unless you can only have one.

SoloMummy · 27/10/2020 12:28

@picklecustard

So every time I see the debate about free lunches for poor families on Facebook and social media, there are always people who comment about the same families being able to afford ‘non-essential luxuries’ sometimes it’s Sky Tv sometimes cigarettes and booze, but one example that consistently gets mentioned is having an i-phone/smart phone/phone contract.

Quite baffled that in this day and age people consider possessing a smart phone as a non-essential luxury. I know few people with a landline nowadays and a mobile is the point of contact for most. It’s also far more useful in the case of an emergency as you always have it with you. Access to the internet via a phone is also a necessity to most- when I needed a job most vacancies were advertised online and needed to be applied for online, I don’t drive so do my food shopping online (as well as finding recipes online), doctors appointments are booked much more easily online for my local surgery, my bills and banking are managed via apps and online, my children’s school only send letters via ParentMail app or email so all news/forms/payments and everything relevant to their schooling requires my iphone. And that’s just a few examples. My phone is genuinely an essential for everyday living and I’m surprised people don’t see it that way!

I'm afraid that I think if you can't afford food for you children in half term, then you shouldn't be affording an iPhone full stop. You can buy cheap smartphones for less than £50 with a sim free deal of £10-15. Does all that you list in your op. So, why is it necessary to have such high spec, high cost mobile?

Plussizejumpsuit · 27/10/2020 12:29

Saying you can do these things on a pc or tablet. A smart phone is cheaper than these items.

Plussizejumpsuit · 27/10/2020 12:33

@SoloMummy I think op is using iPhone as a synecdoche for smartphone. Yes you don't need an I phone. Why have you chosen so focus on this one detail rather than the actual argument?

SoloMummy · 27/10/2020 12:34

@Gwenhwyfar

Oh dear. The job interview will be on Teams, Zoom, etc. If you are the only person having an audio only interview you will be disadvantaged compared to the others.
But honestly, how many people couldn't borrow a tablet or laptop or similar from someone for this?
Crikey, the job centre give access to IT equipment so maybe they'd facilitate or the local library?
Where there's a will there's a way.... And often it's the will that's missing....

SoloMummy · 27/10/2020 12:36

@Plussizejumpsuit

Saying you can do these things on a pc or tablet. A smart phone is cheaper than these items.

I wonder what's the average people actually pay for a mobile? I bought a tablet last year for £90 in the sales on amazon.... Cheaper than most pay for mobiles I'd reckon...

CounsellorTroi · 27/10/2020 12:38

You need a smart phone. No it doesn't have to be an iPhone. But you know sometimes that's the most cost effective. It has the processing power to manage today's apps. You can entertain a child on the go, you can play candy crush when you have nothing else to do. They have much larger screens so you might manage an online course. They are very compatible with things...actually I think there is a kids reading app - orchard tree or something that only compatible with iPads...or do poor people not read to their kids?

You do know that there is a Candy Crush app for Android as well? And there are plenty of other makes of phone that have big screens. Honestly Apple do a great job of brainwashing their customers!

BarbaraofSeville · 27/10/2020 12:40

Yes, because the only way anyone can read to their kids is on an iphone.

Gwenhwyfar · 27/10/2020 12:41

" how many people couldn't borrow a tablet or laptop or similar from someone for this?"

Yes, but sometimes you want to test the link in advance and it's just a faff to make sure you have it at the right time isn't it? You could equally argue that people shouldn't buy a suit for an interview because they can borrow one. It's better to have your own if you can isn't it and these things come in a range of prices.

TeamLucille · 27/10/2020 12:42

You can entertain a child on the go, you can play candy crush when you have nothing else to do. They have much larger screens so you might manage an online course. They are very compatible with things...actually I think there is a kids reading app - orchard tree or something that only compatible with iPads...or do poor people not read to their kids?

when people start listing all the above as a "necessity"
you see what the problem is.

NotMeNoNo · 27/10/2020 12:46

[quote SoloMummy]@Gwenhwyfar

Oh dear. The job interview will be on Teams, Zoom, etc. If you are the only person having an audio only interview you will be disadvantaged compared to the others.
But honestly, how many people couldn't borrow a tablet or laptop or similar from someone for this?
Crikey, the job centre give access to IT equipment so maybe they'd facilitate or the local library?
Where there's a will there's a way.... And often it's the will that's missing....[/quote]
You would really be happy having a video job interview in public in the library or job centre assuming you could book a PC at the right time, or constantly begging friends for use of their laptop and internet connection at odd times of the day. I don't think that's realistic even before allowing for Covid/lockdown.

Doodiesbear · 27/10/2020 12:51

[quote Plussizejumpsuit]@SoloMummy I think op is using iPhone as a synecdoche for smartphone. Yes you don't need an I phone. Why have you chosen so focus on this one detail rather than the actual argument?[/quote]
The same reasons that the press and other individuals focus on the top of the range smart phones and extortionate contracts, because it's easier to demonise people than to actually see that a lot of people on low incomes are doing what they can to get by.
By shouting from the rooftops that people are only poor because of their own feckless spending on top of the range iPhones they feel that poverty is justified.

funinthesun19 · 27/10/2020 12:54

@Snackasaurus but where is the evidence that people who are using food banks etc have prioritised an iPhone X over food? It's just a whole load of assumptions.

Assumptions based on a big fat chip on their shoulder.

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble · 27/10/2020 12:54

My iphone is £24 a month, so only £9 over and it pays for the phone too,without having any upfront costs.

Felifox · 27/10/2020 12:54

I'm in my 70's, have a smartphone, tablet, laptop and Broadband. My landline connection is better than my mobile. My laptop is 10 years old, my tablet 7 but my phone is a few months. I use wifi on it usually email. I think it's about £6 a month

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2020 12:55

Working in an area that supported people with UC claims, it’s all on line and those claiming are extracted to have smart phones which they can access the online portal

Many use macdonalds free WiFi for free

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble · 27/10/2020 12:57

Hell you can buy an iphone on ebay for £45 ,cheaper than the tablet in sale.

People will say anything to justify their prejudices even when they have no basis in reality.

raspberrymuffin · 27/10/2020 12:59

A second hand smartphone (mine is pretty up to date and cost me £150) plus £8 a month for giffgaff is cheaper than a laptop and a broadband contract. So if we're accepting that you do in fact need internet access to function in modern society then this is the best option. If this is the option you've gone for you need a phone that's recent enough that it runs the various apps and websites you will need to use in order to communicate with schools and the council and the DWP - something 5+ years old isn't going to cut it. If you have a phone instead of a tablet then you don't need a landline so that's another saving - and you absolutely need one or the other.

Some reasons poorer people might have a better smartphone than you think they should have:

They got it on contract a year ago when they had a job, they have now lost that job but would gain basically nothing by breaking the contract early, selling the secondhand phone they now have and buying a slightly more secondhand phone, and as above they obviously need both a phone and a means of getting online in order to get another job.
A better off friend or relative upgraded to the latest model and gave them the slightly less recent model they had before.
As above but sold it to them for the same price as a worse one from a shop.
You think that all smartphones are expensive and don't actually know what you're looking at, similar to the people complaining about people on benefits having "flat screen TVs" long after it became impossible to get any other type.
Probably a lot of other reasons that you would think of if you were less desperate to prove that someone who's worse off than you might be getting something that you don't have even though they were feckless enough to have a baby without having saved up 18 years of living costs first unlike you, Perfect Internet Person.

I've never seen so many "let them eat cake" responses on one thread. "Oh no, they can just use their laptops and tablets" ffs.

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble · 27/10/2020 13:00

@ivykaty44

Working in an area that supported people with UC claims, it’s all on line and those claiming are extracted to have smart phones which they can access the online portal

Many use macdonalds free WiFi for free

Don't be silly. They can borrow or buy laptops and tablets and just use a brick phones. People on MN said so.

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2020 13:11

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble

Most don’t have lap tops or tablets, and many have basic phones and look aghast when asked if they have a smart phone. The library is a great place to use free WiFi.... but there are drawbacks to using a public system

People are claiming benefits whilst working, but work can be zero hours and parodic which makes budgeting long term really hard. Pay as you go SIM cards fit into smart phones but are expecting minutes so they need to be savvy with using free WiFi and whatsapp etc

Doodiesbear · 27/10/2020 13:13

I wonder what's the average people actually pay for a mobile? I bought a tablet last year for £90 in the sales on amazon.... Cheaper than most pay for mobiles I'd reckon...

I paid £60 for my smart phone 2 years ago, new. It wasn't even the cheapest smart phone but was the cheapest that had the memory and power to run the things I need like internet banking (so I can pay my bills seeing as my nearest bank is now 20 miles and nearly an hour away by bus) top up my utilities and at the time, school and homework apps. I didn't have broadband then either so I needed something that DD could do homework/research for homework on. In year 9 the school brought in two apps that they insisted were worked on a minimum of 2 hours a week. We didn't have a laptop or tablet or pc, couldn't afford one, even second hand. And lack of broadband would have rendered them useless anyway.
The phone aspect also meant I could receive calls from my employer about extra shifts, school about important issues and speak to people I needed to.
For £60 I got it all rolled into one. The functions it provided were essential to daily life, the phone the most cost effective way at the time.

WinnieMac · 27/10/2020 13:17

I find it completely bizarre that a smartphone might be regarded as essential. I have a 15 yr old Nokia brick which does what I want it to do (i.e. phone and text).

I could buy a smartphone if I wanted one, but I don't want one.

I can get online on my computer and laptop. I don't need to be online if I'm out with friends, shopping, etc. In fact, people with smartphones are often a PITA as they spend their whole time staring at them rather than having real conversations.

funinthesun19 · 27/10/2020 13:31

I find it completely bizarre that a smartphone might be regarded as essential. I have a 15 yr old Nokia brick which does what I want it to do (i.e. phone and text).

If that’s all you want/need a phone for then you won’t be bothered about a smart phone will you? Lots of people use phones for more than that though. You can’t video call your child’s teacher on a Nokia brick can you?

You say you have a laptop to get online which is fair enough and works for you. But some people use a phone instead.

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble · 27/10/2020 13:31

@ivykaty44

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble

Most don’t have lap tops or tablets, and many have basic phones and look aghast when asked if they have a smart phone. The library is a great place to use free WiFi.... but there are drawbacks to using a public system

People are claiming benefits whilst working, but work can be zero hours and parodic which makes budgeting long term really hard. Pay as you go SIM cards fit into smart phones but are expecting minutes so they need to be savvy with using free WiFi and whatsapp etc

I know that, but there are still people claiming smartphones are not essential while at the same time they mention using laptops,pcs,tablets. Oh the irony!

Oh and if your service users don't have those,just buy one,borrow,use a library. As long as they don't have a smartphone.

This type of wilful ignorance drives me bonkers.

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble · 27/10/2020 13:33

@WinnieMac

I find it completely bizarre that a smartphone might be regarded as essential. I have a 15 yr old Nokia brick which does what I want it to do (i.e. phone and text).

I could buy a smartphone if I wanted one, but I don't want one.

I can get online on my computer and laptop. I don't need to be online if I'm out with friends, shopping, etc. In fact, people with smartphones are often a PITA as they spend their whole time staring at them rather than having real conversations.

Once again, a lot of people don't have a computer or laptop,much less both. All They have is a smartphone, which does the job for all of your 3 devices ,but somehow they're the wasteful ones?