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Original poster

Was DH right in saying this?

127 replies

openseason22 · 29/06/2021 14:44

I'm just wondering what others think of this

DS 21 went out for a walk for about 30 minutes, he normally takes his phone with him when he goes out but on this occasion he left it on charge at home as he says it was nearly flat. While he was out, DH saw his phone was on charge and when DS returned DH gave him a mini lecture on how silly and potentially dangerous it was to not take his phone with him as he could have tripped and fell over and hurt himself or been attacked.

I'm just wondering whether DH was right in saying this or is he treating DS as a child.

OP posts:
TheGlassBlowersDaughter · 29/06/2021 17:33

Of course we managed without mobile phones in the past but that's a bit like saying we should all use an abacus because that's what people did in the olden days. Most people do take phones with them. They are helpful if you have an accident. Nothing your DH said was inaccurate. Phones also need charged. Your DS wasn't ur to leave it to charge. It's all a bit of a non-event really.

Thomasina79 · 29/06/2021 17:37

I think I would be more worried about leaving a phone charging and going out. This could be quite a fire hazard according to a work based fire training we had, given by a member of the fire brigade. He also advised us to turn it off overnight

I do feel uneasy if I go out in the car without my phone though, in case of breakdowns.

But you son is way old enough to make his own decisions

gamerchick · 29/06/2021 17:39

@Thomasina79

I think I would be more worried about leaving a phone charging and going out. This could be quite a fire hazard according to a work based fire training we had, given by a member of the fire brigade. He also advised us to turn it off overnight

I do feel uneasy if I go out in the car without my phone though, in case of breakdowns.

But you son is way old enough to make his own decisions

Scary amount of people put their phones on charge overnight. Boggles my head. Then they witter on about fridges like it's some sort of gotcha.
CustardySergeant · 29/06/2021 17:40

*EveryoneIsThere" You should tell him you'll dribble how you like! You're a grown woman.

Mamanyt · 29/06/2021 17:51

If your son is a healthy, normal 21-year-old with no mental issues, and you live in a generally safe area, then your DH was being absurd. DH actually reminds me of my mother, and why I moved 500 miles away from her at the first opportunity. Back before cell phones were everywhere*, I went out for the day to a mall. My friend and I shopped, lunched, shopped, ate dinner and saw a movie. I got home to my mother calling, screaming that I should have called her and told her I was going out. I was 47 years old at the time. We had words. LOTS AND LOTS of words. Nor did I call her everytime I left the house after that.

Inthemuckheap · 29/06/2021 18:03

This made me laugh out loud.

Your DH is being ridiculous.

toocold54 · 29/06/2021 18:18

I often leave my phone at home whilst I go for a walk as it just clears my head more than if I had it on me. As a 21 year old his phone is probably constantly going off so having a break is a good thing.
Unless you live very rurally then no matter what happens someone will have a phone to ring the police, ambulance etc

Bluntness100 · 29/06/2021 18:21

@Inthemuckheap

This made me laugh out loud.

Your DH is being ridiculous.

You’re easily amused, Confused
mam0918 · 29/06/2021 18:26

@openseason22

I'm just wondering what others think of this

DS 21 went out for a walk for about 30 minutes, he normally takes his phone with him when he goes out but on this occasion he left it on charge at home as he says it was nearly flat. While he was out, DH saw his phone was on charge and when DS returned DH gave him a mini lecture on how silly and potentially dangerous it was to not take his phone with him as he could have tripped and fell over and hurt himself or been attacked.

I'm just wondering whether DH was right in saying this or is he treating DS as a child.

I often forget or leave my phone as I never use it (Im not addicted to my phone like most and hate the damn thing).

We managed to grow up just fine without a phone, examples:

  • when I broke my foot I hobbled to a payphone to tell my parents then hobbled to the hospital which was closer than home (my mam picked me up half way to the hospital)

  • when my dog fell in a ditch and I couldnt lift him (big old collie dog) I walked around until I found another dog walker to help rescue him

  • when I got stuck in quicksand I had to stay calm and get myself out by hauling myself up on a tree branch (parents where more mad that I lost my shoes)

  • when we saw another young girl get hurt (a 5 year old threw a brick hitting another girl in the park on the head) one stayed with her and one ran to get her parents

I was between 8 and 12 when these things happened, these are just a few examples of surviving without a mobile when I was younger - Im pretty certain a 21 year old adult on a local walk around his home will be fine if we managed to cope.

Rosesareyellow · 29/06/2021 18:28

That’s weird on two counts. You’re DS has been an adult for 3 years and people survived very well on a walk before the invention of phones.

Hawkins001 · 29/06/2021 18:29

@openseason22

I'm just wondering what others think of this

DS 21 went out for a walk for about 30 minutes, he normally takes his phone with him when he goes out but on this occasion he left it on charge at home as he says it was nearly flat. While he was out, DH saw his phone was on charge and when DS returned DH gave him a mini lecture on how silly and potentially dangerous it was to not take his phone with him as he could have tripped and fell over and hurt himself or been attacked.

I'm just wondering whether DH was right in saying this or is he treating DS as a child.

In a survival situation and who knows how many people would.walk the same route,.your dp was correct, although it might not seem it, better to have the phone and not need it, rather than need it and oh pickles,.yes we had walls before mobiles but then if an accident did happen,.it could be hours before anyone could assist.
Hawkins001 · 29/06/2021 18:29

*walks

Rosesareyellow · 29/06/2021 18:30

Also, does this mean your DH would never walk anywhere alone where there’s no signal?

Hawkins001 · 29/06/2021 18:31

And actual telephone boxes are the rarity these days.

Mamanyt · 29/06/2021 18:35

@Thomasina79

I think I would be more worried about leaving a phone charging and going out. This could be quite a fire hazard according to a work based fire training we had, given by a member of the fire brigade. He also advised us to turn it off overnight

I do feel uneasy if I go out in the car without my phone though, in case of breakdowns.

But you son is way old enough to make his own decisions

Chargers in the UK must be very different from those in the USA. As of last count, there were approximately 260,000,000 cell phones in the US, and 12 fires per year caused by chargers (mostly damaged chargers, or those used in a bed). That's .000000004.6153861538e% of phones/chargers catching fire during the charging process.

Keep your charger in good condition, off the bed, and replace when worn, and you are MUCH safer leaving the phone on the charger than you are driving to the corner store.

And yes, I did take the time to look up the stats and do the math.

HollowTalk · 29/06/2021 18:38

But in any case, the OP's husband was in the house when the phone was charging anyway!

ineedaholidaynow · 29/06/2021 18:41

I always take my phone with me when I go for a walk, but can go off the beaten track when walking the dog. I have got into the habit of reminding DS to have his phone with him, but he is 16 (not sure why I remind him as he is permanently attached to it!)

Rosesareyellow · 29/06/2021 18:52

Tbf I do take my phone when I walk the dog - not for my own safety but incase I find someone who needs help and I can call an ambulance or god forbid a body and I have to call the police. Not happened so far but I once had to ring a wildlife trust because I found a heron stuck in a fence...

grumpygiraffe · 29/06/2021 19:21

Are there banana skins all over the pavement? Of course your husband’s being ridiculous.

Dobbyisahouseelf · 29/06/2021 19:37

Your DH needs to relax it wasn't as if your DS was out of contact all day.

How old is your DH as I didn't get a mobile phone until I was 28 - which makes my teenager chuckle.

Original poster
openseason22 · 29/06/2021 19:52

DH is 62

Thinking about it, I remember when DS had his leavers party in sixth form and DH told DS to be careful about putting his drink down and leaving it and coming back to it as it may get spiked. I mean I know people's drinks can get spiked but I just felt a school leavers party where school staff attended would be a place where that would happen.

OP posts:
Wineinthegarden · 29/06/2021 19:56

Having had a relative trip over and break an ankle who luckily could phone for help - I would always advise carrying one now! We did survive before them but they can be very handy!

Rainbowsew · 29/06/2021 20:23

Massively OTT! Even for younger folk it isn't necessary to have a phone on you for just a normal walk, in fact it better not to so you truly have a break.

What ever does DH think we did before phones were standard!

Drovememad · 30/06/2021 07:08

Totally OTT!

Macncheeseballs · 30/06/2021 07:16

We charge everything over night