Hands up who hasn't got a mobile phone?

[Debra1981]

Just started seeing a 43-year-old guy, all going well, but don't know if IABU'y suspicious of the fact that he's said he doesn't have a mobile for social calls- just one for work which he doesn't get on with. I'd love to check whether he's telling the truth with one of his mates, but know that his circle are very open with each other and it will most likely get back to him that I asked that question (clearly demonstrating mistrust), which may put him off either way iykwim. I have trust issues stemming from past relationships, including issues with mobiles, but don't know whether this is clouding my judgement with this guy. I just find it a bit strange, I don't know anyone else without one, including people in their 60's, and would be more understanding if he had one but didn't use it much... I'd just like to know how normal it is for someone of that age (he's a bit older than me) not to have a mobile?

Both my parents in their 60's have a mobile but cannot text.I have one and am crappola with it.9(ged 36)

I think it's really rare, but not impossible - if he doesn't have any non-work responsibilities (I don't know if that's true or not) there's no real reason why he'd need one, I don't suppose...

dh has a mobile but only ever uses it for work. Doesn't help that we have rubbish reception in the area and cannot use our mobiles inside the house.

He says if he wants to contacts his mates he will pick up the phone. He rarely texts.

I have one about 7 years old i use about 4 times a year. My sisters don't have one, neither do my parents.We arenot weirdos (I don't think) just have no need.

I've no idea how to text either.

I think he'll be telling the truth. I'm similar age and only got one reluctantly in the last 3 or 4 years. It's always on silent. Some people are just not into phones.

Debra
don't get me and some others started on men and their mobiles
its very much a sore point

sorry asbm, I was sore about them for a while, too, causing problems in relationships so that I wished they had never been invented (mobiles). I'm not a phone freak, don't use mine every day, just found it unusual. Assuming he is being true, which it seems from here, I think it's actually reassuring that he doesn't suffer from constant needy phone-checking/texting- and it eliminates that whole hell of wondering who/what's in his in-box and photo gallery, and why the phone is switched off.. (I could go on) Thanks all anyway.

I get reall annoyed when people text me and are surprised that I didn't see and read the text until ages afterwards. I try to explain I do not walk arnound with my mobile attached to me all the time.

I like having one for safety reasons, I live in the country so if I breakdown or whatever on the way to town I like the fact I can actually phone for help.

I also use it to text and chat with my BF as he doesn't live with me, but I don't really phone or text other friends and if BF lived with me I would hardly use it at all.

no the problem i've found and others too
is that its either very full on bombardment with calls/texts
or not much at all
and personally i think that there's a happy medium
but yes i know a man of a similar age and he's hopeless with his
yet he expects to date women!!

My dh is 46 and doesn't have one - it's perfectly normal!

I am often heard say FGS what would you have doen in the days before mobiles?

ExH has a love affair with his mobile, it is never more than a foot from him even at night. Hope his GF loves it as much as him.

I agree about the happy medium thing really- I like to use mine to text friends once or twice a week just to keep in touch or arrange outings, and of course useful for emergencies (ie parents reaching me out at shops if they need something!), but as long as we speak on landline (or better face-to-face!) every couple of days I think I can deal with being textless- I feel it's a bit of a shame though as I'd like to be able to let him know that I'm thinking about him through the day when he's out at work or wherever.

After the novelty of my first mobile wore off (age 18), I did have one but it stayed next to the bed on charge for years. When I first found out about text I thought "this will never catch on".

Couldn't be without mine now but that's possibly just because im used to it being there, not because I actually need it.

exactly
thats what i mean!
the odd text can mean a great deal

It's not a big deal right now as I said it's early doors so anything to help me play it cool and not-too-bothered is all good, and I s'pose if I stick with it I'll just get used to it/find other ways of telling him. I just hope this one's as good as he seems. It's only been a couple of weeks and I'm trying not to think too far ahead, this is the most serious I've been with someone for 2.5 yrs!

do so hope it all works out for you
and yes those bloody things can be a nuisance
especially when you are returning to the whole relationship thing

I know quite a few people around that sort of age who either have no mobile at all or have one which has about an inch of dust on it through serious lack of use!
I like to send DH cheeky messages but he doesn't have much opportunity to read them or respond until he gets home and then of course he doesn't need the phone to talk to me! I wouldn't worry at this stage. If the relationship develops I suppose you could buy him a simple one for a birthday pressie or something? It might be fun teaching how to read and respond to your texts?

Have you been to his home met his friends and family etc?
If not his lack of mobile could be for completely other reasons......eek!

My DH is 50 and has one - but hardly ever uses it. In fact if he goes out he usually forgets to take it. I mostly only use mine for work, or for phoning DH when I'm out. I hardly ever send texts. And I work for a Mobile phone company and we have free flash phones and almost unlimited free calls/texts/internet. I always have mine with me, but usually just for "car breaks down" reasons rather than having the burning need to be in contact with people at all times.

I am like scramble. I have one (somewhere) but the battery is usually flat. I only take it with me for 'safety' - if I am driving somewhere alone for example. I also get texts but usually only see them days later. I think ikt is a bit odd when people go to the other extreme and have their mobile 'attached' at all times. I would find it very intrusive TBH.

My parents are in their 70s and do have a phone but don';t really understand it LOL! They can't text and don't use the memory either - if they do need to use it they type the number in like on a regular phone!

I have come across 'academic' types who don't have a phone as well - my brother is in his 30s and does not have a phone. He is a 'mad professor' type though.

I suppose it is ironic given my present attitude to mobiles that I had a mobile years before most people did. It came free with the double glazing that the previous owners installed . I was huge and had a pull out arial. I was at a job interveiw and it rang in my bag (someone checking to see if I had the job) and I got the job, I think they were so impressed that I had a phone . That would have been 1995, perhaps you did all have phones back then and nobody told me.

Skramble, I think I had a phone about 1995 too which was very like the one you described. It was very heavy and cumbersome and the battery lasted about 2 hours.

Maybe the earlier you had a phone, the easier it is to 'get over them'!

It is getting ridiculous now I think; new models out every few months - all usually hideous, an enormous scrapheap of discarded phones somewhere, and at least 4 phone shops in our town (an average small town.) In fact a 5th shop has just opened. I have often wondered how they are all sustainable.