It is lifegiving to ask questions of actual humans. When my mother or grandmother had parenting questions, they asked a neighbor, relative, or friend. They received a practical answer and also some extra encouragement in the process. I'm convinced there's a correlation between how much we DON'T reach out to others and how the general population's mental health is declining. I still own a smartphone, but we do not own a microwave or clothes dryer. It's a start!
I completely agree with you about the correlation between lack of interaction/relationship and mental health declining. I also think that's why we have a loss of generational knowledge about commonplace things like birthing, nursing the sick, growing food, handicrafts, etc. It's a two-fold problem: 1. We didn't pass down these norms and so now we have to ask about them and we ask the internet. 2. We ask the internet for everything and so people don't pass down the norms in relationship. Also, a start is a start! Draw the line where you can and it'll keep moving in the right direction. (I gave up my smartphone at the end of last year, but it's been a years-long break-up process.)
I recently asked my 70-year-old neighbor his favorite way to cook rabbit. He told me to look up a recipe. SIGH. I wanted to know how he liked it, not how to do it. Also, we are right there with you on no microwave and dryer. Our family is making the slow trek towards "doing it like the Ingalls" as much as possible. My phone is my only link to the big, wide world as we do not have TV in our house (aside from DVDs and VHS tapes) and our computer is on its last leg with no sound (not worth fixing), so it'll be the last thing to go.
Another modern convenience we could move away from is a microwave. After not having a microwave for over 3 years, I’ve noticed that I’m more aware of the foods I buy especially if it’s something prepackaged/frozen; if I can’t bake it or put it on the stove then I can’t buy it. It’s very easy to not put effort or care in what you eat when you don’t have to physically “cook” anything in under 4 minutes.
Yep! My MIL looked horrified when I told her. She sputtered for a moment before saying she couldn't live without hers because then she wouldn't be able to warm up her cold coffee. I pointed to the stove and said that our grandmothers managed without one. She sputtered again before sticking her nose in the air as she walked away and said, "Well iiiiiiii *like* my microwave." Um, OK. No one said you had to get rid of it.
I have an iPhone. I've done the dumb phone thing before and enjoyed it also. The main benefit I saw was that I called people more because it was easier than texting. The main drawback I have found as my children become teens was that communication from their youth group is largely done via apps like Telegram, which are harder to keep track of on a desktop cause I use it less frequently. The last min things fell through the cracks because teens enjoy a more spontaneous life phase and I enjoy that too. Also, I couldn't be a part of group texts with a flip phone, which happen more often than I realized and I wasted time figuring out what was going on by texting individually. And although I don't care about emojis, I'd get messages from people I couldn't see and didn't know if I should respond or not because photos and symbols don't come through, again, wasted time figuring it out. Another benefit I saw from ditching the iPhone was that I enjoyed not knowing what time or date it was. I lived in a sort of timeless state, which I loved. On the flip side (catch my pun ;) ) I missed listening to audiobooks in my headphones and being mobile. I guess I could do that with an iPod or something? But all in all, I've gone back to a smart phone and created boundaries. All notifications are turned off. All social media apps are gone, and I decided to call before texting as often as possible. :) Working well these days. Enjoyed hearing your process.
So many good things in this comment! And it shows how much the world is being shaped by the technology we normalize (app requirements for groups, emojis as comments, etc.) Thank you!
Yep. I get really annoyed by all of the group texts for the teens. I put the burden on them to inform me of things. Since my 13 year old doesn’t have a phone it’s all word of mouth. I love communicating that way.
Isn't it funny? I think of my phone like a vacuum cleaner now. It only registers in my mind when I need to call someone. Otherwise, super weird to keep on you all of the time, right? Honestly, I need my vacuum cleaner in my back pocket more than a phone. And thank you!
It’s so interesting about just not even needing a phone at all. People keep asking me what I’m going to do when my 13 year old starts working and I’m like, “What do you mean?” They say, “Well what if he needs you while he’s at work?” 😂🤦🏻♀️ It’s just not necessary! Exactly like you said! I lived 18 years without having a cell phone. Sure my life became more convenient when I got that ancient first Nokia. However, I miss the days before they existed. I’m completely on board with all of your ideas and I love them. I’m not where you are and I may not get there, but I’ve started purging A LOT and my brain space has just completely opened up. I’m amazed.
Thank you! I hope more younger women do too! (I was actually really encouraged-as I've reached the stage where it's clear I didn't just miss a hair appointment but am doing the thing-hopping on our call and seeing your long natural hair.)
Oof! This really gets me. I have been loving your "dumb phone" series so much because it is challenging me to think of these "old fashioned" ways of living and communicating in which I have always seen value and gotten annoyed that the value has gone by the wayside in our modern culture, but wasn't motivated enough to do anything about it. You are now motivating me to do something about it. It's so good. I think the main thing holding me back is not having a good quality, easy camera at the ready to take photos of my daughters. I care about the quality of photos (as a photographer, I'm sure you do too) and don't want to lug out my DSLR camera and take time to set the settings everytime I want to take a photo. The moment has usually passed by then. And having a camera with me wherever I go is also very handy. There's that tug between convenience and something that feels important to me (capturing candid moments of girls' childhood). Do you have any insight or thoughts about that? What do you do for photos?
I'm noticing many dumb phone creators are building in cameras in newer versions! I know Light Phone III will have one and I think Wisephone II will too? It's certainly the thing keeping many from making the jump. I use a film camera (which, by design, is less paparazzi-like like the iPHone and more of a craft, which I enjoy). I know others keep their iPhones around as their everyday camera (without the SIM card). This is an interesting read from Marc Barnes about the impact of the camera phone: www.firstthings.com/article/2016/05/click-fix
@@thecommonplacehomeschool Thank you so much for these tips and the article. I have to be honest, I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I definitely will and am excited to read it!
You are wonderful! Found your podcast & subsequently your CZcams channel through the "Now That We're a Family" podcast. Boy, can I say that I LOVE your content! I am nearly 24 years old & have had an Apple iPhone since... 7th grade? I've loved the convenience but social media has taken a huge toll on my attention span & overall happiness. I have definitely noticed that I am less thankful for the everyday things in my life because they become mundane to me -- & I am no longer getting those feel-good hormones if something doesn't go my way, the first time. I hope to get a dumb phone sometime this year & just wanted to say thank you for making this video series a year ago :)
So glad you popped over from the interview! And bravo on assessing something as "normal" as iPhone and social media usage-especially being started on one so young!
Love this!! My husband hasn’t had a phone for a few years now & we share a smart phone. I love it! Saves money, time, & allows us to be present with each other & our children 🤍
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I use it on a daily basis, I run a Charlotte Mason homeschool co-op so I use it mostly for that, listening to audiobooks, & taking pictures. When we need directions we look at Google maps on the computer but we don’t need to often as we live in a small town. If my husband takes trips out of town he will take the phone. We shared the oldest iPhone there was for 5 years & just upgraded the phone last year as the phone company was going to shut it off haha
I still have my smart phone, however I have taken off all the time sucking apps and it definitely makes a difference. I forget about my phone all the time. As long as it has maps, I will probably always keep it- I am old enough that I started driving without a smart phone and got lost A LOT, so I've been there done that! lol. I'm all for normalizing not being attached to a machine at all times. Loving this series!
The maps! They keep a lot of people, I'd guess. Have you read the Abolition of Man? Lewis writes about a future of conditioners and the conditioned. I've been mulling over how we're becoming the conditioned by nature of only a few "powers" having the information/things we want. Ie. Maps, streaming for music, movies, etc. We can access these things but only from a small number of places and only on their terms. So we no longer own the paper map, the DVD, the CD (or even the music file!). We're at the mercy of the conditioners...and what will they do with that power? Aye. Like I said, just a mulling at this point but Lewis does make some excellent points and I might see them coming into view!
I agree 100%. I'm a pastor and found your channel when watching others about the low-tech life. I see the relational // spiritual dangers of advanced tech. I'm glad others are seeing it as well. As far as A.I. I've heard some have used it to produce sermons. It's dangerous.
I find it more satisfying to go through my books I've read, hunting for just the thing, rather than Googling, "CS Lewis on technology Abolition of Man" and letting Google do my work for me.
Thank you! This series is refreshing! We haven't had a microwave for over a decade, we own one car and have a tv that is generally stored in a closet. Not having these things isn't really a sacrifice but it is interesting how much outside conversation it generates. We do have smart devices (sigh). For the last few weeks, I have turned my phone off and put it in another room during school hours. School has been more focused and enjoyable. Baby steps. Can I do without pocket access to podcasts, audiobooks, spotify and amazon returns? Yes, of course I can but that hasn't been my reality. Have you detailed your smart phone breakup? Very curious. I am a new viewer of your content via Tsh. We've been CMers for 13 years. County native living in the Midwest. Thanks for all of your thoughtful content.
Hey Melissa! Welcome! We own one car too (Always have!) and that does surprise people! I'm sure there's a thread we could pull about the initial "pain" of losing something that's a norm and how, within a short time, you hardly remember why you had it in the first place. I like to jokingly ask, "My word. How DID they do it all those years without the internet?!"
@@thecommonplacehomeschool My Gram would write down words she came across in the newspaper and ask us for the definitions because they weren't in her dictionary, like, "What is a tweet?" or "What is Facebook?" Today, my little guy and I wandered through the forest preserve without a smart device for a few hours. It was a new to us preserve and I drove home without using my navigation. It's weird that we don't trust ourselves to walk through known woods with grooved paths or to be able to get home without a map. What I am realizing is that all the pushback I get from wanting to dumb down the phone doesn't get any traction because I keep using it. Game on!
@@melissazeager1029 1. Your gram sounds awesome. 2. I was just thinking I need a better dictionary around here. 3. I joke with my husband that everything is an adventure in the pre-modern world. (Without a phone on my person and, for a brief stint, without a watch, I was relying on city church bells and the sun to tell me what time it was. No one could reach me, I had to handle any and all inconveniences that popped up on the fly, and so on. It really was an adventure! And I felt like my own whole person, being fully where I was, wherever that was.)
For me, dishwashers are completely unnecessary. We use ours for storage. The kids get to help daily with the washing and drying of the dishes, and I know the dishes are actually clean and also we need less dishes because they get washed after every meal, rather than waiting for a full load before running the dishwasher. The clothes dryer ... I do use it, but when ours broke a month ago, i was happy to wait for a sale to get a replacement bc we also line dry at times. Takes me back to a simpler time. The smartphone... I've thought seriously about giving it up, but ultimately it's a tool in my autistic tool belt, especially the GPS feature. I regularly assess my usage though and adjust my usage as needed.
Love hearing all of this! Thank you for sharing. I also just started line drying outside (instead of hanging things on the indoor drying rack) and I completely agree. There is something really wonderful and, if you will, deeply self-caring to stand barefoot in the grass, hearing the bees, and hanging laundry in a warm breeze. I know people overly romanticize certain things but I have a sneaky suspicion this is a form of care all persons need...and wouldn't you know it, it comes through humanizing, meaningful work!
Marc Barnesssssss! God bless you, Kindred Spirit 😁 I don’t have a lot of people who appreciate his writing and commentary. He is 1) poignant and 2) the consequences of his ideas (or the ideas that he puts into words I can comprehend) are too much for me to practice…right now. However, I see the good. Seeing the good and removing the masks of false idols in our society and my life in particular is scary at first, but I have a hope that very soon, removing these idols will be a challenge I actually ENJOY. Freedom isn’t some battle cry from a movie, and it isn’t only applicable to talk of politics. Freedom is real and can be particular to ME, the embodied soul. That is something to be excited about. Three cheers to facing life with the light on!
You've touched on SUCH a good point: sometimes you can love the idea being presented and see the truth and goodness of it but know it's not something you can implement immediately or fully. (I actually have an update video coming down the line about this very thing!) So many get discouraged there, but I love your take on it! Keeping duty and delight together...and taking steps as you're able in the right direction. YES.
Ok I love this, I’ve been working my way through your content and was thinking about joining common house and was hoping I could connect with other moms in my community…. I’d love to try it! I do love your videos and how they are so pedagogy, philosophy and human centered. I
We ditched our microwave a few months ago. It definitely takes longer to reheat leftovers and I have to think about dinner more ahead of time and make sure things are defrosted. The food tastes so much better, though, and I'm glad to have that box out of the house!
These were great! We did get a landline re-installed a few years ago, mainly so our daughter could talk to her Grandparents who live far away on the phone, and have a phone number to give out to her friends at dance. Unfortunately, the service was SO expensive (twice the cost of a flip phone's monthly service) we removed it. But I agree whole-heartedly. Cell phones, for most people, are totally unnecessary!
Oh really?! Okay, so this is another angle I'm mulling over: there are serious "barriers to entry" in a smartphone world. I tried to open a bank account the other day for our co-op and couldn't even finish the process because it could only be completed on the smartphone app. Or having a doubly expensive landline because...everyone assumes you'll have the smartphone. Going to pull a Wendell. You may all WRITE me to reach me.
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I am considering trying to find a cell phone that only works as a phone. No text. That is an ideal situation for me, personally! I wish my dumb phone would auto respond to texts saying, "The person receiving this text would rather hear your voice. Call her." ;)
@thecommonplacehomeschool The push for everything to be accessible only via phone is by design. It's part of The Plan. If I find a place that does not take cash, for example, we skip it. The only exception to this would be certain utility bills or some other such thing that we cannot pay for in person. Also, my husband is an OTR trucker and quite literally NEEDS a phone with all the bells and whistles for work. The industry has changed drastically since he started driving. It sucks.
I’ve been digging into your content the past couple weeks and really enjoying everything. I’m so close to doing this, you might just push me over the edge. So fun to hear you’ve heard of Marc Barnes! New Polity is my jam 😊
Ah, yes! I've been talking to my people for almost a year about my dumb phone but one Marc Barnes interview (on Pints) and they start ditching their iPhones....ha!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool ok this might not be a question you want to answer, so forgive me if I’m being too forward on the internet, but I’m curious if you’re Catholic? You’ve mentioned now two Catholic sources and you’ve also mentioned a couple Catholic things in other videos but I couldn’t figure out if you are or not haha. I am, so just curious if you are too?
Haha people guess our theological tradition weekly. I'm a hard peg, I suppose. But no, we're not Catholic. I am, however, happy to share an excellent resource from across the traditions!
I leave my simple cell phone off when I'm at home (which is often), but do take it with me (and turn it on) when I leave the house. However. It is always on silent when on. But most of the time it is off. I did get a home phone when I made the switch (unfortunately, land lines are no longer a thing, and they have to be hooked up through your internet, which I found annoying) but I also have the ringer turned off on the home phone, as well, and only pick it up if I need to make a phone call (or return someone else's call after seeing they left me a voicemail).
Oh, I like that: keeping the house phone on silent too. I now go days without looking at my phone which cracks me up because I thought I "rarely" checked my iPhone...multiple times a day. I'm suspicious of machines that demand my attention now! (And the computer-how I now check my email, do my work things-does not demand me. I choose to use it for intentional uses and then get off. There must be more to the form of the technology too. Still thinking on it!)
I’ve appreciated this series. I haven’t transitioned to a dumb phone because on my phone plan that would cost far more if I did that, and that is not the sort of dumb I’m going for. So I’ve “dumbed” down my iPhone as much as possible for now. That said, I think what does have me concerned is that all of this is a privilege. It shouldn’t be, but for now it is. For some people in some place, being lost or without a cell phone could have severe consequences, including death. I’ve also seen how smartphones can be essential tools-because, yes, they can still be tools. I worked in a public library where I had patrons who were marginalized and unhoused people. Smartphones were often their lifetimes. It’s how they applied for jobs, made money, sent money to their family members, found housing, learned things, took care of legal issues, translated things if they didn’t speak English, and more. None of this is ideal for a multitude of reasons-the least of which is the cellphone, really-and it strikes me as more important than a couple of us ditching smartphones for dumb phones because we are the privileged few who can. I don’t know what will make the change, but I find that question more pressing than my own personal ability to safely leave home without a cellphone. I think doing what we can ourselves is lovely and admirable, *and* I think acknowledging what an exceptional thing it is to be able choose another way is essential. Then after we acknowledge that, I believe must do what we can to make this change more accessible to marginalized people and contribute to ways they can improve their lives period. Doing that sans machines is a bonus.
Ema, hello! Gosh, I wrote you the longest reply and YT promptly deleted it! But thank you for your thoughtful comment! Basically, I have some reading for you, if you're up for it? Marc Barnes makes an interesting point that our modern world redefines "useful property" (what used to be sheep and land) as the possession of know-how, technology, and skill. Wealth and privilege are based more on that than natural resources. The smartphone world requires "a new and constant relationship of dispossession between the poor and the technologically wealthy"...if you consider what the OT warned against when it was sheep and land, how might those same concerns play out, on behalf of the poor today? It's a very interesting application of what has been understood as caring for those in need and how the smartphone violates those principles. I'm still mulling it over: medium.com/@marcjohnpaul/christians-shouldnt-use-smartphones-64cddc2b3527
@@thecommonplacehomeschool Hello, Autumn! Kind of you to thoughtfully reply. I’m sorry your first go got the boot from YT. You really gave me a lot to think on. I read the article you shared and, while interesting, it feels to me like Barnes isn’t getting to the root of the issue. He touches on it here and there but doesn’t seem to get down to it. I believe the root is the attention economy and the monetization of our data. The physical tool of the phone is currently the medium via which the attention economy functions. But that isn’t the inherent nature of the object. The useful property argument is curious. The function of sheep and land in the ancient world seems more akin to modern day money and real estate than it does to technology. Technology was still technology-it’s just that then it was knives or styluses, and now it’s phones. His property argument seems better likened to attention-sheep and land were worth, now attention and privacy is worth. And that is what’s being exploited. I would argue that this is the age of the dispossession of nearly everyone, especially those who are marginalized, through the replacement of owned skills with the exploitation of people’s attention, worth, dignity and privacy which renders our wants and needs into capital. The issue with the Zuckerbergs and Bezoses is their unchecked, extractive *business models* which harvest from our lives. Their main product is not devices. Their main product is us. And the main problem is that that’s legal. From Barnes, I don’t really get a clear solution that could function at a societal level. I see a lot of personal responsibility and Christian ideals, but not really communal action or cooperation for the betterment of all. To me, solutions like that are far more promising. It seems like Barnes’ solution is that all Christians should ditch their smartphones? Correct me if I’m wrong. I just don’t see how that changes things broadly. What about the low-income mother who needs to use a banking app (that harvests her data) and sells things she finds at Goodwill on Poshmark (which harvests her data and takes a cut) to scrape by? I’d rather hold accountable the eight people who own the majority of the world’s wealth and regulate companies that hurt us all than tell her she can’t have a tool that is allowing her get by right now. Because maybe that mother also listens to your podcast on her smartphone when she’s working or commuting and it helps her learn about books that she reads to her children in the evening. Or books she reads herself. She uses her smartphone to put them on hold at the local library because she has no time to browse. I’d rather get to the root, to the systems that harms her, then tell her she can or cannot do something because Jesus probably wouldn’t have. Communal, broad scale solutions give me more hope. I’d rather flip tables and bring down systems of power, which is not something I have to wonder if Jesus would do. And right now, as you show by making informative podcasts and videos, that’s something we can work towards with the tool of technology.
I want to be clear though, I’ve been grateful for your perspective and nudge in this series! Dumbing down my phone has helped me greatly. But I know that’s as far as it will extend and that concerns me.
As someone who has been homeless and had many fellow homeless friends, please stop using that ridiculous "unhoused" "soft language" garbage. It's ridiculous (yes, I'm using this word twice) and patronizing. Though yes, those phone are indeed a lifeline for homeless people these days.
I love the Paul Kingsnorth shout out! I fondly remember how many people I gabbed about that article with at CMEC retreat because I had just read it. 😂🙃 I’m really enjoying continuing to read his thoughts on AI and the Machine, though I’m not quite in the Doomsday train (yet???).
You definitely gave me a few inspiring ideas that day! Ha! When I started this series, someone asked me if I had read his machine posts and I realized it was the same author and dove right in! His recent 4-part questions about AI/internet was fascinating! And...terrifying.
Yes!!! I limited Wi-Fi /data to certain locations and activities … saves sanity. I actually listened to this video as a companion during exercise otherwise I’d be staring lounging getting nothing done if I had unlimited Internet. I still have my smartphone but stopped abusing TikTok and CZcams etc
I’m loving these videos on smart phones. I would like to hear more. I noticed that these iCards are for websites (Marc and Paul) do you recommend any books just like these recommendations instead of websites. I’d like to read them with my teen.
Marc has a quarterly print magazine at New Polity (I'm a subscriber for it!) and you could read that together. Otherwise, Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport is one of my favorites (without being distopian).
Wow... I tried the dumb phone for about 4 months. And had the same feelings about driving and getting lost. I still challenge myself to go places from memory and enjoy getting lost a little and even stopping to ask for directions. Your inspiring me to go back to this ehem, smart-person- dumb-phone.
@The Commonplace | Classical CM Home Education I allowed the pressure of convenience and habit get to me along with a bad experience. ... uh the power of habit! I was in the car and was driving and talking on my not so hands-free flip phone. 😐 It was a stressful day and I kind of had to take the call, didn’t listen to my conscience telling me to pull over (bc I was on the expressway) and got a ticket for using my phone. There was no Bluetooth option for that phone 😕. Buy I am in a much better place to forge on. I am inspired and plan to have this conversation with my husband again. Thank you for your strength and courage sis ❤️
I bought yhe same "dumb phone" as you, Autumn. I just need to transfer my photos and videos to my computer and then I will get rid of my smart phone. I'm really excited!!!
For Pascha this year, an older woman in my parish gathered all the "newbies" (it was my first time celebrating Easter in the Byzantine Catholic Church) together one evening and we made the traditional Pascha bread together, under her direction. I just could not stop thinking about how much that is so human is lost in all of the short-cuts we take, or the ways we try to be independent. It also made me think about how Charlotte Mason writes so much about how necessary humility is to true education, and how we can so easily fake knowledge nowadays... we don't *need* to have a stance of humility when we google things, in fact, I think it can make us act like know-it-alls. Anyhoo! Much to ponder! My flip phone is still in its box, waiting for the SIM card to get here. Then it's party time ;)
First, I love that she did that. Second, I completely agree with you. Is Google (and its cousins) the new Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Are we reaching for things we ought not to have? Perhaps.
I'm wondering what could be said to the criticism of one of the last points made: in the instance of an emergency and you're without a phone, the solution would be that someone else nearby has one. Aren't we then depending on another's dependence on their technology? Is there virtue in that? It seems like we can make a higher choice (complete detachment from smartphones), only if other people make the lower choice (attachment to a smartphone). Loving this channel. Inspiring and lovely content! My smartphone just broke, and we've been on the fence for years about either 'dumbing' a smartphone down, or using an actual dumb phone.
I think this is a great question. If the higher choice is "complete detachment from the smartphone", we can still choose to have a simple/dumb phone for emergencies. It doesn't put the burden on others to keep to the lower choice of attachment to a smartphone. However, if you rephrase that to detachment from a PHONE (which was my last point), then I think it changes things slightly. Since filming this, I've had some trouble on the trails (I have other videos detailing safety habits for the trail that give more detail.) and now 100% take my dumb phone with me. The smartphone doesn't provide any additional help; I just need the ability to call for help which my dumb phone can do! Now, if we don't have a phone, there are many ways to ask for help from others. (This is how life used to be! Break down on the side of the road? You'll have to walk to the nearest house/shop and ask to borrow their landline or wait for someone to stop and help you.) In the best light, this forces us *back* into community and an awareness of our need for others. (Technology like smartphones-and even dumb phones-create isolated persons who need machines, not people.) So I might say virtue is grown (partly) in the soil of good community, and allowing ourselves to need others is a good thing. (Need their smartphone? No. No one would have to have a smartphone to be helpful. History makes that point.)
wonderful video! thank you! I have a smart phone, husband and teen have "dumb" phones. Have toyed with giving up mine and reverting to a dumb phone - but in my country, many car parks now only take payment through a smart phone. Shopping in smaller shops - some don't take cash anymore, so need the debit card or the phone to swipe. Hmm... my tickets to the ballet were on the apple wallet app, but could be printed out. Love the definition of what a machine is - my phone is clearly a machine, designed to enslave my attention first thing every morning, to clutch it over coffee and to keep an eye on it instead of a true, meaningful focus on my day. The machine doesn't play fair. Even when it's put in a drawer, my attention wanders to it, depriving me of the focus to read novels. it's insane. Clearly my strong boundaries on social media use are not enough to tame the Machine and its coercive hold over my mind. Yearning my my old Motorola flip phone, circa 2008 - it had big enough keys to text with, yet it was practical, sturdy and fit in a handbag.
There are definite barriers to entry without a smartphone. Restaurants, parking, groceries, etc. I find the same in our city but I can usually ask someone to help me. They know *not everyone* has a smartphone (and I think dumb phones will make a comeback.) and they can still help you-even if they let you know how inconvenient you are.
I’m usually the penny pincher in the house so if I’m contemplating on making an Amazon order I will put the things that I “need” in the cart and ask my children if they “need” anything and that the deadline is Friday for letting me know. Usually not a single person out of our large family will add anything. I’ve been known to keep that cart open for two weeks without ordering. 😆
I'm the same way. We don't shop online much but when we do, it'll go in the "save for later" section (if applicable) until I've really thought about it. I wish it was feasible to get these things in person at brick and mortar stores but where we live, it simply isn't possible.
Good for you! I have never considered having a smart phone, still have a Nokia for phoning and texting - nearly always leave it at home in the drawer when I go out, it is like having a personal assistant who picks up messages and I then ring when it is convenient for me. I live in Brighton UK, have only one friend without a smart phone like I am, all the rest have chosen differently. I have met with exasperation from some when I cannot do certain tasks but I stand firm. We have to. Ordinary human interaction is important, like asking directions, chatting to people on buses rather than endlessly tapping and scrolling. I do not give in to any peer pressure, it does take some effort at times but we will have the last laugh. I actually think smart phones are evil devices and I wish I could rid the world of them entirely
Ah, Mary, you may know some of my friends: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Wendell Berry? Have you read The Abolition of Man? I'm pretty sure Lewis would agree with you that smartphones are evil, like the evil magic forbidden in scripture! I actually talk about this in my fairytale videos. And if not that extreme, I'm seeing Wendell Berry's wisdom in refusing the computer: it hurts the things he loves like local community, nature, etc.
@@thecommonplacehomeschool wow amazing! I am an artist, fairy tales are a huge thing for me in both the artwork and in the reading of the orginal stories which I love! Could you direct me to your fairy tale videos please, I would love to see some. I don't know Wendell Berry but will look into this. I definitely see nature being affected by the constant overuse of devices. Students who attend my classes in mixed media are actually grateful that I ask them to switch off their phones to focus and be in the present moment, like a creative spa break - resistent at first, now happy as can be!
I have a basic phone and I definitely forget it or loose it all the time. It's surprising how little I need it. If I'm going somewhere with my husband I really don't need it, because he has a phone.
Once you realize how little you really NEED it, the game changes. I really appreciate not feeling enslaved to the tiny computer but still using certain technologies, in restricted ways, as they benefit our family. Digital Minimalism by Newport is a great read on this!
I just recently came across Kingsnorth on Jonathan Pagaeu’s podcast. Which book of Kingsnorth would you suggest reading? Is it Julian Barnes? How did your Orthodox experience of lent and Pascha go?
@@everywherejoy9019 Haven't made it to his books yet, but deep in his substack. Marc Barnes of New Polity! And Lent was a journey, Holy Week services were incredible (can't argue with how formative the liturgical services are!), and Pascha has been a sweet time of celebration! I'm grateful for the invitation to step into "the drama" of the life of Christ.
I gave up my phone in early Covid - in France if you didn't have a smart phone they couldn't enforce having a vaccine pass - or green pass as they called it **getting ready for climate change lockdowns? - so I stopped carrying it, then moved to not having it on in the house. Now, I do have to have one, but I've got a cheap-o that is meant for elderly with big buttons and 2G, with the battery out in the draw and only use it when I need a verification code for banking or another login. Otherwise, never carry it. And it's changed everything. Upside? Memory is better, attention span is better, sleep is better, contemplation and decisions are improved. Dumb phone is an excellent choice. Reading maps is a learned skill. I'm super good at it simply because of how I grew up, reading maps, both road and topographical. And I never forget where I've been or how to find my way back there. One also see's so much more along the way, weirdly!
I agree with all your upsides. One thing I haven't gotten to in a video yet is the ability to maintain internal long-form thought. My thoughts do not flit about at the pace of the smartphone content/lifestyle. I'm curious how the smartphone (and apps within) have altered our ability to enjoy our own company.
The only thing holding me back about getting rid of my iPhone is the camera. I take all the pictures and videos of my family on my cell phone. Do you use a digital camera for everyday moments or do you not worry about those?
Never had a smart phone and never will. Use my dumb phone as a house phone so I usually simply keep it at home. Got rid of my landline because of expense - dumb phone cheaper- and too many junk calls on the landline disturbing my peace.
We noticed that with a land line as well! It was so expensive! And so many calls from either wrong numbers or telemarketers. Super annoying. I think that dumb phone as house phone is a great solution!
I WISH I could give up my phone. Unfortunately with my work and having all these security features etc necessary for our company data integrity and security I "need" it. I have adopted a new approach though to put it down and just walk away when I don't need to use it!
You have inspired me to listen to my intuition again. As a mom of 3 littles, I can feel that I am not using the full brain God has given me! Is technology making my life harder? I used to read so much more, I loved looking in my encyclopedia to get answers when I was younger. I think my memory is just not the same. I have been wondering about landlines lately! Especially for my kids to be able to call grandparents, 911, etc no one is talking about this! Seriously. It's a problem. Thank you!
So much of this is just so funny to me. Isn’t this how we used to live? All these things you’re discovering. I’m guessing you and I are about the same age based on things you’ve said. I went 1200 miles away for college and travelled abroad to a country I couldn’t remotely speak the language at age 20. All without a smartphone. When I start to think of all the reasons I “need” to keep one I think back to this and realize it will just require a habit change. I’ve had several seasons of going back to a normal cell phone with wonderful benefits. I always for some reason go back to a smart phone. I start out with good habits but always revert back to old ways of overuse, using it to numb my mind when overwhelmed, etc. I stumbled across your videos searing online for “dumb” phones that are dependable and work well. I just moved to a new city, but I realize I can manage without my GPS 24/7 just like I used to before I was old enough to vote figuring out how to get places. And just like people who moved to new places for generations before me. Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope it will be eye opening or at the very least thought provoking for many others.
Hello there! I often think back to the number of times I got lost driving up and down the east coast for college and my short life in a foreign country without a phone at all...so yes, we're probably a similar age! I think when we ask any questions of the normalized technology, a certain generation * can * remember life before and it is, therefore, a possibility to return with a small amount of habit retraining. For those after that generation, though, it's actually not a possibility in the same way. I know what it's like to live without Google (not as an adult, but as a child), but a teenager today does not know a time without Google. They're not bringing out old lost skills, they're having to learn entirely new ones...in a world that's pushing against them in work, social, and church expectations and norms. But for me, while I'm not learning new skills (I'm pulling out the old ones!), I'm finding how they look/work practically in a "new world". While they seem obvious (indeed!), the fact that people retort, "Why don't you just Google that?" or "But HOW can anyone ever reach you?!" shows just how deep the average person is in the Machine world. Hoping to pull a few out by dropping a few ideas here and there.
Ah, I only listen every so often through my computer (after my kids' bedtime)! I'm definitely more of a quality over quantity listener and without the smartphone, that bar is even higher.
@@Stephanie_Villegas Not many. I've found losing the smartphone has forced me to choose quality (limited time!) when before I could put on any good pod in the background. When I do have a little time, I will queue up: The Literary Life Podcast, A Drink with a Friend, Classical Stuff You Should Know, Stories are Soul Food, and Schole Sisters.
I'm trying to find ways to get around having my phone at work. As a teacher in a large high school, our team members are always sending text messages, usually about work-related tasks. If I told them I didn't have a phone anymore, I'm not sure how I'd get around this.
I find it interesting teachers (or any employee) use a personal phone/text to communicate work-related things. Do you think those communications are necessary/helpful or can they be shared in a teacher's workroom when you see each other?
@The Commonplace | Classical CM Home Education I am certain we can relate important issues in between classes or via email. The students have my full attention during class time, so I honestly have the habit of ignoring messages (and emails for that matter). But there have been a couple occasions when a team member said I needed to check messages because it might have to do with a change to our lesson or something of that nature. I actually think this just reflects our current culture's need to have instant answers to everything. I really don't want to be a part of it.
@@jazzstandardman Yeah, I really try to push back against "instant access" to information or to people. It's really not necessary in the course of an average day!
What are you thoughts on utilizing CZcams or the computer in general? Could you see yourself living your daily life without these tools in the future? Great video! 🙂
Well, I do use the YT/computer for work...so this is where it gets tricky and you have to start defining some terms. (Marc Barnes has been really helpful in this.) I use the computer as a tool to do my work but the computer doesn't do the work for me (that would take it from tool to machine). Now the computer can very easily become a machine depending on how you use it; it's just now how *I* use it. I don't think I'll ever be able to pull a Wendell Berry and go completely free, even if I want to. If, in the future, I'm no longer working in this current capacity, then yes, I think I could go without YT easily and I'd probably ask to use my husband's computer very rarely instead of having one for me. But (!), the tech we accept and normalize begins to shape the world we live in. It may be near impossible to bank, tax, register, etc. without a computer in the future...so, there's that.
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I agree with you on the potential impossibility of certain tasks in the future without a computer. It's a catch 22, isn't it. Looking at these things as tools is helpful. Some machines that do the job for you are huge blessings (i.e. washing machines, dishwashers, etc), but, like you, I am uneasy about the willingness of some who happily forfeit their God-ordained abilities in favor of allowing a computer to do the job. It's a slippery slope indeed.
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I love this. I have certainly considered such things come the New Year. I am trying to decide if simply deleting most apps would be as sufficient as switching over to something like a light phone, for instance. The "smart" phone becomes incredibly boring when there are no apps on it, so that may do the trick. We shall see!
Autumn - have you read Sensing Jesus by Zack Eswine? I think you would enjoy. (Guess how I remembered that title? By googling some key phrases from the book. Gah.)
Hahaha, the machine-break up is a process. I have heard of his book (good things!) but haven't read it. I will try to find it next time I pop into a bookstore...just kidding, I'm going to Google the summary. Aye.
An option for a home phone is magicJack. An annual plan costs $43. An ethernet cord connects magicJack to your Wi-Fi router. A phone cord connects your phone to magicJack. There are ways to use magicJack through the phone lines already in your walls as would be done with a traditional landline. I've never done that, so I can't give details.
Yes, as I never really used FaceTime for myself. Just a simple phone call! (Also, I wouldn't say they live close since it's a days worth of travel to reach them!)
It is lifegiving to ask questions of actual humans. When my mother or grandmother had parenting questions, they asked a neighbor, relative, or friend. They received a practical answer and also some extra encouragement in the process. I'm convinced there's a correlation between how much we DON'T reach out to others and how the general population's mental health is declining. I still own a smartphone, but we do not own a microwave or clothes dryer. It's a start!
I completely agree with you about the correlation between lack of interaction/relationship and mental health declining. I also think that's why we have a loss of generational knowledge about commonplace things like birthing, nursing the sick, growing food, handicrafts, etc. It's a two-fold problem: 1. We didn't pass down these norms and so now we have to ask about them and we ask the internet. 2. We ask the internet for everything and so people don't pass down the norms in relationship.
Also, a start is a start! Draw the line where you can and it'll keep moving in the right direction. (I gave up my smartphone at the end of last year, but it's been a years-long break-up process.)
I recently asked my 70-year-old neighbor his favorite way to cook rabbit. He told me to look up a recipe. SIGH. I wanted to know how he liked it, not how to do it.
Also, we are right there with you on no microwave and dryer. Our family is making the slow trek towards "doing it like the Ingalls" as much as possible. My phone is my only link to the big, wide world as we do not have TV in our house (aside from DVDs and VHS tapes) and our computer is on its last leg with no sound (not worth fixing), so it'll be the last thing to go.
Another modern convenience we could move away from is a microwave. After not having a microwave for over 3 years, I’ve noticed that I’m more aware of the foods I buy especially if it’s something prepackaged/frozen; if I can’t bake it or put it on the stove then I can’t buy it. It’s very easy to not put effort or care in what you eat when you don’t have to physically “cook” anything in under 4 minutes.
Yes! Definitely think this is one of the gateway items!
Yep! My MIL looked horrified when I told her. She sputtered for a moment before saying she couldn't live without hers because then she wouldn't be able to warm up her cold coffee. I pointed to the stove and said that our grandmothers managed without one. She sputtered again before sticking her nose in the air as she walked away and said, "Well iiiiiiii *like* my microwave." Um, OK. No one said you had to get rid of it.
I have an iPhone. I've done the dumb phone thing before and enjoyed it also. The main benefit I saw was that I called people more because it was easier than texting. The main drawback I have found as my children become teens was that communication from their youth group is largely done via apps like Telegram, which are harder to keep track of on a desktop cause I use it less frequently. The last min things fell through the cracks because teens enjoy a more spontaneous life phase and I enjoy that too. Also, I couldn't be a part of group texts with a flip phone, which happen more often than I realized and I wasted time figuring out what was going on by texting individually. And although I don't care about emojis, I'd get messages from people I couldn't see and didn't know if I should respond or not because photos and symbols don't come through, again, wasted time figuring it out. Another benefit I saw from ditching the iPhone was that I enjoyed not knowing what time or date it was. I lived in a sort of timeless state, which I loved. On the flip side (catch my pun ;) ) I missed listening to audiobooks in my headphones and being mobile. I guess I could do that with an iPod or something? But all in all, I've gone back to a smart phone and created boundaries. All notifications are turned off. All social media apps are gone, and I decided to call before texting as often as possible. :) Working well these days. Enjoyed hearing your process.
So many good things in this comment! And it shows how much the world is being shaped by the technology we normalize (app requirements for groups, emojis as comments, etc.) Thank you!
Yep. I get really annoyed by all of the group texts for the teens. I put the burden on them to inform me of things. Since my 13 year old doesn’t have a phone it’s all word of mouth. I love communicating that way.
I am one week into a normal (non-smart) phone, and I keep leaving it at home too. So funny and strange! PS, loving your hair!
Isn't it funny? I think of my phone like a vacuum cleaner now. It only registers in my mind when I need to call someone. Otherwise, super weird to keep on you all of the time, right? Honestly, I need my vacuum cleaner in my back pocket more than a phone.
And thank you!
It’s so interesting about just not even needing a phone at all. People keep asking me what I’m going to do when my 13 year old starts working and I’m like, “What do you mean?” They say, “Well what if he needs you while he’s at work?” 😂🤦🏻♀️ It’s just not necessary! Exactly like you said! I lived 18 years without having a cell phone. Sure my life became more convenient when I got that ancient first Nokia. However, I miss the days before they existed. I’m completely on board with all of your ideas and I love them. I’m not where you are and I may not get there, but I’ve started purging A LOT and my brain space has just completely opened up. I’m amazed.
Ah, the gone days of standing there waiting for your parents to pick you up with no way to communicate with them...
I loooooove your hair! I embraced my wisdom-earned sparkle about three years ago and I'm so glad I did. I'd love to see more women do this.
I need the courage to do this 😆. I'm 34 and my "wisdom" is pretty severe. It's so intimidating.
Hahaha, my wisdom is pretty severe. Love that, Tiffany.
Thank you! I hope more younger women do too! (I was actually really encouraged-as I've reached the stage where it's clear I didn't just miss a hair appointment but am doing the thing-hopping on our call and seeing your long natural hair.)
@@tiffanyhale108😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Oof! This really gets me. I have been loving your "dumb phone" series so much because it is challenging me to think of these "old fashioned" ways of living and communicating in which I have always seen value and gotten annoyed that the value has gone by the wayside in our modern culture, but wasn't motivated enough to do anything about it. You are now motivating me to do something about it. It's so good.
I think the main thing holding me back is not having a good quality, easy camera at the ready to take photos of my daughters. I care about the quality of photos (as a photographer, I'm sure you do too) and don't want to lug out my DSLR camera and take time to set the settings everytime I want to take a photo. The moment has usually passed by then. And having a camera with me wherever I go is also very handy. There's that tug between convenience and something that feels important to me (capturing candid moments of girls' childhood). Do you have any insight or thoughts about that? What do you do for photos?
I'm noticing many dumb phone creators are building in cameras in newer versions! I know Light Phone III will have one and I think Wisephone II will too? It's certainly the thing keeping many from making the jump. I use a film camera (which, by design, is less paparazzi-like like the iPHone and more of a craft, which I enjoy). I know others keep their iPhones around as their everyday camera (without the SIM card).
This is an interesting read from Marc Barnes about the impact of the camera phone: www.firstthings.com/article/2016/05/click-fix
@@thecommonplacehomeschool Thank you so much for these tips and the article. I have to be honest, I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I definitely will and am excited to read it!
You are wonderful! Found your podcast & subsequently your CZcams channel through the "Now That We're a Family" podcast. Boy, can I say that I LOVE your content! I am nearly 24 years old & have had an Apple iPhone since... 7th grade? I've loved the convenience but social media has taken a huge toll on my attention span & overall happiness. I have definitely noticed that I am less thankful for the everyday things in my life because they become mundane to me -- & I am no longer getting those feel-good hormones if something doesn't go my way, the first time. I hope to get a dumb phone sometime this year & just wanted to say thank you for making this video series a year ago :)
So glad you popped over from the interview! And bravo on assessing something as "normal" as iPhone and social media usage-especially being started on one so young!
I’m 9 months into a flip phone, and you’re the one who pushed me over the edge. Not many complaints.
Fantastic! It's been a little over a year for me and I don't think anyone could convince me to go back. There is zero appeal.
I love this so much!!! This is so inspiring !
Thank you, Alexis!
Love this!! My husband hasn’t had a phone for a few years now & we share a smart phone. I love it! Saves money, time, & allows us to be present with each other & our children 🤍
Ooh here's an angle I haven't thought about much: sharing. Do either of you use it on a daily basis or does it serve like a maps/travel help?
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I use it on a daily basis, I run a Charlotte Mason homeschool co-op so I use it mostly for that, listening to audiobooks, & taking pictures. When we need directions we look at Google maps on the computer but we don’t need to often as we live in a small town. If my husband takes trips out of town he will take the phone. We shared the oldest iPhone there was for 5 years & just upgraded the phone last year as the phone company was going to shut it off haha
This is inspiring! We have given up the convenience of a microwave. It has been 6 years without it.
Excellent example. Who needs that?
People are always completely shocked to find out we don’t have a microwave.
@@naomikrapf4895 It's a bit sad, isn't it?
I still have my smart phone, however I have taken off all the time sucking apps and it definitely makes a difference. I forget about my phone all the time. As long as it has maps, I will probably always keep it- I am old enough that I started driving without a smart phone and got lost A LOT, so I've been there done that! lol. I'm all for normalizing not being attached to a machine at all times. Loving this series!
The maps! They keep a lot of people, I'd guess.
Have you read the Abolition of Man? Lewis writes about a future of conditioners and the conditioned. I've been mulling over how we're becoming the conditioned by nature of only a few "powers" having the information/things we want. Ie. Maps, streaming for music, movies, etc. We can access these things but only from a small number of places and only on their terms. So we no longer own the paper map, the DVD, the CD (or even the music file!). We're at the mercy of the conditioners...and what will they do with that power?
Aye. Like I said, just a mulling at this point but Lewis does make some excellent points and I might see them coming into view!
So compelling!!
I agree 100%. I'm a pastor and found your channel when watching others about the low-tech life. I see the relational // spiritual dangers of advanced tech. I'm glad others are seeing it as well. As far as A.I. I've heard some have used it to produce sermons. It's dangerous.
Indeed! You should check out Marc Barnes and Paul Kingsnorth!
I love this! I actually dislike writing or planning on my computer, so I really relate to that!
I find it more satisfying to go through my books I've read, hunting for just the thing, rather than Googling, "CS Lewis on technology Abolition of Man" and letting Google do my work for me.
So good! Definitely on the edge 😂 … no microwave or TV here … dumb phone is the next step!
You've got this.
Thank you! This series is refreshing! We haven't had a microwave for over a decade, we own one car and have a tv that is generally stored in a closet. Not having these things isn't really a sacrifice but it is interesting how much outside conversation it generates. We do have smart devices (sigh). For the last few weeks, I have turned my phone off and put it in another room during school hours. School has been more focused and enjoyable. Baby steps. Can I do without pocket access to podcasts, audiobooks, spotify and amazon returns? Yes, of course I can but that hasn't been my reality. Have you detailed your smart phone breakup? Very curious.
I am a new viewer of your content via Tsh. We've been CMers for 13 years. County native living in the Midwest. Thanks for all of your thoughtful content.
Hey Melissa! Welcome! We own one car too (Always have!) and that does surprise people! I'm sure there's a thread we could pull about the initial "pain" of losing something that's a norm and how, within a short time, you hardly remember why you had it in the first place. I like to jokingly ask, "My word. How DID they do it all those years without the internet?!"
@@thecommonplacehomeschool My Gram would write down words she came across in the newspaper and ask us for the definitions because they weren't in her dictionary, like, "What is a tweet?" or "What is Facebook?"
Today, my little guy and I wandered through the forest preserve without a smart device for a few hours. It was a new to us preserve and I drove home without using my navigation. It's weird that we don't trust ourselves to walk through known woods with grooved paths or to be able to get home without a map. What I am realizing is that all the pushback I get from wanting to dumb down the phone doesn't get any traction because I keep using it. Game on!
@@melissazeager1029 1. Your gram sounds awesome. 2. I was just thinking I need a better dictionary around here. 3. I joke with my husband that everything is an adventure in the pre-modern world. (Without a phone on my person and, for a brief stint, without a watch, I was relying on city church bells and the sun to tell me what time it was. No one could reach me, I had to handle any and all inconveniences that popped up on the fly, and so on. It really was an adventure! And I felt like my own whole person, being fully where I was, wherever that was.)
For me, dishwashers are completely unnecessary. We use ours for storage. The kids get to help daily with the washing and drying of the dishes, and I know the dishes are actually clean and also we need less dishes because they get washed after every meal, rather than waiting for a full load before running the dishwasher.
The clothes dryer ... I do use it, but when ours broke a month ago, i was happy to wait for a sale to get a replacement bc we also line dry at times. Takes me back to a simpler time.
The smartphone... I've thought seriously about giving it up, but ultimately it's a tool in my autistic tool belt, especially the GPS feature. I regularly assess my usage though and adjust my usage as needed.
Love hearing all of this! Thank you for sharing.
I also just started line drying outside (instead of hanging things on the indoor drying rack) and I completely agree. There is something really wonderful and, if you will, deeply self-caring to stand barefoot in the grass, hearing the bees, and hanging laundry in a warm breeze. I know people overly romanticize certain things but I have a sneaky suspicion this is a form of care all persons need...and wouldn't you know it, it comes through humanizing, meaningful work!
I love this series 😅
Me too. I didn't know I'd have so many phone thoughts...
Your hair looks amazing!
Thank you!
Marc Barnesssssss! God bless you, Kindred Spirit 😁 I don’t have a lot of people who appreciate his writing and commentary. He is 1) poignant and 2) the consequences of his ideas (or the ideas that he puts into words I can comprehend) are too much for me to practice…right now. However, I see the good. Seeing the good and removing the masks of false idols in our society and my life in particular is scary at first, but I have a hope that very soon, removing these idols will be a challenge I actually ENJOY. Freedom isn’t some battle cry from a movie, and it isn’t only applicable to talk of politics. Freedom is real and can be particular to ME, the embodied soul. That is something to be excited about. Three cheers to facing life with the light on!
You've touched on SUCH a good point: sometimes you can love the idea being presented and see the truth and goodness of it but know it's not something you can implement immediately or fully. (I actually have an update video coming down the line about this very thing!) So many get discouraged there, but I love your take on it! Keeping duty and delight together...and taking steps as you're able in the right direction. YES.
Ok I love this, I’ve been working my way through your content and was thinking about joining common house and was hoping I could connect with other moms in my community…. I’d love to try it! I do love your videos and how they are so pedagogy, philosophy and human centered. I
Well, thank you! We'd love to have you!
We ditched our microwave a few months ago. It definitely takes longer to reheat leftovers and I have to think about dinner more ahead of time and make sure things are defrosted. The food tastes so much better, though, and I'm glad to have that box out of the house!
Yes! Those decisions usually give immediate good things!
same!
These were great! We did get a landline re-installed a few years ago, mainly so our daughter could talk to her Grandparents who live far away on the phone, and have a phone number to give out to her friends at dance. Unfortunately, the service was SO expensive (twice the cost of a flip phone's monthly service) we removed it. But I agree whole-heartedly. Cell phones, for most people, are totally unnecessary!
Oh really?! Okay, so this is another angle I'm mulling over: there are serious "barriers to entry" in a smartphone world. I tried to open a bank account the other day for our co-op and couldn't even finish the process because it could only be completed on the smartphone app. Or having a doubly expensive landline because...everyone assumes you'll have the smartphone.
Going to pull a Wendell. You may all WRITE me to reach me.
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I am considering trying to find a cell phone that only works as a phone. No text. That is an ideal situation for me, personally! I wish my dumb phone would auto respond to texts saying, "The person receiving this text would rather hear your voice. Call her." ;)
@thecommonplacehomeschool The push for everything to be accessible only via phone is by design. It's part of The Plan.
If I find a place that does not take cash, for example, we skip it. The only exception to this would be certain utility bills or some other such thing that we cannot pay for in person.
Also, my husband is an OTR trucker and quite literally NEEDS a phone with all the bells and whistles for work. The industry has changed drastically since he started driving. It sucks.
I have a flip phone just waiting for me to use it. Yet, I haven’t committed. Your videos have definitely been pushing me that way!
Dooooo it. Do it.
I’ve been digging into your content the past couple weeks and really enjoying everything. I’m so close to doing this, you might just push me over the edge. So fun to hear you’ve heard of Marc Barnes! New Polity is my jam 😊
Ah, yes! I've been talking to my people for almost a year about my dumb phone but one Marc Barnes interview (on Pints) and they start ditching their iPhones....ha!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool ok this might not be a question you want to answer, so forgive me if I’m being too forward on the internet, but I’m curious if you’re Catholic? You’ve mentioned now two Catholic sources and you’ve also mentioned a couple Catholic things in other videos but I couldn’t figure out if you are or not haha. I am, so just curious if you are too?
Haha people guess our theological tradition weekly. I'm a hard peg, I suppose. But no, we're not Catholic. I am, however, happy to share an excellent resource from across the traditions!
I leave my simple cell phone off when I'm at home (which is often), but do take it with me (and turn it on) when I leave the house. However. It is always on silent when on. But most of the time it is off. I did get a home phone when I made the switch (unfortunately, land lines are no longer a thing, and they have to be hooked up through your internet, which I found annoying) but I also have the ringer turned off on the home phone, as well, and only pick it up if I need to make a phone call (or return someone else's call after seeing they left me a voicemail).
Oh, I like that: keeping the house phone on silent too. I now go days without looking at my phone which cracks me up because I thought I "rarely" checked my iPhone...multiple times a day. I'm suspicious of machines that demand my attention now! (And the computer-how I now check my email, do my work things-does not demand me. I choose to use it for intentional uses and then get off. There must be more to the form of the technology too. Still thinking on it!)
I’ve appreciated this series. I haven’t transitioned to a dumb phone because on my phone plan that would cost far more if I did that, and that is not the sort of dumb I’m going for. So I’ve “dumbed” down my iPhone as much as possible for now. That said, I think what does have me concerned is that all of this is a privilege. It shouldn’t be, but for now it is. For some people in some place, being lost or without a cell phone could have severe consequences, including death. I’ve also seen how smartphones can be essential tools-because, yes, they can still be tools. I worked in a public library where I had patrons who were marginalized and unhoused people. Smartphones were often their lifetimes. It’s how they applied for jobs, made money, sent money to their family members, found housing, learned things, took care of legal issues, translated things if they didn’t speak English, and more. None of this is ideal for a multitude of reasons-the least of which is the cellphone, really-and it strikes me as more important than a couple of us ditching smartphones for dumb phones because we are the privileged few who can. I don’t know what will make the change, but I find that question more pressing than my own personal ability to safely leave home without a cellphone. I think doing what we can ourselves is lovely and admirable, *and* I think acknowledging what an exceptional thing it is to be able choose another way is essential. Then after we acknowledge that, I believe must do what we can to make this change more accessible to marginalized people and contribute to ways they can improve their lives period. Doing that sans machines is a bonus.
Ema, hello! Gosh, I wrote you the longest reply and YT promptly deleted it! But thank you for your thoughtful comment!
Basically, I have some reading for you, if you're up for it? Marc Barnes makes an interesting point that our modern world redefines "useful property" (what used to be sheep and land) as the possession of know-how, technology, and skill. Wealth and privilege are based more on that than natural resources. The smartphone world requires "a new and constant relationship of dispossession between the poor and the technologically wealthy"...if you consider what the OT warned against when it was sheep and land, how might those same concerns play out, on behalf of the poor today? It's a very interesting application of what has been understood as caring for those in need and how the smartphone violates those principles.
I'm still mulling it over: medium.com/@marcjohnpaul/christians-shouldnt-use-smartphones-64cddc2b3527
@@thecommonplacehomeschool
Hello, Autumn! Kind of you to thoughtfully reply. I’m sorry your first go got the boot from YT. You really gave me a lot to think on.
I read the article you shared and, while interesting, it feels to me like Barnes isn’t getting to the root of the issue. He touches on it here and there but doesn’t seem to get down to it. I believe the root is the attention economy and the monetization of our data. The physical tool of the phone is currently the medium via which the attention economy functions. But that isn’t the inherent nature of the object.
The useful property argument is curious. The function of sheep and land in the ancient world seems more akin to modern day money and real estate than it does to technology. Technology was still technology-it’s just that then it was knives or styluses, and now it’s phones. His property argument seems better likened to attention-sheep and land were worth, now attention and privacy is worth. And that is what’s being exploited.
I would argue that this is the age of the dispossession of nearly everyone, especially those who are marginalized, through the replacement of owned skills with the exploitation of people’s attention, worth, dignity and privacy which renders our wants and needs into capital. The issue with the Zuckerbergs and Bezoses is their unchecked, extractive *business models* which harvest from our lives. Their main product is not devices. Their main product is us. And the main problem is that that’s legal.
From Barnes, I don’t really get a clear solution that could function at a societal level. I see a lot of personal responsibility and Christian ideals, but not really communal action or cooperation for the betterment of all. To me, solutions like that are far more promising. It seems like Barnes’ solution is that all Christians should ditch their smartphones? Correct me if I’m wrong. I just don’t see how that changes things broadly. What about the low-income mother who needs to use a banking app (that harvests her data) and sells things she finds at Goodwill on Poshmark (which harvests her data and takes a cut) to scrape by? I’d rather hold accountable the eight people who own the majority of the world’s wealth and regulate companies that hurt us all than tell her she can’t have a tool that is allowing her get by right now.
Because maybe that mother also listens to your podcast on her smartphone when she’s working or commuting and it helps her learn about books that she reads to her children in the evening. Or books she reads herself. She uses her smartphone to put them on hold at the local library because she has no time to browse. I’d rather get to the root, to the systems that harms her, then tell her she can or cannot do something because Jesus probably wouldn’t have.
Communal, broad scale solutions give me more hope. I’d rather flip tables and bring down systems of power, which is not something I have to wonder if Jesus would do. And right now, as you show by making informative podcasts and videos, that’s something we can work towards with the tool of technology.
I want to be clear though, I’ve been grateful for your perspective and nudge in this series! Dumbing down my phone has helped me greatly. But I know that’s as far as it will extend and that concerns me.
As someone who has been homeless and had many fellow homeless friends, please stop using that ridiculous "unhoused" "soft language" garbage. It's ridiculous (yes, I'm using this word twice) and patronizing.
Though yes, those phone are indeed a lifeline for homeless people these days.
I love the Paul Kingsnorth shout out! I fondly remember how many people I gabbed about that article with at CMEC retreat because I had just read it. 😂🙃 I’m really enjoying continuing to read his thoughts on AI and the Machine, though I’m not quite in the Doomsday train (yet???).
You definitely gave me a few inspiring ideas that day! Ha! When I started this series, someone asked me if I had read his machine posts and I realized it was the same author and dove right in! His recent 4-part questions about AI/internet was fascinating! And...terrifying.
Yes!!! I limited Wi-Fi /data to certain locations and activities … saves sanity. I actually listened to this video as a companion during exercise otherwise I’d be staring lounging getting nothing done if I had unlimited Internet. I still have my smartphone but stopped abusing TikTok and CZcams etc
Love putting helpful limitations/habit stacking!
I’m loving these videos on smart phones. I would like to hear more. I noticed that these iCards are for websites (Marc and Paul) do you recommend any books just like these recommendations instead of websites. I’d like to read them with my teen.
Marc has a quarterly print magazine at New Polity (I'm a subscriber for it!) and you could read that together. Otherwise, Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport is one of my favorites (without being distopian).
Wow... I tried the dumb phone for about 4 months. And had the same feelings about driving and getting lost. I still challenge myself to go places from memory and enjoy getting lost a little and even stopping to ask for directions. Your inspiring me to go back to this ehem, smart-person- dumb-phone.
Can I ask what made you return to the smartphone? I'd love to hear more of people's decisions in that direction!
@The Commonplace | Classical CM Home Education I allowed the pressure of convenience and habit get to me along with a bad experience. ... uh the power of habit! I was in the car and was driving and talking on my not so hands-free flip phone. 😐 It was a stressful day and I kind of had to take the call, didn’t listen to my conscience telling me to pull over (bc I was on the expressway) and got a ticket for using my phone. There was no Bluetooth option for that phone 😕. Buy I am in a much better place to forge on. I am inspired and plan to have this conversation with my husband again. Thank you for your strength and courage sis ❤️
@@Lowenergymom Further up and further in, my friend. That is the journey we're on!
I bought yhe same "dumb phone" as you, Autumn. I just need to transfer my photos and videos to my computer and then I will get rid of my smart phone. I'm really excited!!!
So excited for you, Bethany!
For Pascha this year, an older woman in my parish gathered all the "newbies" (it was my first time celebrating Easter in the Byzantine Catholic Church) together one evening and we made the traditional Pascha bread together, under her direction. I just could not stop thinking about how much that is so human is lost in all of the short-cuts we take, or the ways we try to be independent. It also made me think about how Charlotte Mason writes so much about how necessary humility is to true education, and how we can so easily fake knowledge nowadays... we don't *need* to have a stance of humility when we google things, in fact, I think it can make us act like know-it-alls. Anyhoo! Much to ponder! My flip phone is still in its box, waiting for the SIM card to get here. Then it's party time ;)
First, I love that she did that. Second, I completely agree with you. Is Google (and its cousins) the new Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Are we reaching for things we ought not to have? Perhaps.
I'm wondering what could be said to the criticism of one of the last points made: in the instance of an emergency and you're without a phone, the solution would be that someone else nearby has one. Aren't we then depending on another's dependence on their technology? Is there virtue in that? It seems like we can make a higher choice (complete detachment from smartphones), only if other people make the lower choice (attachment to a smartphone).
Loving this channel. Inspiring and lovely content! My smartphone just broke, and we've been on the fence for years about either 'dumbing' a smartphone down, or using an actual dumb phone.
I think this is a great question.
If the higher choice is "complete detachment from the smartphone", we can still choose to have a simple/dumb phone for emergencies. It doesn't put the burden on others to keep to the lower choice of attachment to a smartphone.
However, if you rephrase that to detachment from a PHONE (which was my last point), then I think it changes things slightly.
Since filming this, I've had some trouble on the trails (I have other videos detailing safety habits for the trail that give more detail.) and now 100% take my dumb phone with me. The smartphone doesn't provide any additional help; I just need the ability to call for help which my dumb phone can do!
Now, if we don't have a phone, there are many ways to ask for help from others. (This is how life used to be! Break down on the side of the road? You'll have to walk to the nearest house/shop and ask to borrow their landline or wait for someone to stop and help you.) In the best light, this forces us *back* into community and an awareness of our need for others. (Technology like smartphones-and even dumb phones-create isolated persons who need machines, not people.)
So I might say virtue is grown (partly) in the soil of good community, and allowing ourselves to need others is a good thing. (Need their smartphone? No. No one would have to have a smartphone to be helpful. History makes that point.)
wonderful video! thank you! I have a smart phone, husband and teen have "dumb" phones. Have toyed with giving up mine and reverting to a dumb phone - but in my country, many car parks now only take payment through a smart phone. Shopping in smaller shops - some don't take cash anymore, so need the debit card or the phone to swipe. Hmm... my tickets to the ballet were on the apple wallet app, but could be printed out. Love the definition of what a machine is - my phone is clearly a machine, designed to enslave my attention first thing every morning, to clutch it over coffee and to keep an eye on it instead of a true, meaningful focus on my day. The machine doesn't play fair. Even when it's put in a drawer, my attention wanders to it, depriving me of the focus to read novels. it's insane. Clearly my strong boundaries on social media use are not enough to tame the Machine and its coercive hold over my mind. Yearning my my old Motorola flip phone, circa 2008 - it had big enough keys to text with, yet it was practical, sturdy and fit in a handbag.
There are definite barriers to entry without a smartphone. Restaurants, parking, groceries, etc. I find the same in our city but I can usually ask someone to help me. They know *not everyone* has a smartphone (and I think dumb phones will make a comeback.) and they can still help you-even if they let you know how inconvenient you are.
All part of the plan, unfortunately.
I’m usually the penny pincher in the house so if I’m contemplating on making an Amazon order I will put the things that I “need” in the cart and ask my children if they “need” anything and that the deadline is Friday for letting me know. Usually not a single person out of our large family will add anything. I’ve been known to keep that cart open for two weeks without ordering. 😆
Classic mom wisdom: wait 48 hours before deciding. I really like that deadline idea/sitting on the cart.
I'm the same way. We don't shop online much but when we do, it'll go in the "save for later" section (if applicable) until I've really thought about it. I wish it was feasible to get these things in person at brick and mortar stores but where we live, it simply isn't possible.
Good for you! I have never considered having a smart phone, still have a Nokia for phoning and texting - nearly always leave it at home in the drawer when I go out, it is like having a personal assistant who picks up messages and I then ring when it is convenient for me. I live in Brighton UK, have only one friend without a smart phone like I am, all the rest have chosen differently. I have met with exasperation from some when I cannot do certain tasks but I stand firm. We have to. Ordinary human interaction is important, like asking directions, chatting to people on buses rather than endlessly tapping and scrolling. I do not give in to any peer pressure, it does take some effort at times but we will have the last laugh. I actually think smart phones are evil devices and I wish I could rid the world of them entirely
Ah, Mary, you may know some of my friends: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Wendell Berry? Have you read The Abolition of Man? I'm pretty sure Lewis would agree with you that smartphones are evil, like the evil magic forbidden in scripture! I actually talk about this in my fairytale videos. And if not that extreme, I'm seeing Wendell Berry's wisdom in refusing the computer: it hurts the things he loves like local community, nature, etc.
@@thecommonplacehomeschool wow amazing! I am an artist, fairy tales are a huge thing for me in both the artwork and in the reading of the orginal stories which I love! Could you direct me to your fairy tale videos please, I would love to see some. I don't know Wendell Berry but will look into this. I definitely see nature being affected by the constant overuse of devices. Students who attend my classes in mixed media are actually grateful that I ask them to switch off their phones to focus and be in the present moment, like a creative spa break - resistent at first, now happy as can be!
I found Why We Read Fairy Tales parts 1 and 2 - are there others?
@@marychapman177 Those are the only ones for fairy tales right now!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool okay thank you!
I would 100 percent get rid of my smartphone before my microwave. The radiation box stays, thank you very much. 😂
Hahaha, I've never heard anyone say this before!
Can you make a video on how plan your content all while homeschooling and running your home? Maybe in your group?
Ooh yeah, great idea for Common House, Joy! Thank you. I'll add it to my list!
I have a basic phone and I definitely forget it or loose it all the time. It's surprising how little I need it. If I'm going somewhere with my husband I really don't need it, because he has a phone.
Once you realize how little you really NEED it, the game changes. I really appreciate not feeling enslaved to the tiny computer but still using certain technologies, in restricted ways, as they benefit our family. Digital Minimalism by Newport is a great read on this!
Christ is Risen! Another great video! Thank you for sharing your wisdom, you inspire this 56 year old lady!
Truly he is risen!
Thank you! I'm really enjoying Kingsnorth and Barnes! Highly recommend for further reading!
I just recently came across Kingsnorth on Jonathan Pagaeu’s podcast. Which book of Kingsnorth would you suggest reading?
Is it Julian Barnes?
How did your Orthodox experience of lent and Pascha go?
@@everywherejoy9019 Haven't made it to his books yet, but deep in his substack. Marc Barnes of New Polity! And Lent was a journey, Holy Week services were incredible (can't argue with how formative the liturgical services are!), and Pascha has been a sweet time of celebration! I'm grateful for the invitation to step into "the drama" of the life of Christ.
I gave up my phone in early Covid - in France if you didn't have a smart phone they couldn't enforce having a vaccine pass - or green pass as they called it **getting ready for climate change lockdowns? - so I stopped carrying it, then moved to not having it on in the house. Now, I do have to have one, but I've got a cheap-o that is meant for elderly with big buttons and 2G, with the battery out in the draw and only use it when I need a verification code for banking or another login. Otherwise, never carry it. And it's changed everything.
Upside? Memory is better, attention span is better, sleep is better, contemplation and decisions are improved. Dumb phone is an excellent choice.
Reading maps is a learned skill. I'm super good at it simply because of how I grew up, reading maps, both road and topographical. And I never forget where I've been or how to find my way back there. One also see's so much more along the way, weirdly!
I agree with all your upsides. One thing I haven't gotten to in a video yet is the ability to maintain internal long-form thought. My thoughts do not flit about at the pace of the smartphone content/lifestyle. I'm curious how the smartphone (and apps within) have altered our ability to enjoy our own company.
Lulu, could you share a little more about how your memory has been affected?
The only thing holding me back about getting rid of my iPhone is the camera. I take all the pictures and videos of my family on my cell phone. Do you use a digital camera for everyday moments or do you not worry about those?
I don't worry about 'em! But I do want to pass this along for some interesting reading: www.firstthings.com/article/2016/05/click-fix
Never had a smart phone and never will. Use my dumb phone as a house phone so I usually simply keep it at home. Got rid of my landline because of expense - dumb phone cheaper- and too many junk calls on the landline disturbing my peace.
We noticed that with a land line as well! It was so expensive! And so many calls from either wrong numbers or telemarketers. Super annoying. I think that dumb phone as house phone is a great solution!
Smart. I didn't think about spam callers on a house phone too!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool that's the main reason I started turning the ringer off and leaving it on silent - they're pretty terrible.
I WISH I could give up my phone. Unfortunately with my work and having all these security features etc necessary for our company data integrity and security I "need" it. I have adopted a new approach though to put it down and just walk away when I don't need to use it!
Have you read Digital Minimalism? Newport's framework for using tech in the best way may be helpful if your work life demands you keep one!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool Will definitely read it, thanks!
You have inspired me to listen to my intuition again. As a mom of 3 littles, I can feel that I am not using the full brain God has given me! Is technology making my life harder? I used to read so much more, I loved looking in my encyclopedia to get answers when I was younger. I think my memory is just not the same. I have been wondering about landlines lately! Especially for my kids to be able to call grandparents, 911, etc no one is talking about this! Seriously. It's a problem. Thank you!
So happy to have you here to discuss!
🤢 I urge you to look into what you are actually saying when you refer to children as the L word. Please.
Hint: gross adult content
So much of this is just so funny to me. Isn’t this how we used to live? All these things you’re discovering. I’m guessing you and I are about the same age based on things you’ve said. I went 1200 miles away for college and travelled abroad to a country I couldn’t remotely speak the language at age 20. All without a smartphone. When I start to think of all the reasons I “need” to keep one I think back to this and realize it will just require a habit change. I’ve had several seasons of going back to a normal cell phone with wonderful benefits. I always for some reason go back to a smart phone. I start out with good habits but always revert back to old ways of overuse, using it to numb my mind when overwhelmed, etc. I stumbled across your videos searing online for “dumb” phones that are dependable and work well. I just moved to a new city, but I realize I can manage without my GPS 24/7 just like I used to before I was old enough to vote figuring out how to get places. And just like people who moved to new places for generations before me. Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope it will be eye opening or at the very least thought provoking for many others.
Hello there! I often think back to the number of times I got lost driving up and down the east coast for college and my short life in a foreign country without a phone at all...so yes, we're probably a similar age!
I think when we ask any questions of the normalized technology, a certain generation * can * remember life before and it is, therefore, a possibility to return with a small amount of habit retraining. For those after that generation, though, it's actually not a possibility in the same way. I know what it's like to live without Google (not as an adult, but as a child), but a teenager today does not know a time without Google. They're not bringing out old lost skills, they're having to learn entirely new ones...in a world that's pushing against them in work, social, and church expectations and norms.
But for me, while I'm not learning new skills (I'm pulling out the old ones!), I'm finding how they look/work practically in a "new world". While they seem obvious (indeed!), the fact that people retort, "Why don't you just Google that?" or "But HOW can anyone ever reach you?!" shows just how deep the average person is in the Machine world.
Hoping to pull a few out by dropping a few ideas here and there.
How/when do you listen to podcast? I am seriously considering how to minimize or just get rid of the smart phone
Ah, I only listen every so often through my computer (after my kids' bedtime)! I'm definitely more of a quality over quantity listener and without the smartphone, that bar is even higher.
@@thecommonplacehomeschoolIf I may ask, what podcasts are you listening to?
@@Stephanie_Villegas Not many. I've found losing the smartphone has forced me to choose quality (limited time!) when before I could put on any good pod in the background. When I do have a little time, I will queue up: The Literary Life Podcast, A Drink with a Friend, Classical Stuff You Should Know, Stories are Soul Food, and Schole Sisters.
I'm trying to find ways to get around having my phone at work. As a teacher in a large high school, our team members are always sending text messages, usually about work-related tasks. If I told them I didn't have a phone anymore, I'm not sure how I'd get around this.
I find it interesting teachers (or any employee) use a personal phone/text to communicate work-related things. Do you think those communications are necessary/helpful or can they be shared in a teacher's workroom when you see each other?
@The Commonplace | Classical CM Home Education I am certain we can relate important issues in between classes or via email. The students have my full attention during class time, so I honestly have the habit of ignoring messages (and emails for that matter). But there have been a couple occasions when a team member said I needed to check messages because it might have to do with a change to our lesson or something of that nature. I actually think this just reflects our current culture's need to have instant answers to everything. I really don't want to be a part of it.
@@jazzstandardman Yeah, I really try to push back against "instant access" to information or to people. It's really not necessary in the course of an average day!
What are you thoughts on utilizing CZcams or the computer in general? Could you see yourself living your daily life without these tools in the future? Great video! 🙂
Well, I do use the YT/computer for work...so this is where it gets tricky and you have to start defining some terms. (Marc Barnes has been really helpful in this.) I use the computer as a tool to do my work but the computer doesn't do the work for me (that would take it from tool to machine). Now the computer can very easily become a machine depending on how you use it; it's just now how *I* use it. I don't think I'll ever be able to pull a Wendell Berry and go completely free, even if I want to. If, in the future, I'm no longer working in this current capacity, then yes, I think I could go without YT easily and I'd probably ask to use my husband's computer very rarely instead of having one for me.
But (!), the tech we accept and normalize begins to shape the world we live in. It may be near impossible to bank, tax, register, etc. without a computer in the future...so, there's that.
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I agree with you on the potential impossibility of certain tasks in the future without a computer. It's a catch 22, isn't it. Looking at these things as tools is helpful. Some machines that do the job for you are huge blessings (i.e. washing machines, dishwashers, etc), but, like you, I am uneasy about the willingness of some who happily forfeit their God-ordained abilities in favor of allowing a computer to do the job. It's a slippery slope indeed.
@@thecommonplacehomeschoolany updates? Are you still utilizing the flip phone?
I am, yes!@@thujahillhomemaking
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I love this. I have certainly considered such things come the New Year. I am trying to decide if simply deleting most apps would be as sufficient as switching over to something like a light phone, for instance. The "smart" phone becomes incredibly boring when there are no apps on it, so that may do the trick. We shall see!
Autumn - have you read Sensing Jesus by Zack Eswine? I think you would enjoy. (Guess how I remembered that title? By googling some key phrases from the book. Gah.)
Hahaha, the machine-break up is a process. I have heard of his book (good things!) but haven't read it. I will try to find it next time I pop into a bookstore...just kidding, I'm going to Google the summary. Aye.
An option for a home phone is magicJack. An annual plan costs $43. An ethernet cord connects magicJack to your Wi-Fi router. A phone cord connects your phone to magicJack. There are ways to use magicJack through the phone lines already in your walls as would be done with a traditional landline. I've never done that, so I can't give details.
Oh, interesting! Thank you for the heads up!
Street maps are almost non existent in my area which is what keep me with my phone ☹️
Ugh. Nothing like getting lost a few times to figure out those streets!
Do you think you could do this if your family didn’t live close?
Yes, as I never really used FaceTime for myself. Just a simple phone call! (Also, I wouldn't say they live close since it's a days worth of travel to reach them!)
Could ditch microwaves, and television 🙂
Indeed!