Just to add to the issue that smartphones bring to the world, and I found this paradigm interesting: my parents spent the weekend with us, they are in their late 50’s and early 60’s, and instead of focusing on their 4mos old grandson, they were glued to their phones. I made a comment about them being on their phones no less than a dozen times throughout the 48hrs they were there as they aimlessly scrolled Facebook.
So it’s not just teens, the boomers seem to be fixated on smartphones as well. Maybe because they didn’t have it for so long or maybe some other reason but it’s interesting to witness.
I’ve recently realized that I’ve succumbed to the same malady as your folks, Justin. Pretty pitiful and embarrassing for me. Boomers are totally addicted as well.
You may have me inspired here... I'm the grayscale using, phone outside the room, occasionally leave home without it guy who feels like he's doing all the right things
The more I think about it though even the 10 second checks throughout the day do way more than steal 10 seconds - it insidiously robs you from what could have been uninterrupted, quality attention spent on the moment, in your thoughts, with another person
I’m not willing to admit I have a problem yet. 😀 But a few weeks ago I started working in the garden for 30 minutes every evening and I do enjoy the time away from a screen
Instant subscribe Alex, this piece is amazing, not just because it speaks to the same thoughts and feelings that I have, but because of the gorgeous quality of the writing. I copied the model of the phone you got and I’m going to check it out because I feel like the last hurdle that’s stopping me from making the switch is just figuring out which one to get, but I’m determined to follow through and make it happen. I love what you said about quality of attention, that hit me really hard. I want to give my whole life that attention and owning a device whose entire existence is dedicated to taking that quality of attention away is just ludicrous. Thank you for this piece and letting me know about it!
Thanks so much for the kind words Arty (and the subscription)! Was curious to get your take after reading your piece. I'd be interested to hear what you end up deciding and how it works out.
For what it's worth, there's a whole subreddit devoted to 'dumb phones', and one of the biggest things folks on there talk about is that every device on the market comes with different tradeoffs and ultimately won't be perfect (by design). I found myself spending a bunch of time comparing them before realizing I just needed to pick one and see how it went. I think the Sunbeam series is solid, and they have a bunch of models depending on how much or little functionality you want.
Wishing you the best with this - it's daunting, but well worth it in my opinion!
Yes, I actually found that subreddit and came to the same conclusion, that you won’t find the perfect dumb phone but you can hopefully get to the closest thing to what you need. Honestly, at this point, I’m leaning toward bringing my iPhone to get “filtered” and have them lock all the apps aside from the basic ones… I’m not sure though because it’s still a smart phone and I feel like when it comes down to it, it’s going to be harder to stick to it if I know in the back of my mind there’s an option to reverse it, whereas getting a dumb phone sort of locks you into that decision. But I use my Waze every day and it’s hard to give up on the camera too… so that might be the option that makes the most sense for me… I actually use a device called the Brick now, but I don’t always lock it so… anyway as you can see, I just go in circles with this decision. I have to just take the plunge! I’ll let you know when I do!
Very cool to see the final draft of this after early iterations. Loved the way it all came together. It's inspiring. I hope you'll write a follow-up after you've really settled in!
Hello fellow Sunbeam F1 Pro user! Beautiful piece. Switching to a dumbphone is both remarkably simple and transformative. I've had mine for nearly half a year with no plans on ever going back.
I'm very late to the game here, but so glad to finally be reading this piece. It's the best no-smartphone manifesto I've read. So moving and great. I love the writing throughout, but also that instead of only painting the dystopian picture (and the guy watching Tik Tok on two phones is very dystopian!), your recounting of these moments with Duke, and the unexpected calls with friends... all of that is so beautiful and appealing. Really excellent stuff, man.
So happy to have stumbled onto your page! I’ve been considering switching to a non smartphone, I think the biggest piece for me is not fitting in, I know that’s crazy to think of but when I don’t have a blue bubble it might feel different in some way
Just to add to the issue that smartphones bring to the world, and I found this paradigm interesting: my parents spent the weekend with us, they are in their late 50’s and early 60’s, and instead of focusing on their 4mos old grandson, they were glued to their phones. I made a comment about them being on their phones no less than a dozen times throughout the 48hrs they were there as they aimlessly scrolled Facebook.
So it’s not just teens, the boomers seem to be fixated on smartphones as well. Maybe because they didn’t have it for so long or maybe some other reason but it’s interesting to witness.
I’ve recently realized that I’ve succumbed to the same malady as your folks, Justin. Pretty pitiful and embarrassing for me. Boomers are totally addicted as well.
Yep. Hits home.
This makes me really, really sad.
On a separate note - your new Substack name is phenomenal
Another excellent piece. So are you saying we're pretty dumb to spend so much time on a smart phone?
Yep! And smart to spend time on a dumb phone!
Or rather, less time
You may have me inspired here... I'm the grayscale using, phone outside the room, occasionally leave home without it guy who feels like he's doing all the right things
The more I think about it though even the 10 second checks throughout the day do way more than steal 10 seconds - it insidiously robs you from what could have been uninterrupted, quality attention spent on the moment, in your thoughts, with another person
🎯
Very well said!
Really interesting Alex. I've turned on Assistive Access on my iPhone but if that doesn't work I might have to look into the flip phones
I’m not willing to admit I have a problem yet. 😀 But a few weeks ago I started working in the garden for 30 minutes every evening and I do enjoy the time away from a screen
Instant subscribe Alex, this piece is amazing, not just because it speaks to the same thoughts and feelings that I have, but because of the gorgeous quality of the writing. I copied the model of the phone you got and I’m going to check it out because I feel like the last hurdle that’s stopping me from making the switch is just figuring out which one to get, but I’m determined to follow through and make it happen. I love what you said about quality of attention, that hit me really hard. I want to give my whole life that attention and owning a device whose entire existence is dedicated to taking that quality of attention away is just ludicrous. Thank you for this piece and letting me know about it!
Thanks so much for the kind words Arty (and the subscription)! Was curious to get your take after reading your piece. I'd be interested to hear what you end up deciding and how it works out.
For what it's worth, there's a whole subreddit devoted to 'dumb phones', and one of the biggest things folks on there talk about is that every device on the market comes with different tradeoffs and ultimately won't be perfect (by design). I found myself spending a bunch of time comparing them before realizing I just needed to pick one and see how it went. I think the Sunbeam series is solid, and they have a bunch of models depending on how much or little functionality you want.
Wishing you the best with this - it's daunting, but well worth it in my opinion!
Yes, I actually found that subreddit and came to the same conclusion, that you won’t find the perfect dumb phone but you can hopefully get to the closest thing to what you need. Honestly, at this point, I’m leaning toward bringing my iPhone to get “filtered” and have them lock all the apps aside from the basic ones… I’m not sure though because it’s still a smart phone and I feel like when it comes down to it, it’s going to be harder to stick to it if I know in the back of my mind there’s an option to reverse it, whereas getting a dumb phone sort of locks you into that decision. But I use my Waze every day and it’s hard to give up on the camera too… so that might be the option that makes the most sense for me… I actually use a device called the Brick now, but I don’t always lock it so… anyway as you can see, I just go in circles with this decision. I have to just take the plunge! I’ll let you know when I do!
Please do :)
Very cool to see the final draft of this after early iterations. Loved the way it all came together. It's inspiring. I hope you'll write a follow-up after you've really settled in!
Thanks Charlie, and thanks again for the excellent feedback. Yeah - will definitely need to write a pulse check after 6 months or so.
This is a great, important, and critical sentence: “I’ve become better friends with myself.”
Thank you. 🙏
I think so too :) Thank you, James
Hello fellow Sunbeam F1 Pro user! Beautiful piece. Switching to a dumbphone is both remarkably simple and transformative. I've had mine for nearly half a year with no plans on ever going back.
Love that! Encouraging to hear. Thanks for the kind words Alexa.
I'm very late to the game here, but so glad to finally be reading this piece. It's the best no-smartphone manifesto I've read. So moving and great. I love the writing throughout, but also that instead of only painting the dystopian picture (and the guy watching Tik Tok on two phones is very dystopian!), your recounting of these moments with Duke, and the unexpected calls with friends... all of that is so beautiful and appealing. Really excellent stuff, man.
Appreciate the kind words brother.
So happy to have stumbled onto your page! I’ve been considering switching to a non smartphone, I think the biggest piece for me is not fitting in, I know that’s crazy to think of but when I don’t have a blue bubble it might feel different in some way
Not fitting in might be a good exercise!
Touché
I’m circling back to a Nokia soon. Did you keep your smartphone as a back up or just jump with no parachute
No parachute!
All I have to say is…truth.