What would you do without email?

[BlueNightingale]

I received the new updated policies for Microsoft and I haven't gone over it thoroughly, but if its too weird and I think it might be because of recent developments with AI, I might let it go. Which means everything else online goes by default.

Like what would you even do without all of it?

That would mean no online shopping (I'd need to hurry up and buy seeds for next year), no forums, using a check register full time, and also going back to 1991.

Everything requires email and a phone.
Everything.

Email is one step beyond no phone.

 

[SavedInHim]

I received the new updated policies for Microsoft and I haven't gone over it thoroughly, but if its too weird and I think it might be because of recent developments with AI, I might let it go. Which means everything else online goes by default.

Like what would you even do without all of it?

That would mean no online shopping (I'd need to hurry up and buy seeds for next year), no forums, using a check register full time, and also going back to 1991.

Everything requires email and a phone.
Everything.

Email is one step beyond no phone.

I think I could get by without email or the internet, but with no phone it would be nearly impossible. I was without a phone awhile back and I couldn't accomplish anything. At least the public library has free wifi and there are other places with free wifi.

 

[Rita]

I could cope without an email - I still write letters and make phone calls !! lol

 

[BlueNightingale]

I think I could get by without email or the internet, but with no phone it would be nearly impossible. I was without a phone awhile back and I couldn't accomplish anything. At least the public library has free wifi and there are other places with free wifi.

We wanted to go without a phone and stay with a landline. The problem with that is you can't anymore. Where I am, we could only find the option to have both phone and internet. We don't want Wi-Fi internet, so that defeated the purpose.

I do know one man who doesn't use any of it. I might ask him how he does it. I've met a few seniors that don't use anything. Some modern Mennonite households don't use any of it and some do.

I have a flip phone it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles and I don't really use it for anything but texts and calls.

Yes, things seem a little closer to Orwell's 1984, but what actually concerns me is if breaches are consistent- and they are, why in the world would I want sensitive information that I'm not even aware of being stored without my knowledge and by that, just making myself more vulnerable?

 

[SavedInHim]

We wanted to go without a phone and stay with a landline. The problem with that is you can't anymore. Where I am, we could only find the option to have both phone and internet. We don't want Wi-Fi internet, so that defeated the purpose.

I do know one man who doesn't use any of it. I might ask him how he does it. I've met a few seniors that don't use anything. Some modern Mennonite households don't use any of it and some do.

I have a flip phone it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles and I don't really use it for anything but texts and calls.

Yes, things seem a little closer to Orwell's 1984, but what actually concerns me is if breaches are consistent- and they are, why in the world would I want sensitive information that I'm not even aware of being stored without my knowledge and by that, just making myself more vulnerable?

Yes, it just depends on your lifestyle. Asking others how they get by without it sounds like a good idea.

 

[Debp]

We wanted to go without a phone and stay with a landline. The problem with that is you can't anymore. Where I am, we could only find the option to have both phone and internet.

I just got a cellphone last year as AT&T threatened to get rid of landlines.

I got phone only cell service through Consumer Cellular. It's very good and also reasonable. They use AT&T and T-Mobile cell towers so no problems with service at all.

 

[Muna]

I received the new updated policies for Microsoft and I haven't gone over it thoroughly, but if its too weird and I think it might be because of recent developments with AI, I might let it go. Which means everything else online goes by default.

Like what would you even do without all of it?

That would mean no online shopping (I'd need to hurry up and buy seeds for next year), no forums, using a check register full time, and also going back to 1991.

Everything requires email and a phone.
Everything.

Email is one step beyond no phone.

I have an email but I don't really use it. I rarely if ever use email and could very easily just get rid of it without missing it. Yeah, if you shop somewhere online they want to send you one but I can shop by phone (and have) without using an email at all. You don't need for offline banking do you? Because I ended all online banking and returned to paper statements. You would need one for Amazon and ebay but you can also contact those who you typically buy from on Amazon find their original websites and make a list of what you do not want to live without (from them) and their phone number and call them and ask if its possible to buy from them using a credit card using the phone (that might sound weird to those with a smart phone, but by that I mean literally calling and talking to a person and purchasing that way (using a flip phone)

Now I have personally taken the steps to be able to pull the plug at anytime necessary you can take steps to get there, and you would have to be willing to do wthout some conveniences (obviously). Like moving all things locally. Are you looking for ideas on how to get ready to get off line?

 

[Muna]

We wanted to go without a phone and stay with a landline. The problem with that is you can't anymore. Where I am, we could only find the option to have both phone and internet. We don't want Wi-Fi internet, so that defeated the purpose.

I do know one man who doesn't use any of it. I might ask him how he does it. I've met a few seniors that don't use anything. Some modern Mennonite households don't use any of it and some do.

I have a flip phone it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles and I don't really use it for anything but texts and calls.

Yes, things seem a little closer to Orwell's 1984, but what actually concerns me is if breaches are consistent- and they are, why in the world would I want sensitive information that I'm not even aware of being stored without my knowledge and by that, just making myself more vulnerable?

I feel the exact same way, I wont even keep personal information on my home computer. I invested in boxes of pencils and paper, I am so ready.

You know, there is one thing AI will argue with me over, and thats getting the heck offline, try it its amusing, it tries to scare you about impossible scenarios, I should post a conversation, has anyone tried this before?

 

[Muna]

I just got a cellphone last year as AT&T threatened to get rid of landlines.

I got phone only cell service through Consumer Cellular. It's very good and also reasonable. They use AT&T and T-Mobile cell towers so no problems with service at all.

They have been scaring people about them since like before Trump was president, I have a freind who still has a landline, and I would still have mine if it werent for a contractor that snagged my line and AT&T refused to repair it. So I went flip phone.

Most of my time on the phone comes from having to call various Corporate customer services for the problems that incur for dealing with them, it doesnt seem worth it to deal with them, the more that you can live without and do locally the less problems you are likely to have is how I think about it.

 

[Debp]

ask if its possible to buy from them using a credit card using the phone (that might sound weird to those with a smart phone, but by that I mean literally calling and talking to a person and purchasing that way (using a flip phone

Lots of companies let you phone them and order stuff over the phone with them.

They have been scaring people about them since like before Trump was president, I have a freind who still has a landline, and I would still have mine if it werent for a contractor that snagged my line and AT&T refused to repair it. So I went flip phone.

Most of my time on the phone comes from having to call various Corporate customer services for the problems that incur for dealing with them, it doesnt seem worth it to deal with them, the more that you can live without and do locally the less problems you are likely to have is how I think about it.

One thing good about switching from AT &T ....with them my bill always went up a couple dollars every three months towards the end. Was paying about $49 a month for landline.

With Consumer Cellular I pay under $23 a month so that's great. Also they haven't raised my price since February 2024. And they gave me the first month for free.

 

[Muna]

Lots of companies let you phone them and order stuff over the phone with them.



One thing good about switching from AT &T ....with them my bill always went up a couple dollars every three months towards the end. Was paying about $49 a month for landline.

With Consumer Cellular I pay under $23 a month so that's great. Also they haven't raised my price since February 2024. And they gave me the first month for free.

I am rural and our reception is the problem and AT&T works for us, but we depise the company, they have this scammy send us back your black box thing (for the TV'S) that they give you a box for (because they pretend to be green) and you need to send it back within 21 days or they will charge $120. And no matter if you get it to UPS the same day (and have receipts etc) their 3rd party pick up loses it in a warehouse until they can get that money from you. Happened twice, so I would love to get rid of them, and then for phones I thought maybe pure talk but when I was considering Graphene OS on a Smart phone I heard the privacy loving company does not allow it, so it makes me question all of them.

I shouldnt care so much, I do so little talking on the phone these days, so the phone matters so little, hubby might call and tell me he is on his way home, and thats about it.

The spam and spoof calls makes me want to get rid of the thing, and not because I pick it up but because when they call (and it comes up as a missed call I will never call back) theres this little green blinking light that notifies me that someone called and it wears down my battery, its annoying to me.

 

[Debp]

am rural and our reception is the problem and AT&T works for us, but we depise the company

For what it's worth... Consumer Cellular uses AT&T cell towers, and T-Mobile towers.

 

[Muna]

For what it's worth... Consumer Cellular uses AT&T cell towers, and T-Mobile towers.

Thanks, we do use two providers, but AT&T was earlier for the landline but we just have them now for the TV's and they have changed back to Direct TV now and we are with another phone provider and internet provider now, so we are happy with what we have. But we will very likely get offline at some point, and then it will be easier to change phone plans, and might try a burner, which sounds weird I suppose, but there is no need for a phone except for an occasional order, or maybe an emergency at this point in our lives.

 

[Debp]

Thanks, we do use two providers, but AT&T was earlier for the landline but we just have them now for the TV's and they have changed back to Direct TV now and we are with another phone provider and internet provider now, so we are happy with what we have. But we will very likely get offline at some point, and then it will be easier to change phone plans, and might try a burner, which sounds weird I suppose, but there is no need for a phone except for an occasional order, or maybe an emergency at this point in our lives.

My deceased uncle in Arizona used to buy phone cards as needed. He'd buy a cheap phone too.

 

[Muna]

My deceased uncle in Arizona used to buy phone cards as needed. He'd buy a cheap phone too.

Yes, I do realize you can do this but there are so many to chose from and various pros and cons with them (and then there is reception for us) but some also have rules concerning use of minutes (really strange ones). So I havent yet decided on which route to go yet with that.

 

[BlueNightingale]

I feel the exact same way, I wont even keep personal information on my home computer. I invested in boxes of pencils and paper, I am so ready.

You know, there is one thing AI will argue with me over, and thats getting the heck offline, try it its amusing, it tries to scare you about impossible scenarios, I should post a conversation, has anyone tried this before?

Sorry I fell asleep right about when I got home. I will probably be off today.

It doesn't try to get me to stay online. It just keeps asking why and suggesting alternatives.

 

[HealthyShape]

I received the new updated policies for Microsoft and I haven't gone over it thoroughly, but if its too weird and I think it might be because of recent developments with AI, I might let it go. Which means everything else online goes by default.

Like what would you even do without all of it?

That would mean no online shopping (I'd need to hurry up and buy seeds for next year), no forums, using a check register full time, and also going back to 1991.

Everything requires email and a phone.
Everything.

Email is one step beyond no phone.

There are many simpler and better email services than that of Microsoft. There is always some alternative, because it is a free market with many players.

You can even create your own self-hosted email, even though it is a bit more advanced. But still doable. Phone number is harder to replace, because delivery services frequently need it to contact you.

 

[Lambano]

* I just checked my work email. 242 unread messages. *

 

[Lambano]

I note with irony that access to this forum requires an email address.

 

[HealthyShape]

I note with irony that access to this forum requires an email address.

But it does not require you to confirm it. Or does it? I do not remember.