As my editor aptly put it, “analogue in the digital age” captures the essence of navigating life with a dumb phone.
It’s 2012, and I’m in my final year of high school, expertly texting under my desk without even looking while my Spanish teacher quizzes me. After just a few weeks with my new phone, I became a pro at typing without looking (we’re not talking about smartphones here, for those in the know).
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Fast forward to now, and I’m stuck with a ‘dumb phone’. My fingers are revolting at the thought of having to press a button multiple times just to type one letter. I mean, who has time for that?
When I got a text, my instinct was to ignore it rather than endure the pain of typing a whole message. But I had to, so I did.
Plenty of people have embraced going back to dumb phones for various reasons, but since it was sort of imposed on me by my (dare I say tragic?) circumstances, here’s my plea (for help?).
My iPhone was overdue for an upgrade, so when I recently bought a refurbished one from a renowned Australian company, I wasn’t expecting it to be faulty — but it was.
I’ll spare you the whinging about setting up a new phone (seriously, who remembers all their passwords?) only to realise that I’d have to send it back, but it was a pain!
Nokia 235 4G — that’s what we are talking about!
I know there are bigger problems in the world, and this sounds dramatic, but think about it: our phones are now a one-stop shop for so many needs.
They connect us through calls, texts and emails, capture our everyday moments, navigate us around, allow us to pay for things and let us create, among other things.
They’re our windows to the world. We take the convenience they offer for granted until we’re forced back to basics.
For a journalist, a smartphone is a non negotiable tool — it’s essential for covering breaking news, communicating with people on the go and managing assignments wherever they happen.
Every week, I do our Wednesday Vox Pop and Faces of the GV (if you want to be featured, please reach out! My contact details are at the bottom of this article!). People are more willing to be featured when I say their photo “will be really small in the paper”.
Pointing a professional camera at them can be intimidating, so a quick phone snap is much easier.
Thankfully, I have an iPad and will embrace the full experience of being that person who takes photos with one.
It wouldn’t be as funny if I didn’t commit to the whole experience, right?
Plus, English is my third language, and although I don’t find it a barrier in my job (English is one of my soul’s languages, you see), some people speak really fast, making note-taking a challenge. Ethically, quotes must be exact, so I rely heavily on my faithful friend Otter.ai for accurate recordings and transcripts. It’s only been a few days without it, but how much I miss my dear friend cannot be described!
The upside is that I’m forced out of my comfort zone to keep up. And this woman loves a good challenge! So, although my lazy side may pester at times, there is value in this experience, and I’m (at least somewhat) grateful for it.
Recently, I jumped on an opportunity for an article and needed to head to Mooroopna Primary School. It didn’t hit me until I was ready to leave: “Where is Mooroopna Primary School, and how do I get there?”
As someone not originally from the Goulburn Valley, I rely heavily on Google Maps. I pictured myself printing directions and focusing on the road while referring to the map. Not a great scenario, but thankfully Mooroopna Primary was easy to find! Wish me luck for my next jobs though.
We all have a life soundtrack that evolves with us. Like many, music lifts my soul, and there are always tunes playing. My life feels a little less colourful now that I can’t have music on hand. Not having tunes has changed my day-to-day, and unfortunately, not for the better (sad emoji).
As a former phone addict, I’m grateful I’ve been able to reclaim my time and mind, leading to amazing personal change. But this experience has shown me that smartphones should still be appreciated for the ease they bring into our lives.
If you’d like to share your thoughts or be featured in our weekly Faces of the GV, please don't hesitate to reach out at khadija.hadjab@mmg.com.au
