Originally Posted by zzz (Post 622179)

I' m with the others here in that I don't see at all how I'm brainwashed by television. The reason cell phones have become so popular is because of convenience purposes, how are cell phones any different from, say, Thomas Edison's lightbulb? It became huge because it's far more convenient than using candles, so I don't see your point. Also, people know what they want. If they want to buy the latest fashion acessory, let them. Why should what they do impact you?

Originally Posted by jgd85 (Post 622106)

oh you do, how good for you! do you ever make a post about something other than how norway is so much better than america? so far you mock america for its disciplinary choices, health care system, obsession with celebrities, and im sure there is more that i have missed. anything else youd like to share with us? does norways citizens flatulence smell like cinnamon rolls?

as far as tv being a brainwash device, the programming is set up that way but it is avoidable. as previously mentioned, you can choose your own content. obviously there is a lot more to be learned watching the history\discovery channel than vh1\mtv\reality bull****. i equate trash tv to ****ty fiction novels with less vocabulary.

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius (Post 622185)

I used it as an example. If its for convenience then why is it required. I though i was allowed to have options. I have a home phone and a phone at work, why is it required I spend 60-70 dollars more a month? there are call boxes all up and down the highway. There are also payphones everywhere you go. I would much rather use a free call box, a pay phone here or there and my home and office phone then shell out a wasted 60-70 dollars a month on a phone call that i didnt want anyway. So I ask you should I walk around with a light blub in my pocket even though I have no light socket to stick it in?

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam (Post 622187)

I don't think toretorden has ever offered the impression that he was mocking America. He might have less deep an understanding of American culture than you or I, but that's certainly not a crime (nor is it necessary to participate in this forum or this discussion).

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius (Post 622185)

I used it as an example. If its for convenience then why is it required. I though i was allowed to have options. I have a home phone and a phone at work, why is it required I spend 60-70 dollars more a month? there are call boxes all up and down the highway. There are also payphones everywhere you go. I would much rather use a free call box, a pay phone here or there and my home and office phone then shell out a wasted 60-70 dollars a month on a phone call that i didnt want anyway.

Originally Posted by sleepy jack (Post 622176)

I'm not arguing semantics. For one it's spelled semantics; the second letter is e. Secondly, arguing semantics would be arguing over specifically over linguistic development or the relationships between signs. By definition I have not argued semantics until just now. Open a book once in awhile.

Now onto the actual argument. You're still not answering my question. Your average person doesn't have "sleepless nights and cold sweats" over these popular items. They still place a good deal of value in them, that's why it's materialistic. You've taken a stance against these items, which is refusing to purchase them until it's necessary. That is placing, or rather specifically not placing, value in them. Which is anti-materialistic. Aside from one stance being a negative and the other a positive, at its heart, how are you any different? It can't be that difficult to address this question.

Originally Posted by sleepy jack (Post 622188)

If you have no light socket to place the light bulb in then you have no use for the light bulb. You kind of end up losing your own argument there you know.

Originally Posted by zzz (Post 622191)

1. Show me a company that requires it (I honestly haven't heard of one and would love to be proven wrong, it'd make my day)

2. Those call boxes and pay phones you're talking about? They're useful if you need to reach someone. But would if that someone needs to reach you?

None of this has anything to do with TV by the way, you said it yourself the cellphone in the workplace matter is one of convenience


Umm, what? :laughing:

Care to expand on that one?

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius (Post 622198)

If i have no use for a cell phone then i should not have one. GET IT?
Instead I am forced to have one for others needs (the people who buy in) . Not that hard.