As far as I know, these ones were also in operation during WW2, so not that free all the time...

Technology had given us more access & freedom, as we were no longer hand fed by a handful of TV networks, newspaper conglomerates, and major movie studios. Unfortunately, given the choice we chose to have our empty minds become the repository for commercialization and propaganda.

quit carrying my phone years ago and it's been a joy. I just don't I don't interact with the world through my phone. Or whatever these monstrosities are. But I deal with people that are staring at their phone walking with earbuds thus they're def dumb and blind totally immersed in corporate garbage!

Yep when you needed to make an emergency call and you were out, you had to look for a payphone and hope you had a dime in your pocket.

I remember when phone booths doubled in cost overnight. 25¢ --> 50¢

Yes, I have many bad memories of searching for coins and phone booths.

Or call collect.

Amazing how many fewer “emergency calls” it turned out I needed to make back then. Convenience breeds the feeling of necessity.

I keep mine on silent, always.

Me too

Same, unless I'm expecting an important call. I've done this for years, and people who know me also know I'll get back to them when I check my phone, which I probably don't have with me at the time It's entirely necessary for sanity

Held the line they did.

That’s 🥹 so sweet ❤️ you are so loved by so many.

If he’s with you it doesn’t matter which of you carries the phone. Just leave it at home if you want to be truly free.

Mr. Takei. I’m just a bit surprised you don’t use a Tricorder or Communicator. How quaint. I was talking to Christopher Reeves one afternoon and someone yelled out, “Hey Superman!” I said, “That must get tiring.” He replied, “You have no idea.”

ALT= Picture os a desk phone on a pedestal. Text on the pedestal reads, "When phones were tied with wires, humans were free."

You mean when women couldn't have a credit card without her husband's consent? You mean that free?

Didn't faze me

Yes we were...BUT...it is easier to call 911 now.

Are you saying I'm a slave to my phone? I find that rather insul.... Wait I need to check my phone.... Oh, maybe your right.

The minor anticipation of seeing the message light blink on the answering machine. And the fun of creative outgoing messages.

I do tech by trade and have been a long time. Even I sometimes just long for the days where we were not instantly accessible.

Way back when 🤣

This is a truth that needs to be spoken Loudly!

My cell is turned off unless an emergency. My home phone has an answering machine. If I want on a computer, I have a desktop PC.

I sooooo miss being able to slam down the ☎️ to those that annoyed me or pissed me off lmao

Taking the phone off the hook when you didn't want to talk to anybody... They got a busy signal.

It was satisfying, wasn't it?

It's true! I remember slamming a Bugs Bunny phone down really hard because my friend wouldn't let me get off the phone and my toast popped up and got cold. Lmao

Nobody makes you own a cell phone....

He’s always posting. I think he is in full possession of his phone. And I’m OK with that!

And I’m sure people back then were lamenting the days when phones weren’t a thing…

Good idea

Bro you were on Star Trek we have communicators and tri corders now.

I always felt like StarTrek was preparing us for our future. It showed situations like the one we're in, with pity. Those were always the worlds they visited who didn't understand why war was wrong & killing their planet was counterproductive. BUT, here we are.

Star Trek also depicted a future where there was no need to spy on someone for marketing data and trend analysis.

A future where there was no material need.

So he's the one skeeting most of the time too? *Gentle gasp* "You share your skeety-time!"

That's exactly the opposite of the truth. When the phone was tied by a wire, we were prisoners in our homes, waiting for that important call.

Sad but true

I remember those good old days fondly.

True dat

And they could not be traced thruout the day. Leave your phone home sometimes.

I want to hear Brad's side of this.

Brad, could you please let George know I think he's pretty cool. Cuz 'fly her apart, then!' remains a badass and well-delivered line

This is the only problem I see, as a mom: When your kid didn't call you, you could say, "What happened, did your finger break?" (Haha) Now, since you can voice dial, we don't have any sarcastic mom jokes to make about not calling.

I remember the only privacy was getting a long handset cord that would reach one of the bedrooms.

I don't know why, but this cracked me up. I remember!

Idk, our phone cord was stretched out beyond recognition. Lol

I wasn't free. I was isolated in an area made of mostly fascist and ignorant people. The area hasn't changed, but at least i can talk to people like me, being able to meet some in person, while previously i would have never even known they existed.

I have two phones, one personal, one work. If not at work the work phone is on my desk. If you are not in my contacts it doesn't ring you get voicemail. And if it does ring and I don't want to talk, voicemail.

I have fond memories of when the phone repairman (always a man) came to the house. Whenever he replaced parts he's give me the old ones. Then I'd make contraptions with them designed to communicate with the likes of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon.

What fun.

🤣

Google Play search for E-Play free music software

How do we know this isn’t him posting this right now?

I never thought of that but it’s true 🤔

How true

That's just stupid

I had to queue up at a phone box in the 1970s.

Yeah, but who carries your wallet ? lol

I miss the time when I could just go work in the garden if I didn't want to talk to anyone.

Ok. Who remembers Party Lines?????? lol

AND listening in when it WASN'T a call for our number!

You DO remember!!! lol.

We have seriously dated ourselves! lol! 👵🏻 (I couldn’t find an old hippie emoji)

Age only means we won't have to be here to watch it all crash.

Seriously. I just have to outlast my pets. 😎.

I just got a puppy, so I'm stuck for awhile. 🤣

Ooo!! What breed(s)?? I’m an absolute dog lover!!

She's a labrador/rottweiler . A real sweetie & super smart. She's going to be big. That's good for a farm dog. She rides around in my truck & gets along with all my children's dogs so that's good.

Adorable!!! Give her a snuggle for me!!!

Adorable!! I have an Australian Cattle Dog/Rottweiler!! He’s 5 and an extremely smart and loving dog.

I knew someone in the days of landlines only, who disconnected their phones for quiet, relaxing evenings and other times where a break from the hustle bustle was needed. Our right to have time away from others should be greater than other’s rights to have constant immediate access to us.

Does that count as bondage?

I live out of cell service, and I love it.

I totally agree. I don't let my phone control my life. If a person can't leave me a message, then they must not have had anything important to say.

We are slaves to this GD thing.

This is a laughable sentiment. Like, it's pretty well known how false this is by now. People used to read newspapers while driving, and I'm not joking! Your phone enslaves you less than lawncare does unless you let it do otherwise. Lawncare is enforced by the police, though

I don't even know how to use mine...not sorry about that either.

Information breaks required.

George. You are so cool, do to have any preferred charities or causes? Im working class , but I have extra.

George says the Human fund is a worthy cause

Cell phones have eroded our society. I watch "families" sitting there staring at their phones and not speaking to each other. Drove me nuts when my father-in-law and sister-in-law came to visit and during supper, in Olive Garden, ignored us to be on their phones. I, loudly, chewed them out.

I mean, it's not wrong. I feel like I enjoyed life a lot more before being tied to these goddam things.

I was always lost. Can’t live without a GPS anymore.

So true…and landlines worked in power outages

This is how these fascists want their women…tied down anyway they can get away with.

The biggest truth on the line.

You "let" him

Play dumb and block 85% of your friends and work group, leave only the random unblocked and appear confused when people ask why you never respond. For added flair and realism leave people you dislike unblocked to keep everyone confused and sell the spin.

Did you have a flip-phone back when they were popular? ... it must have been tempting to snap it open and say something epic in front of people.

Love it. 🤓

Adults should be able to put their phones down when they should. If you can't, then responsibility is on you, not on the lack of wire on that phone.

didnt you have your communicator pinned to your uniform?

In the TOS era (roughly the 2260s), the Starfleet insignia was just a pin or patch. They had handheld communicators resembling modern flip phones, carried on away missions. They didn't use them much on the ship, and Lt. Sulu was mostly stationed at the helm, with no need for a personal communicator.

true. yet as captain... 😉

He looks great in a suit, but it's still just a pin. I'm almost certain, though I'd have to check the historical rec-- um, the ST movies.

maybe but isnt that the uniform they wore in the star trek movies? anyways, i still love the original best, no matter how they communicated 👍😉

Yes but it's still just a pin. Combadges aren't common until the 2300s, much later on. I like the old uniforms too.

Combadges were a few decades after Captain Sulu's time.

DAMN, you're correct. they had these tiny flip open communicaters back in those times

The flip communicator vs combadge issue was even discussed on screen recently in the Strange New Worlds episode "Those Old Scientists" where two Ensigns from the 2381 wind up on the 1701-nil in 2259. Captain Pike and Number One preferred the flip open style.

Still kinda kills the original post, though. Americans will be much freer and happier in his day, and he does use a wireless device.

💯

🤔

I tell my HS students this all the time!

Hilarious! 🤣😅

"let"

I mean... I always knew where the phone was. Now? Yeah, I have no idea.

Yes and no. I am elderly and having a phone with me when I go out gives me a sense of freedom with the knowledge that help is close at hand when I need it.

Recently I’ve had balance issues and dizzy spells. I wasn’t able to talk one night a few weeks ago I was too dizzy & weak to. I was able to get my wife on messages and she came to the room I was in to help me. I like having my phone because I know if I fall I can get help.

Yes, and how many beatings or worse has a phone pointed and recording law enforcement saved people of color from receiving?

I donot understand the point you are trying to make. Could you please clarify?

I was just agreeing with you the cell phone is a great tool for keeping people safe. I’ll be the first to admit I’m a little too fond of it sometimes.

Hi. I misread your statement on first reading. I take your point now and totally agree with you. I have done some on the scene recording myself.

My phone hasn't been a "phone" in years. If I don't know your number, we definitely aren't talking. If I do know your number, we probably aren't talking.

Boy, you really took for granted just now the information you received and disseminated from your "cordless phone".

Those old phones were deadly blunt instruments and the cord was a great garrote

I like it better when humans were wireless and phones were wired, but now it's the other way around...

NEW TECHNOLOGY BAD REEEEE

Only somewhat. Timmy had Lassie if anything went wrong, of course, but the freedom as a parent when kids can reach you or you reach them as needed is life-changing with cell phones, and especially with texting. Think "locked out of the house," "this party is bad please pick me up now," and more.

Lower anxiety: Think people returning to their jobs after a vacation to find something terribly misunderstood that could have been solved with a text/quick call. I agree that managing the whole device thing is another discussion. How do we regain freedom from constant haranguing and distractions?

Smart move

Spouses/S.O.s are basically caddies for stuff we don't want to carry. Or, like, that's what I am. Pretty much.

Yes, free to be on a lonely dark road at night when our cars broke down, hoping the pick up truck stopping to help is a good man. Having our kids out at a party and not calling us to come get them when things go sideways. Not being able to contact a loved one when we are on our way to the hospital.

Again being from Colorado, a #cellphone was the wrong thing to offer me. A #Kayak, yes, #moonboots ya, but I would not take a cell, who wants to be bothered in #nature, when I became coach to a girls soccer team w/ a asthma & diabetic I got a phone even though all the team had one. I wanted control.

Then again, we were all more likely to call and receive phone calls (and gladly at that) then, than we are now :⁠-⁠)

My connection to the outside world has grown thanks to the devices we use to post on BlueSky. I’m very grateful for their impact. While I respectfully disagree, I genuinely understand this perspective. It’s undeniably much easier for me to connect with like-minded people these days compared to then.

I remember when you gave your phone number out on Xitter. Makes sense you weren't carrying your phone :)

We had to wait until 9PM on a Sunday to call our parents from college.

Fond memories...

No. I do not ask how long your cable might be ... ;-)

I live in the middle of no where and use Starlink for cell connection and to work online. When I don't want to be bothered, I just turn it off. There is no phone and no one can bother me. BLISS

I miss these.

Anyone who thinks life was better before cells needs to watch Buffy.

And then Star Trek inspires the flip phone!! 😂

Oh Brad….. Brad……. Brad….. 🔔

Oh Janet!

Dammit Janet! #RHPS 😂🤣🤩

We were literally stuck in the house waiting for a phone call

I think that I shall never own A tool more handy than the phone A phone I use to keep in touch With lovers, old time pals and such A phone that also sometimes rings With calls from schmucks and dingalings A phone that bill collectors use To bring most unwelcome news -MAD Magazine

I think about this so often. The more “connected” we’ve become the most disconnected we’ve become.

This universe with its hand-held computers is very far from the universe imagined by Gene Rodenberry. I must prefer his universe.

I have re-learned how to walk away from my phone. I also have turned off as many push notifications that I can, and I keep my ringer on silent. Those that need to immediately reach me have other alternatives if I don't respond quickly.

I NEVER answer numbers I don't recognize. If it's important, they can leave a message. If I'm busy and it's someone I know, I can call them back.

Brad handling more things is always good. I have nothing but good things to say about your husband, he was a delight.

One is not required to carry a cell phone … and when one doesn’t, it is incredibly freeing!

I can see it now. "George....put it down. Touch grass." lol

🤣

When we used smoke signals, we were more free than that😒.

True for many. Of course, nothing is stopping anyone from simply turning off the sound & alerts, and only look at the phone when one wants. Then again, many Americans have no self control, as obesity is very common.

Memories!

I just realized Brad Takei is most likely your husband and not your brother. I'm a dumb ass.

Does it still have a cable?

Ain’t that the truth.

Unless you had car trouble and had to get off the highway to call home, search for dimes, wait for the other person. 1 hr later when you finally called, the person on the other end would say, " Why didn't you call? A call only takes a minute"

Makes sense to me.

Didn't you love it? When you could be gone for the day? And no one knew where you were. Or you didn't have to answer to them until you came home. If you had an answering machine and checked the messages, you may return their message at your convenience... Freedom.

Fuck it. Just turn the shit off. You don't need it; you can't eat it or use it to clean your house. It's not connection to other human beings. I want to see your face. Hear your voice.Touch your hand. And here I am on my computer...but I will leave this and go do something else in a minute.

Cells have been freeing for me. My loved ones can reach me whenever they need me, especially my children. And I have been rescued by them as well.

I don’t know if I today agree with this, I think the big social change came when Internet and Smart Phones entered the room, I feel that we where doing ok when a mobile phone was just a phone. Real friends called you, which was more than 500 friends on Social Media ever will.

I'm still free, it's called self-control and priorities.

Guilty.

Indeed!

An awful lot of people lived in segregation in the US after the widespread introduction of the telephone.

I swear sometime people do not know how to take time and look around, so sad to see people at a gathering, yet all alone with their phone.

When I was poor, and didn't have stable housing, carrying my phone meant I could apply for jobs, look for apartments, and my friends still had a way to check in on me. I understand the point, but it for some of us, a wired phone was an unattainable luxury that put us outside the rest of society..

I fought against having a cell phone for years! I saw it as a leash. Now I was at everyone’s beck and call at every moment. One thing that changed for the better, I’m much better at saying “No” now.

This is hilarious

is this George's secret plan to keep Brad tied down?

George, i love you, but you cant be saying this while you post like, once an hour, all day, everyday. like common.

My primary phone is still tied to a wire.

I like this.

Smart man.

Poor Brad…

Why?

Because I don’t make Cosmo carry my phone?… and yes, we’re in a platonic relationship.💟🐾

Not necessarily. If you were expecting an important call, you were pretty much under house arrest.

Right - when I was provided a cell phone by my employer many years ago I started calling it my ball & chain.

Yup.

Not truly...but sorta

Free to a certain extent. I pace when I talk, so very often would get that long spiraling cord tangled beyond all recognition! 🙃

My author wanted me to post this. "I still am. Still use a landline and NEVER carry a phone. The only reason I have one is to take credit card orders at book signings. Oh, and to get into Springsteen on Broadway, but that's over now."

👍

Yah meanie. Poor guy is double tied. A cunning plan though

On 9/11, my son was a stringer photog for the Daily News. He got the call to get downtown. Then the towers fell. It took hours, but landlines were the only way to communicate and how I finally learned he was okay. The landline stays.

The medium is the massage

I haven't had a working cell in over 3 years. Strictly use mine over wifi for pics/social media for my business.

Truth

I think it was reasonably OK when phones were just phones and text pagers, too. Somewhere along the line, though...

Put another way, you've enslaved Brad?

Truer words!

I invoke the power to ignore hailing frequencies

When I got my first cellphone, my bother warned me I would never be alone again. He was right.

Remember coming home from vacation and seeing how many messages were on the cassette tape answering machine?

People talk about rotary phones like they’re prehistoric. Our phone had no dial; you picked it up and waited for a woman (always) to say operator and then gave her a 4 digit number. Sometimes someone on your party line would yell for you to get off.

Black folks might disagree

I hope it is a flip phone George ? 😂

Someone smart once said that we had "become slaves to the technology that we mastered".

It's not attached to your belt with velcro?

So true! And more spontaneous adventures were born!

cellphone bad :(

The good old days.

I leave mine at home. I consider it a corded phone. I have voice mail just like I had an answering machine for the corded one. Nothing is that urgent. Lay in a course Mr. Sulu.

Those old phones were so heavy too

Doesn't seem quite fair to Brad

I agree

How? If you expected an important call, you were stuck at home, waiting next to the phone, with the TV turned down... if it was near the phone. If it wasn't near the phone, you needed to find an activity you could do near the phone.

Especially a call from a family member in the military overseas.

I hope you carry his in return!

So, *that's* why you never answer when I call you 🤣

I have a Flip cell. It's pay as I go. It cost me. No long distance cov. I refuse to get a smart phone and be those people with their head looking down into a phone. I like reality. I don't want to be stuck in a phone. I have a computer and email if anyone wants me.

This sign comes to mind, George:

Lollollol I love you Mr Takei. You make me smile. I have loved you since the 60's. [HUGS] [HUGS] [HUGS]!!!!!

My partner carries my phone for me too, such a loving gesture.

Mine's on mute most of the time. I look at it when *I* want to, not when *it* wants me to.

I usually try to leave mine at home

Sooo true !

Wifey agrees. (not about carrying my phone)