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Too young for a cell phone?

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Too young for a cell phone?
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
Nov 13, 2012 6:57 PM
I agree with the not before HS rule. 11 years old? Fuck that.


Before I had a phone, if I went out, my mom typically lend me her phone just in case I needed to call home for a ride or an emergency. She would only lend the phone if it was absolutely necessary. Otherwise I could borrow a friends phone or use a parents phone. I didn't get my first cell midway thru sophomore year aka when i started driving.
Nov 13, 2012 6:57pm
G

Gblock

Nov 13, 2012 7:19 PM
as far as emergencies go kids get snatched more and more everyday walking to the bus or weirdos drive by and flash them or other stuff like that. not that it is a reason one way or another for a phone. but neither is whether or not you had a phone in 1972 or 82 or 52. you didnt have a phone because they were too expensive and or they werent invented, not because you were outside all day or reading books or working out. its 2012 if the other kids have phones you basically need a phone too sheesh. if they were around when you were 11 you would have had one because most of you got everything you wanted too...gtfo if you had an atari you probably would have had a cellphone
Nov 13, 2012 7:19pm
F

friendfromlowry

Senior Member

6,239 posts
Nov 13, 2012 7:27 PM
GoChiefs;1319572 wrote:If he's not with mommy or daddy, he's at his grandma's. She has a phone at her house that he can use to call either of us if need be. He is never alone, which furthers my point of him not needing one. A couple of his friends and cousins have one so she wants to get him one so he can text with them, etc.

He's 11. If theres an emergency, an adult will be present to handle it because he won't be alone.
When was the last time you texted something important or meaningful that you couldn't have just called the person, or waited 'til later? Okay, when was the last time that happened while you were 11 years old? Lol, no offense, but your wife needs to gtfo. Buy him something that won't be a complete waste of time/money.
Nov 13, 2012 7:27pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Nov 13, 2012 7:33 PM
How sheltered were you guys? I was staying home by myself for short periods of time at age 11. After school my friends and I would walk to each others houses without parental supervision. At ball games and the fair my friends and I got to walk around by ourselves. This wasn't just me, it was all my friends.
Nov 13, 2012 7:33pm
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

drunk

1,893 posts
Nov 13, 2012 7:33 PM
There are phones which only allow you to call numbers that are programed in, I don't see why it's a big deal if a kid had one.
Nov 13, 2012 7:33pm
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Nov 13, 2012 7:42 PM


I can change these setting 100 times a day
Nov 13, 2012 7:42pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Nov 13, 2012 8:06 PM
Gblock;1319576 wrote:this should be case by case basis...i dont think you should put an age on it. maturity level, academic achievment, responsibility shown for chores all would factor in. but around 7-8 grade is fair.
Yea. I don't think Jr High is too early for a cell. Tell the kid if he gets all A's, he can get a cell phone. Make him work for it.
Nov 13, 2012 8:06pm
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Nov 13, 2012 8:19 PM
said_aouita;1319643 wrote:Yea. I don't think Jr High is too early for a cell. Tell the kid if he gets all A's, he can get a cell phone. Make him work for it.
I don't mind Jr. High but it would still be limited. It does make it easy with all the activities kids participate in these days. Any earlier is that is unnecessary.
Nov 13, 2012 8:19pm
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Nov 13, 2012 8:36 PM
My kids are free to get one when they are able to sign their own contract. There are plenty of other toys I'd rather buy them.
Nov 13, 2012 8:36pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Nov 13, 2012 8:44 PM
Con_Alma;1319661 wrote:My kids are free to get one when they are able to sign their own contract. There are plenty of other toys I'd rather buy them.
like what?
Nov 13, 2012 8:44pm
Cat Food Flambe''s avatar

Cat Food Flambe'

Senior Member

1,230 posts
Nov 13, 2012 8:47 PM
sleeper;1319593 wrote:False.
OK - 22, then...
Nov 13, 2012 8:47pm
Cat Food Flambe''s avatar

Cat Food Flambe'

Senior Member

1,230 posts
Nov 13, 2012 8:52 PM
Got them for my kids when they started driving. This was before unlimited texting was available, though - we didn't add it. My nephew just howled about it - until his g/f presented her parents with a $700 phone bill the first month she had texting.

There are circumstances in which a younger child might need one - I think most parents would be able to make the right call based on knowing their kids. I can's think of too many involving am eleven-year-old, though.
Nov 13, 2012 8:52pm
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Nov 13, 2012 8:59 PM
Pick6;1319669 wrote:like what?
This summer it was two Sea Doo jet skis.
Nov 13, 2012 8:59pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Nov 13, 2012 9:02 PM
Con_Alma;1319687 wrote:This summer it was two of these.

so you bought them something they can only use seasonally and is deadly, rather than something that is actually practical and useful all year round?
Nov 13, 2012 9:02pm
robj55's avatar

robj55

Senior Member

9,511 posts
Nov 13, 2012 9:06 PM
Didn't get my first cell til I was 20 or so, stupid to have one that young.
Nov 13, 2012 9:06pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

Senior Member

9,932 posts
Nov 13, 2012 9:08 PM
I have a friend who got his 10 year old daugher one. She is a whore.
Nov 13, 2012 9:08pm
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Nov 13, 2012 9:11 PM
Pick6;1319689 wrote:so you bought them something they can only use seasonally and is deadly, rather than something that is actually practical and useful all year round?
Yeah, I think that's what I posted. We all have one now. We had a great summer on them. My son had been interested in gettin their own ever since he got his boaters license.

On the other hand, only my wife has a mobile phone. If the kids want one, they are free to get one. God Bless them. It won't come from me.
Nov 13, 2012 9:11pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Nov 13, 2012 9:44 PM
se-alum;1319619 wrote:How sheltered were you guys? I was staying home by myself for short periods of time at age 11. After school my friends and I would walk to each others houses without parental supervision. At ball games and the fair my friends and I got to walk around by ourselves. This wasn't just me, it was all my friends.

I refuse to allow my son to hang out with any of the few kids around here. He goes to school in another district so none of his friends live within walking distance.
Nov 13, 2012 9:44pm
G

Ghmothwdwhso

Senior Member

534 posts
Nov 13, 2012 11:04 PM
You all sound like a bunch of old men, let the kid "buy" the phone. It's another avenue that you can use to provide the idea of "responsibility and economics".
Nov 13, 2012 11:04pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Nov 14, 2012 12:58 AM
The real issue IMO, is that a phone isn't just a phone anymore. It is a combination of a walkman (showing my age), gameboy, etc.....as long as the parents can control the data usage I don't see anything wrong with a kid of any age having a "phone", because (repeating myself) it isn't just a phone. What we used to do with 4 devices is now accomplished with 1.
Nov 14, 2012 12:58am
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
Nov 14, 2012 2:00 AM
buy the kid a tracphone with a $19.99 60 minute 3 month plan. That's plenty for emergencies and calling home on the few times he needs it. No 11 year old needs a smartphone, internet access, and texting.
Nov 14, 2012 2:00am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Nov 14, 2012 6:07 AM
Manhattan Buckeye;1319823 wrote:The real issue IMO, is that a phone isn't just a phone anymore. It is a combination of a walkman (showing my age), gameboy, etc.....as long as the parents can control the data usage I don't see anything wrong with a kid of any age having a "phone", because (repeating myself) it isn't just a phone. What we used to do with 4 devices is now accomplished with 1.
Exactly. It's a toy.
Nov 14, 2012 6:07am
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

drunk

1,893 posts
Nov 14, 2012 6:17 AM
Ghmothwdwhso;1319785 wrote:You all sound like a bunch of old men, let the kid "buy" the phone. It's another avenue that you can use to provide the idea of "responsibility and economics".
I make my 6 year old daughter buy every one of her toys, my 1 year old too. Not giving those freeloaders anything.
Nov 14, 2012 6:17am
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Nov 14, 2012 6:45 AM
BORIStheCrusher;1319848 wrote:I make my 6 year old daughter buy every one of her toys, my 1 year old too. Not giving those freeloaders anything.

That's quite retarded if that's how you interpret anything anyone has said.
Nov 14, 2012 6:45am
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

drunk

1,893 posts
Nov 14, 2012 7:27 AM
GoChiefs;1319852 wrote:That's quite retarded if that's how you interpret anything anyone has said.
How so? I understand the idea of making someone wait to get a phone until they can sign a contract and make payments on it, I do agree it's a good way to teach responsibility. But as a parent you can monitor how the phone is used, and only costs $10 a month. It's something that could be a lot more useful than an x-box or a lot of other things parents get their kids. People are acting like if you get your kid a phone you all of a sudden are allowing them to do whatever they want and thats whats retarded.
Nov 14, 2012 7:27am