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been considering a flip phone for years. we’re not talkin full dumb phone, more a macro reevaluation of these devices, their positioning relative to my human movement through the world, where they add value, and most importantly, where they strip it away. i’m turning my old iphone 12 into a camera and a “social media machine,” a very small ipad if you will. this will largely live at home (where i work) and be used when necessary, less of an accessory to my being and more of an extremely useful modern tool, that when used in moderation, will, i think, be more than enough to keep me feeling like i’m “still plugged in.” however, out in the world, i don’t want my phone to ease friction- personally, i have no interest in moving through life with a crutch for my attention- i never intended for this to become the case, it hasn’t taken over my life or anything, but if i’m honest, it has altered the base level experience of the simple act of moving through the world, and i’ve finally decided “i don’t think i’m cool with that.” also, i’ve read the articles and watched the youtube videos, none of them pushed me over the edge. for whatever reason, it was the @ANDY-SHAUF rec, it just hit right, so, lfg. s/o to @PERFECTLYIMPERFECT (where i will continue to tune in via my social media machine and desktop personal computer, but not while i am standing on the sidewalk some place i’ve never been before. u get me??)
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Jun 21, 2025

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I also switched to a flip! At the beginning of the year I made my old iPhone my “ipod touch” basically lol, it’s for music when working out, emails and work, and if I get on here. It’s really nice to go out and not feel dependent on constantly checking notifications or getting stuck doomscrolling. I actually also almost got the cat 22 but it was still a little too smart for what I wanted, so I got a Nokia 2780 and it’s honestly been so fun and unplugged.
Jun 21, 2025
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@SAYLOR helll yeah congrats, glad to hear a success story. i’m really digging the cat so far, one crucial detail for anyone considering though- this thing is chunky to say the least, it’s huge lol. not a problem for me as i am a pretty tall dude with big hands and large pockets lol, but if you’re trying to accomplish more than figurative downsizing, this one might not be the bet. but damn, satisfying to be flipping again.
Jun 21, 2025
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@SAYLOR that was totally a pro for me when I was considering it, I’m very clumsy and heard that one is super durable😂 It is so satisfying to be closing a flip phone again lol. Good luck on the moderation of smart devices!!
Jun 21, 2025

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I've been rocking the flip phone since March - went through a few different models till I landed on this utilitarian workhorse; the Sonim XP3800. This thing feels like it can stop a bullet. The battery lasts for 3 days. Service is 5 bucks a month. remixed my brain: -got lost a few times (feels amazing + found my way back) -bought an iPod mini (eBay, refurb 256gb)  -forgot about 1 million people that I didn't need to remember -missed brat summer entirely (found out in late September, loved the album) -learned how to wait and do nothing -minimized unnecessary / instantaneous communication -started taking photos with real cameras again -started reading again -stopped impulsively buying instagram shirts -phone can be turned off during the charging cycle (not possible with iPhone) -regained control over the flow of information into my brain -restored my relationship with the computer as an appliance bound to one physical location Am I a better person for this? Probably not. Is this all of this a bit loaded and pretentious and boomer esque? Definitely. But it feels good to know that I have the freedom to say no to smart phone tech that has been foisted on us as an essential to living for the sake of convenience - convenience which has a cost. I could go on and on and on about this but I would highly recommend that everyone gives this a shot for while even if it's just an experiment. You will be surprised by how you feel after a few weeks.  
Dec 11, 2024
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i have been on a journey to untangle my tasks from my iPhone. i'd be out in the world someplace, pull out my phone for something as menial as checking the time, or as well intentioned as capturing the moment in a pic, and immediately get sucked into texts and instagram™️ and all the virtual things happening in this tiny lil demon light box. the goal: pull my phone out of my bag ONLY for phone things. that's texting, calling, and apps that can't be replaced the solutions so far: 🕰️ i started with a watch (shoutout Casio) and i wear it every day. once I broke the habit of checking my phone for the time, I felt legitimately freed from something Major 📷 I bought a small digital camera to leave in my bag. the pics look better and I don’t get distracted by the virtual world when I'm trying to capture something in the now 📚 I bought a kindle. It fits in my jacket pocket (literally) and gives me something to do when I'm on the train or waiting for an appointment that isn't scrolling I just realized so much of the time I spent on my phone was not intentional. It was a thing I was doing in between Other intentional moments. my screen time is still several hours a day (don’t get me wrong) but I think my brain has healed at least 3%. welcoming other ideas as well💡
Sep 24, 2024
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I’ve been locked in a chess game w myself for the past 4 years now. This has been the most successful hardline “turn-my-smart-phone-into-a-flip-phone” compromise I’ve been able to come up with so far. Screen time settings > max content restrictions > ban App Store > close. accessibility> display > color filters > black and white. Every time I open the phone it inflicts psychic damage. You have a trusted friend or family member set up a screen time passcode & guard it like a Nazi. You need to have someone in your life who you can trust to be a Nazi. You change your icloud password too, make it a random string of numbers & letters and hide it in a mundane place that’s annoying to get to. I have a cobweb ridden storage shed in my backyard— this is where I keep my iCloud password. If I manage to find a way around the blocks I’ve set up, I ask The screen time pw keeper to help me get into the settings & update the list of websites I have manually blocked. You can do all this on your computer too, but only if it’s a mac. And even still; it’s very easy to get around these things. I installed a software called “COLD TURKEY BLOCKER”. I imported a list of over 2,000 websites that are haram. I will not be able to log on to any of them for 10 years at least. Prior to this, I had an intricate web of extensions that I bypassed by discovering the “browse as guest“ feature in chrome & Firefox. I also used an Israeli child protection software called “canopy”, but found it expensive bloatware. Cold Turkey is the best way forward for me now. Instagram, Twitter, every website that you can possibly name— I’ve blocked them all. This is my only social media. This, and LinkedIn. I’m finally going to become who I was always meant to be. Untouched, exempt, unaware, pure. Like a baby monk. I will write my screeenplay. It’s a buddy comedy about a couple of knuckleheads who decide to start sticking up convenience stores out of boredom. I will start rock climbing & praying every day. And I’m going to mean it when I pray. and God will hear me and know that while I’m naïve, I’m earnest and that I need Him. I’m going to lift weights & read books— cold showers every day & no podcasts (Spotify & podcasts app deleted from my phone). I will perfext my internal monologue. My voice will get deeper naturally, and my posture will correct such that it looks like I’m 2 inches taller (this is the increase that most would consider within reason [it would also take me from 6 foot to 6 foot 2 inches {realistically, I will probably be 6’1” when the whole shooting match is over. This is fine for me}]). —— I still might get a flip phone. I’m partial to Kyocera DuraXE. High quality, ergonomic, reliable. It’s gotta be reliable. It’s gotta be simple.
Apr 19, 2024

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free up your drawers free up your mind.
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i get the good ones whenever i can, sometimes simplicity is everything. love music lol.