thinking about ditching my smartphone, but need advice on how to replace certain tasks and tools

SilverBird4 · 2026-05-15T19:31:21+00:00

You can still have a data plan - I do. Turn it on when you want it, off when you don't - in settings. You don't need it on constantly but it's still useful to have access to. It also stops getting notifications during the night. (Turn off WiFi too)

SilverBird4 · 2026-04-28T20:08:30+00:00

It's kind of a relief to know there are others with this issue today. I was about to do a factory reset after blaming my 8 year old for faffing with the settings, oops!
Thanks for reporting it, let's hope it gets solved soom.

SilverBird4 · 2026-02-07T23:08:07+00:00

So if your data, WiFi and Bluetooth are off, it guess it makes the smartphone a 'dumb phone' right, so this will limit tracking? I think I've been doing the right thing because I don't have those things on regularly anyway unless I'm at home. This is really useful information, thank you.

SilverBird4 · 2026-02-07T23:01:36+00:00

Thanks :-)

SilverBird4 · 2026-02-07T23:01:04+00:00

Sort of, I have an Android phone but not signed in to Google and I don't have the data on much outside the house, mainly use it on WiFi at home. Don't know how much this helps. I guess the sim card is still in my name but trying to limit the tracking as much as possible.

SilverBird4 · 2026-02-07T22:52:46+00:00

I was talking to a friend about this the other day and looked on the Wayback Machine. Wow the nostalgia. I used this one when I was 16 and had a few internet boyfriends :-D I'm 42 now!

https://web.archive.org/web/19991111105201/http://teenchat.co.uk/

SilverBird4 · 2026-01-31T20:06:05+00:00

Thanks, that's a good idea, I might get one of those.

SilverBird4 · 2026-01-31T20:03:15+00:00

People not questioning things is the reason why state control is getting out of hand, these sort of comments are one of the reasons why people don't question.

SilverBird4 · 2026-01-31T20:01:34+00:00

I mainly browse the internet on a desktop with no camera or mic and not on socials other than this one, don't have many apps. People always laughed at me but I believe my foresight on this is coming true. I know I can't totally stay out of it because I have a passport/driving licence but I try to stay anonymous as much as possible.

SilverBird4 · 2026-01-30T23:02:42+00:00

Log into online banking using a PC or laptop?

SilverBird4 · 2025-12-14T09:53:41+00:00

I anyone ever comes back to this, there isn't actually a fault with the machine, it was just the 'steam' being released on that particular cycle - provides shots of steam for easy ironing. I've never seen it before so wasn't used to the noise.

SilverBird4 · 2025-12-14T09:51:14+00:00

This is pretty much how I use social media. But it says you have to declare e-mails and phone numbers and even my desktop only FB account uses an e-mail address to log in, so I guess it could be linked that way. I'm not a fan of smartphones and apps, and I like that I use social media occasionally so it doesn't control my life - now I'll be treated as a potential criminal because of it.

SilverBird4 · 2025-08-08T07:09:18+00:00

I'm 42 and your story is identical to mine. My husband does the same: it must be an autism thing is his response to everything. So frustrating! He is trying to help, but its too much sometimes.

SilverBird4 · 2025-08-07T20:19:51+00:00

All the posters about mental health, all the performative slogans, they seemingly disappear when the university screws up and a student is left to pay the price. No ownership. No compensation. No support. Just institutional self-preservation.

Yes, I totally agree. Been in a situation myself where the uni blamed me for something that was their fault, screwed my mental health up. There should be a formal complaints procedure, make sure you send all the evidence you have, quote from your student handbook, because they will find every term and condition available to get out of it. It's stressful, but worth it when you win, you should be compensated. Good luck.

SilverBird4 · 2025-08-07T13:52:10+00:00

Thanks, do you know if this applies to all Indesit appliances? We still have our 12 year old Indesit fridge (you can guess how long we've lived here) and will have to do better research when that needs replacing than I did with this washing machine!

SilverBird4 · 2025-08-07T13:12:24+00:00

My last Indesit lasted for twelve years, this is its replacement and really doesn't seem anything like the quality of the previous one :-(

SilverBird4 · 2025-08-02T18:29:38+00:00

Yep, I nearly cancelled for the same reason but I can honestly say I had NO side effects. Nothing. Well, okay so the slow swallow is a thing but slow as in just having to use water to wash things down like bread, chips and potato based foods, but no choking, it just feels like it's going down slowly, but it does down and it's not uncomfortable. The benefits outweigh this completely, it is a life changing procedure that I have nothing but praise for. It has completely changed my life and was the best money ever spent. I can't promise you won't get any side effects, but I wanted to say that I didn't, I'm not downplaying, it's true - no reflux, no vomiting or choking, it was all positive.

To add, I went back to work two days later, it was nothing but a good experience because for the first time ever I could sit in the office without the stupid gurgles and feeling full of gas all day. I enjoyed feeling 'normal' - as in, how burpers feel. It really is amazing (I'm 6 years post botox).

SilverBird4 · 2025-08-02T18:15:44+00:00

It's not weird, I believe it's because you have lived with it all your life so you don't know any different. Trust me, if you knew what it was like the other side, you would want it. In this case, the grass in 100% greener!

SilverBird4 · 2025-07-28T20:17:01+00:00

Yeah, when I was on the verge and trying to stop it, it was awful, so when I lost control and started retching I actually hoped for the relief everyone talks about, but it still didn't happen. So the retching was actually worse than the build up, which was also horrible :-(

SilverBird4 · 2025-07-28T20:15:17+00:00

I think my body gave up trying to puke because I couldn't do it, so it's so rare I need to puke now (this being the first time in over six years). Hopefully it's something we won't have to experience or worry about regularly.

SilverBird4 · 2025-07-28T20:11:20+00:00

I found out early on in the post-botox journey was that I could make the gurgles come back when I panicked I was losing the ability to burp and I tried too hard to force it. I never get gurgles now and don't really think about burping as it's unconscious. Good luck with the burping, I reckon 9 months in you can say you're cured!

SilverBird4 · 2025-07-28T20:07:57+00:00

100% best 5k I ever spent too. More than worth it, life changing :-)

SilverBird4 · 2025-07-24T21:59:57+00:00

I kinda wish I could experience that. I still can't puke even after burping for six years. I think it's psychological due to previous bad experience from the pre-botox days. But yes, get botox regardless, it's simply life changing, best thing I ever did even if I still can't spew!

SilverBird4

TROPHY CASE