It’s more a fear that I’ve lost a device that costs me $1000+
Absolutely. My last phone was a Pixel 3a I got for $80 running GrapheneOS, and everything important was backed up.
The peace of mind that comes with not giving a shit about your phone is great. I’ve missed that since upgrading to a new $600 slab of glass.
Should have called it Nomyphonebia!
There’s a documented condition in the US called noiphonebia, where people suffer a crippling fear of green bubbles.
Holy shit! I was just kidding and it’s a thing!
I keep my phone around because it’s quite useful if something doesn’t go to plan
My phone can simultaneously act as my backup keys, my backup wallet, my only bus passnand my main means to get help. If my phone dies or I forget it there’s a good chance I’m walking home.
Lol, I must be a bad millennial. I routinely forget my phone exists and leave it on my desk in my home office when I leave to run errands or w/e. It is funny when I notice though. I even am supposed to work from it during the day and yeah… Maybe that is why I never care. That and severe ADHD.
The fear of being alone with your thoughts with no escape mechanism.
I mean I can use my own thoughts as an escape mechanism just fine, I’ve just had a medical emergency before when I didn’t have my phone with me and really needed it, so I prefer to have my phone on me if possible.
I’ve recently gone back to school after many years and had an experience that puts this into perspective for me. I had to take a test at a small testing center and their procedure was to have us put our belongings in a locker just outside before coming in. Once inside I saw a small seating area where I was supposed to wait until they called my name. I immediately felt a wave of anxiety roll over. What was I supposed to do while I waited? What time was it? How much time had passed already? There was this odd feeling of existential dread at the idea of being forced to be alone with only my thoughts. It was interesting to me because I knew I’d been through this same situation many times a long ago but back then it was no big deal. It made me realize how rarely we are alone with our thoughts anymore. At any given pause in our lives we almost instinctively reach for our phones. This is especially true when a stranger is near. I can’t help but wonder if this is a healthy way to live life. I say this while sipping coffee and browsing Lemmy.
