This week I joined a local running group. I signed up to facebook in order find the group, found where they run from, and then joined them. When I got there I was told I needed to sign into the group with an app, which I didn't have because I generally try and avoid apps. Luckily I was OK to run with them once and we did hill repeats and it was nice to run with some new people.
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During the social run the social runners took a lot of photos for instagram and facebook. Life must be a lot different when it needs to be continually documented. I am torn though, because I do love all-female running groups, and I imagine a lot of the facebooking and instagramming makes for better community and a more inclusive running. The group did say that they were a very inclusive club, although apparently that doesn't extend to including the app-less. (this is a bit unfair, I think I can go back, but I probably have to figure out how to make an online account for the website for the app. I don't think they'll be super happy if just show up without App-RSVPing again)
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There was another app-less runner in the group. She was from New Zealand and said that her phone was a New Zealand phone and therefore she couldn't get UK apps. That is a good reason to not get apps!
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I always find it hard to explain why I don't want to get apps, and I usually laugh and say I'm generally don't do phone stuff and app stuff (which I realize is a ridiculous thing to say). People will very quickly try and show me things on their phones, like how easy it is. I find it interesting that the assumption is that if I just understood how *easy* apps were then I would want to use them more. I just... don't want to do more phone. I wanted to run.
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We bought Ezra a secondhand coat and it has a phone pocket. He asked if he could have a phone, to put in the pocket. I think I might get him a pack of playing cards, because it is the same size as the pocket, and I'm pretty sure that would satisfy his pocket filling desires for now. Lily also decided to ask for a phone, and I told her she could have one when she turns 16. She told me that will take one hundred years. Touche.
Omg I can relate. I hate getting new apps. It's not about the ease of use. I just feel like every time I need to get an app I am throwing a little bit of my soul away.
ReplyDeleteYay for phone-free childhood. We held out until 13 (tied the phone into the whole bnai mitzvah themes of adulthood and responsibilities. But - if you can - wait as long as possible. 16 sounds good.
We haven't really set a date for a phone although I want to say 16, but that's an easy thing to say when talking to a 4 year old who thinks 16 is 100 years away. There are so many 8-10 year olds in my sons school with Phones and I see them starting at tik-tok while walking home - I saw a kid almost get run over last week walking in front of a car watching his phone. I like the idea of linking phone to adulthood and Bnai Mitzvah themes.
DeleteI would love to be able to get a dumb phone for kids, but everyone uses apps to communicate so I feel like getting my kids a dumphone is about as irrelevant as getting a landline.
Mostly I am just hoping that this internet and phone and app thing will just blow over in the next 4 years (which is probably the least likely outcome, I know)
Traveling is the worst for that. Every subway and airline has an app, and some don't let you just use a document from an email (Ryanair, I'm looking at you) so you are pretty much forced to get the app! I actually have a Travel 2025 folder where I put them and then cull them once I leave the country but you can add up apps pretty fast!
ReplyDeleteAhh i can imagine! Here I can chose not to do things if they have apps (I figured out how to pay for parking without an app) but if I was travelling there is no way I could figure that out. Except in the middle olden days of travel (the ones post smartphone) i didn't have data when I traveled. Do you need data or is there free wifi everywhere to download and manage all the apps?
DeleteI have data, but I rarely use it, as there is generally WiFi. I probably use about 0.6GB of actual data a month, and I could do with less but I have free data at the moment so I am not trying very hard not to use it.
DeleteI get it. Apps are convenient in many, many ways, but yeah, I also understand why you're trying NOT to have apps. You shouldn't be required to have one, it should optional. I am so proud of you for joining the running group. I am a solo runner and have often contemplated joining a group but a) I like running my own pace and be in my own head when I run and b) it would be nice to meet new people but I also find the initial getting to know each other phase so utterly exhausting. Give me a pep talk, please! :)
ReplyDeleteUps, that was me. San. I am having trouble signing in with my Google account.
DeleteThanks San! I mean, I 'm not really a member of the running club but I did go run with them. I think run clubs can be good but it is way different than running alone. It was hard for me to run at a friendly pace and not try to push myself all the time, and it was hard for me to adjust to the amount of stopping and chatting we did. There was about 10 minutes warm up and faff with the app which was probably my fault, and then 5-10 minutes explaining the route, and then 5 minutes chat and photos at the end of the hill reps. I had some pleasant conversation with another person but I tend to like asking people questions so it was fine, whenever there was quiet I just asked another generic question about work or family or where they live or if they have any holidays planned. I don't think I met my best friend forever or anything but it was a nice change to run with someone else.
DeleteWhen I was a member of a running club in the states the best runs were ones I did with friends I had made from the club - the club runs were always a bit hit or miss. It's great to be inclusive but it does mean I have to be a bit more relaxed about what kind of run I'll get on any evening.
I used to be in a cycling club but I think with peloton I may never do a group road ride again haha. It just depends what you're looking for!
Wow, I am a little surprised that a running group would refuse to allow someone membership on the basis of no app?!
ReplyDeleteThat people try to persuade you using the "it's easy!" argument is amusing and also off-putting. Some people just don't want to do phone stuff! I was a late adopter when it came to text messaging -- didn't really text until 2013 -- and people were always so baffled that I didn't want to do it. (Now, I prefer it to most other forms of communication, but back then I wanted to talk on the phone or chat via email!)
I mean, they didn't refuse me but it was a bit awkward and I'm pretty sure they would not be very happy if I came back without figuring out how to register for the run. They said it's something to do with insurance which is fair, but also (I sound like an old person!) in the olden days we had a piece of paper we wrote our names on for road rides and that was the sign on so I'm not sure an app is easier than a piece of paper.
DeleteFunny about texting! 2013 is pretty late - I used to have to pay for texts and I remember trying to guess whether I needed 50 or 100 texts a month. I'm sure this was back in 2010 though. I do like email better than texts for long form communication, but of course I like blogging best of all ;-)
My 7 year old asked for a phone because someone else in class has one. Me: “over my dead body.” I can get her one freshman year of high school, with limits of course. I work in high school and see what these things do to kids. It’s pure addiction. Also. I do not like to get new apps.
ReplyDeleteDaria
I get so sad to see the kids in my 6 year olds school with phone, just staring at them when walking out of school. At the same time, I am also sad looking at all the parents at pick up just staring into their phones as well. It's just addiction, as you said!
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