When old phones used to survive everything...

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

We used to joke (and I'm not even sure how much of it was actually a joke) that we could kill someone by smashing them with our old Nokias and Motorolas, saying that the ground would break if we ever dropped our phones on it and relentlessly mocking those who brought protective cases for their plastic tanks.

It was all great fun... And not even that far-fetched, for I have witnessed many instances of those old phones surviving abuse that would permeantly take out a smartphone with barely any scratch on them -- I guess the brains vs brawns debate isn't exclusive to living things after all ;D!

I remember how, one time, this kid I knew was messing about with his Motorola C-115 while running laps during gym class, how he fumbled with it when the teacher called him out on it, how the phone slid across the floor after hitting the ground, how someone else accidentally kicked it into the wall... and how absolutely nothing happened to it.

What about you? Any stories to share?

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

This is the exact Nokia phone model my parents gave back in college so I can keep in touch with them. And it survived a fall that would’ve given fractured bones.

 

[Boo Man]

there was a time when everyone at my school had a blue Nokia 2280
and you could get a $10 monthly plan that gave unlimited texting

then something called "Text bombing" became a thing, you could write a random message
and then add the same contact multiple times
so when you press Send once it sends like 20 text messages to the same contact
and then you can just press Resend and send another 20

only one message could be received at a time
so if you got bombed your phone would be beeping and flashing until it ran out of battery
sometimes you just had to leave it on a charger for a week or so until its processed all the messages

i remember trying to destroy my Nokia and it was not easy..
the damn things bounce off concrete. fire only melted the screen.
i think i stopped it flashing with an axe or a hammer and dropped it in a bucket of water to muffle the beeping until it finally died

eventually they fixed the bombing issue by charging 20 cents per text ><

 

[Zerpina]

We used to joke (and I'm not even sure how much of it was actually a joke) that we could kill someone by smashing them with our old Nokias and Motorolas,

Well that doesn't surprise me, as a Nokia 301 in Afghanistan and a Nokia Lumia 520 in Brazil both took a bullet, saving people. So, killing someone with one no doubt.

The 301 i think.

And the Nokia Lumia
Old phones, as they say, were built "Ford tough." Joking aside they were built to last. They were basically solid squares of glass, hardened plastic, and metal... unlike the flimsy smartphones today, which have plastic that's soft as cold taffy.

But then again they weighed enough to have to have their own airline ticket as well. XD

My first old phone was a Motorola RAZR V3m, eye-burning, annoying hot pink. Not because I liked pink, but because 1. It was on sale for one day, and that was the only color they had and 2. I was just turning 18 at the time, Still being a punk goth girl, I knew the atrocious pink would annoy people.

I forget now, but I think they had it as a pay as you go plan then... almost like a prepaid plan, so to speak. Once you hit your limit, pfft that was it until you bought more time. Calling someone I think, ate up about 3 minutes... 1 minute if they called you and answered, or if you did. Mind you, they cut you a little leeway... well, until they figured out we were calling each other, not answering, and calling from house phones.

They put a stop to that right quick... Ah, well.

I loved that thing, and it was badass because as I recall, it could take up to a 1 GB SD card.
I know that doesn’t sound like a lot now, with phones coming with 60 - 100+ GB, but these were the days when phones where just getting SD card capabilities. you could hold almost an entire library of music on it. And good sound, too, if you got a decent Mini USB to 3.5mm adapter. I think I still have that now long dead phone somewhere in a box.

The battery was removed ages ago as I didn’t want to, ya know..... burn my house down.

If I ever run across it, I'll snap a picture of it.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

then something called "Text bombing" became a thing, you could write a random message
and then add the same contact multiple times
so when you press Send once it sends like 20 text messages to the same contact
and then you can just press Resend and send another 20

only one message could be received at a time
so if you got bombed your phone would be beeping and flashing until it ran out of battery
sometimes you just had to leave it on a charger for a week or so until its processed all the messages

Duuuude... I'd fucking kill someone over that XD

Still being a punk goth girl, I knew the atrocious pink would annoy people.

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

The first phone I bought with my hard earned cash.

This phone really survived a lot “accidental” drops. It died a “natural death” be it was that old when it did. I believe that I made an article about this one, sorry though I’m just a bit (lazy) busy at the moment to add a link.

 

[Zerpina]

@Waffles
I remember I had bought some Invader Zim stickers from Hot Topic not long after getting the phone.
You know, back when it was a place that sold weird, odd, and deranged stuff... not Funko Pops and MLP crap.

I recall buying a few packs of Invader Zim stickers along side a couple of J.T.H.M. (Johnny the Homicidal Maniac) T-shirts. I don't remember if this was the sticker I had on the back of it, but I think it was.

It's been a long time, and the sticker is long gone.

And these shirts

These are Repo shirts but not the point.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

@Waffles
I remember I had bought some Invader Zim stickers from Hot Topic not long after getting the phone.
You know, back when it was a place that sold weird, odd, and deranged stuff... not Funko Pops and MLP crap.

I recall buying a few packs of Invader Zim stickers along side a couple of J.T.H.M. (Johnny the Homicidal Maniac) T-shirts. I don't remember if this was the sticker I had on the back of it, but I think it was.

It's been a long time, and the sticker is long gone.
View attachment 146015
And these shirts
View attachment 146018View attachment 146019
These are Repo shirts but not the point.

That's SO cool! Funnily enough, I also had adorned my first smartphone (from 2014 -- still alive & kicking) with Invader Zim stuff

You are, like, the coolest person here (which, of course, means that you are the least critically nerdy, but not the point ;D!).

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

Has anyone of you kinda send a “compromising” text message to a wrong number?

Well I kinda did. I happened way way back. I used to text my then GF (my ex now) sweet nothings. Her Mom was a bit of a worry wart and have some “trust” issues with her daughter. Be it I have her Mom’s number so I can call or text her when me and my GF are out. One night I was on this graveyard shift job of mine. I was kinda bored so I decided to send naughty (NSFW) texts to my GF. I was a bit drowsy back then and forgot to double check the numbers on my phone book. It doesn’t help that my GF’s name is Kate and her Mom is Kathy. Needless to say I bombarded a wrong phone with my filthy texts.