Ok, the secrets out…I’m a little obsessed when it comes to my iPhone. I mean for heavens sake, I write a column devoted to how the darn thing affects my everyday life! Unfortunately, at this level of obsession comes a certain amount of over (some would say disturbing) protectiveness. But, I believe my unhealthy obsession to be warranted.
Let us consider for a moment the exponential damage/complexity curve (the reader is encouraged not to do any outside research regarding the authors material, but instead to take his word at face value). Imagine along an x-axis, an increasing line of complexity for a given device. Along the y-axis we have an increasing line of potential damage to be inflicted upon said device.
With an exponential curve plotted within the graph we can clearly imagine that as the complexity goes up, so does the possibility of damage (couldn’t I have just said that…). So a block carved out of a single piece of wood has a very low chance of being damaged, whereas a female brain for example-what with its myriad complexities and unfathomable labyrinths of…anyway, you get the picture.
So given the potential that the iPhone has for getting damaged, it should come as no surprise that I am keen to be protective. What should come as a surprise is just how far I seem to go to keep it safe.
I don’t know if it is just me, but I sure tend to be extremely selective when it comes to other people using my iPhone…or touching it…or thinking about it. Most of the time I will just try to avoid letting them use it by quickly changing the subject or acting like I have something important I need to check. However, if for some reason I relent (due to some really stubborn insistence on their part), then there are stipulations involved. For example; they have to make sure their fingers are thoroughly greaseless so as not to smudge the screen. Also, they must make sure not to jostle it too much so as to decalibrate the accelerometer (which im not even sure if that is a something that could even happen…but it sounds harmful).
Then, when they have finally tired of my hawklike brooding over their shoulder and given it back, I have to make sure they know how displeased I was with the whole venture by making a grand dramatic gesture of wiping off the screen with my shirt. I know…I’m lucky I even have friends who ask to use my phone.
This over protectiveness has led me, I think, to some pretty bad places though. For example, many of the activities I attend would no doubt be so much cooler if the iPhone were there with me. Like how many amazing pictures could I take at my friends pool-party when the local girls college volleyball team is having a BBQ? And yet I do not even bring it along for fear of dropping it in those foreboding waters. Several of my friends have lost their iPhones to the pool, and sadly enough this seems to be the one thing that the Care Plans do not cover.
Same thing for when I’m out eating for fear of grease stains, or when I’m exercising (when the workout apps could actually be useful) for fear of blunt force trauma, etc.
I even ignore the prime directive for the iPhone (phone calls…in case its mulitfunctionality has confused some)! Fearing the smudge yet again, I will usually only answer a call if I have the headphones in- I mean, I’m missing all the little joys of the proximity sensor turning on and off the screen! What a waste!
The lesson in Finding Nemo seems to apply here. ‘If you never let anything happen to it, then nothing’ll ever happen with it.’ Is it possible that in trying to zealously protect it (and I realize that I am probably a little more extreme than most) that I am missing out on all of its coolest functions and all the fun experiences I could have with it?
What about you guys? Are ya’ll overprotective too? Have I taken it too far?
I thought this column was going to be about the damage the excessive heat of using a case caused. Anyway…
I truly believe you’re one of many.
Agreed
Breathe…in…aaaaannnnd…out.
Repeat.
Breathe…in…aaaaannnnd…out.
Wow! I thought I was obsessed. lol! Therapy would be the first step mon friar.
lol…j/k (well sort of…heh)
You raise great points though.
I try as hard as I can to not let anyone touch or even LOOK at my iPhone or else they have to deal with Captain Hazel Murphy. (I know esoteric reference…but if you visit my site and see my avatar…you’ll see what I am talking about. he’s a born killer. One look at him and that’s it…you’re done. heh.
But seriously, I use my phone for just about everything.
One such use was the ability to do my entire DESK job (be4 I got fired…yeah I am another statistic now.), from my iPhone. I used to run an entire CRM system with leads and call backs and live chat and click to talk. CRAZY! Anything is possible with that phone.
Since my abrupt cough…cough…ahemunemployment…cough cough…I have about 40 Photography apps on the iPhone. (no joke.)
Currently working on a few different iPhone photo books…which g-d willing and money will be out this year.
(not that anyone just asked me that, but I felt compelled to say though.)
I do tend to be cautious as to WHERE I take my iPhone out. My wife’s parents used to live in a BAD section of the Bronx. As soon as I crossed into the Bronx…I turned OFF my phone completely. Maybe I too am a bit too cautious, but in this day and age of bizarre people with resourcefulness and determination…you just never know.
Ya, you’re a little odd. I love my phone and I can sympathize with you about letting others use it, but the rest is a bit too extreme. If you’re not going to REALLY use it, what’s the point? Who cares about a couple scratches (which can be avoided with a case)? Smudges? Really? Is it that difficult to wipe off that smudges are keeping you from really using it for what it is? If you are just the slightest bit careful, you can keep a phone out of a pool quite easily. Also, no, somebody shaking your phone is not going to break the accelerometer. Lose a little bit of your paranoid OCD and let yourself really enjoy the device.
I believe it’s called “sarcasm.”
What sarcasm was lost on me? The entire post was about how they are too scared of hurting the phone to actually use it.
Its even worse after you’ve named your iPhone. Mine’s called Vera.
Sounds like a mild form of OCD.
Seek a therapist if it gets worse.
Have a nice day.
Wherever you go, there you are. What happens, happens.
Nope, I’m the other end of the spectrum. Take pics with it everywhere, geocache with it, mount it to my bike handlebars for rides. Just a cheap case and Apple Care.
3 days after I got my 32gb 3GS, it slid off my lap and into a glass of water. I couldn’t recreate it in a million years, but let’s not take the chance. No more water near the phone. Why can’t somebody invent a waterproof sleeve? As for me, I use a Zagg screen cover (the best). I have a Mophie Air battery, so the normal cases won’t work for me. I’m having a case made by a leather crafter (a PIRATE leather crafter…) for shock protection. It’s worth it: once you start using an iPhone, it’s hard to go back.
Hi guys. An iPhone is an investment, which must be protected. They are globally the most high end and premium phone. Whenever I update iPhones, I buy two. I buy one to use and one to leave in a box at home, if you have the money this is a good idea, as you can have freedom and fun with one in the knowledge that you have a perfectly mint one at home. I will do the same when I buy my first iPad!