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Comment by xcskier56 | Hacker News Reader

While I see the great potential in this technology, the collateral damage is the loss of places where one can truly disconnect.

I just got back from 4 days camping at a remote mountain lake with zero phone coverage, and it’s one of the most incredible ways to fully recharge and step away from the day to day treadmill of the modern world. When we loose the possibility to completely disconnect, I at least, will feel a loss of the true wilderness.

I’m not debating the usefulness of this or saying it shouldn’t happen. Having cell service everywhere will undoubtedly save lives, but it’s not without a price in loosing true wildernesses

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Not to be snarky, phones do have an “off” button. There is no reason we can’t have a little disconnectedness anywhere we choose. Ie: the problem isn’t the connection, it’s the expectation that just because there is a connection there is also a need to respond.

I think the problem isn't me turning my phone off, it's other people not turning their phone off.

This problem will fade, the way hearing custom ringtones on flip phones in the early aughts did.

You could already bring a satellite phone wherever you were, could probably have tuned an AM radio into something if you had wanted, etc

Disconnecting is a choice you make, not a place you go.

I've been backpacking since I was in kindergarten and this comment has made me more angry than just about anything on this website.

Your phone has a power button. Use it.

You have not lost access to nature, and stop inventing a totally BS self aggrandizing narrative out of nowhere. Nature is fine. Humans are fine. We have not fallen from Eden. You can turn the phone off and I promise reality still works the same as far as strolling through the forest.

To everyone saying “just don’t bring your phone”

1) Camera: iPhones are about the best lightweight camera I’m willing to purchase 2) Navigation: Offline maps with details like slope angle are critical when traveling in the backcountry in winter. Yes I use paper maps too, but some things are much easier digital. 3) I don’t want to leave it in the car to get stolen.

And about airplane mode. Yes “disconnecting is a choice”, but if the internet is just the flip of a button away, I’ve found I’m not able to keep that button off.

So in other words, you're annoyed at this new development because you have no self control?

Does anyone have good self control? Or do they just tell themselves that they actually DO want to mindlessly scroll for hours?

Whenever I travel I tel myself I’m free to not reply to people on time. Especially anyone who doesn’t know the itinerary.

“Sorry I was on a plane then”. “You texted me right as I was checking into hotel- got distracted while replying and forgot to send”. “Couldn’t answer the phone - was at a restaurant and answering the phone is rude”.

Didn’t take long before the lies became true and I would forget to reply when I see the message.

You have the power to make it your reality. If the issue is replying to people, give yourself small permissions to not be punctual. If someone dies, you’ll still know immediately… but that work memo may have arrived why you were on a plane ;). If your issue is that you can’t stop scrolling through twitter or HN then i don’t know. Take more exciting vacations? Rarely when I travel would I rather be scrolling endlessly (except maybe while in line places).

> And about airplane mode. Yes “disconnecting is a choice”, but if the internet is just the flip of a button away, I’ve found I’m not able to keep that button off.

Leave your SIM card home

Or remove it and put it at the bottom of the backpack (suitcase).

Remove current APN (and keep memo away) so it can't connect to internet but phone/SMS is still available.

> And about airplane mode. Yes “disconnecting is a choice”, but if the internet is just the flip of a button away, I’ve found I’m not able to keep that button off.

So we should all be denied a new potentially life-saving technology, because of your own self control issues?

Also, take the SIM out (assuming you don't use an ESIM), give it to your spouse or put it at the bottom of your backpack as others suggested, or leave it at home/in your car. Emergency calls will still work.

It's not just him, it's over 90% of humans. Us monkeys have poor self control and need help.

> but if the internet is just the flip of a button away, I’ve found I’m not able to keep that button off.

That's a human problem with a human - not technical - solution. You need to find a way to resist temptation. I promise you'll be better for it in more areas than you realize.

In my experience for backpacking photography a used DSLR is definitely the best choice. You can go an entire week on a single battery if you don't use the LCD too much.

I hear you on offline maps though. Back in the day I paid the Tom Tom tax when going to Europe because $100 for offline maps was ultimately better than trying to figure out a roaming plan or local sim.

There are apps which can disable/nerf specific apps or the internet wholesale for N mintues, and lock you out until the timer lapses.

I agree with you. For me, at least, there’s something to be said about the expectation of being reachable: if you happen to be somewhere remote without any service at all, there’s simply no way for someone to reach you. If you go somewhere everyone knows has service and just turn off your phone, you are perceived to be actively ignoring people.

Others on this thread are discussing the safety aspects, and I don’t disagree that there’s some value there–I like to go out solo in the backcountry, and lead trips with groups of inexperienced people, so I own a satellite phone for that purpose. That said, only a few people have the number for it, everyone else knows that when I’m out there, I’m offline. Even if others had the number, it only sends texts, and very slowly, so it’s not a true connection to the real world, just a lifeline.

I used to feel the same way about getting on a plane. Flaky as airplane wifi can be, it’s no longer the disconnect it once was.

if you want to not have cell service while you are camping then you can just leave your phone at home. i'm sure that the benefits brought to people who are saved from being bitten by a poisonous snakes or fall down the side of a mountain will outweigh your moderate discomfort brought about by your lack of self control.

This may not actually be true. The number of people currently dying from those things due to lack of coverage is tiny, while a vastly greater number get substantial QoL improvements from the disconnect.

By that logic, why stop at not connecting the back country to the internet? We should be actively disconnecting the cities. So many more people to be saved!

Seriously, this is a social problem brought about by new technologies – and these are rarely solved by shunning technology.

Until the eye-Phone gets installed, you can always leave your phone somewhere else.

“True wilderness” has not existed for a long time. Even your “remote mountain lake” area is not “true wilderness”. You probably drove or flew to the area to camp. Human influence is everywhere. Our footprint has changed the various landscapes whether for better or worse.

You could just not bring your phone. I would still feel disconnected without any civilization around.

> the collateral damage is the loss of places where one can truly disconnect.

The real bummer is for the astrophotographers and observers who can’t do anything now without massive streaks of light flying everywhere.

If this goes ahead that means Starship is a thing, so the professional astronomers will have lots of orbital telescopes.

It's the amateurs who are screwed.

Then does this mean you don’t get recharged after any vacation near a cell tower?

> loosing true wildernesses

I’m seriously wondering how people living in the wilderness will feel about this point?

Until you get lost, injure yourself, or plain just need help.

why not just not bring your phone? or keep it in airplane mode?

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