OK, maybe I'm just a clueless old fart, but what the FUCK is the point of paying

[Redstone]

good honest American money that you WORKED to earn, to download a Ring Tone for your cell phone?

Is there possibly a more pure waste of money?

For Christ's sake, let's assume you're in a place where lots of people have cellphones. Even if they all ring exactly the same, if you hear a phone ring over there, it's not your phone. If it rings right there where you are, it's your phone.

How hard it that to understand?

Just curious.

Redstone

[JVS]

1. I used to think that until they started making all of the ringtones that were already on the...

phone embarrisingly juvenile. I was willing to pay for something less ridiculous.

[Sock Puppet]

62. Exactly

:thumbsup:

[Writer]

2. Because "it's all about ME!"

No, seriously, it's all about the self-identity movement. It's not good enough to have a ring tone that anyone else would have - have YOUR ring tone. One that precisely fits YOUR tastes.

[pagerbear]

54. Never mind that fact that thousands of your friends and neighbors have the very same tastes.

[Sock Puppet]

63. None of my friends and neighbors do

;)

[GirlinContempt]

76. Well duh.

I get to feel like Darth Vader every time someone calls me.
Unless it's Jay. Then I feel like Mr. T

[redqueen]

3. At least you can keep it.

Explain tipping topless dancers for me please?

:P

[Redstone]

7. I can't, because I don't.

Redstone

[petronius]

8. Is that like cow-tipping? Doesn't it make them angry? (nt)

[redqueen]

9. ...

:rofl:

I would pay my hard-earned money to see that!

[krispos42]

90. It's like cow-tipping only if they went overboard on the implants

You know, the bouncers have to come over and help them back up, because they can't get up by themselves, you know...

:-)

[lildreamer316]

48. Well *I* sure appreciate it!!

Thanks! Or in your case; no thanks!! (Just kidding).
:evilgrin:

[Deja Q]

4. Fuck verizon

Get a real service, a phone that doesn't have verizon's folks locking out all the multimedia functions, and upload your own tune to the phone.

[Nickster]

26. Well, I have Verizon, and they do try to keep all that stuff locked down, but it's fairly easy

to unlock it. I have plenty of my own homemade ringtones on my verizon phone.

[Deja Q]

29. True, but I prefer the principal of the thing...

:D

[Zavulon]

97. Care to teach a techno-illiterate moron how to do that?

My niece desperately wants to use "Tom Sawyer" (the Rush song) as her ringtone, to be honest I wouldn't mind using "Working Man," but I don't know how to unlock this stuff. Or how to make tones, for that matter.

[qanda]

80. I have Verizon and create my own ringtones for me and my husband

[Zavulon]

98. Question from the ignorant masses

How does one create a ringtone? Like Redstone, I wouldn't pay for one, but the ringtones on my phone are so annoying - all of them - that I wouldn't mind having something new.

[petronius]

5. It's another way to be exactly as unique as everyone else in your set

I have no idea why people buy these things - and a related thing that I understand even less is the stupid 'have a joke text-messaged to your phone (for only $0.99 a pop)' thing that I keep seeing advertised...

[XemaSab]

69. So Donald Rumsfeld is giving his daily briefing...

:P

[petronius]

82. Ooh, I've never heard that one -

How does it end?

:rofl:

[jmowreader]

86. With a moderately-loud "crunch"

Which is, of course, the sound of someone's cell phone hitting the wall at very high speed after its owner realizes she just paid a dollar to have someone text her the Brazilian Joke.

[AllegroRondo]

6. what I dont understand

it costs more to buy a ring tone version of a song than it costs to download the actual song!!!

[grace0418]

10. I hate all ringtones. I keep mine set on vibrate.

Then I never have to worry about disturbing anyone else by forgetting to turn off my phone.

[AllegroRondo]

16. vibrate is more fun anyway.

woohoo!

[Deja Q]

17. What's the point when one never gets any calls? Have it loud and proud and annoying as hell!

:spray:

[triguy46]

23. Anticipatory vibration syndrome is being reported in the medical literature...

People report various parts of their body vibrating as if their cell is going off, only the cell is not ringing. I've had this happen to me, I carry my phone in my shirt pocket.

I'm trying regular doses of red wine to minimize the impact of this on my life.

[trof]

Um...WHERE do you carry your phone?

:evilgrin:

[Deja Q]

36. I never knew that zipper concealed a third pocket...

:hide:

[krispos42]

91. Like the "OhMiBod", um, 'attachement' for your iPod?

You can't make this shit up...

OhMiBod is a sleek, sophisticated new generation of vibrator that combines elegance of design with the excitement of your favorite music. The audio enabled integrated microchip allows the OhMiBod to vibrate to the beat and rhythm of your music while you listen. Measures 5 1/2" long (insertable) and 1 1/8" in diameter. OhMiBod comes with an additional multi-speed endcap for use without an iPod or music player. It really is 2 products in one! Our motor provides strong yet quiet, intense rhythmic vibrations. With polished chrome detail and pearl white body this product is the ultimate iPod acsexsory!

Why is the music component so important? Listening to your favorite sexy music and actually feeling the corresponding vibes quickly transports you to a place where music, mind and body truly "come" together. The range and intensity of the vibrations are endless, creating a dynamically sensational experience never felt before!

And don't forget the BodiTalks...

Have you ever felt a little er, "empty handed" when your lover calls? Our new Boditalk vibe is just what your body needs…to follow where your mind is already wandering. Its velvety finish and sleek design make it the ultimate cell phone acsexsory™. Boditalk™ is activated by calls made to or from your cell phone when in close range. The cell signal triggers a unique 3 pattern vibrating sequence that lasts for the entire call - enabling you to "get off while you're on". For use without a cellphone, the vibe has 7 stimulation patterns to experiment with and enjoy.

Boditalk™ is molded from premium grade hypoallergenic non-toxic non-porous ABS plastic and measures 5 1/2" long (insertable) and 1 1/8" in diameter.

This vibe brings phone sex to a whole new level. Whether you are across town or around the world, Boditalk™ makes those long (or close) distance relationships a lot more fun and exciting.

http://www.ohmibod.com/

<edit: added link>

[pagerbear]

55. I think I love you!

Mine is almost always on vibrate. I can hear it vibrating when it's sitting on my desk beside me. I can usually feel it vibrate in my pocket. Should I happen to miss a call, it's rarely something earth-shattering that must be attended to now NOW NOW!!!!!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

11. We make our own.

It's totally saved us a ton. I hate paying for them too especially since you pay more for them than a song off iTunes and it's only a bit of the song, not the whole song. Total rip off.
Duckie

[jobycom]

12. What's the point of paying for anything other than gruel, grog, and a cardboard box?

:shrug:

[trof]

14. At least you included the grog.

I would have listed that first.

[jobycom]

52. Good point. My mistake.

:)

[Redstone]

30. No point. Not as long as you have some plastic to keep the rain off the box.

Redstone

[trof]

13. Geezer.

<hee>
Yeah, I don't understand all the cutesy ringtones.
I don't really give a shit if your phone plays Bonaparte's Retreat or Dixie.
Woop. Pee.
:eyes:

[rug]

15. You're turning into Andy Rooney.

[trof]

20. You say that like there's something wrong with it.

I'm kidding.
Funniest response so far.
;-)

[Deja Q]

24. And this is bad, because...??

:shrug:

[trof]

18. However, there is one I'd like. And I bet it would be unique as hell.

The sound of an old fashioned black, dial, CORDED, Southern Bell telephone RINGING.
I bet NONE of these kids ever heard that.
;-)

[Lars39]

25. You would become a magnet!

People would be looking everywhere for the sound. :D

[trof]

27. And saying "WTF is THAT?"

:wtf:

[XemaSab]

70. FIRE DRILL!!!!!

:o

[lildreamer316]

49. ACTUALLY,my husband got sent a (free) really cool one:

it says (in a nasally voice):

"ring ring. ring ring. RING RING. RING RING. RIIIIING RIIIING! RIIIING RIIING! RIIIIIIIIG!!! (screaming) RIIIIING!"

SO. fucking funny.

[mikeytherat]

64. A buddy of mine actually DOES have this!

It sounds like a chrome and bakelite 1950s diner payphone, and his volume is set on max! When that thing goes rings, it scares the Hell out of me!

mikey_the_rat

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. My BIL's brother has a really cool ring tone

It sounds like an old-fashioned phone.

:thumbsup:

[triguy46]

21. Cheaper than having to buy a car to let the world know how cool you are.

[Redstone]

32. Who said anything about buying a car?

Redstone

[triguy46]

47. The point is the same, the only difference is in dollars...

And really aimed at the individual who needs a ringtone to be 'different.' I know many and see much of personalities who wish to be defined by their car. "I have a cool car, therefore I'm cool" is at its core the same as "I have a neat ringtone, aren't I special."

I've not had the problem of similar ringtones, but if that is a big problem, then whatever floats your boat.

[Dukkha]

22. so everyone in the restaurant, store, and bus knows what a loser you are

I have only one on mine, when it's actually on which is very rare. It's the old Ma Bell analog riniging phone. I still have one of those hooked up at home too.

[Redstone]

37. Funny you should say that. We recently asked Mrs R's ex-husband to send us

an old-fashioned dial phone (he worked for AT&T for a while), just so the kids would be able to hear that old sound of a phone actually being dialed.

The terminology has stayed with us LONG after the actual dials went away.

Redstone

[XemaSab]

72. There's a bird out here, the Bewick's wren,

that goes ZHICK-DR-R-R-R-R.

Dial 5. :D

[Redstone]

73. I'll be an egg-suckin' dog. I MUST find a recording of that bird's call. No sarcasm at all

here; I really want to hear it, and I thank you for posting the information.

Redstone

[lost-in-nj]

28. You are neither clueless or an old fart

I don't understand the concept of buying ringtones either......



Hi friend

:hi:


lost

[rucky]

31. Old farts are not the target audience for ringtones.

Teenagers with no rent, no bills and disposable income, on the other hand...

[Redstone]

34. BINGO! You answered my question, and perfectly. Thank you.

Redstone

[LynneSin]

33. It was worth the $1.99 to have "Kashmir" as my Ring Tone

So there

[krispos42]

92. Coundn't find a cowbell one? :-) n/t

[SPKrazy]

35. I bought a ringtone

I wanted to hear a song play that I liked. I didn't like paying for it though.

:shrug:

[lost-in-nj]

46. what song??

N/T


lost

[SPKrazy]

71. Snow (Hey Oh) RHCP

http://youtube.com/watch?v=N8jS6jk8QlU
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow

Come to decide that the things that I tried
Were in my life just to get high on

When I sit alone come get a little more known
But I need more than myself this time

Step from the road to the sea to the sky
And I do believe that we rely on

When I lay it on
Come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice

Hey oh listen what I say oh
I got your
Hey oh now listen what I say oh

When will I know that I really can't go
To the well one more time to decide on

When it's killing me
When will I really see
All that I need to look inside

Come to believe that I better not leave
Before I get my chance to ride

When it's killing me
What do I really need
All that I need to look inside

Hey oh listen what I say oh
Come back and
Hey oh look at what I say oh

The more I see the less I know
The more I like to let it go... hey oh

Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow

Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go

In between the cover of another perfect wonder
And it’s so white as snow

Running through the field where all my tracks will
Be concealed nd there's nowhere to go

Oh

When to descend to amend for a friend
All the channels that have broken down

Now you bring it up
I’m gonna ring it up
Just to hear you sing it out

Step from the road to the sea to the sky
And I do believe what we rely on

When I lay it on
Come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice

Hey oh listen what I say oh
I got your
Hey oh listen what I say oh

The more I see the less I know
The more I like to let it go... hey oh

People need the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow

Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go

In between the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it’s so white as snow

Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go.

I said hey hey yeah... oh yeah,
Tell my love now
Hey yeah yeah oh yeah
Tell my love now
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Finally divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it’s so white as snow

Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go.

I said hey oh yeah... oh yeah,
Tell my love now
Hey oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah, oh yeah

[Left Is Write]

38. I have no idea.

My phone is always on vibrate, anyway. It's unlikely I'd spend money to download a ringtone.

[leftofthedial]

39. you may indeed be a clueless old fart

but not because you refuse to buy ringtones

[Redstone]

41. You know me, don't you? Thank you.

Redstone

[madinmaryland]

40. Hmmm. My setting (Vibration) is free.

I'll stop before I get this thread locked!!1!!

:evilgrin:

[GOPisEvil]

42. Why do people customize their cars? Why do people paint their nails funny colors?

Just an expression of individuality.

I don't much care for them myself, but to each his or her own.

[trof]

43. And get tats and studs in their noses and tongues?

People just SCREAMING for attention.
I. Don't. Pay. It.

[GirlinContempt]

77. I always wondered how self absorbed you had to be

to think everything everyone else does is to garner your own attention.
Can you tell me?

[smalll]

83. So how many tats and piercings do you have, dear?

At least the piercings, as you age, you can just take them out and the holes close up.

If someone could just find me a way to invest in tattoo-removal machines though, I'd be in the money. Oh yeah, you'll need them. When age stretches your skin, your tats will look like some kind of elongated silly-putty stamp. Good luck with that.

[GirlinContempt]

94. Neither here nor there, and don't call me dear.

My grandfather had tattoos, and guess what! When you get old, all your skin wrinkles. It's what happens to everyone. He must have been such an idiot, that without fools on the internet to inform him, he had NO IDEA his body would change as he aged! :eyes:
I guess it's pretty hard to imagine that some people don't give a shit about what will happen when they wrinkle, as well as not giving a shit what other people think.
I don't even have a tattoo. I think it's the height of narcissism to assume people do the things they do to get your attention.

[ghostsofgiants]

99. To be fair, my sole purpose for getting my lip pierced was to get smalll's attention.

[fishwax]

101. such a good point

:thumbsup:

[ChoralScholar]

44. I don't want to hear 'Nessun Dorma' when someone calls.

I want my phone to sound like a phone. And that's how I know it's mine. Everyone else has crap, I have a ring.

[bigwillq]

45. I'm with you on this one

I have never downloaded a ring tone for my phone nor will I ever. I agree that it's a waste of money.

[greatauntoftriplets]

50. Another clueless old fart checking in....

The cacaphony of ringtones at my office drive me up. the. wall.

My cell phone, which is rarely turned on, just rings.

[jmm]

51. Funny how some won't pay to download a full song yet

they'll waste $3 on a ring tone.

I saw a commercial recently for "annoying" ringtones. Yes, it actually advertised itself as annoying ringtones. For only $1.99 each you could download a car alarm, fire truck, and cop car sound. I understand wanting to customize something. If it should ever become possible to customize ringback tones for free then I'd probably do it but when you're wasting more money on a 30 second snippet or a song and purposely picking something obnoxious then yeah, that's just going too damn far.

[Blue-Jay]

53. Next time you call me, my phone is going to play "My Humps".

My lovely redstone lumps....

[mondo joe]

56. It's not a waste if it's worth the price to the person who bought it. I think a giant size pepsi

or coke is a bigger waste, personally.

[pagerbear]

57. Next time I hear Queen of the Night aria from a phone, the phone gets stepped on.

So does the phone's owner.

One guy I work with has whale calls for a ring tone, except if you don't know what it is, it sounds sorta dirty.

The only ring tone I was ever interested in buying was the Muppet Show theme. And it was no longer available (or maybe it was not avaialble for my phone) so I didn't.

[Skittles]

58. and they all SUCK too and are HIGHLY ANNOYING

people I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR G.D. CELL PHONE

[ghostsofgiants]

78. Add some gunfire, exploding bombs, screaming wounded and lots of engines and the like

Now you're a soldier in Iraq.

[Seashell Eyes]

59. Because it's fun

I didn't because I thought my phone came with enough ring options. People waste money on lots of things that are more pointless. Nice rant! :D

[SteppingRazor]

60. Yes, you are a clueless old fart

:P


Kidding aside, it's a fashion statement, just like buying a particularl piece of jewelry. Whether your phone rings with Toby Keith, Bob Dylan or Kanye West says a lot about your personality.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

61. Cause I like "This is the end, beautiful friend"

kinda tells something about me too. besides, you can do it for free too

[Redstone]

65. Problem is, ringtones are like that first little puff of Crack. Next thing you know, you have

a full-fledged, hopelessly-addicted PHONE FIDDLER on your hands.

I swear, every second or third time we go on a trip, Mrs R isn't in the car but five minutes before the goddam phone is out, and she's flipping through her address book (not that she ever changes anything, just scrolls through it), or changing WALLPAPER, or checking for messages for the nineteenth time that day, or God knows what.

And just about EVERYONE seems to do the same. You know who you are, you PHONE FIDDLERS, you! (Maybe it's a nervous habit because nobody smokes cigs anymore.)

And the Little Guy changes all kinds of crap on MY phone whenever he uses it, and I have to yell at him to change it all back when he gets home. Then he NAGS me to get him his own cellphone (fat chance), then NAGS me to get a phone with a camera and all that other crap I don't need.

I own NINE (really) cameras, for Christ's sake. If I want to take a picture, I'll use one of THEM, thank you very much.

And before you point out the convenience of a camera phone, I should mention that I'm a lot more likely to have a camera with me at any given time than my cellphone. Furthermore, the only reason I can think of to always have a camera is in case a UFO lands, or something else happens that I can shoot a picture of to sell to the newspaper. And I doubt that the newspaper is going to use a camera-phone file.

Oops, I'm raving again. Oh, goody, here come the nice men with the restraints and my afternoon Thorazine, so I think I'll have a little rest now.

Redstone

[Wcross]

66. I too am an old fart but "we" are not the clueless ones.

Pay money so your phone makes a different sound than factory issued sounds? I have mine set to ring like an old telephone and that's all I need. I don't need to annoy people with my "style" or "personality". I don't need to waste my money on such "tomfoolery" either. If they wanted you to have a funky ringtone they would have put it on the thing dag nabbit!

[Redstone]

68. Why, thank you. I'm not the only one who wants his phone to ring like a damn PHONE after all.

And to WORK like a damn PHONE. Talk to people, and listen to them. Period.

No blasted picture-taking, no goddamn MP3s, and ESPECIALLY no fucking movies! (Who the hell wants to watch a MOVIE on an inch-and a half screen? You looking to go blind when you're still young, or what?)

Just let me make, please, just ONE three-minute call without getting cut off, for Christ's sake! Is that too much to ask?

Redstone

[racaulk]

67. I don't get it either.

:shrug:

[XemaSab]

74. Factory settings are fine for me

Normally it's the Hallelujah Chorus, except when my friend Clay calls it's Nutcracker Suite and when my mom calls I don't know what it is but it's irritating and I should go change it RIGHT NOW. :P

[XemaSab]

75. Update: Calls from my mom are now

Beethoven's Fifth. :rofl:

[qanda]

79. I create my own

It's such a waste of money to pay somebody for something that you can do yourself. I use my own songs or obscure songs that probably wouldn't be available for download anyway, but it's an easy process. Anybody need a new ringtone?

[Redstone]

81. Not me, cool. I'm happy to let it ring like a PHONE and let it go at that.

But thanks for the offer anyway.

Redstone

[Digit]

84. I can out "old fart" ya....I don't even OWN a cell phone!

My last one was back in 1995 and was HUGE!

I don't see any reason why I need to have a cell phone.

Why....I grew up with dial telephones that you had to actually MOVE it with your fingers and not tap a number....and we LIKED IT!!!

Criminy sakes.....

[Seashell Eyes]

96. I didn't own one until the middle of last year

and I'm a young fart.

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

85. i guess there's one born every minute

personally I don't have a cellphone - but am fully aware that if you really want a "special" ringtone you can easily add it to your phone yourself without paying for a download through a "service." It's not too terribly difficult to figure it out or learn how to do it yourself.

[kath]

87. While we're at it, what the FUCK is the point of paying perfectly good money for WATER,

which you can get for free out of your tap ?!?! (and the stuff out of the tap is perfectly fine for the VAST majority of homes. If not, you can put a little filter on your faucet...)

I'm a clueless old fart on that one...

(and I also hate cell phones)

[Drum]

88. lol!

:D

[WCGreen]

89. Oh yea, that one get's me as well....

[krispos42]

93. I bought one so my phone wouldn't sound so much like a phone

It's a snippet of the theme song for "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly". The famous whistle-harmonica line.

I have my phone set for vibrate first, then ring. The unusualness of my ringtone means that people don't realize it's a ringtone at first. Less intrusive, I think.

The downside is that I jump when certain commercials play on TV or the radio... :-)

[dropkickpa]

95. I hate talking on the phone

I paid $0.99 2 years ago for AC/DC Thunderstruck, and I at least get 5 seconds of "Hey, I like that song!" before I have to answer the damn thing. Worth it to me. Not to mention, when my phone is in my pocket, I can't hear any of the preprogrammed rings in their high tones. I've found I usually just don't notice vibrate.

I have a really hard time filtering out noises and zeroing in on just one, but a distinctive ringtone catches my attention when a regular one would just be dismissed as background noise, even when it's coming from my pocket.

[BreweryYardRat]

100. Hey, I'm 19 and I don't understand it either.

Free ringtones? All well and good...if I could figure out how to download them to my phone.

Hocking up good money for a ringtone? Hell no.

[fishwax]

102. I like ringtones because they remind me of the people calling

I personalize the ring tones for favorite songs or movie quotes of the individual caller or with song lyrics that mention their hometown, for instance. It makes me smile to think of them when the phone rings.

I make my own ringtones, though, so I've never paid for a ring tone, but I don't fault those who have if they get a kick out of such things as well.

[philosophie_en_rose]

103. To announce your douchy-ness to the world.

Because someone might not know you think you're supercoolmegayoung if you don't have Avril Lavigne playing in ring tones on your cell.

:patriot:

[ashling]

104. You are not clueless,

but you are an old fart. From one old fart to another. :hi:

[Nevernose]

105. Jesus was black, Ronald Reagan was the Devil, & the gov't is lying about 911

That's my ringtone, from "The Boondocks." I paid good money for it (2 dollars worth).

I do it not because it's poignant (although it is), and not because I need the attention (I'm often embarrassed), but because it's FUNNY. I like making people of different races and backgrounds sometimes freak out and often laugh. Maybe it's a laughing Buddha fixation I have...

There's also the issue of desiring to pay a relatively tiny amount of money to differentiate yourself from all the other people who have cellphone. There are also many of us who cannot feel the vibration of a silent phone. If I'm in the car or the TV's on or I'm busy using my brain, the vibration doesn't affect me; the ringtone does.

(Also, my ex pays for my daughter's cellphone, and under her plan, she can record anything she wants as often as she wants as her ringtone.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, although I'm on record here at DU criticizing cellphones at every possible opportunity, I finally bought one last November to make it easier to coordinate rides to the polls for elderly/disabled voters.)